I have a friend from college who is a really good person, plain and simple. He works with all sorts of non-profits and lobbies on behalf of fair trade organizations and human trafficking law enforcement. He's just really cool.
Anyway, I started seeing FB posts about "S's big 34th birthday party".. mostly from him. I thought it was odd that he was publicizing his own birthday party, but whatever. He probably just wanted to make sure all his friends were invited. No biggie, right?
Until they sent out the actual event yesterday. Its being held in this trendy hipster club on the east side of town (gentrification central) and has this high profile DJ. The cover charge is $34, which goes to him as an investment in his new company, Do Good Be Fair. Its a fair trade clothing company. I initally thought it was for a non-profit, but it says right on the invite that its to help him cover the cost of his first shipment. Really?
He's from Alaska, so a lot of people responded on the event wall that they were unable to make it. He responded to them saying that he invited them in case they would want to buy a ticket anyway, to support his venture.
I discussed this with a mutual friend last night, and she thought it was a bit weird. Knowing him, we both wonder if he realizes how tacky this is, or if he is so focused on supporting a fair trade industry (and therefore the economies of 3rd world countries) that he just never though anyone would think it was tacky. I genuinely think he is oblivious. But how come no one told him????
ETA: I know this is NWPR, and even NWR, but it does address the discussion I missed yesterday about throwing your own party.
