The first thing that comes to mind is to have an “efficient charity” box that you drop money in every time you turn down a beggar or in any way invoke this excuse. If you can stick to it, it should have the effect of getting the money to the right people, and may even help you purchase “warm fuzzies” if you can convince the warm fuzzy factory that “I really did more than help that beggar, which would have felt warm and fuzzy”.
The most effective version of this would probably be an iPhone (or similar mobile device) application that gives a dollar to charity when you push a button. If it’s going to work reliably it has to be something that can be used when the beggar/cause invocation is in sight: for most people, I’m guessing that akrasia would probably prevent a physical box or paper ledger from working properly.
The first thing that comes to mind is to have an “efficient charity” box that you drop money in every time you turn down a beggar or in any way invoke this excuse. If you can stick to it, it should have the effect of getting the money to the right people, and may even help you purchase “warm fuzzies” if you can convince the warm fuzzy factory that “I really did more than help that beggar, which would have felt warm and fuzzy”.
The most effective version of this would probably be an iPhone (or similar mobile device) application that gives a dollar to charity when you push a button. If it’s going to work reliably it has to be something that can be used when the beggar/cause invocation is in sight: for most people, I’m guessing that akrasia would probably prevent a physical box or paper ledger from working properly.