Appeals for money on Kiwi Biker?

[DougieNZ]

Should there be some rules on people asking for money to help a particular cause?

I have seen various appeeals to "help so and so out because they have binned their bike".

When I see these appeals, then I often wonder about the following things:

Was the bike being ridden legally (Reg, Warrantable condition etc)?
Was the rider licenced to ride said bike?
Did they have insurance? If not Why? Was it anything to do with the above?

Now is it just me that wonders these things?

I reckon that if a public appeal is made on a web site such as this that there should be full disclosure of these sorts of things when an appeal is made.

Sometimes unwise/foolhardy/illegal behaviour can contribute to an incident. Sometimes people CHOOSE to take a risk by not having insurance. Do they deserve to be "bailed out" if they make these choices?

Now I am not critcising anyone for running these appeals or anyone contributing. Nor am I making any specific comment on any specific appeal.... I would be interested to hear other's views on this.

[Wingnut]

If there is an appeal for dollars when there has been physical damage caused and its proven to be genuine, then I can see only good coming from donations. At times like this people need to look after their own (in this case the motorcycling community).

As for loss or damage of materialistic items - well thats a completely different scenario. I choose to insure. Its a decision that others sometimes dont make and can end up getting burnt. Its the gamble they take..

[McJim]

My bike fell over in a paddock in a gust of wind and has cracked the fairing BUT to properly repair the bike it requires a new fairing ($1,500).

It is insured but I will lose my no claims bonus and next years premiums are gonna be steep if I make a claim so I've put a bit of red duct tape round the crack and simply cry whenever I look at it.

So Dougie...got a spare $1,500 I can have?

Cheers.

[McDuck]

Should there be some rules on people asking for money to help a particular cause?

I have seen various appeeals to "help so and so out because they have binned their bike".

When I see these appeals, then I often wonder about the following things:

Was the bike being ridden legally (Reg, Warrantable condition etc)?
Was the rider licenced to ride said bike?
Did they have insurance? If not Why? Was it anything to do with the above?

Now is it just me that wonders these things?

I reckon that if a public appeal is made on a web site such as this that there should be full disclosure of these sorts of things when an appeal is made.

Sometimes unwise/foolhardy/illegal behaviour can contribute to an incident. Sometimes people CHOOSE to take a risk by not having insurance. Do they deserve to be "bailed out" if they make these choices?

Now I am not critcising anyone for running these appeals or anyone contributing. Nor am I making any specific comment on any specific appeal.... I would be interested to hear other's views on this.

This is where a thing called trust comes in. If it is not from a rider i trust or approved by a rider i trust then i will not buy into it. simple.

[Nagash]

Mate,

I reckon it's completely up to the person who donates or not.

I remember a couple of people asked some questions about Skelstar's accident which is fair enough, probably could of been Pm'd but people aren't forced to donate.

You can always ask questions, and if you don't get the answers you wanted to hear then obviously you're not going to donate. Simple as that.

I have no problem with them, and would like to contribute to some of these guys myself but i'm way too poor.

I'm one of the bastards that can't afford insurance and still like's to go for long open road rides. If I right off me bike, i'll only have meself to blame and wouldn't ask for money, but that's up to the individual.

[Str8 Jacket]

Mate,

I reckon it's completely up to the person who donates or not.

Exactly. If you dont want to donate for whatever reason then dont and if you do then do. If you've got questions then ask the person responsible in private. At the end of the day no one is forcing anyone to do anything.

[DougieNZ]

Yes.. an interesting example...

"Bloggsy" comes off his bike while totally pissed and riding an unregeistered and unwarranted 1800cc bike on a learners licence. He's perfectly OK but the bike is trashed.

An appeal is made on Kiwibiker saying:

"Please help Bloggsy. It's his only transport to see his sick mother. He is down on his luck, has a trashed bike and has no insurance"

On the face of it, that sounds convinicing. Many people give to the campaign in good faith. Later the FULL truth comes out. Would that cause some pretty bad feeling?

[Nagash]

Many people give to the campaign in good faith. Later the truth comes out. Would that cause some pretty bad feeling?

I would imagine so,

But that's the risk you take by not asking questions.

If you did ask and they blatantly lied to you, i'd write it off and seriously re-consider your friendship with this bloke.

[McJim]

Many people give to the campaign in good faith. Later the truth comes out. Would that cause some pretty bad feeling?

Honest - it fell over while stationary at a Tractor show (How appropriate eh?) go on. Gie us $1,500. Pwease?

you don't belive me do you?

[DougieNZ]

Keep looking at that tape buddy....

[Str8 Jacket]

Yes.. an interesting example...

"Bloggsy" comes off his bike while totally pissed and riding an unregeistered and unwarranted 1800cc bike on a learners licence. He's perfectly OK but the bike is trashed.

An appeal is made on Kiwibiker saying:

"Please help Bloggsy. He is down on his luck, has a trashed bike and has no insurance"

Many people give to the campaign in good faith. Later the truth comes out. Would that cause some pretty bad feeling?

You are describing a completely different situation to the one you refer to in your first post.... That particular person is a well established person who means alot to alot of us. That's why his appeal was made....... Like I say if people aint comfortable then dont do it. No one is pointing a gun to your head and no one is gonna hate you cause you didnt either.
If you dont ask, you dont get. I have no problems with people asking for help with whatever they need.

[Hitcher]

There's nothing wrong with asking for assistance, as long as there is honest disclosure. Nigerian scammers and their ilk have been banned from this site. The same measures will be applied to anybody else found to be promulgating illegal or dishonest means of obtaining money.

[DougieNZ]

Now I am not critcising anyone for running these appeals or anyone contributing. Nor am I making any specific comment on any specific appeal.... I would be interested to hear other's views on this.

Please be clear on that point... This is not a discussion on the merits of ANY past or present appeal. More thoughts about the future...

I take the point people are saying about it being up to the individual whether to contribute. I guess I am saying that, when an appeal is made on a public web site, I believe that the FULL circumstances should be revealed in an effort to ensure that the right decision is being made by contributors.

[onearmedbandit]

dishonest means of obtaining money.

Does that mean lawyers and second hand car salesman are banned? Oops, can't forget the politicians!

[BiK3RChiK]

Personally I don't give $ in these cases. I have insurance, I ride legally and if I have a crash, then, I expect I'd claim on my insurance. If one of my close friends crashed her/his car, I doubt I'd 'help them out'. I think this is about personal responsibility of their finances etc...

When I was 20, I was in my work vehicle (owner/operator) and my vehicle was totally destroyed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. This accident taught me about personal responsibility with regards to having my own insurance and also about saving up some of my money for a rainy day.