Would you donate a dollar to someone on the Internet?
 

I was having this discussion with some folks on another board and thought I'd pose the question here to you guys, I thought it was interesting.

Do you guys remember that website belonging to that girl who put herself into debt real deep by maxing out her credit cards buying purses and shoes and a bunch of other designer garbage? The one who used the website to basically beg for money so she could pay off her debts?

Now, I thought that was pretty shitty 'cos the girl was just fiscally irresponsible from the get-go and wanted strangers to bail her out. I didn't really approve of that and I don't imagine you guys would either. (Or would you? Say so!)

But what if you had someone who was asking for say, a dollar if you had an extra one laying around, who was working toward a very specific goal, like say, starting a business? Do you consider that panhandling of the nasty kind also, or do you look at that as some guy/gal asking a few million new friends to hook him/her up with a buck?

I'm not sure what to think on this myself, it'd make me feel guilty, personally. What're your thoughts on this?

I've sent money to a skatepark (that'll I'll most likely never ride, mind you) that was flooded in 4 feet of water.

I wouldn't personally ask for donations if it was something to help me personally make money, or get out of debt as the site you mentioned did. If i was trying to get a local chapter of the Red Cross set up, or if I was trying to start a foundation to help people afflicted by a tragedy such as a hurrican, tornado, fire, illness, etc, then I wouldn't have a problem with setting one up and asking, or donating if I had the money.

hell no.
(depends on the cause though, but most likely no)

I've donated to the site on a few occasions. Why? Because I enjoy it and I love being here. Would I just send out money to random people on the net? No. I'd like for people to send me money so I could go to a better college, but I'm sure as hell not going to panhandle for it. If you want my money, at least do something to entertain me, otherwise, there's no chance I'm sending it to you.

Spec - so you look at all Internet donation as panhandling? I ask because I see a number of paypal donation boxes on things such as blogs, and I think that's pretty whacked out.

And what about camgirls? Now THAT I think is pretty much the closest thing to prostitution on the Internet. Agree? Disagree?

When pigs fly...

However, I will to a site that I like, as I fully intend to for TFP (once Paypal get their act together on my account).

I've also bought several shareware packages.

If I use it, I pay for it.

Mr Mephisto

I'm a little tired, so what I said may not have reflected what I meant. I don't mean that all internet donation is panhandling. I meant that I'm willing to make internet donations, I'm just not willing to hand out money to everyone who asks for it.

Hehe, sure. I don't think you'll find anyone who'll give out money for the asking.

My knee jerk answer is "fuck no" unless you give me a real good reason and generally tangible results from it.
I did pay for totalfark 'cause it was worth it, and also a small monthly amount for emusic.com and an old time radio site.

I donated here, and a bit more than a dollar.

I will donate to causes online, but only refutable ones. Extra dollars I have laying around either go to soda machines or homeless people, although I would rather buy them/ give them food or water before cash.

Gib, IS totalfark worth it? What do you actually GET for it?

You get your moneys worth when you donate to TFP. The wife and I donate about $1000 a year to different charities and organizations. Online and off.

I've thought about this a little bit first before posting. I even asked some friends what their thoughts are on this as well. The general consensus from everyone is 'NO'. The only way most people will donate is if they get something in return from it, which is only fair. It can't be all just give give give without getting anything in return from whatever you place your money or time into. Everyone wants to get something out of what they give into

I encounter a ton of homeless people, and I know that any money I give to most of them is going straight to listerine, so I don't bother with that anymore. For a few days, I wrapped up a few extra meals I made at the homeless shelter I work at to give to any of the dozen beggars I'd see on the 3 minute walk from work to the bus. Usually the response I'd get when offering the meals was 'Fuck You', which is the same response I now give those same homeless people who ask for change for 'food'.

Anyways...

That savekaryn.com, or whoever that girl was who maxed out her credit cards buying prada shoes or whatever can eat my ass, I'm not giving you anything for being an irresponsible moron. Same with girls begging for boob jobs, get a job you lazy fucks. If you need money because you wasted all of yours, or can't afford something beyond food and shelter, go fuck yourself, or better yet, fuck me, it's the only way you'll see even one hard-earned cent from me.

Now, charities and the like are different. I don't have a whole lot of money to throw around, but any change I get from buying a coffee or whatever goes into the charity box by the cash register.

i would rather give it to some random pedestrian

randomly donate? or donate to a fuck up like that woman? hell no. I will donate to keep my favourite sites going tho (assuming I have money)

Ill never send any of my money to anyone, unless it is immediate family

Well lemme put it this way watver they claim their using the money for its for something illegal LOL. Seriously though i wouldnt donate for the simple fact i dont know wat the moneys really for. same thing in real life when someone homless begs for money and u think their hungry and they buy boose. Id rather buy em a hotdog.

On a case specific basis -- sure -- I'd donate a buck.