I have been the recipient of some amazing moments of good fortune. When I think of giving back I think of returning kindness to a community that extended it to me. Such as when my papa died the entire town helped my family out in the toughest parts. To give back in gratitude I spent time cleaning the parks and doing random things to help someone else's day go smoother in the community.

If pay it forward is to help a stranger, then giving back is to thank them

I'm of the opinion that a rising tide floats all boats, so giving will benefit me, even if it is only the smile of a well fed child or knowing a drug addict has a warm coat. Nobody in this discussion got to where they are alone, if you cannot understand this then I feel sorry for you. I always felt "paying it forward" was a better term since we are taking the long view here. I am not saying that nobody earned what they have, but to operate in a society we have to learn to share so that the society can thrive.

I don't want to give back, rather I want to give. Give of my knowledge, give or my time and/or give someone joy. There's numerous ways to give.

"Giving back" means volunteering to help others, the environment or your community.

For 14 years, I have been a volunteer college mentor, helping low income, minority students write essays for college entry and scholarship applications.

One of my best success stories is Brenda, who won $295,433 in scholarships and grants in 2016. Now a sophomore at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Brenda plans to become a medical doctor and pathologist. She hopes to cure diseases.

These are remarkable young people. It thrills me to send these kids to college. Being a college mentor is the most rewarding volunteer work I have ever done.

Giving back into the community is just good social behaviour. Without philanthropy we aren't a society were a bunch of individuals who happen to be hanging out in the same area.

I don't give because I feel I "owe". Whatever I do is because I WANT to do it.
Sometimes I have specific reasons, sometimes I don't.
What anyone else chooses to do, or not do, is completely up to them.

For me personally, I have hit some rough patches where I needed the goodwill of others to not just help me survive but to flourish and grow.

So when I use the term "give back" it is to use the resources I have as a result of that goodwill toward others who might have struggled as I did.

Not everyone is as lucky as you to not ever need to take advantage of services and programs that are out there. When I was a young, uninsured, minimum wage making woman I took advantage of the services provided by Planned Parenthood. Now that I am in the financial position to do so I donate to them so that some other young woman will have access to the same resources that were there for me. And I donate with a smile on my face because I'm not keeping score of how much I've taken or how much I give.

I rather like the notion of "pay(ing) it forward." I've been the recipient of unexpected good fortune in my life, and if I can be the giver of that, I will; not out of any feeling of obligation, but because to me, it just makes the world I'm in perhaps a little better.

Social contract to me means that people have given money, taxes, time, expertise, etc. to make other people's lives better so when you have that opportunity, you should do the same. Scientific studies have proven the beneficial effects on the human psyche of beneficence.

Some of us have been through some tough situations and strangers stepped up to help out. That's why I volunteer. That, and it's the right thing to do when you can.

Being a part of society, we take every day. We use the benefits which enable us to live our lives. Giving back is a way of showing your appreciation for that environment and what it has allowed you to enjoy, create or accomplish.

We are giving back the kindness and good fortune that allowed us to achieve whatever success we've obtained. In a practical manner, itcomes out to be more like paying good karma forward, but many people who achieve success do so because someone helped them in some way when they weren't and, in appreciation of how the kindness they were shown helped them, wish to 'give back' some semblance of that assistance to others, or simply to return positive energy into the Universe. The semantics depend largely on your philosophies or spiritual inclination, but that's about the sum of it.

It's not all about the money. Money is only a commodity like property, clothes, jewellery and other 'stuff'. Success, to me in life is contentment with yourself and your significant other. Happiness and contentment is worth more than all the money or 'stuff' in the world. If we can make a positive difference to others in our short life, that's a huge bonus.

I make monthly donations to Doctors Without Borders, Foundation Beyond Belief and $100 to any catastrophic condition that causes harm and distruction on an ongoing basis. That is one way I can "give back".

This has to do with the unspoken Social Contract. What that means is we all have benefited by simply being born into this society, into this world. Because we have benefited, we owe something back.

If you are not trying to make your little corner of the world a better place for others, please get off the planet!

We're in this together.

Maybe it's the phrase that bothers me. You know I hate labels. I do what I can when I can. I give platelets. I sponsor rescue kitties. We all do good because it's the right thing to do. Not because of a phrase. (I'm probably being pedantic, and I apologize.)

I agree. It's a guilt trip. How about our leaders and politicians give back. They've taken enough.

Feel-good phrase for helping when you can.

^^^This. Thank you. It sounds so sweet and PC to say that. Wtf does it even mean?

It's not about owing anything to anyone. It's about contributing to something that may have a positive impact on something you care about....paying it forward.... each one teach one....shit like that. Nobody is making you do it, its your choice.

"Give back" So you took too much and are now feeling guilty, and want recognition for doing what you should without attention?

Never use any variation of that phrase. "Share" is much better.

Compliments my friend...

That implies prior receipt. I’m still waiting.