GoFundMe Gone Wild

I think it's an internalization of the "It's always okay to ask" mentality, which itself is a symptom of a transition from a society built around a few common cultural institutions to one based on a pluralistic conception that different people may have different values. It used to be that there were common norms of behavior, and you didn't step outside those norms unless you wanted to risk strong social censure. Now, the norm is that anything mutually agreed upon by two parties is fine.

On the whole, I think this is a good trend - it makes the economy more efficient, it encourages people to celebrate diversity instead of shunning it, and it's how the upper classes have operated for a long time, which is the source of a major power imbalance where corporations & rich people feel entitled to ask for anything and then working-class people feel ashamed to refuse. This is just the same attitude filtering down to formerly middle-class people, likely fueled by desperation as the traditional social compact breaks down and their previous income stream dries up. It'll take a period of adjustment as people realize that "No" is a perfectly fine answer that you'll have to give the majority of the time, though, and many people are very uncomfortable at the breakdown of unspoken norms (hence the article).

Most of the post is pointless, agreed. Trying to explain the phenomenon would be more interesting than simply listing dumb requests.

> Is it a sign of a breakdown of the traditional ways of making money (as a summary, the replacement of "working the farm" to earn money with "driving for Uber" to earn money)?

I don't see how funding campaigns compare to "driving for uber". Driving for uber is an actual job, while putting up a nice page saying "I want to go see the pyramids, give me money" is different.

I think it sets off the misogyny alarms, but I think the point remains: someone with a quality that could conceivably be used to meet a financial need opens up a valid criticism. We'd say the same if it were a developer asking for money, or a homeless person panhandling when they appear physically fit. I think there's a resistance when it's based on appearance, not skill, but I think there's plenty of models who would take exception to the idea that there isn't work and skill involved.

Totally amateur models can easily make $50 or $100/hr for gigs. If you have a natural gift that gets paid like that and want some spare cash, why would you not use it?

It's the digital version of panhandling, and it's unfortunate that the few on there who have (in my opinion) a legitimate need are so overshadowed by those begging for a new camera or to go on a trip.

My knees are bad and I would love a Segway.

But they're thousands...

Thankfully, GoFundMe obliges.

As far as I can tell, the key takeaway is that the NYT has no trouble shaming the poor and middle classes for not having the support network the well-off can mobilize. I know executives who I wouldn't trust to run a bake sale without FTC oversight, but every time they fail there's another c-suite job waiting for them somewhere. Their panhandling is just done out of sight, over a good Malbec at the Capital Club.

Right. I don't see much difference between this and people who have asked for money over the years. Some have been totally worthwhile, others have been straight up fraud.

Same thing, on the internet. Someone should patent it.

>I'm sometimes a bit sceptical giving money to friends

I'm a runner/biker and I know dozens of people that do these charity events. I even went to an informational session for one, since I was thinking about it... the way these charity events generally work, at least here in U.S. (not sure about that particular event in Australia and the fundraising requirement it imposes) is that the participant is required to raise a minimum of 3X the amount of the expenses for doing the event.

So for example, if the hotel/airfare, event registration, and other misc training costs (generally this is water/snacks for group training on the weekends, e.g. the classic long run on a Sat morning for marathon training) are roughly $1000, then the participant will be asked to raise $4000. And of that $4000, $1000 goes to letting them do the event and $3000 goes to the charity.

That was for the one I went to, not to name it specifically however it was a marathon in a foreign country. So airfare and hotel and the pasta meal the night before. A local event won't need so much diverted so the fundraising burden will be much lower. I've done local charity events which only required $250 (no fancy travel or lodging), so rather than bug all my friends I just wrote a check and submitted a matching form from my employer!

So on the one hand, if your goal is to donate to the charity, you are better off giving money directly. But that's true of most fundraising situations as well.

On the other hand, if you view the expense as the cost of getting donors, maybe that is reasonable. A mildly obscure disease might not have a better way of attracting donations other than aligning with a sports event. I'm just speculating here since the specifics probably vary hugely and I have zero experience on the race director side of the registration table or with the fundraising side of a charity. ;)

Basically, I can understand your skepticism - your donation money is more effectively used directly to the charity or on people doing local events. If the goal event involves travel and hotels, then a chunk of the money raised by the participant goes towards them doing the event.

Yeah, I personally don't like this bundling of fun activities and charity. If you want to run a marathon, run a marathon. If you want to give to charities, just give. Don't make a pretence of charity to do what you find fun.

A lot of times they aren't the greatest charities in the world either (in terms of outcomes). I'm pretty resentful of these requests--you pick your charity and let me pick mine. They are nowhere near as bad as what the article is talking about though, I've never gotten requests like that.

right on.. I'll expand the question to this - Why does someone "run" for charity? What not just ask on behalf of the charity? Why is the endurance activity inherently tied to the charitable aspect?

... Or skydiving or some other fun activity, with any spare leftovers going to the charity. Better to donate directly.

I think there's been a social cost from the start, it's just hard to tell since you, as the beggar, have no way of really seeing it. When I think poorly of you for making an illegitimate request, I'm probably just going to pass it over—there's no personal and immediate repercussion.

The damage in the long-term is though: I'll definitely think less of that person and won't respond to their otherwise legitimate requests.

> [Y]ou're no worse off.

Except your dignity, maybe?

In my experience, GoFundMe enables it more than other platforms, since they really don't give you a good way to complain. (I've received spam from someone with a campaign there)

EDIT:Instead of down voting my comment, perhaps you should reply to my post so that we can have a conversation about the topic.

There is nothing wrong donating money for good cause. But when you are giving money when the intentions aren't good, then you are encouraging whoever set up the fund that sort of behavior is ok.

Reposts are allowed if there hasn't be significant discussion.

If you're upset about missing karma, it's just luck of the draw.