For the most part.

Who in their right fucking mind would get any use out of a 'date', 'dinner' or 'drink' with half of those assclowns that have donated those items?

Put something of value on there for gods sake like the vast majority of other people have instead of trying to market yourselves.

I have an idea for an auction item
3 months of GFY board silence from Lee

for someone who seems to hate GFY so much, all you seem to do is talk about it over and over and over

ok, we get it, you hate GFY...move on already...

Is there a direct link to donate stuff or bid on stuff???

If there is and any mod sees it , could we pin it please?

Where did i mention the zoo in this thread? LOL

It's a fun way to donate money. I think Snoops paid $1K or something for a toaster a few years ago. It's not the value of what's being donated, it's how much money you can raise :)

Peaches, I agree.

Much of the $$ is never collected, and neither are the prizes....

<_<

Most of the money/prizes is never collected??????

I never knew that......

:(

I am ashamed how this business is representing itself.

"Much" not "most". :awinky:

It is pathetic to pledge something to a charity to make yourself look good and not pay up. I wish someone would name names :(

BANG!!!!!

IMHO thats it in a nutshell.

BANG!!!!!

IMHO thats it in a nutshell. [/b][/quote]


Pretty much sums up the industry.

That is why I do not take part anylonger in these events.

"Much" not "most". :awinky:

It is pathetic to pledge something to a charity to make yourself look good and not pay up. I wish someone would name names :( [/b][/quote]
Uh oh. Asking Mike to name names.

Pretty much sums up the industry.

That is why I do not take part anylonger in these events. [/b][/quote]
We concur on something. ;-))

Do you know names of people that didn't , after working the PR angle , didn't pay.

If so could you at least tell me privately so I could give them a wide berth in the future.

Uh oh. Asking Mike to name names. [/b][/quote]


Honestly, I do not remember specific names....

If I did, I would post them - trust me. I am not Drav!!

BANG!!!!!

IMHO thats it in a nutshell. [/b][/quote]
But that's not what I said in a nutshell :awinky:

It's like the difference between:

Nick is a crook

and

Nick is a crook, allegedly :)

Honestly, I couldn't care less if anyone wants to pump their ego up by donating to a good cause and announcing it - the beneficiary gets the donation and in the end, that's really all that's important.

But when you falsely state you're giving, and then back out.....that's disgusting. :barfon:

Likewise , as you say I couldn't care a less if someone wants to pump up their own ego.

I just don't think I'll join them in that,

And I agree anyway that funds reach the victims is good.
Even if in return someones ego is boosted.Awesome.

I just don't think I'll join them in that

Hell I'm agreeing with peaches and Mike today , something is very wrong ;-))

Precisely!!!!!

Its the difference between saying a statement you believe to be wholly true , but wishing to protect yourself from potential flak.

;-)))

I agree 100% :)

They said the earthquake that caused the tsunami played a little bit of havoc with the world - this could be a result :okthumb:

Nah, I'm not real shy about saying things even if I get some flak. As I said before, raising a male for 21 years as a single mother makes you immune to just about anything anyone can throw at you :P

Stop dividing up your responses - it confuses me! <_<

The lack of followthrough is exactly why I just donate to my causes privately and mostly anonymously.

I'm more about helping where I can, rather than patting myself on the back...


Lee, c'mon, we all know who you were talking about and most them are GFYers...
your fascination and preoccupation with GFY is very evident...kind of like the kid who pulls the hair of the little girl he likes...

as for the merits of GFY, I'll save that for another thread ;-)

When the tsunami happened, there was a post over at the zoo, talking about Robb from camz.com, who was over in Thailand at the time.

http://www.camz.com/tsunami/

As to auction items being lame....it's not the point. The items don't matter. The bids do. More importantly, paying up matters even more.

Getting it to the victims is even more imperative and I just don't have much faith in the Red Cross' delivery.

On the other hand, charity is not the only one who doesn't deliver. When I won the Winter Version of the Webmaster of the Year in 2003, to this date, I have not received one of my prizes. Shit happens.

You mean all those past auctions and when I paid up, I didn't have to? Damn! Now you tell me!

