Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 17:21:13 GMT -5
Are other people seeing crazy gofundme.com requests? Here are some that have recently appeared on my Facebook newsfeed:
Some of my relatives created a gofundme page to buy their dad/grandpa a new car. Grandpa is 83 years old and needs a new car to get around and visit.
A few months ago a distant relative created a gofundme page to help her go to college. It was full of grammar and spelling mistakes.
There is also an acquaintance with a gofundme page to save her marriage. Their bills are tearing them apart.
WTF? Is this getting more and more common?
All of the stories are heartbreaking, but come on. What would you do?
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kittensaver
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We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
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Post by kittensaver on Apr 6, 2016 17:22:30 GMT -5
I see them.
I ignore them.
I'm heartless that way .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 17:23:31 GMT -5
I see them.
I ignore them.
I'm heartless that way . Even if it was to save a kitten?
Sorry - I couldn't resist.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Apr 6, 2016 17:33:54 GMT -5
I see them.
I ignore them.
I'm heartless that way . Same. The only one I ever donated to was for the daughter of a good friend. She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was between jobs and could not get the much needed bone marrow transplant until doctor's bills were paid off. After finding out the cut that gofundme takes, another friend set up a bank account which she administered. The bills were submitted to her and she updated the donor about once a month. I'm happy I donated to this one as she got the bone marrow transplant, beat the leukemia and is now a mother--even though her doctors had told her she would never get pregnant due to radiation and chemo she had done.
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gregintenn
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Post by gregintenn on Apr 6, 2016 17:35:31 GMT -5
Yet another benefit of not having a facebook account!
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kittensaver
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We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
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Post by kittensaver on Apr 6, 2016 17:38:18 GMT -5
I see them.
I ignore them.
I'm heartless that way . Even if it was to save a kitten?
Sorry - I couldn't resist.
To save a kitten - I'd direct you to one of several local rescue groups.
SO THERE!!
Like TheOtherMe, when it is someone I know I'll give money directly. I consider GoFundMe to be vulgar money grubbing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 17:47:04 GMT -5
Regarding dad/grandpa's new car:
Two cousins shared the page and said "come on, let's help Uncle Frankie get a new vehicle." I want to tell them I will match whatever they donate, because so far they have not donated anything. They are trying to get other people to give money but they aren't giving any themselves. Do they realize this?
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Apr 6, 2016 17:47:20 GMT -5
I consider GoFundMe to be vulgar money grubbing.
As do I.
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on Apr 6, 2016 18:21:54 GMT -5
Apparently everyone I know is self sufficient or at least too classy to beg even if they need money. I have not seen one of those in my Facebook newsfeed.
I like the idea of offering to match what the "organizers" donate (as long as I'm sure they'll cheap out if they do donate), just to be annoying. This is one of those "people are inviting comment/judgment/snark because of the behavior they have chosen to demonstrate right out there in public for everyone to see" moments.
Yeah, it's tacky, vulgar money grubbing.
People are stupid.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Apr 6, 2016 18:21:56 GMT -5
I consider GoFundMe to be vulgar money grubbing.
As do I. Depends on what it's for. Buying an old guy a car: money grubbing. Going to college: money grubbing. Honeymoon: money grubbing. Medical bills: OK. Vet bills: OK.
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ners
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Post by ners on Apr 6, 2016 18:33:00 GMT -5
I have seen many gofundme accounts. I would prefer any donation to the person directly. There is a friend of my 15 year old nephew that has a gofundme account. The friend is suffering from Burkitt lymphoma. The had one fundraiser and there is another scheduled for end of the month. Hoping I can attend the second fundraiser where I can make a donation directly.
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milee
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Post by milee on Apr 6, 2016 19:08:16 GMT -5
Regarding dad/grandpa's new car:
Two cousins shared the page and said "come on, let's help Uncle Frankie get a new vehicle." I want to tell them I will match whatever they donate, because so far they have not donated anything. They are trying to get other people to give money but they aren't giving any themselves. Do they realize this?
For the love of God, please do not help get another 83 year old driver onto the road especially if he hasn't been driving for a while. From someone who lives in the land of geriatric drivers, let me say this is a bad thing just waiting to happen.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Apr 6, 2016 19:30:14 GMT -5
We did donate, once.
Our old neighbors moved to FL. Daughter (same age as DS) was having headaches. Turned out, she had brain cancer.
Because the move was more recent, about a year before the diagnosis, the mom exhausted the leave she had available to her. Eventually she had no job. The dad landed a contract job, but no health benefits.
