So, one of my biggest pet peeves are sharing on social media of links to various GoFundMe accounts that are set up for silly reasons. I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with this mode of fundraising when someone has suffered some sort of tragedy such as a terribly injury or illness, an act of God such as horrible storm damage, or the sudden unexpected death of a caregiver or financial support person. HOWEVER, I do have a problem with people soliciting donations in this manner from complete strangers in order to finance their personal life decisions, so that they can "pursue their dream" or be a bit more comfortable. I believe that if there is something that one wants, one should be willing to work for it. I do not believe that a GoFundMe account qualifies as working for it.
An example pertinent to this forum - A friend of mine posted a link on Facebook today toa GoFundMe campaign for someone he knows. She is a single mother in her mid 20s, who is pursuing her BSN at a private college in town. She makes mention about how busy she is with school and caring for her child, and she also mentions the large student loans that she is accruing. (This college is known to accept anyone willing to sign on the bottom line. I'll bet she will come out with $80,000+ in student loans from them.) And she goes on to talk about how she qualifies for reduced fee childcare, but it is such a huge hassle to go through the certification process on a regular basis for this. (Apparently she has to do some volunteer work in order to qualify because the program does not count her clinical hours as classroom time.) She is raising money to pay for child care while she finishes school so that she will not longer need to go through the hassle of qualifying for reduced fee childcare...
I just have a problem with this for a wide variety of reasons. Am I the only one? I mean, she has every right to ask for money and I have every right to ignore it, but it just bugs me that someone is asking for money to pay for childcare so that she can avoid the hassle of qualifying for reduced fee childcare. This is just one example of what I consider to be silly requests...
I've half thought of setting up a Go Fund Me and just sharing it with my friends and family. Yes, I did choose to go back to school and did do a lot of research about cost and the struggle of working a limited number of hours while in my nursing program. So I completely admit I got myself in this situation - and I wouldn't change it for the world. I can struggle and eat top ramen for a few more years to make my dream happen.
But on the other side, I've supported my friends in their life decisions and milestones. I can't count how many times I've been a bridesmaid, thrown a bridal or baby shower, spent way too much money on over the top bachelorette parties and attended countless kid's birthday parties, baptisms and bump parties. Each of these events usually require a gift, travelling, buying an ugly dress... some kind of financial expenditure. Is it completely crass to turn to the friends I've supported and ask them to do the same? Eh, maybe. Which is why I haven't done it.
Having said that - I'd ignore a Go Fund Me for a random person.
I don't see the problem with it. Just because YOU may feel her situation is not worthy of a donation, doesn't mean everyone else will feel the same.
If she's able to raise the money for her education more power to her! Somewhere there is a person who believes in her story and wants to help, and gofundme allows them to contribute.
People are not forced into donating!!! Therefore, If you don't agree with the cause... simply click the X at the top of the page and keep it moving. - LOL
I have donated to a couple, all were for infant loss. I think some of them are for great causes, but some just aren't. I have $25,000 in medical bills from several surgeries I have had. A friends dog (funnily enough) had the same problem I had, and she raised $2,000 pretty quick on GFM for vet bills, lol.
I haven't been back to my home country in over 7 years either, and we're slowly saving the money to visit. I joke with my husband sometimes about starting a GFM. I joke, yet I saw one recently a family trying to raise money to buy an RV so they can tour the USA.
Thats from the gofundme faqs page. If gofundme doesn't have a problem with education costs, pets and sports... why should you? Is caring about this even a thing?
Nobody's forcing anybody to do anything. Nobody's stealing. I don't see what all the moral fuss is about.
If someone is charismatic or persuasive enough to convince complete strangers to donate money, well, more power to them. That takes skill.
I only wish I were so persuasive. If I could get the funds to clean up my financial mess at this point in time, I would consider the funds to be one, big 'partitioned' loan, and one by one pay the people back and keep myself out of the next financial mess. Some people could benefit from getting help once in awhile. Others are just plain greedy with a sense of entitlement. I'll bet there are a lot of people that have my attitude about this. But you certainly won't see me at any street corner holding out a cardboard sign.
ixchel
4,547 Posts
You are a wonderful friend and they are blessed to have you in their life.