Why do people pretend to listen and care?

I just want to understand, that is all. When money was good around here, and a friend hit hard times, we were the first ones to reach out a helping hand. Everything from tossing them some cash to letting people move in with us so they would not be on the streets. Now we have hit hard times and have a crap load of issues and not one person even cares to listen to me or my wife talk about them. People still, to this day, call with their little trivial problems and put a deaf ear to ours. Now do not get me wrong, I am not so self centered that I think anyone owes us anything. I just do not understand why every one, including strangers, want to call us when they hit a bump. They dump all of their problems on our lap. OK, I want to make this clear. We have enough things to deal with of our own, we are all stocked up on problems. So take your " I have an ingrown toenail" and " My lover won't divorce his wife for me " and " I spent all of my money on weed and do not have money for gas" problems and stick them. We have real problems. Business is at a stand still, I cannot find a decent job and we are not even living paycheck to paycheck, as we do not know when we will get a paycheck. These are real problems that are a result partially of my stubborness and partly from the failing economy. We just want to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. We are very loving people and I do not want people to think they cannot turn to us when they need help or advice, but be decent enough to lend an open ear and see what is going on in our world as well. At least pretend you care for one minute. I tell my wife all the time that it is US against the WORLD. No one else cares or is willing to put forth any effort to help out where they can. I guess I am just venting, but it feels good to write it, even if no one reads it.