Begging on board for donations?

[Mike AI]

I have noticed a very common practice on some boards lately is to tell a sob story ( or have someone else do it for you), then ask people to start make donation through paypal.

I want to be very clear. If I am ever down on my luck, if my car breaks down, if Katie is kidnapped by a cult in Haiti, if my dog needs hip replacement surgury, or anything else I ask all of my friends NOT to post on the boards asking for handouts and donations.

I may be flat ass broke, but I will always have my pride.

I am all about helping people out, I have done more then my fair share ( though recently I have been fucked - this story will be coming out soon - because I don't want this person fucking other people) but to go public on a board.... its pretty tasteless to me.

[Mike AI]

To follow up. There is an important lesson to be learned from these type of posts ( Serge its not that there are stupid sheep to be fleeced :lol: )

The lesson is that people should save and invest there money. Everyone should have money put aside for rainy days/emergencies.

You should not be living sponsor check to sponsor check. It is not professional, not responsible and eventually you will get your ass in a bind.

I know on Oprano that this is something a majority of us have done, but for those lurkers who just read - this is something that you should pay attention to!

[masterp74]

you say that now.












I will too soon :matey:

[GrimShawn]

I totally agree, I was rather disgusted when I saw that recently. I find it tasteless to use the kindness of some people in this industry to profit from. Even if you are broke or sick or etc.

Hospitals will let you pay off a debt over time. Why give a sad story and try to get others to pay your bills for you. I just don't get it. I myself could not sleep at night if I had to do that.

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by masterp74@Mar 4 2004, 05:26 PM
you say that now.












I will too soon :matey:
MasterP even if I was broke I would not do this. I was raised differently. Remember I was not born with money. I know what it is like to live on a small budget. Eating ramon noodles, wondering where I am going to get gas money, etc...

[Peaches]

I have no pride: Anyone who wants to send me money, please feel free to do so! :P

Seriously, I agree with you, Michael. It's like the boards have become the "Webmaster Bank". Some are legitimate, many are not. It's also disturbing that sometimes the generosity outweighs the need and the recipient is fine with keeping the extra dough.

Heck, I had to come up with about $2000 out of my own pocket when the kid totaled the truck (which WAS paid back to me, BTW :awinky: ). A couple of years ago I had about $25K in medical expenses - I cannot even fathom getting on here and asking for help or letting anyone else get on here for me and announce they had sent me money in order to solicit other donations. :unsure: It was MY expense - not yours, lol!

And if I die, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE KID IF HE BEGS!! I have a ton of life insurance. :awinky:

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by GrimShawn@Mar 4 2004, 05:26 PM
I totally agree, I was rather disgusted when I saw that recently. I find it tasteless to use the kindness of some people in this industry to profit from. Even if you are broke or sick or etc.

Hospitals will let you pay off a debt over time. Why give a sad story and try to get others to pay your bills for you. I just don't get it. I myself could not sleep at night if I had to do that.


I have no problems with friends helping friends, but have some tact. Don't post it on a message board.

I would die from embarasment.

[dantheman]

I need a few dollars for beer.................



anyone?

; )))

[Winetalk.com]

I have no pride and I need $15,000,000 for investment...
can anybody point me to the board where I can raise it?

and YES, I do accept paypal!
;-)))

[pushpills]

I'll donate sperm to any female beggers.

[GrimShawn]

Originally posted by Mike AI+Mar 4 2004, 02:32 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike AI @ Mar 4 2004, 02:32 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--GrimShawn@Mar 4 2004, 05:26 PM
I totally agree, I was rather disgusted when I saw that recently. I find it tasteless to use the kindness of some people in this industry to profit from. Even if you are broke or sick or etc.

Hospitals will let you pay off a debt over time. Why give a sad story and try to get others to pay your bills for you. I just don't get it. I myself could not sleep at night if I had to do that.


I have no problems with friends helping friends, but have some tact. Don't post it on a message board.

I would die from embarasment.[/b][/quote]
Nah asking a couple of friends to help you in time of need is different. You can contact them on a personal level. I have bailed friends out from hard times before, and they have for me. That's what friends do.

[GrimShawn]

Originally posted by Serge_Oprano@Mar 4 2004, 02:38 PM
I have no pride and I need $15,000,000 for investment...
can anybody point me to the board where I can raise it?

and YES, I do accept paypal!
;-)))
You can raise it here.

There is nothing wrong with exploiting people and making money from it, but just plain out begging for money cuz I have crabs is just a fucking joke.

[Mike AI]

The first thing I suspect when a third party comes to solicit donations for another party is the first party is doing it for EGO!

They want to be patted on the back for being so caring, so understanding, do willing to help a friend out, etc...

In essence they are making public posts to benefit themselves. ( especially if they are well known sig whores)

[GrimShawn]

To me you have already failed if you base your stance in this industry by your overall acceptance on webmaster boards.

[Dravyk]

SHITMAN! :lol:

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by Dravyk@Mar 4 2004, 06:10 PM
SHITMAN! :lol:


I am not one to take credit for things, because at the end of the day it does not really matter.

However I was, at least to my knowledge the first person to call him out. I never trusted him. He was not even a good liar.

Yet a lot of my friends who I consider very bright sent him money.

[Dravyk]

You know Mike I heard one of those radio auction charity events turned out to be a scam too. At least that's what I heard from a lot of folks in the know. Can't remember who the people were or where they worked right now. This was about a year and a half ago.

Yeah, it's sad. And laughable too. When GFY still allowed HTML-coding people were placing clickable PayPal buttons in their tags! LOL! Pathetic but worth a chuckle.

[Alex From San Diego]

Mike I totally concur with you.

The funny thing is, some of these people I see asking for donations, I was under the impression that they were established or so they referenced themselves as being.

That is the problem with people, they extend themselves beyond their means with no cushion.

This is very typical of Americans....

[sarettah]

Originally posted by Mike AI@Mar 4 2004, 05:22 PM
I may be flat ass broke, but I will always have my pride.

If you would like to help Mike out, please send your paypal donations to mike@flatassbroke.com

Your penneys really do help.

God Bless You



:yowsa:

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by Alex From San Diego@Mar 4 2004, 06:22 PM
Mike I totally concur with you.

The funny thing is, some of these people I see asking for donations, I was under the impression that they were established or so they referenced themselves as being.

That is the problem with people, they extend themselves beyond their means with no cushion.

This is very typical of Americans....


Alex I agree with you that Americans are very poor savers. Credit is very easy to get, and it the borrowing starts at a very early age.

American's want INSTANT gratification.... we don't want to save up, we don't want to be patient.

I have these same urges.... fortunately I have been beating them back lately.

[Carrie]

I disagree with you, Mike.
If Katie were ever kidnapped and whisked off to Haiti I say we fire up a fund to get Buff and the boys to go kick some ass and bring her home. :salute:

[JR]

my personal opinion is that private lives, personal problems and issues not related to business do not belong on a porn message board. though i understand the sense of community that most feel and that most people know each other, i just think it is something that does not belong in this biz. thats why i never respond to any personal threads. not because i don't feel bad or sympathize or want someone to recover or whatever,... of course i do. i am human. i don't comment because i think it's an innapropriate place for those types of discussions. but maybe thats just the John Ashcroft in me speaking.
:)

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by Carrie@Mar 4 2004, 07:22 PM
I disagree with you, Mike.
If Katie were ever kidnapped and whisked off to Haiti I say we fire up a fund to get Buff and the boys to go kick some ass and bring her home. :salute:


Well I hope we never find out, even though we are going to the Dominican Republic later this month for Noah's wedding.

If it were to happen, we should find someone a little more in shape then Buff to rescue her!

But I do appreciate the offer!!

[GrimShawn]

I myself would like to think if any from anyones family was kidnapped that they would not spend time posting about it on a message board. If someone from your family was kidnapped and you were posting about it anywhere I find that to be rather sick.

[Winetalk.com]

Originally posted by GrimShawn@Mar 4 2004, 07:48 PM
I find that to be rather sick.
for less than $50,000 in donations
;_)))

[GrimShawn]

Originally posted by Serge_Oprano+Mar 4 2004, 05:11 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Serge_Oprano @ Mar 4 2004, 05:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--GrimShawn@Mar 4 2004, 07:48 PM
I find that to be rather sick.
for less than $50,000 in donations
;_)))[/b][/quote]

So i'm only worth 50k to you :(

[Hell Puppy]

I've been preaching for a couple of years about building assets and net worth instead of living.....hmmmm....what's the politically correct term?....heh. Let's just say instead of blowing everything you make on toys.

