Obliged Favours

Unrelated Stuff: I've joined Curryegg in her cause. Pictures arousing pity-ness uploaded and blog frame is changed to a more pinkish colour. (The frame colour doesn't show up on Internet Explorer though)

---

As we enter the golden age of humanity, things got more complicated. There is the written law so massive that no single person knows em all. And there is the unwritten code practiced by the public. Apart from abiding the law, we are sometimes obliged to follow certain unwritten code practiced by the public. (eg: People are not suppose to fart outside toilet territory) If thats ridiculous to you, it gets worse. There are times when we are FORCED to do a favour.

Have you heard about the Yao's 'stingy' China quake donation sparks debate?
Some may stop and think: "Wait a minute... Since when are favours forced upon?"

Let me illustrate the dilemma above with this example.
A billionaire in Sichuan so rich, so powerful that everyone expect him to donate millions to survivors of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. After all, a couple of millions is like nothing to him.
If he comply to charity events, its normal cause he is expected to give back to the society for what he earn. If he doesn't donate a single cent, the public is gonna expose him of his "evil" scheme condemning him for a favour that he refuse to do.
What the hell is happening here? Why is the public demanding for a favour that he is not required by law to do?
Back in the good old days when the world is being ruled by the single most powerful man on earth with an iron fist, the rule was simple. Never provoke the rich and powerful! Beg the Pharaoh, and he'll demonstrate his flying kick Asian style. Lay a finger on the king, and his guard will slay you down. Protest against the government and the royal assassins will hunt you down.

I'm not sure if thats how history was, but I have a very strong feeling thats how things work back then. If I'm living in that era, I wouldn't want to mess with the big guy. Heck, I wouldn't even ask for favour from the rich and powerful no matter how desperate things seemed.

Now, things are different. Instead of avoiding the big guy, the public stalk them now. When someone is famous, all sorts of people go to them expecting good deeds to be done. It is as if the public is imposing some sort of obligation to these special group of people.

In conclusion, people expect the influential to perform acts of kindness towards the society. If the influential oblige, its perfectly normal. If they don't, they are a bunch of evil people.
[sarcasm] I guess this wouldn't affect any big time bloggers in any way even if they are filthy rich or super famous. Thats cause they won't be able to see real people begging them to perform any act of kindness. Where is the fun if I can't experience people begging me? [/sarcasm]

What do guys think? Do you think you will feel obliged to contribute to the society when you have become an influential figure in the future?

---

[Top Comment by Yeong]
come to think of it. it's so thoughtful of you to mention about how perfectly normal it is for the influential to oblige, because i don't see any wrong too.
I don't even see why did they report yao's "stinginess" (hey at least he did his part) while all those media crew do are to chunk gossips into headlines. not doing almost anything to help the people in the quake but to pry celebs' lives and compare and contrast? gee, it isn't really the time now. i think media these days are just...unbelievable.