The daughter missed a whole year of school because of the cancer treatments.
So, yes, we gave to help with medical bills. And I'd do it again in a heart beat. In FL, there were fundraising events to help. Being that we're a 22 hour drive away, we couldn't exactly participate in those. Much simpler to just give online.
ETA: Our neighbors were NOT irresponsible. They were not dumb. They were not money grubbing. I'm not sure how a parent is supposed to predict a child being diagnosed with brain cancer with accuracy. Previous to the move (that was well planned out, the mom got a job first, moved down to FL, and worked there for a few months before the dad and kids went), they worked two professional jobs and the dad moon-lighted at a second job.
Sometimes, it's possible to do all the right things, be the perfect YMEr, and still get financially screwed for a few years.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 20:45:49 GMT -5
I know there are a ton of them out there, but I've only had a few come my way. I've donated to two. My cousin who has made a slew of bad decisions in her life and her mother was always there for her...well...her mother died 18 months ago and then her husband had a heart attack and she fell and severely broke her arm. She's very depressed over loosing her mother and just can't get past all this crap. I was PISSED when I saw the gofundme account, and didn't do anything for weeks, but she's family...between all the aunts and uncles and cousins several thousand was raised, so hopefully she got all caught up and this will be the only request.
The other was to a couple in town who just found out their 11 year old son's cancer is terminal. Someone started the gofundme so his parents could afford to take off work and do things with him his last few months.
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justme
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Post by justme on Apr 6, 2016 21:00:37 GMT -5
I don't really see them. Though I have considered making one, not posting it to my social feeds, and see how many people in the ether randomly decide to contribute to my vacation.
It has, afterall, been my life long dream to see the Eiffel Tower and drink wine in an Italian vineyard...
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on Apr 6, 2016 21:26:22 GMT -5
I don't really see them. Though I have considered making one, not posting it to my social feeds, and see how many people in the ether randomly decide to contribute to my vacation. It has, afterall, been my life long dream to see the Eiffel Tower and drink wine in an Italian vineyard... Unless post-EU European geography is radically different from when I last visited there, I'm pretty sure you can't see the Eiffel Tower from an Italian vineyard.
Just pointing this out so you won't be disappointed when you get there.
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justme
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Post by justme on Apr 6, 2016 21:47:13 GMT -5
I don't really see them. Though I have considered making one, not posting it to my social feeds, and see how many people in the ether randomly decide to contribute to my vacation. It has, afterall, been my life long dream to see the Eiffel Tower and drink wine in an Italian vineyard... Unless post-EU European geography is radically different from when I last visited there, I'm pretty sure you can't see the Eiffel Tower from an Italian vineyard.
Just pointing this out so you won't be disappointed when you get there.
I've been drinking tonight and even I know that! When I was real lil it was all about the tower and Paris. Once I got old enough to drink it was all about Italian wine. Realistically I've driven farther than that in a day so I don't consider it a big thing to see both. (Though I do realize it's mostly cheaper to fly between the two). (Lil girl in me would cut a bitch if I just visited Italy on my first trip to Europe )
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cronewitch
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Post by cronewitch on Apr 6, 2016 22:25:44 GMT -5
I don't trust them to be real or the money go where it needs to go. If I know the people I might help directly but not on a site with a percentage to the site. Even in real life you don't know if the money is going to the right place. A 15 year old got cancer and the whole town donated, he was a lifeguard so they had a swim meet fund raiser for him. His aunt handled everything and he got $50 total she said that was all she collected.
As far as I am concerned that is when you need family and friends and your own emergency funds not public begging. All families have emergencies but at least one or two elder family members should step up.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 22:41:44 GMT -5
It is an epidemic.
I know of one where a person kept posting their gofundme and then kept browbeating people on Facebook to donate. They had a medical issue come up for which they had insurance and the reason they were having difficulty with the deductible is they live paycheck to paycheck while renting a McMansion. I know they also bought a 4K big screen tv with the gofundme proceeds. It was one of my former good friends wives that was doing it, he didn't have the guts to tell her to stop.
If it is a situation I am close enough to that I would help out financially I will give the person a check and avoid the fees.
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MarleyKeezy78
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Post by MarleyKeezy78 on Apr 7, 2016 6:38:26 GMT -5
I see these all the time in my fb feed, some of them are seriously like WTE Like a girl I went to school with begging for money to get her into a trailer and then she turns around and starts posting one about some friends who want donations for a down payment on a house Well wouldn't we all like some money for a place It's not like they were homeless in the first place. When my uncle got really ill, our family and his friends held a fundraiser at a club they attended and we put a ad in our town paper for people who knew him and would like to help. There was no shake down though. I do think it's ok for severe illness and important things like that but you shouldn't be asking just because your to lazy to work for it.
