A Go Fund Me Christmas Story....
So last night I'm on Facebook and on my news feed I see a few friends have commented on this post from someone I do not know. I look at the post (rather lengthy) and it's from a business owner who was raving about how her Christmas gifts were taken from her car. (Side note: I thought the language and 'threats' used against 'whoever did this' was distasteful as a known business owner, but that's just me) Truly that is a sad circumstance and horrible, a lot of people were commenting their sympathy and support. There were a lot of suggestions offered on how to proceed and then to find out the car they were stolen from wasn't locked. Now this is the part where I'll turn into a grinch.... doesn't that make it your own fault? It really is a shame there's horrible people who pray on easy targets, but you should also do everything you can to protect against that, same as you would lock your house from intruders.
Anyways..... someone sets up a Go Fund Me and soon enough they raised 2-3 times more than the value of what the gifts were worth. Hmmmm.... what to do with the extra... they'll 'plan' to donate (yes I'm cynical). I am glad the kids will get to experience Christmas without a hitch but I also feel this whole thing could've been avoided by simply locking the car??
I don't know, this whole thing kind of rubbed me wrong. What are your thoughts?
Re: A Go Fund Me Christmas Story....
ETA: I realized I dind't even speak to the topic at hand. My bad. This kind of rubs me the wrong way. I mean that's awful that someone stole the gifts, even if the car was unlocked, but I feel like we publize this kind of thing way too often. I'm way more likely to secretly donate this family money to purchase more gifts than to set up a public site for others to donate and make a huge deal of it. I don't know maybe that doesn't make sense. I haven't had my coffee yet.
I feel like Christmas has made me lose a little faith in humanity this year. I saw a post on Facebook (which doesn't mean it's true, you never know with FB) where people take gifts they've been donated and take them all back to the stores they came from to get the money back for them. Now IMO, putting food on the table is more important than your kid having a new toy and it's incredibly sad that it would ever have to come down to a choice between the two, but I still picture some sleezy parents (because that's who I tend to encounter a lot with my particular population) taking their kid's toys back to the store and buying cigarettes or beer with the money. Sad.
I also saw another girl post in an online virtual yardsale page on FB asking for money to buy her baby christmas gifts because she didn't have any money (yet you have money for internet access or at least a device that allows you to access FB) and I did some internet stalking because I'm nosy, and her personal page displayed a lovely public argument she had had with who I assume is her partner's ex. She was all "F* you MFing Cunt whore bag you broke his penis and I had to fix it stupid bitch" I was like wowwwwww. You really are something.
Not that the above makes her a bad parent, but I feel as though her priorities were a bit unorganized.
The bolded was the vibe of the original post. The part about being a business owner with this kind of post just makes me not want to do any potential business because it's unprofessional.
As the the issue. Yes, Christmas has become 'I get gifts'. Perhaps it would've been an opportunity to get them something small and teach the kids (teenagers) to be thankful for what they do have.
I think what gets at me most is that gifts for Christmas are not 'necessary'. And then to leave the Go Fund Me open past the goal to replace the gifts so that it grew over twice of what was needed! The reasoning 'in case anyone missed the opportunity and would like to contribute'. To me it screams scam which is why I'm cynical the extra will be donated...
Holy. Shit. I can't even. My signature says it all.
She wasn't running errands. It was at her house (during the night?)
And yes, typing the OP I felt like a grinch lol
Raising funds for life saving medical treatment not covered by insurance for a child.
Raising funds to clothe orphans because the orphanage burned down and they have no clothes except their pjs. Can use funds to buy those kids food too.
All other go fund mes that are not of the same nature as these examples are not ok
I get that I do and like I said it's sad you even have to worry about that but I do think you should take precautions against it (i.e. lock your car, your house, etc). Unfortunately, criminals will be criminals and leaving the door unlocked just made it easier for them. So, in no way am I say she deserves it because it was unlocked, but I am saying it could've easily been prevented. Yes, this can get into a whole debate.
According to the news (yes it made news) another unlocked car in the same neighborhood was combed through but nothing was taken because nothing of value was in the car. To my knowledge there was not an attempt on any others. I assume the person(s) were most likely looking for unlocked cars.
I don't care if she had a neon flashing sign that said "Steal my shit" pointing at her car, it's not her fault someone stole from her.
Bad choices does not equal blame or fault if somebody wrongs you.
Which is why I previously said this could get into a whole other discussion.
To clarify - yes the person that stole is at fault. However we live in an imperfect world where people steal shit. Can you look at this and say it could have been easily avoided? Yes. Ergo IMO there is some responsibility on her part.
I am not blaming her saying "Good, she left her car unlocked, she was asking for it" but it is common sense to lock your car and that lack of action may have consequences. I'm sad things like this are even an issue, but no matter what there will always be bad people.
I'm the fuck out.