Should people ask for donations from strangers on KB?

[Dutchee]

If people come here asking for money, it'd better not be their first post.

If I decide to give my money to someone who asks for some, or give help/support to someone who needs help, that's my business, not anyone else's.

I never met Dan, nor his family, and unfortunately the circumstances are vague in my memory, I have nothing to say in their thread, so I've said nothing there.

This pisses me off, as they have the thread topic "Friends of .....", and are asking those that knew him, or anyone else who may have something to contribute (financial or even support), they are NOT asking for anything from anyone who doesn't want to support them.

They obviously need help & support right now and feel that some KBers may be able to help them in some way. I don't doubt they're not 100% happy about how things have worked out for them, but they are trying to cope and do the best that they can, under the circumstances.

I find it hard to even ask help from friends when I need it, but if my friends ask me for something, I'll do everything I can. I don't always know who my friends are - I've been taken aback at times when someone I've not considered a friend has given me support or help. The family obviously is feeling the same, and it is better for them to ask here, and if there's nothing for them, well, they have tried.

Better to have tried and failed than to have never tried.

You don't have to support or help anyone asking for help if you don't feel it. You may never ask for help, but I think if you did need it, you'd be amazed if ONE person helped you. I'm not meaning because of this thread or anything else you've said/done, but the fact that you'd be privileged to have been helped by a stranger or someone you never considered a friend.

Anyway, I've probably not explained what I've meant properly, or you'll take it the wrong way, red rep me, whatever. It ain't real life, but on the other end of each keyboard/computer is a real person, with real feelings.

don't give anything to the family, but don't belittle what they're going through.

[Nasty]

I'm here to save the retards who simply think "Ow look, a charity - that has to be worthwhile".

Interesting statement ... anyone who asks for money is automatatically a charity. I think not.

A charity is something entirely different. They are asking for help or charity.

There have quite a few several instances where people have asked for money ... and many more where people have asked for support. It is up to each and every one of us to decide what we do around those requests.

I think that being able to ask what the money is for is a fair and reasonable request. That does not include always going into the nitty gritty of a "case" before a court or a coroners inquest. That people want to go into that sort of detail is more for the "gore" factor than being able to offer support.

I asked for no money when Grub died - but I had HUGE support. People took time off work and came to the inquest - I was in a position to represent myself and Brett having done the research and forced the investigations to take place. But that people came was great - it helped me to focus on what needed to be done knowing that others had my back.

For those who need to have financial support - I choose based on many factors if I can help, sometimes it is just not able to be done financially - others it can. There are many on here who are actually mature enough to see the whole picture - and not focus on one piece of it.

[Katman]

There have quite a few several instances where people have asked for money ...

Yeah, and look at the scorn and ridicule thrown around when Morcs started a thread asking for donations for Carvers legal expenses.

[Headbanger]

In a nutshell.

Yes its fine for people to ask for contributions, Its not a big deal until someone makes it so.

No need for a witch hunt.

[Nasty]

Yeah, and look at the scorn and ridicule thrown around when Morcs started a thread asking for donations for Carvers legal expenses.

You quote one part of what I said ... and didn't bother to look at the whole. This is indicative of why I said in the second half of that statement.

It is up to each and every one of us to decide what we do around those requests.

People choose ... we are not stupid ... we discuss if we want - but remember most of us earn our own money - and have the right to decide where it goes.

There was scorn at Carvers mates efforts to raise money to pay a lawyer - and that is part of life. But to compare that to the majority of requests on here is an exceptionally foohlish thing to do. The latest being to have help with a lawyer for an incredibly complicated inquest - quite a different scenario to Carvers.

Again, people make their own decisions. It is that simple - money was raised for Carver - and money will be raised to help other families. It is up to the individual to assess where there money or support goes.

[yungatart]

It is okay to ask for money or anything else that one might need on here. There is no obligation on the part of the reader to give money, it is purely choice.
Why, we have ourselves, asked for money/support when Zac was fundraising to go to Belgium, some gave, some didn't.

Get over it Katman! Someone is doing something you don't agree with...it's not the first time, is it?

[ynot slow]

What's the difference between asking online or via agency.By this I mean having had first hand what it's like to require info on my illness when diagnosed,the cancer society were bloody brilliant(much like similar cases with head injuries,parralysis etc with those agencies,most are non govt funded)in telling me that in NO WAY was asking for help either financial or information wise a problem,they explained the way to apply for grants for travel,even gave me fuel vouchers when required,gave us support via websites etc.And like most of us just ASKING was humbling,but they made it brilliant to be made to feel I/we were not alone in asking and if you didn't ask they couldn't help.

And isn't asking for sponsorship similar to begging,only that sponsor $$$ goes to the project and can be seen with decalls etc on bike or rider,but how does the sponsor know his $$ hasn't gone on end of year piss up.

[Katman]

There was scorn at Carvers mates efforts to raise money to pay a lawyer - and that is part of life.

Exactly.

[Maha]

I asked for money from a stranger once and he said ''yeah but first show us your cock''.

[Katman]

And isn't asking for sponsorship similar to begging,only that sponsor $$$ goes to the project and can be seen with decalls etc on bike or rider,but how does the sponsor know his $$ hasn't gone on end of year piss up.

No, sponsership is (or usually is) an arrangement of mutual benefit to both parties.

[oldrider]

What if the people asking for money are not prepared to disclose what they are trying to achieve with your money?

That is the example set every day by our government! (Well at least over the last sixty years that I have known them)

They don't ask though, they take it by force! (Theft if you do it to them)

[Katman]

There was another donation thread on here a while back. (Quite frankly, on the surface, a more worthy cause than the one that instigated this thread).

However, whenever the thread seemed to be starting to slow down, the recipient of the donations would pop back in crying how hard she was finding it to carry on living.

A cynic could be forgiven for wondering whether it was carefully staged.

[Nasty]

What's the difference between asking online or via agency.By this I mean having had first hand what it's like to require info on my illness when diagnosed,the cancer society were bloody brilliant(much like similar cases with head injuries,parralysis etc with those agencies,most are non govt funded)in telling me that in NO WAY was asking for help either financial or information wise a problem,they explained the way to apply for grants for travel,even gave me fuel vouchers when required,gave us support via websites etc.And like most of us just ASKING was humbling,but they made it brilliant to be made to feel I/we were not alone in asking and if you didn't ask they couldn't help.

And isn't asking for sponsorship similar to begging,only that sponsor $$$ goes to the project and can be seen with decalls etc on bike or rider,but how does the sponsor know his $$ hasn't gone on end of year piss up.

Sponsorship different issue .... as KM says its a mutual benefit - to promote.

But I think the biggest thing you have said in your statement is that the NGO's are there to support - help where they can - but offer a wide range of ways to support you through things. The NGO/Not for profit sector operates in an extremely difficult environment - but they do show support and services in ways quite often outside the square.

[Nasty]

There was another donation thread on here a while back. (Quite frankly, on the surface, a more worthy cause than the one that instigated this thread).

However, whenever the thread seemed to be starting to slow down, the recipient of the donations would pop back in crying how hard she was finding it to carry on living.

A cynic could be forgiven for wondering whether it was carefully staged.

Wow .. you just showed what an ignorant fool you are.

[Katman]

Wow .. you just showed what an ignorant fool you are.

Really?

I remember numerous people making the offer to meet her for a coffee and to give their moral support.

To the best of my knowledge no-ones offer was ever accepted - only their money.

I may be an ignorant fool but you're a gullible one.