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Apr 7, 2016 6:52:01 GMT -5
Unless post-EU European geography is radically different from when I last visited there, I'm pretty sure you can't see the Eiffel Tower from an Italian vineyard.
Just pointing this out so you won't be disappointed when you get there.
You get some of that Italian wine in you( overrated wine) and you see whatever YOU wanna see: fast cars, the pyramids, the Great Wall etc. The same results though can be obtained using any wine or alcoholic beverage of your choice
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Apr 7, 2016 6:59:53 GMT -5
I gave recently to one for a friend's wife who needs surgery for a brain tumor. They are military and have Tricare, but due to the tumor location, none of the surgeons on their plan have experience in that portion of the brain. So they are trying to raise $40k which is what is needed for the out of network surgeon that specializes in that area. They are almost to their goal at this point.
I will generally give to medical fundraisers, as long as I know the people or have some kind of connection to them. Similar to that gal here that needed dental work. I don't understand the ones that go viral and get a lot of contributions from random strangers that have no idea if they really exist.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 7:25:26 GMT -5
I've donated to only one GoFundMe page. The parents of DH's great-niece by marriage were selling everything and moving from CA to our LCOL area for a fresh start. I'd met the great-niece and great-nephew when they'd moved here earlier and we had them to dinner. I liked her immediately- she was working hard at a good job and seemed to have a good head on her shoulders.
I see from FB that she and the great/nephew divorced and she's now dating a hunky guy named Justin. Never did hear how her parents are doing, although they did make the move.
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yogiii
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Post by yogiii on Apr 7, 2016 7:33:16 GMT -5
This is really why I should hurry up and get myself on Facebook!
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Apr 7, 2016 9:14:59 GMT -5
Don't go on facebook much, and I haven't seen any in my own feed, but I would be reluctant to send money. If I knew the family and knew it was a legitimate (medical crisis, for instance) need, and knew they were honest people who would spend the money on the medical bills and not take a vacation, I would donate.
I've heard of too many of these things where someone posted a sob story so they could get free cash to buy toys like big screen TV's or trips to Disney. I don't know when it became socially acceptable to beg for cash to fund your wish list.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 10:06:35 GMT -5
Who is going to get the car when he dies or cannot drive anymore?
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Apr 7, 2016 11:43:53 GMT -5
Regarding dad/grandpa's new car:
Two cousins shared the page and said "come on, let's help Uncle Frankie get a new vehicle." I want to tell them I will match whatever they donate, because so far they have not donated anything. They are trying to get other people to give money but they aren't giving any themselves. Do they realize this?
For the love of God, please do not help get another 83 year old driver onto the road especially if he hasn't been driving for a while. From someone who lives in the land of geriatric drivers, let me say this is a bad thing just waiting to happen. and cynic that I am, who inherits the car when he either passes or can't drive anymore? Should have read all the way thru.
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justme
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Post by justme on Apr 7, 2016 13:02:08 GMT -5
Unless post-EU European geography is radically different from when I last visited there, I'm pretty sure you can't see the Eiffel Tower from an Italian vineyard.
Just pointing this out so you won't be disappointed when you get there.
You get some of that Italian wine in you( overrated wine) and you see whatever YOU wanna see: fast cars, the pyramids, the Great Wall etc. The same results though can be obtained using any wine or alcoholic beverage of your choice I usually prefer Italian over French or California, but I'm buying only like ten dollar bottles on average from any country. The idea is much more wine plus amazing Italian food, probably won't care a lick whether the wine is actually from Italy as long as I'm drinking it in Italy!
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gregintenn
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gofundme
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Post by gregintenn on Apr 7, 2016 13:51:20 GMT -5
My wife recently showed me a go fund me account for a girl we know who was having some manner of medical issues. This showed up next to the photos of their recent trip to Disney, and her husband's recent out of state duck hunting trip. Her father is also a successful country music star. I hate she's I'll, but we didn't donate. People have some screwed up priorities!
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on Apr 7, 2016 14:57:51 GMT -5
Regarding dad/grandpa's new car:
Two cousins shared the page and said "come on, let's help Uncle Frankie get a new vehicle." I want to tell them I will match whatever they donate, because so far they have not donated anything. They are trying to get other people to give money but they aren't giving any themselves. Do they realize this?
I would be questioning how much longer dad would be driving.
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