The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: franksolich on November 26, 2011, 09:15:31 AM
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=437x5136
Oh my.
hfojvt (1000+ posts) Mon Nov-21-11 04:42 AM
Original message
Any chance of reconsidering the last fund drive?
I think it is a mistake for a few reasons.
Maybe these have already been asked and answered in the big thread on the subject. I sorta don't have time to wade through that. Also, I feel that if I posted in that thread, that reply #395 might not get much notice.
It seems to me though that, first, the fund drives are community building activities. At least for a week, we get distracted from whatever battles we are engaged in and realize and acknowledge the value of DU, and pull together, at least most of us, and at least as spectators, to cheer it towards the 1,000 mark. We get to talk about and with our little buddy Grovelbot. We get to give hearts. We get to make stickies and read stickies and start threads in GD complaining about stickies. We get to donate stars to other people (although that is sometimes questionabl IMO - giving the benefits of a star and the appearance of financial support to sometimes random strangers.)
It's like a dandylion break from our normal game of no-mercy-dodgeball.
Another part is the new cost of stars. In the past, I have gotten a star for less than $42. Typically it has been $35 lately as I wanted to give out two more hearts, but in the past it may have been less. What can I say, I have been living on about $12,000 a year, it's lucky I can give that much. I could have swung $42 as well, but I am not sure I would have.
However, I feel for those who perhaps would but cannot. Sometimes I have viewed DU from the Democratic Headquarters and been very thankful that I had a star. The ads are very annoying (although sometimes I do have fun making BillO or SarahPac et. al. donate to DU (at least I imagine that happens when I click on the ad - still, too many ads.) It's also nice to be able to use the search function, sometimes even to find something that I wrote myself. Again, I feel for those who may not be able to swing $42. In the past they might have gotten the same benfits for $5 or $10 or as a donated star.
I do consider it a good thing to support DU financially, (which is why I mentioned it here http://journals.democraticunderground.com/hfojvt/145 ) although I don't give as much to DU as to the Salvation Army or others (although I used to give quite a bit of time - which may or may not be a good thing). It may not live up to its full potential, but insofar as DU is a place that provides an answer to the Rightwing Noise Machine, a place that inspires/encourages people to try to build a better world and informs us and gives us comrades-in-arms, then it is not without social utility to support such a cause. Sure, maybe the money just goes to the three amigos, but they/you need financial support too.
For myself, although this may be a bad anecdote, I got mad at America's 2nd Harvest. I donated $15 as part of DU's Holiday cause, and it seems like they spent most of that money to write letters to me asking for more money. I started getting letters monthly. I really did not want them to spend a dime of my money for such a purpose. Plus, they have a CEO who makes, what $400,000 a year? My $35 should goto that instead of DU?
What do you mean you make $520,000 a year yourself?
Finally, to conclude this "question". For anybody who may notice or care, I have not been on DU much in the last two weeks. I have started a new full time job requiring far too much of my time and energy. Yes, I am now a big shot. Not just a guy who cleans toilets, but a suprvisor of the toilet cleaning crew (a whole five people). So I don't have, or make, much time to DU. Family history and other projects are coming first.
EarlG ADMIN (1000+ posts) Tue Nov-22-11 10:58 AM
Response to Original message
1. Well the good news is I think we are still going to do Hearts Week on DU3. I'm not sure that all the DU fund drives were necessarily big "community builders" but I know that the February fund drive was always a good one for spreading some good will around the site. So if we continue to have a week where people can give each other hearts, that would be a good thing. And since we wouldn't be relying on it to raise money for the site, we could drastically -- and I mean drastically -- reduce the price of the hearts (it used to be $10 to buy one).
I see you're not a big fan of America's Second Harvest -- however, whether or not they are our designated charity, we will still be doing our annual holiday charity drive where 100% of the proceeds go to a worthy cause. I suspect Grovelbot -- and maybe even the stickies -- could return for that.
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hfojvt
I have not been on DU much in the last two weeks. I have started a new full time job requiring far too much of my time and energy. Yes, I am now a big shot. Not just a guy who cleans toilets, but a suprvisor of the toilet cleaning crew (a whole five people). So I don't have, or make, much time to DU.
Cleaning toliets? That's sorta like hanging out at Skin's island, main difference being that the toliets don't say as much stupid stuff.
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I thought that this little gem:
Well the good news is I think we are still going to do Hearts Week on DU3.
was worth this little suggestion:
(http://www.aztec-history.com/images/mendoza-aztec-sacrifice.jpg)
Pretty please? :tongue: :fuelfire: :whistling:
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I think we've identified another of Skimmer's sock puppets, begging for continued opportunities to send money.
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I think we've identified another of Skimmer's sock puppets, begging for continued opportunities to send money.
Indeed - They are Democrats, therefore DU will have both the increased monthly fees and quarterly drives. They will be labeled for different purposes, but they will both serve Skins & Co. quite nicely.