Have you donated to help Haiti yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Okay, I need to not read this thread anymore because posts like this make me lose faith in human nature. PP, it is true that people are dying all over the world and I hope you find a cause you can bring yourself to contribute your time or money to. If nothing else, I think disasters on this scale are moments when we can all reflect on how lucky we are and do what we can to help others who are not as lucky.

BUT - the tone of the original post, the presumption that ALL MUST DONATE, strikes me the wrong way. Anything presumptuous like that does. It doesn't mean I lack a soul or charitable intentions or basic humanity - it just means I bristle when people assume that I should care about exactly the same thing they do in exactly the same way. Disagreeing with how something is written, or seeing this post as irritating, doesn't render me blind to what's going on in the world.

Well said.

To the PP who is losing faith in human nature - That's ridiculous. Just because others don't agree with you?

I have family in another country, and I can honestly say that I have moments weekly where I reflect on how lucky I am. And, we have 2 specific charities that we actively donate to on a regular basis.

But, for the OP to presume that her/his cause is the most important and that all should feel the same, is immature. A better post would have just delineated the issues and asked (nicely) for people to help as much as they could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the implication that ALL MUST DONATE that is irritating.

This is so true. Like one of the PPs said, each one of us probably gets 323 solicitations for various causes daily, whether by email/phone/online. What makes this cause so much more important than another? Because you (OP) are donating? And, you deem it of the utmost importance?

And, some of the other posters on this thread who feel they can claim moral superiority because they gave $10 via a text message irk me even more. Really? So, that's all it takes? You can give the $10 and feel good about yourself for "making a difference" and bash the other people who have not/cannot donate?

The 13:21 poster is particularly irritating? WTH? What point are you even trying to make? I, for one, have never frolicked on the beaches of DR. And, what are you saying? People who can afford to, should never go on vacation? Do you think that taking the tourism industry away from DR would make that country better? They make money from tourism there. What they do with that money is up to them.

Exactly. Heck, why not donate an amount equivalent to your monthly mobile bill? Don't you think it takes more than $10 to dig a baby out of the rubble? Shame on you for spending money on mobile phone service while you could be donating it to Haiti.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But, for the OP to presume that her/his cause is the most important and that all should feel the same, is immature. A better post would have just delineated the issues and asked (nicely) for people to help as much as they could.

Agree entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is my first time posting. I think what some of the pp's may be objecting to is the self congratulatory tone of those who have donated to help Haiti and then felt the need to post about it. I'm sure most posters to DCUM are extremely generous and donate frequently to many worthy charities. And the majority don't post about their charitable contributions. Just seems odd to me.

I'm one of the PPs who questioned this thread, and I agree. The self-congratulatory tone is obnoxious.

I am one of the earlier posters. I don't think anyone was posting to make themselves look good. I personally posted because the organization I chose to give to hadn't been listed yet and wanted to share with people - in case they were interested in looking into. Not sure how posting that you gave money (without even mentioning a monetary amount) on an anonymous board equates to bragging. While the post might not have been acceptable by your "standards" try to understand what the post was about - people are horrified by the suffering and in some small way were trying to share with each other ways to help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But, for the OP to presume that her/his cause is the most important and that all should feel the same, is immature. A better post would have just delineated the issues and asked (nicely) for people to help as much as they could.

Agree entirely.

Along those lines....

I posted this in the other Haiti thread, but will post the link again here, in case people don't see the other one.

CharityNavigator has a great link regarding donating to Haiti:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=1004

[Anonymous]

It was the title of the post. Title set tone by making the assumption that you WOULD donate to Haiti.

I take no issue with people posting links to ways to donate.

[Anonymous]

Wow, can't believe how much bickering is going on over the title of the thread.