Not to take away from the auction and their donation going to Red Cross, anyone who wants to donate $ that will go directly to folks in Thailand can email Robb@camz.com

He made one trip few weeks ago (including his bday) and I'm sure he'd be willing to make another run down coast.

http://www.camz.com/tsunami/


EDIT: ACK! Raven, missed your post.... :headwall:

Unfortunately there is a LOT of big bragging over donations and then very little follow through. It's nice to see someone actually DO something about it. I'm sure the people who have organized various events, auctions and collections for causes over the years have tons of stories about the phonies that never paid up.

My new motto this year is: PUT UP OR SHUT UP B)

I know of one webmaster a few years ago who did one of the Adopt-a-Kid at the holidays thing and thought that all he had to do was buy each kid 1 gift. I explained, "this IS their holiday - everything you buy is ALL they are getting." Still, he only sent one item. I heard through the grapevine that the people organizing the charity made sure those kids still had a good holiday and "made up" for what this louse didn't do.

Participating in that charity led us to adopt a whole family here locally, the kids really get into it and I'm glad that they are learning to NOT be like that guy who sent 1 gift to his kid.

Point is.... every little thing you do - although it may seem small to you - HELPS. So don't let the losers get you down. If you want to contribute - that's awesome. If you don't or have an alternative charity you would rather give to, that's cool too. Giving is a very personal thing.

:okthumb:

People are chalkin up some major dough for dates.

Wonder how much I'd fetch?

I really hate being so harsh, but I feel I must. In 2001 the American Red Cross fucked up badly and while we as an industry contributed 1/2 Million, much of the money that was donated by us and everyone else was wasted on beefing up the American Red Cross, rather than immediately helping those affected by the tragedy.

I'm a "fuck me once shame on you, fuck me twice shame on me" kind of person. I was pumped to learn that once again the "industry" was putting together a charity auction, and I had high hopes for a huge success. Then I saw that all the money is going to be sent to the American Red Cross. I can't do it. I won't support the American Red Cross ever again because of their handling of monies after 9/11, nor will I ever donate to TheUnitedWay or UNICEF because I know their history. I can find it within myself to forgive an individual for fucking up, but I will never forgive a 501c3 sanctioned NON-PROFIT organization for taking advantage of a situation and Profiting from it.

Yes, my comments are harsh. I mean them to be harsh. I contributed to the 9/11 auction, and while my contribution was meager it was from my heart and I expected that EVERY penny would be accountable to providing relief to those that needed it and/or keeping the machine moving. I did NOT donate for building new office spaces for their paid execs. Fuck the American Red Cross.

MarcDe, I support what you are doing 100% but I won't be party to sending one penny to that organization.

Suggestion: Why not instead of funding an over red-taped administrative nightmare of an organization where 1/2 of the money will never be used to help the people it's spent for ... re-funding an excursion like CamZ pulled off, that actually spent every penny donated to provide real relief without any politics involved? Imagine $100,000 of aid spent on directly helping those that are suffering rather than $100,000 donated and only $50,000 to $75,000 actually getting to the people in need. Wouldn't that be a more fitting contribution from this industry?

Everyone world-wide says we are the scum of the Earth. Heh, funny how we actually are the most proactive supporters of personal responsibility and doing our best to "keep porn off the streets", so to speak - at least out of the hands of children. I doubt seriously that a starving homeless child in Phuket is going to bitch about the fact that getting a toothbrush from a known pornographer tainted his life.

I'm sorry for ranting so loudly. I just felt burnt the last time we, as an industry and more importantly a community, did this kind of thing. I'm all for doing it, just not via the American Red Cross.

Let the spankings begin. :bwave:

Venturi,

No need to apologize, I agree with ya 100%... Sticking a $20 in the lil red kettle is nice; but running down to the shelter and handing out some blankets and toys makes more of impact IMO.

Any help is good, folks do what they can when they can... Some kinds of help cut out the middle man though... ;o)

Could we get Robb from Camz over here if anyone can reach him and he has time/availability?

I too would feel much better , if he is willingand able of course , to support his direct action.

This is the precise reason why Gov't should not handle these things. They are the most inefficient vehicle for helping - it only creates buearacracy and we end up paying for people to shuffle papers, and be rude.

Same applies to many large charity orginization. The Red Cross is one of them. Everyone should do their homewrk when donating to charities to make sure the money goes to those who need it!