It amazes me though at the number of people who have taken a large amount of cash out of this industry and have little or no net worth and in many cases do not even have credit. Too often those poor management practices also carry over to other things and they do not have insurance either. Something bad happens and they're suddenly "down on their luck". I'm not unsympathetic, but it aint "bad luck", it's piss poor planning and money management.

I shake my head everytime I see someone who builds up $40-50K and turns around and spends the whole wad to buy a car....one of the most rapidly depreciating assets you can buy.

[dantheman]

damn, guess I'll get my own beer :)

[AM Jeff]

Does this mean I'll be out of line to ask for donations so my gf can get a boob job on ya'll rxpense?
:yowsa:

[PornoDoggy]

I tend to ignore pleas for help in most cases, because I am a suspicious S.O.B. and don't like to be scammed. Probably pass on a some "legitimate" causes for that very reason. There's also a serious difference between someone who needs surgery to save their eyesight and someone who needs to pay the 3-month-overdue electric bill.

Every once in a while I see something come up that seems legit, and I might kick in a few bucks. Shit happens - don't mind helping people when it happens to them.

But that's just my opinion. I don't think any less of someone who would ask for help than I do of someone so sanctimonious as to think that everyone who needs help is somehow at fault for it.

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by Hell Puppy@Mar 4 2004, 08:34 PM
I've been preaching for a couple of years about building assets and net worth instead of living.....hmmmm....what's the politically correct term?....heh. Let's just say instead of blowing everything you make on toys.

It amazes me though at the number of people who have taken a large amount of cash out of this industry and have little or no net worth and in many cases do not even have credit. Too often those poor management practices also carry over to other things and they do not have insurance either. Something bad happens and they're suddenly "down on their luck". I'm not unsympathetic, but it aint "bad luck", it's piss poor planning and money management.

I shake my head everytime I see someone who builds up $40-50K and turns around and spends the whole wad to buy a car....one of the most rapidly depreciating assets you can buy.
I think the term being politically correct is "ghetto rich"

I agree with you 99.99%


The 00.01 difference is buying a classic car actually appreciates in value!

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by PornoDoggy@Mar 4 2004, 08:46 PM
I tend to ignore pleas for help in most cases, because I am a suspicious S.O.B. and don't like to be scammed. Probably pass on a some "legitimate" causes for that very reason. There's also a serious difference between someone who needs surgery to save their eyesight and someone who needs to pay the 3-month-overdue electric bill.

Every once in a while I see something come up that seems legit, and I might kick in a few bucks. Shit happens - don't mind helping people when it happens to them.

But that's just my opinion. I don't think any less of someone who would ask for help than I do of someone so sanctimonious as to think that everyone who needs help is somehow at fault for it.


PD I am the same way.

I would think most people on Oprano give back a lot. To their friends, community and people in need.

It is one thing to be caught in some dilemna that is an emergency. It is something different to not have properaly planned.

My mom always says" Lack of proper planning does not constitute and emergency on my part" You can tell who writes the checks from teh companies.

[Hell Puppy]

Originally posted by Mike AI@Mar 4 2004, 09:50 PM

The 00.01 difference is buying a classic car actually appreciates in value!
I shoulda qualified that and said "new" car...

:rolleyes:

[Sabby]

Originally posted by AM Jeff@Mar 4 2004, 08:40 PM
Does this mean I'll be out of line to ask for donations so my gf can get a boob job on ya'll rxpense?
:yowsa:
Mine were tax deductible!


Sabby:)

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by Sabby+Mar 4 2004, 10:12 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Sabby @ Mar 4 2004, 10:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--AM Jeff@Mar 4 2004, 08:40 PM
Does this mean I'll be out of line to ask for donations so my gf can get a boob job on ya'll rxpense?
:yowsa:
Mine were tax deductible!


Sabby:)[/b][/quote]


And I do not remember you or anyone else trying to raise money for them!!

:D

[Dravyk]

Originally posted by Mike AI@Mar 4 2004, 07:45 PM
Well I hope we never find out, even though we are going to the Dominican Republic later this month for Noah's wedding.
So I assume if I get a letter later this month that starts out like this:


First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction, this is by virtue
of its nature as being utterly CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET. Though I know
that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.
i have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

Let me start by first introducing myself properly to you, I am the assistant
to the prime minister of the Dominican Republic, and I came to
know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to
handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a
huge sum of money to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence ...


I will know it's you, Mike! :P