Hey we all have causes that we donate to and we have to make decisions about where to send our money. No one has to donate to Haiti. But it's really absurd to waste time bitching about the social pressure implied in the pitch and whining about how it makes one feel "pressured" or "guilty."
For cryin' out loud, this is what charities do. If you don't like it, don't click on it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Not nice" to make someone feel guilty for not donating? You know what's "not nice"? To frolic on the beaches of an all-inclusive resort in the D.R. while on the other side of the island people are living in the worst poverty of this side of the world. And THEN to claim that "some people" can't afford to donate money to the Haitians who have lost EVERYTHING. One of my colleagues lost his two children when their school collapsed. His little kids died. Less than two days ago. Along with tens of thousands of others. And you're on about how THIS thread is "not nice"?

It's the attitude of self-righteousness and moral superiority like this one that are a huge turn-off.

I will be donating, but this post is just so annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I react negatively to any sort of solicitation that makes a presumption about what I should or will do. Therefore, when I read this post, it discouraged me from donating rather than encouraged me to donate, because I felt like I was being told what to do - like there was a moral obligation that I, personally, donate funds to help Haiti. There is no such moral obligation. There are many causes in this world, and lots of dead and dying from starvation, poverty, disease, or natural conditions/disasters, including the Haiti earthquake. It's the implication that ALL MUST DONATE that is irritating.

Oh, my God. Over-analytical much? This post cries out for psychotherapy.

[Anonymous]

I don't think OP was trying to attack anyone for not donating. Really, it's not always about YOU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Not nice" to make someone feel guilty for not donating? You know what's "not nice"? To frolic on the beaches of an all-inclusive resort in the D.R. while on the other side of the island people are living in the worst poverty of this side of the world. And THEN to claim that "some people" can't afford to donate money to the Haitians who have lost EVERYTHING. One of my colleagues lost his two children when their school collapsed. His little kids died. Less than two days ago. Along with tens of thousands of others. And you're on about how THIS thread is "not nice"?

It's the attitude of self-righteousness and moral superiority like this one that are a huge turn-off.

I will be donating, but this post is just so annoying.

so are you!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I react negatively to any sort of solicitation that makes a presumption about what I should or will do. Therefore, when I read this post, it discouraged me from donating rather than encouraged me to donate, because I felt like I was being told what to do - like there was a moral obligation that I, personally, donate funds to help Haiti. There is no such moral obligation. There are many causes in this world, and lots of dead and dying from starvation, poverty, disease, or natural conditions/disasters, including the Haiti earthquake. It's the implication that ALL MUST DONATE that is irritating.

Oh, my God. Over-analytical much? This post cries out for psychotherapy.

I'm a lawyer. It's my job to be analytical. Shame, shame on me for reading comprehension.

Ever heard of "When did you stop beating your wife?" The question implies that you beat your wife. "Have you donated to help Haiti yet?" The implication is that you will be donating.

[Anonymous]

"Exactly. Heck, why not donate an amount equivalent to your monthly mobile bill? Don't you think it takes more than $10 to dig a baby out of the rubble? Shame on you for spending money on mobile phone service while you could be donating it to Haiti."

Lots of small donations add up.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I really don't care who donates, but as a parent, seeing children in suffering, I feel like my money can make a small difference. I am grateful that we have building codes here, and I think my child is safe, even when she is in school. I hope none of us, even the cynical ones, ever needs even the smallest amount of help.

We all must make our own personal choices. As long as you are comfortable with the choices you make, whether it's to donate to any charity or not, good for you.

One thing I have learned, is that people who once were in need and got it, are often the first ones to help in any way they can when they are back on their feet.

I was going to post the charitynavigator site. I have used it as a guide for several years to make choices as to where I donate. I gave money to Direct Relief International because they give 98% of any donation for direct services. I gave to Doctors without Borders after the Tsunami, but found they hound me for further donation, and use 12% if the donation for additional fundraising. I am not crazy about paying to be hounded. I can choose where to donate my money without being reminded by the charity. Clearly, I know about them because I already donated to them.

[Anonymous]

For the record, I posted the rolling eyes. I should have specified - I was rolling my eyes to the person who said they were considering whether or not to donate but probably wouldn't. Thats ridiculous, and I say that as someone who grew up poor and doesn't make that much money now. Shame on anyone who isn't contributing.