"This took a turn! I thought you were going to say you didn't want to miss the time with your family. But you're actually concerned about germs. And you apparently believe special virus strains attach themselves to people who have fallen on hard times. I'll tell you where I agree with you: You should not, under any circumstances, show up to volunteer anywhere that requires you to interact with people who need help. They will feel your disgust, and they don't need that."
"Propose to your wife that you celebrate Thanksgiving the traditional way and volunteer at the soup kitchen the week before to make preparations, sort donations, or stuff bags of food to give away. That's a reasonable compromise and keeps you a good distance from "indigents." But if the mean-spiritedness in your comment is something that runs in your family, don't be surprised if she just suggests that you two go your separate ways for the holiday."
A husband objects to his wife's plan to take the family to volunteer at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving, citing fear of germs and disdain for people in need, and prefers making a monetary donation. Volunteering in roles that require close interaction with recipients risks communicating disgust to those recipients. A reasonable compromise is to celebrate Thanksgiving traditionally while volunteering the week before to prepare donations, sort contributions, or pack bags of food. Mean-spirited attitudes toward people in need can damage relationships and lead to separate holiday plans. Submission guidelines advise keeping questions under 150 words, using pseudonyms, and allowing editing or reuse.
Read at Slate Magazine
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