I didn't take anything, so I can't give anything 'back'.

Why can't people asking for charitable donations just be honest and ask people to 'give'?

The implications are that it is some kind of obligation. Which it isn't, in the vast majority of cases.

Example: Did you maybe once need help from the Salvation Army? In that case, if you were to donate to them now that you're back on your feet, those donations would be giving 'back'. If not, it's just 'giving'.

I'm not suggesting donating to good causes is is a bad idea, and I don't hold back (or suggest others refrain) from donating to truly good causes due to this irritation. And I do 'give back' to organizations that I actually got help from. Example: I got through school with low-interest loans from the university itself, so donations I make to them for use in making low-interest student loans can reasonably be termed giving 'back.'

But, never having gotten help from the Red Cross or the Salvation Army or the local food kitchen, my donations there cannot be said to be giving 'back.'

Yup. We're usually watching recorded "news" and, as soon as I hear "giving back" I start hitting the forward skip button. Well, used to. Don't watch enough "news" to catch any of that nonsense anymore.

Same concept with the misnamed gun buyback program. The dealer that sold me the gun can buy it back, but if you didn't sell it to me you can't buy it back.

quote:

Why can't people asking for charitable donations just be honest and ask people to 'give

^^^^^^^^^^^
Just another irritating buzzword. Kind of like white privilege.

Don't get me started about people who call pointless meetings, have nothing to useful to present, finish early and say "I'm giving you back 1/2 hour of your day".

The Govt takes back plenty and gives it away. Just say NO

Give back, not so much...

Paying it forward is more my style.

Perhaps using the expression giving back somehow takes away from the fact that many who will accept that charity have only taken and taken their entire lives and will continue to do so til the day they die.
I also see it as a way for some douche to say "look at me, how great I am to be giving back". Charity should be anonymous, quiet and directed to those in need. A TV crew should not be involved.
just my humble opinion.

It is putting the request for assistance in a different way. They are implying that you have something, and are asking you to share or "give back".

A twisted version of paying it forward (that is one I do understand and like).

It is a little annoying, but it is just a "marketing" effort to try to get people to make donations. The gist of it is that "you have benefitted from being a member of society, so give something to others."

Sure, it doesn't make a lot of sense, but it is just sales talk.

It derives from the Jude/Christian idea that everything belongs to God, and charitable giving to one another is akin to giving to God.

Psalms 50:10-14

10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Matthew 25:34-40

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

The phrasing of “giving back” isn’t so much misused or implying that you owe something. I see it as a traditional phasing originating from the Christian traditions of this country. Getting upset about it is like those atheists who get upset about a Christmas tree displayed in public.

What I hate is stores pimping for charitable donations and then giving you the stink eye when you politely decline to add on or “round up”.

News flash, I am perfectly capable of donating to my chosen causes without a “middle man”.

Curious how much of a write off those companies take after “contributing” all the money they collected from others.

Kind of like the government, take money from some people then get kudos for giving it to someone else. You want kudos, give YOUR money away.

Neil Boortz used to cuss the term " giving back" on his talk radio show.

Especially when Moochelle Obama used it so much.

I hate it too.

As much as I hate the connatation of " drug takeback" for prescription drugs. I bought them legally, guit making it sound like illegal drugs.