Whenever I get a request for support--usually financial--I ask a very simple question: what do you plan to do with the money? It's usually stupid: "we need it so we can get the message out.
Not much of an answer, is it? Why does it take money to get out a message? With the internet, you don't even have to pay postage, let alone buy en…
Whenever I get a request for support--usually financial--I ask a very simple question: what do you plan to do with the money? It's usually stupid: "we need it so we can get the message out.
Not much of an answer, is it? Why does it take money to get out a message? With the internet, you don't even have to pay postage, let alone buy envelopes, paper, or a printer. They usually hang up around that time.
If it's a phone call--which I usually will not answer--it will be something along the lines of "I'm calling on behalf of the the Fallen Police aAssociation Benefit fund to send their children to college." I can typically stop them right there with "are you part of that organization or are you soliciting on their behalf?" "....Uh, we're soliciting for them." "I see. And of every dollar you collect, how much goes to the organization itself?" "At least 12%." "I see. So, basically, you're thieves. Fuck you. Never call me again."
Been there, done that, don't wish to get conned again.
Another version of that is the $10,000 + tickets to an event held at a fancy hotel where everyone wears a tuxedo or an evening gown. The admin fees for these things are ridiculous and the people attending like to check the virtue signal box and get their picture in the paper. In my experience and opinion its more rewarding to pay for someone's son or daughter to attend trade school or contribute towards a known hardworking tradesman or housekeeper's vehicle or tools. Personal level stuff that 100 % helps someone. Imagine if 10 people went in together to pay for their school cafeteria worker's son to become a plumber or electrician? No public glory but the dividends to ALL of the involved souls can't be measured.
Whenever I get a request for support--usually financial--I ask a very simple question: what do you plan to do with the money? It's usually stupid: "we need it so we can get the message out.
Not much of an answer, is it? Why does it take money to get out a message? With the internet, you don't even have to pay postage, let alone buy envelopes, paper, or a printer. They usually hang up around that time.
If it's a phone call--which I usually will not answer--it will be something along the lines of "I'm calling on behalf of the the Fallen Police aAssociation Benefit fund to send their children to college." I can typically stop them right there with "are you part of that organization or are you soliciting on their behalf?" "....Uh, we're soliciting for them." "I see. And of every dollar you collect, how much goes to the organization itself?" "At least 12%." "I see. So, basically, you're thieves. Fuck you. Never call me again."
Been there, done that, don't wish to get conned again.
Another version of that is the $10,000 + tickets to an event held at a fancy hotel where everyone wears a tuxedo or an evening gown. The admin fees for these things are ridiculous and the people attending like to check the virtue signal box and get their picture in the paper. In my experience and opinion its more rewarding to pay for someone's son or daughter to attend trade school or contribute towards a known hardworking tradesman or housekeeper's vehicle or tools. Personal level stuff that 100 % helps someone. Imagine if 10 people went in together to pay for their school cafeteria worker's son to become a plumber or electrician? No public glory but the dividends to ALL of the involved souls can't be measured.
“We’re raising awareness” is a popular but useless line.