re: #301 calochortus

I don’t think people in the past were kinder or more generous. People tend to be kind and generous to people they perceive to be like themselves. This makes sense because there are people out there who will take advantage of others. When we don’t know people as individuals we don’t know who to trust, so we use “in group” status to help us choose who to help.
An example of the good old days that leaps to mind is that financial aid to single mothers generally was restricted to women who were “deserving” (widows, abandoned by their husband, etc.) and the women were subject to checks on morals. For example, it was not unheard of to make unannounced visits to go through closets and bathrooms looking for evidence that there was a man staying over.

Good points. People definitely are more kind and generous to those they actually know. Didn’t know that about the financial aid to single moms in the past.