I think Mark has better ties to them than I do but I will see if I can bump Robb and invite him over. I havent seen him on ICQ since I got back from Vegas.

I think you got a very nice idea there partner!

Red Cross is gonna get some sweet new buildings, just like after 9/11.

one tenth is still charity right?

I've posted on another thread about organisations like the Red Cross.

Last I heard from Robb was that he had gotten home safely and was tired as hell.

Not sure if the effort is still going on over there.

Nick,

Got ahold of Dan... He's working on post now... ;)

Hi Guys and Gals,

Sorry Robb has been traveling and in fact I am getting ready to head over there too Thailand on Monday.

Robb had done what he could with what he had. We collected $4,000 from use and many webmasters that contributed to the fund we set up.

We did collect from everyone BTW. Thank you very much.

Robb was able to reach areas that had not yet received any relief yet at the time he went.

Now however I am sure as is Robb that many organizations are in country and organized and able to reach the people direct. Robb was happy to have had the opportunity to do what he did as you can clearly feel when you read his brief about his trip. http://www.camz.com/tsunami/


He does not, at this time, have any planes to return to the area. All money that was left over from what we collected (couple hundred) was deposited in a direct fund in Bangkok.

In my opinion the time for anything to really benefit the people directly is done. There is so much money raised now that it is doubtful that anyone will do without. I do not want to sound like I do not care because I do care a great deal, but in reality the need for food and water and that need is going to be done already and the long term financial needs are going to be taken care of as well with the loads of funds collected and pledged by the people and governments of the world.

My thanks to those who did step forward and also sent their well wishes to Robb and his trip. It was a success and he was able to reach those that need what he was able to provide.

I should also add that another reason Robb may be reluctant to return is that emotionally it took a great deal out of him. He lives there, loves the people and the country a great deal and to see the amount of suffering that he saw took a great deal out of him and his assistant.

If you are looking for someone to find a local charity or a fund that is in a better position to get the money directly into the hands of the people I am sure he can find one there. he can be reached at robb@camz.com and maybe he will find the address and or info on the good charities.

Excellent point. I was introduced today to a woman that has family in Sri Lanka. She is planning a trip next week (her 5th since the tsunami) to bring blankets, clothing and supplies to the surrounding area. IMHO this is a better way to see that these people get help ASAP rather than dumping it into the Red Cross pile.

My anti-RC feelings go way back.... to when I was little and learned of the Red Cross selling blankets to people who'd just lost their homes in a tornado in NW Ohio... SELLING blankets... most didn't have wallets, money or even shoes on their feet - they just ran from the homes in time to save their lives... and the Red Cross was there... SELLING them blankets.

:cryin:

This was not the first time I've donated 'directly' to a cause. I, like many others, are disenchanted with large organisations, such as the Red Cross. Too often I hear about a huge fund drive and then I have to read about the money not getting to the people in need.

I am not naive. I realise salaries must be paid to those working the shifts, organising, etc.

I draw the line when I read that less than 50% got to those who are in such dire straits.

The Red Cross is on my list of 'do not donate'. Sorry, MarcDe. I'd love to participate. But, not to them.

I kept up with Robb as he drove around, giving of himself, to supply these people with essentials. We can't all pick up and go to the countries in need. But, Robb was there and he did for us what we were not able to accomplish. It was a mitzvah he did. A blessing on his house.

Amen!

When 9/11 hit I was living on the fumes of what was once my corpo-nestegg. I was a total newbie to this end of the internet and after 3 months in the biz I'd garnered a single check - from AEBN for $3.97.
We were barely able to pay for our hosting, much less donate or bid. But we did what we could. When we found out that the AmRC used donated money to build office space, that by all reports wasn't needed and to beef up the execs portfolios, I had genocidal thoughts.

I can't imaging what Robb and his cohorts went thru and experienced in their trip. I would never ask them to do that again. I would support in every way I can to help fund a similar mission anyone else might be willing to undertake.
Also, if there are any genuine charity/relief organizations not connected to the AmRC providing relief I'm all ears. Life has given me way too many lucky breaks to not give back where I can.

And I really need to get to bed before 7am! :biglaugh: