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When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

theatlantic.com

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Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#31

Post by onion2k »

WalterBright wrote: post #30
onion2k wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Inefficiency does not create jobs.

Of course it does, otherwise jobs would never be made redundant when companies merge.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#32

Post by nils-m-holm »

keiferski wrote: post #26

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. An…

> But we'll never know, because our systems rely on popularity.

And on self-confidence!

I have worked hard my entire life, have written about 20 books, and have lived under the poverty threshold pretty my entire life. Why? Because I do not like to be at the center of attention. You do not even have to be charismatic (although that helps a lot). Just being able to be self-confident in the presence of people goes a long way.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#33

Post by chii »

onion2k wrote: post #31
WalterBright wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

Inefficiency does not create jobs. Of course it does, otherwise jobs would never be made redundant when companies merge.

then why don't you start breaking all the windows of the neighbourhood? that surely creates jobs for the window makers?

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#34

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#35

Post by Intermernet »

kraig911 wrote: post #13
hkmurakami wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do they not talk to you because they gave you money? Or because somehow you bright the family shame for asking others for help? Or something else?

They don't talk to me because to them I was begging for money.

For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing. I know I would have done the same thing in your place.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#36

Post by itronitron »

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…

>> It is about having a big emotional experience that validates privilege.

I'm not sure about that, the privilege is already validated. The emotional experience is there to amp up appreciation for what they have. If that makes them less likely to road rage the following week then we can call that a win-win.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#37

Post by LandR »

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 nothing wrong, you do what you have to do to help your daughter. She is massively more important than some silly concept of pride.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#38

Post by pjc50 »

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…

It's very much like the parable of the man throwing starfish back into the sea - "I made a difference to that one" - except some people throw exactly one starfish and then blame the rest for their laziness.

Re: When GoFundMe Gets Ugly

#40

Post by distant_hat »

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.

It in some part is, they vote for politicians' who cut the safety nets and criminalize poverty.
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