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When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

theatlantic.com

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Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#21

Post by sysbin »

kraig911 wrote: post #6
viking1992 wrote: post #2

What's the ugly part? The article talks about successful and unsuccessful GoFundMe campaigns. Is the ugly part that some deplorables got millions from other deplorables? I deem the title click bait.

It can get ugly. I did a gofundme to raise money for my daughter's stem cell treatment. Half my extended family doesn't talk to me anymore. I'm sorry I was short 20k in savings and couldn't figure it out on my own guys but I had to swallow my pride and do whatever it took.

You did the right thing. Family is sometimes not even as good as friendship and we're conditioned all the time to think otherwise.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#22

Post by onion2k »

chii wrote: post #16
9nGQluzmnq3M wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Give me a man a fish vs teach a man to fish. The system in the US is broken, the Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless is only a flimsy bandaid, and the real reason it's pernicious is because now the volunteer can sit back in the warm glow of approval on Facebook/Instagram and think "There! Now I've done my part".

>"There! Now I've done my part". they indeed have done their part. The problem isn't caused by these people.

There's a very strong argument that wealth inequality does in fact cause problems like systemic homelessness. One person hoarding massive amounts of wealth generates a much smaller number of jobs and opportunities than many people having a moderate amount of wealth. So, maybe they do cause these problems.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#23

Post by stevenjohns »

kraig911 wrote: post #6
viking1992 wrote: post #2

What's the ugly part? The article talks about successful and unsuccessful GoFundMe campaigns. Is the ugly part that some deplorables got millions from other deplorables? I deem the title click bait.

It can get ugly. I did a gofundme to raise money for my daughter's stem cell treatment. Half my extended family doesn't talk to me anymore. I'm sorry I was short 20k in savings and couldn't figure it out on my own guys but I had to swallow my pride and do whatever it took.

It sounds like they don't talk to you out of the guilt and embarrassment of not helping. You did nothing wrong.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#24

Post by cyborgx7 »

cm2012 wrote: post #12
stevespang wrote: post #4

“The White Savior Industrial Complex is not about justice,” Teju Cole wrote in 2012. “It is about having a big emotional experience that validates privilege.” You see this everywhere, like the wealthy people who sign up to feed the homeless Thanksgiving Dinner at the Salvation Army Kitchen. Then later they drive home to their warm mansions while the homeless go back to their cold makeshift cardboard tents under the o…

"the wise man bowed his head solemnly and spoke: 'theres actually zero difference between good & bad things. you imbecile. you fucking moron'"

This quote doesn't apply to this at all. That quote is making fun of centrists. You are applying it from a centrist perspective to a leftist argument about individual acts of charity not contributing to the solution of systematic issues.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#25

Post by dodobirdlord »

EdwardDiego wrote: post #7
viking1992 wrote: post #2

What's the ugly part? The article talks about successful and unsuccessful GoFundMe campaigns. Is the ugly part that some deplorables got millions from other deplorables? I deem the title click bait.

Deplorables? Are we doing Hillary Clinton references or something? Hey, downvoters, it was a genuine question, if I've missed something, please let me know. The term deplorable is rather odd, and I can only recall it being used in in recent pop culture by Hillary Clinton wrt Trump supporters.

The term has entered the popular lexicon since the 2016 election and is commonly used to refer to the subset of Trump supporters who also broadly agree with his more odious statements.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#26

Post by keiferski »

The problem with relying on crowdfunding and social media to address issues is the same problem with using voting systems to select government representatives - you mostly just end up with media-savvy, charismatic people - and not necessarily the most deserving, talented, or qualified.

Perhaps the most deserving fundee (is that a word?) is not familiar enough with marketing tactics to build a fundraising campaign. And perhaps the most effective government leader is a monotone guy who gets nervous in front of cameras. But we'll never know, because our systems rely on popularity.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#27

Post by chii »

onion2k wrote: post #22
chii wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"There! Now I've done my part". they indeed have done their part. The problem isn't caused by these people.

There's a very strong argument that wealth inequality does in fact cause problems like systemic homelessness. One person hoarding massive amounts of wealth generates a much smaller number of jobs and opportunities than many people having a moderate amount of wealth. So, maybe they do cause these problems.

the thing is, these rich people aren't storing their wealth under their mattress or burying their gold.

their wealth is tied in stocks, so a lot of it is on paper. They also would invest their wealth (as inflation would erode it). Investment means more jobs, more work opportunities for those who don't have any.

the problem lies in policy. Things like stock buy back schemes and tax "loopholes". But these have nothing to do with the rich, and everything to do with government.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#28

Post by onion2k »

chii wrote: post #27
onion2k wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a very strong argument that wealth inequality does in fact cause problems like systemic homelessness. One person hoarding massive amounts of wealth generates a much smaller number of jobs and opportunities than many people having a moderate amount of wealth. So, maybe they do cause these problems.

the thing is, these rich people aren't storing their wealth under their mattress or burying their gold. their wealth is tied in stocks, so a lot of it is on paper. They also would invest their wealth (as inflation would erode it). Investment means more jobs, more work opportunities for those who don't have any. the problem lies in policy. Things like stock buy back schemes and tax "loopholes". But these have nothing…

Investment means more jobs, more work opportunities for those who don't have any.

The point I was making is that having lots of small investors usually leads to more job creation than one big one because small investors tend to invest in smaller, less efficient companies. That inefficiency is actually good if you want more jobs.

Also, a billionaire buying a $100m yacht from a Korean shipbuilder is great for creating jobs in Korea, but it doesn't help much at home. Having a bigger middle class means more of the money goes in to the local economy. Another reason against individuals hoarding huge amounts of money.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#29

Post by WalterBright »

onion2k wrote: post #22
chii wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"There! Now I've done my part". they indeed have done their part. The problem isn't caused by these people.

There's a very strong argument that wealth inequality does in fact cause problems like systemic homelessness. One person hoarding massive amounts of wealth generates a much smaller number of jobs and opportunities than many people having a moderate amount of wealth. So, maybe they do cause these problems.

> One person hoarding massive amounts of wealth generates a much smaller number of jobs and opportunities than many people having a moderate amount of wealth.

Wealthy people do not store money in Scrooge McDuck cash vaults. It's all invested, which creates jobs and opportunities.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#30

Post by WalterBright »

onion2k wrote: post #28
chii wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the thing is, these rich people aren't storing their wealth under their mattress or burying their gold. their wealth is tied in stocks, so a lot of it is on paper. They also would invest their wealth (as inflation would erode it). Investment means more jobs, more work opportunities for those who don't have any. the problem lies in policy. Things like stock buy back schemes and tax "loopholes". But these have nothing…

Investment means more jobs, more work opportunities for those who don't have any. The point I was making is that having lots of small investors usually leads to more job creation than one big one because small investors tend to invest in smaller, less efficient companies. That inefficiency is actually good if you want more jobs. Also, a billionaire buying a $100m yacht from a Korean shipbuilder is great for creating…

> That inefficiency is actually good if you want more jobs.

Inefficiency does not create jobs. It means you can't compete and you spent the money and went out of business.

> a billionaire buying a $100m yacht from a Korean shipbuilder is great for creating jobs in Korea, but it doesn't help much at home

Because of the way trade works, equal value flows both ways.

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