• @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      123 months ago

      There really should be a community for “Weird america” or something.

      I live in Europe, and I donate blood because it’s the fucking right thing to do. Everyone knows someone whose life was saved by a random donor, and every time you donate blood you’re saving someone’s life.

      Like there’s literally no reason to not donate it if your body allows it

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        23 months ago

        I’m American and I donate/sell plasma twice a week. $110 each week which is nice extra money for the time, plus I can help people. It’s a win/win as far as I’m concerned.

        • @Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In
          link
          13 months ago

          $110 each week which is nice extra money for the time

          Ah, maybe this is the scam.

          Q1. What volume of blood is worth $110?

          Q2. How much does the medical industry charge for the same type/quantity?

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            13 months ago
            1. Don’t know, because I said plasma, not blood.

            2. Don’t know, don’t care.

            You’re obviously getting at what the companies make versus what they give me, and yes, they make far more than they give me. The margins are quite high. The machines are also very expensive from what I’ve been told.

            Like I told the other person, stop being weird. If you don’t want to do it or think it’s not worth your time, don’t do it.

            • @Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In
              link
              13 months ago

              Like I told the other person, stop being weird.

              I don’t think it’s weird to consider that the US medical industry is possibly exploiting people through predatory business practices.

              If you don’t want to do it or think it’s not worth your time, don’t do it.

              OK. And maybe look into the choices of who gets your goods.

    • Firestorm Druid
      link
      fedilink
      English
      53 months ago

      It’s on top, not a substitute. It’s literally free money and helps a person in need

        • Firestorm Druid
          link
          fedilink
          English
          83 months ago

          Unnecessarily loaded comment. Plasma is used in creating drugs that help people. So you help people. How’s it bad?

          • snooggums
            link
            English
            33 months ago

            The setup preys on the poor, and wouldn’t exist if we had living wages. Then people could donate because it is the right thing to do, not because they need to make rent.

            • Firestorm Druid
              link
              fedilink
              English
              6
              edit-2
              3 months ago

              The thing is, the monetary incentive is necessary because there are not enough people donating - plasma, blood, whatever. So if that’s what’s needed to get people to donate (or whatever else word you want to use), then that’s fine in my books. Both sides get something.

              I get the idea of wanting it to be on donation-basis only, but people don’t donate for free as often as when they do *get money. Because society is inherently selfish and doesn’t care for the needs of others.

              Again, the service the companies provide is directly beneficial to society. Yes, big pharma is a thing and medicine should be free. But what’s not how things work. So what’s the problem?