Should Solicitations for $$ be allowed on Message Boards?- Page 2

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 7:17pm

My only concerns about the solicitations is that people need to be really careful about where their money is going. Research the charity that is the benefit of your donation. If you are sending money right into a pay-pal account you might want to think twice...or three times before you contribute. I guess what I am saying is "Donor beware". We have a great many of young and very gullible people who post here. This could really be a cash cow for an individual who was out to scam someone.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 7:26pm

Jose'- Are you the same Jose' that wanted to charge money for an "adults only" board or was that a different Jose'?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 7:34pm

Unlike some of the other people who are on this Board and on very limited incomes, I often have some spare dollars here and there to donate to a worthy cause, whether it be a Breast Cancer Walk, an MS Walk, AIDS walks . . . I am not talking thousands of dollars, but I have enough to sponsor those who are doing fundraisers for groups I support.

So, I appreciate it when someone posts that they are going to be doing a fund raising effort for a reputable organization that I know, because it makes it that much easier to donate.

If you do not like it, don't click on the thread.

And, for the record, Sueleen's word of caution is a worth reminder for all.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:22pm

Once again it falls to Namo the Peacekeeper to step in with the perfect compromise solution: The Cause Board!

It'd be a board where everybody who cares about causes and things and stuff could go to talk about causes and things and stuff. They could challenge each other to fundraising duels and EVERYTHING! Probably we could get Corine2 to pull some strings and get a pair of tickets to Forbidden Broadway for the person who raises enough money for Thyroid Awareness, for example.

There could be a thermometer graphic that says "This Here Much Money Has Been Raised for Causes and Things and Stuff by the Good Citizens of The Broadwayworld Cause Board." Because that's what it's really all about, being good citizens.

Is somebody writing these great ideas of mine down?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 10:23pm

*takes notes*

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:01pm

Updated On: 1/17/09 at 11:01 PM

[etoile]

Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:53pm

Namo, while that Cause Board is being developed think you can pull some strings and also get a Prayers & Positive Vibes Board and please, for the love of God, a Happy Birthday Board?

And for those dissatisfied with José's threads they can always follow their own advice and ignore his post, just like I ignore Birthdays and novenas for bunnies.

I think he asked a very valid question worthy of discussion. It was thought provoking. And yes people do use their skills to procure dinners, rent money, tickets and invitations through social contacts made on this board. They're just skilled enough not to do so overtly but rather in an ever so subtle manner.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:05am

"And for those dissatisfied with José's threads they can always follow their own advice and ignore his post."

With all due respect, etoile, in José's thread he asked a question, which one assumes means he's looking for people to give their opinions.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:16am

I must say NAMO, being the voice of wisdom that you profess to be, your "wisdom" leaves much to be desired on this one. Your posts are usually thought provoking and somewhat wise. What happened here?

[etoile]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:28am

And I too would expect that he was looking for opinions...on the question he asked.


~~ "Anyone else getting tired of Jose's remarks?"

~~ " 'Anyone else getting tired of Jose's remarks? I haven't been on these boards too long but quite a few of his posts that I've read has been very negative and usually rude.' 'YES' "

~~ " 'Should whiny threads by Jose' be allowed on message boards?'
No, everytime I see a thread made by him I know it will be him complaining about something stupid that no one else agrees with him on."

So again my comment would be that if one is dissatisfied with the style and content of José's post then perhaps they can find yet another Last Five Years Thread to read and debate once again if Jamie or Cathy was to blame or enter any of another hundred threads and ignore his post.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:32am

You know, in real life, the people I generally have a problem with the most are those who create conflict where there is none, just for the sake of getting people upset.

Now that's one thing.

But for someone to cause conflict where there is none in an effort to stop fundraising for organizations helping other human beings in need--this would have be a person who lacks any form of human compassion.

Jose, in one way, I think you're lucky. From your thoughtless post, one of two things is pretty clear:

1. Either you've never suffered from a day-to-day life threatening medical condition or disability.

2. Or, you have indeed suffered significantly and you have such a deep level of self-hatred that you choose to spend your energy fighting to ensure that others suffer as you do.

If this is the case, I pity you.

Updated On: 4/10/06 at 12:32 AM

[vbplayer]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:34am

Yes etoile, this is a post that is destined to become nasty. Being a message board, it is open for anything..like it or not. It was posted to conquer and divide.

Sorry Namo, I didn't mean to single you out. I do enjoy your posts. It was the heat of the moment.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:44am

Oddly enough Ive gotten three donations from board members since this topic began... Thanks Jose! (for drawing the extra attention) :)
Updated On: 4/10/06 at 12:44 AM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 12:56am

No one should be nasty to anybody else or bring up unrelated topics in an effort to attack someone for raising a question, I completely agree with you, etoile. (That is what therapists call "unfair fighting.")

Sadly, it happens here all the time. It's pretty ugly...no matter who is doing it.

It certainly isn't "charitable."

[etoile]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:06am

"Yes etoile, this is a post that is destined to become nasty. Being a message board, it is open for anything..like it or not. It was posted to conquer and divide."

