What about 'Do-Gooders'

I think it has been around for many years and used to apply to people who did good to or at people rather than for them. I think it was the people who did good to make themselves look good not just people who did it because it was a nice thing to do.

Nice distinction, Moved!

I do think also a lot of people are not recognised for their contributions to communities by way of their private donations such as well known sports men and women who donate to childrens charities and keep their names out of the public eye.
With regard to do-gooders I tend to agree with movedalot my dad had a saying that "hands where not made for patting oneself on the back" when it came to charitable work.

What a sensible saying, glammanana! I must remember it.

Do-gooders are people who want to be seen to be doing good. People who are simply good just get on with it and don't mind if nobody else knows; the 'reward' for them is just being helpful.

It's often a surprise to read the good things that people have done when reading their obituaries [not that I make a habit of reading them] eg Barbara Cartland helping gypsy families.

Well, If ever I have to be accused of anything, I'd rather be a 'do-gooder' than a 'bad-gooder'. Seems to me those who pour scorn on those who do their best to serve their community, one way or another, are often those who may feel somewhat guilty of not pulling their fair share

I think scorn is only poured on those who make a big song and dance of doing their bit for the community, jura. People who just do it for its own sake are always appreciated. They are not called do-gooders. At least, that is my take on it.

Yes, mine too, Bags.

wurzel

I kind of know where you are coming from. I read our local paper and in the letters page there was a woman writing about a person who she called a 'do gooder'.

Apparently this 'do gooder' is always professing to be acting on behalf of the community but they rarely agree with him. He wants to shut down a hand wash, valeting company but it would appear the neighbours are not bothered about it. He is the type of character that sticks his nose in where it's not wanted and I think that's the sort of thing that people are thinking of when they call someone a do gooder in a sarcastic way.

Anyone who is actually doing good would never be discussed or spoken of in this manner I am sure. It's a classic case of irony if you think about it when it is used in such a manner.

Never mind, am I right to say, just drink up thy zider?

POGS!

What does it actually matter whether people 'do good' and are seen to be doing it, or do it and keep it to themselves, as long as the good is being done? I can't imagine why people would want to pour scorn on others if they're doing good, no matter what the motivation. Live and let live, I'd say.

Grannyknot although I agree that it is good that the good is done I do find it unpalatable when people keep telling us how good they are or how much they have done to help others. It seems to me to be akin to saything they have a better job, bigger house, more successful children etc. Of course it may all be true but I don't want to hear it a little bit of humility is better imo.

I think some celebs do good by stealth too, isn't that why Sir Cliff got his knighthood? I have no idea about his charitable work.

People are often dismissed as 'do gooders' when they are helping people who the authorities want to undermine. I heard someone on the radio dismissing the people who run the Food Banks as 'do-gooders' because with benefits so freely available nobody had an income so poor they could not feed their family. Anyone without money for food was on drink, drugs, a gambler or feckless.

... if people do something that I don't like, or I disapprove of, I either ignore them or simply don't give it any headspace. If someone felt the need to blow smoke up their own backsides by going on about their bigger house or bigger car, I'd probably feel sorry for them. Mostly what other people do or say doesn't bother me one bit, if it does, e.g. if it irritates me sufficiently or impacts on the way I live my life, I tend to move on, ignore it. However, I wholeheartedly agree that humility is a wonderful quality. I was really surprised - because he doesn't seem to be a very humble person - to read somewhere (and only once in a small article) how much charitable work Simon Cowell supports and is involved in personally. (Maybe that's because I don't go out of my way to read stuff about him because I'm not that interested!).

I've always understood that the term 'do-gooder' is used by those who want to sneer at people such as probation officers, social workers, prison reformers, etc, those who work with the marginalised.

I never thought that it applied to people who want to brag about their charity work - they would be 'show-offs' !

What I am trying to say is that often, those who deride 'do-gooders' are for who 'do-nothing'. If you live in a small rural community, even if you try and be very discreet- it quickly becomes quite obvious about those who 'do' and those who'd rather 'criticise and pour scorn'.