Some super righteous S'poreans are upset that they need to like a Facebook post to help charity

So much integrity it hurts.

Nyi Nyi Thet | February 07, 2017, 12:16 PM

There's a long running joke about the Facebook community mistaking likes for actually doing things.

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So, if there's a chance for your likes to actually contribute to a good cause, surely there would be nothing to complain about.

Nope.

A packet of rice

A Packet of Rice is a volunteer group that distributes meal boxes to low income needy residents and senior citizens.

Recently they shared a post announcing their latest project.

Unable to find time to help in distribution? Now you can still be able to help us by clicking "like" on this poster then share it on your Facebook profile or page to help us to receive 15,000 "likes".

Once it receives 15,000 "likes" before or by 8 Feb, our regular lunch supplier, Xiang Catering (a subsidiary of Jessie Catering Pte Ltd) will sponsor 330 packed of halal mixed lunch 菜饭 (consists of 4 dishes and rice) for one of our distributions in March! This will definitely help us to save some costs to run this distribution project.

Every bits counts!

So far, it's done pretty well, garnering more than 13,000 likes, although the deadline is tomorrow.

Because if someone tells you, your "like" might contribute to 330 people potentially getting meals, chances are, you are going to like the post.

Not for some people though, who considered the whole thing an absolute travesty.

Some refused to be one of their marketing tools.

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Also, mathematically, this statement is rather worrying.

Others threatened a boycott

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This boycott will only be financially worth it, if this person caters food everyday.

And generally questioned the sincerity of the volunteer group and/or the catering company

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Now this is where history, and context matters.

A Packet of Rice has been distributing meal boxes to low income needy residents and senior citizens residing in 1 and 2 room flats for nearly half a decade.

And doing this type of volunteer work is not cheap, so when a company offers to help you out, you take it.

Or as they put it.

Hi Tse, we respect your opinion and we always believe that every help counts and we value all helps given to us as long as they do not harm anyone during and at the end of the process.

Helps come all forms. Donation is one, running a campaign is another. And we do look things at different angles. You may see this as a marketing tool while others may also see it an opportunity for them to do good by clicking a "like", and while we see it as a way for us to get a sponsorship which can help us to save slightly more than $1,000 in total.

It's easy to airbrush tangible costs out of reality when commenting from the comfort of your own home, but $1,000 is not nothing.

Like and share

So if you have no problems with liking a page to help them achieve their goal of 15,000 likes, you can do it by liking this post.

If you're not, we salute you on your unbending moral righteousness.

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Kudos.

Here's a little known trail in Singapore you should be checking out:

This free trail lets you jalan jalan through 20th century Serangoon in 40 minutes

Top image: screenshot from Facebook

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