Like it or not? I'm not the one bitching about someone asking a valid question.

It was posted to conquer and divide. What was? Your post or José's question? I'm missing how his post is conquering or dividing anything? You know there are workplaces, institutions, facilities, bulletin boards etc. that do not allow any solicitation for any cause regardless of how worthy.

So let's bottom line it. What exactly is the problem with the question being asked? Or is it just a problem with the person doing the asking?

Updated On: 4/10/06 at 01:06 AM

[orion59]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 7:38am

"So let's bottom line it. What exactly is the problem with the question being asked? Or is it just a problem with the person doing the asking?"

There's a complicated question. I think it's pretty obvious that some people just have an issue with Jose. No matter what he posts, those people are going to attack him.

The bigger issue here is that so few people in the world are able to step away from their own egos for a moment and look at something objectively. It's especially true on this board. These people seem to think that any opinion that is in disagreement with their own, is personal attack on them, their reputations, their beliefs and causes.

Jose asked a question that is open for debate, meaning that if you disagree, present the opposing side of the argument with inetlligent reasoning as to why it is a good thing. People act as though Jose posted something condemning charities or saying that certain causes are unworthy of funds. That's not what happened. I wish people could learn to read something without allowing their egos to read more inro it than what is presented.

Now, to answer the question Jose raised. I have mixed feelings about it. I think it's fine for people to tap into any resource they ahve available to them. However, it does open the doors for hundreds of threads, which could become difficult to navigate and it provides opportunity for the kind of scamming mentioned in the posts from Sueleen and Etoil.

I think it should be allowed but monitored to ensure it doesn't get out of hand and that people are not taken advantage of.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 9:06am

Do you guys honestly think this stuff is not being monitored?
If someone's posting something like "support me in my race for the elimination of irritible bowel syndrome! Donate now through Paypal!" I'm sure the moderators are looking into it to make sure a scam is not at work.

ETA: I notice that some people, while bemoaning the typical "Jose bashing" that happens each time he begins a thread, just can't resist giving another lash to their own little whipping post(ers).
Updated On: 4/10/06 at 09:06 AM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 9:26am

I made a donation (a couple of weeks ago) to support someone from this site who is doing the AIDS Walk. He is someone I don't know and have had minimal interaction with on the board. But I noticed a link in his sig, figured "why not support someone I am familiar with", and followed the link. It took me to the official AIDS Walk site, and allowed me to contribute in a very non-threatening and secure manner. If he were to move the link to an actual post announcing that he is doing the Walk, would that *really* be a problem?

That is significantly different from a thread someone started a while back looking to borrow $50.00.

I may have missed something over the past couple of days that triggered this issue, but aside from a handful of annoyingly inappropriate solicitations in the past, has it really been a problem? In the situations I can recall, the posts were either eliminated pretty quickly, or else the poster had the virtual stuffing kicked out of him, and I suspect garnered no financial support.

I understand that it *could* get out of control, but at this point it hasn't. In fact, it makes me feel good to see that there are people out there actively involved. Yes, by all means be careful because, lord knows, scams do exist. But I'd still rather function on the belief that the majority of people who post here are honorable. (And that comes from someone who has met a denizen or two of the dark underbelly of BWW...)

[Elphaba]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 10:32am

hmmm, what I really have learned from this thread is I never know which personality of Jose will come out and play....Hell, it's like dealing with Sybil........

what it comes down to is this......
1. if you don't want to read a thread, DON'T CLICK ON IT.

2. You can only control what you do, not anyone else. You can tell people til your blue in the face to make sure what you are donating to is real, but people will do what they want. So stop wasting your time being mother or father.

3. Any subject is worthy of a post. Of course that does not mean there isn't an appropriate way, and an inappropriate way to start it. Calling things like AIDS, and womens' cancer "causes du Jour" is the inappropriate way.

4. And as many have said......it's not like everyone is running around BWW asking for money......three people have in the past week or so. I have donated to all three.....and will continue to donate to causes I am behind. If you don't want to DON'T!
But....don't ruin it for me by taking away a line of communication to support BWW memebers.

( and the above is not solely aimed at Jose, it applies to any of us)

Updated On: 4/10/06 at 10:32 AM

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 10:35am

Oh, bway, darling. With irritable bowel syndrome, every day is a race.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 10:54am

So let's bottom line it. What exactly is the problem with the question being asked? Or is it just a problem with the person doing the asking?

It's condescending. It's offensively worded, and frankly, even if it wasn't meant to be, something that's clearly pretty sensitive should've been better worded because when you post in type, you have the advantage of thinking about things before you say them. And, IMO, it was unnecessary and cause for drama. It comes across as being a reason to stir something up, and not a legit question, because the "problem" at hand, at least as of yet, is not a problem.

[vbplayer]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:28am

Emcee, I wish that I could have expressed my observation as succinctly as you did. Thank you.

Didn't mean to rile anyone up, I guess adding "in my opinion" is necessary for the more sensitive posters.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:36am

Thank you.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 6:16pm

Is there a Moderator in the house?