Ntang

Hi, Mr. Kristof, and thanks for doing an AMA.

How do you respond to criticism that your articles on global poverty and development usually showcase some bright-eyed young white person (almost always American) working in a foreign country as the primary focus, rather than locals who are doing the same thing? This is the "whites in shining armor" journalistic bias that portrays foreign poor people as perpetual passive recipients of well-intentioned white generosity, rather than the active agents of their own country's development that they actually are.

As a former int'l aid professional, I've found this "white savior complex" in your writing irritating and misleading, as have almost all of my colleagues. I'm positive you are aware of it. I'm no journalist, but surely there are ways of informing your well-educated audience that the global poor do not need more 22 year olds starting their own NGOs or volunteering at "orphanages" - but rather, that progress depends on pressuring our public officials for smarter foreign aid policy, de-militarization of foreign assistance, and substantial reform of USAID.

EDIT: By the way, your book was good.

Do you see this as a career?

Here's why I ask. Even for an extremely successful porn star, I would imagine that your "marketability" is limited to your 20s and early 30s. In today's market, I can't imagine that a lot of folks are going to pay you tons of money after that point to have sex on camera. So after that point, do you have another career path in mind? Or are you hoping to make enough money now so as to not need to work afterwards?

Hey Jim - love the show, love your act. Jerry is a terrific character, and you pull it off REALLY well.

• How much of the "funny" comes from your writers, and how much of it is the cast? I never thought much of Amy Pohler until P&R, and suddenly, she's a riot. Aziz Ansari, on the other hand, could probably make me laugh while reading Pride & Prejudice. The Office, on the other hand, was incredible up until a few seasons ago, and suddenly it's just awful. Did their great writers pack up and move over to you guys?

• How competitive - if at all - are you guys with the other comedies on your network?

Keep up the great work, man!

Eh, I think that depends a lot on what you consider "making a difference." Int'l development is an actual professional field, not something that anyone with enough money for a round-trip plane ticket can do responsibly without qualifications or applicable expertise. But your point about the public's lack of interest in the field generally is well taken. Thanks for answering.

Hey Josh. We went to high school together. Good to see you're doing well! Go Blue Streaks!