I'm punished the same no matter what personal sacrifices I do - or don't - make out of concern for other people and a desire to make a difference.
If the people I'm trying to help are going to actively punish me for trying to help them, I'm going to quickly conclude they don't want my help. I was taught that it's incredibly rude to force help on people who don't want it. Since that is indeed what's happening, it's clearly time for me to stop trying to help.
Thank you for helping me to this moment of moral clarity. I really do mean that sincerely.
