# A blow against Fred Phelps **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892 "2001-09-15T22:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SFCanadian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SFCanadian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SFCanadian)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/81 "2001-09-20T03:04:48Z")
Hey, I’m in! I used to be quite involved in AIDS work in Canada, and did a ton of media work… I’m not bad with sound bytes, helping with media releases, etc… But if that isn’t needed, I could throw in a bit of money… It’s a bit tight around here, but I’m sure I could find $100 to offset costs… I have always been from the “old school”, and think that the organizations which get money should be to AIDS organizations to give money directly to People with AIDS, like the National Persons with AIDS Coalition, and Gay rights organizations, like the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund… I really feel that orgs like Save the Children, and AMFAR do just fine getting funding already… SFCanadian ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/82 "2001-09-20T03:42:37Z")
I’ll kick in $20 and how about [Gays-vs-Phelps.org](http://Gays-vs-Phelps.org) for a url? Once we get this thing up and running, someone needs to let NPR know. They tend to eat stuff like this up. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/83 "2001-09-20T04:20:24Z")
I’ve just been working on a mission statement of sorts for our page . . . should I email it to someone? I don’t really want to post it on here; it quotes some of his webpage and I’d rather not drop shit directly on the MPSIMS floor unless I must. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/84 "2001-09-20T04:31:19Z")
I think we need a mailing list. Like Yahoo groups or something for things like this. Maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/85 "2001-09-20T07:01:59Z")
I’m in for $100. Also, I have experience in dealing with people over the phone, I’ve been a telemarketer, phone psychic (hey, it paid well), and secretary. So, if anyone is needed to make or field phone calls, I could do that. I work nights, so I have some time during the day. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/86 "2001-09-20T10:07:51Z")
Thanks, everyone. All the new information is in. I’m trying to make contact with Esprix. I’ll keep you posted on the effort to recruit him to lead this cause. I’ve updated the page a bit to show the total pledges and to give a bit of info about what we’re doing. Also, I’ve laid in an ASP template so we can take donations online when we’re ready to go. But first, we need a leader. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/87 "2001-09-20T16:53:30Z")
I have made an impassioned appeal in the Pit for a leader. Wish me luck. Strike that. Wish this _cause_ luck. What a shame if Phelps is allowed to continue his mockery of both God and man. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/88 "2001-09-20T17:53:38Z")
Hey…I can pledge 20 bucks. I know that’s not a lot…I’m sorry. I have lots of time, though, so if there’s anything you need me to do (Email lists, writing, proofreading, webpages, general publicity…hell, anything, as long as it isn’t grossly illegal), I’m game. I’m an English major, and I post on other MBs that might be sympathetic to this cause. . .so I might be able to help there. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/89 "2001-09-20T17:57:01Z")
I’m still considering if I have the time for this or not. The support, however, is encouraging. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/90 "2001-09-20T18:01:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angel of the Lord \* > **I know that’s not a lot…I’m sorry.** You’re wrong. It _is_ a lot. $10 from a struggling student is _more_ than a thou from a bond trader. Thank you for your help. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/91 "2001-09-20T18:24:33Z")
Okay, Angel, you’re in! Click my sig, and you can see your name. God bless you for what you’ve done. Manny is right. Esprix, with all due respect, if you, of all people, don’t have time for this, given the resources and help at your disposal, given the very nature of the project, given the broad support for your leadership — if _you_ don’t **make** time for this, then it is a trivial cause after all. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/92 "2001-09-20T18:26:46Z")
Dammit. The sig. (Why must this default to unchecked, even when you’ve checked the stupid box before previewing?) ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/93 "2001-09-20T18:28:53Z")
Please put me down for a one-time 25.00 donation to help get started (and please also tell me where to send it!) You may use my real name, Juli McCarthy. When details are hammered out, I will be glad to participate. As far as I can tell, no one’s got a definite plan here in terms of how much money goes where under which circumstances, so let me please to pose this suggestion: Once we agree on a charitable organization (or organizations) we each pledge a certain dollar amount for each time Phelps posts an update to his site. For instance - we each pledge a dollar or two per update. If there is one update per week and there are 50 of us, that’s $50 per week to the organization we selected. It all adds up, no? And it’s not a huge sacrifice for each of us individuals this way. Some cannot afford to make large donations, and should not have to feel as though they cannot participate because they can’t participate big. Also, we need someone whose job it is to inform the rest of us when there has been an update to Phelps’ site. I also volunteer to write this effort up for publication when the details are set. I can’t promise publication in any major magazine, but I can do a bit to get word out. ---
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/94 "2001-09-20T18:34:02Z")
I don’t know how much money I will be able to contribute just yet since I’m a starving college student, but I’ll contribute whatever I can. Also, if you need me to write up anything or spread the word, I can do that. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/95 "2001-09-20T18:41:14Z")
Thank you, Juli! Your name is in the database. As soon as we have a leader, such details as you ask about will be worked out. **NOTICE** **The best thing all of you could do at this point in time is go out and recruit us a leader.** (I made an appeal in the Pit that has pretty much fallen on deaf ears. Screw 'em.) Heck, it doesn’t have to be someone with Straight Dope. It just has to be someone with the time and will to make a firm commitment and then carry it out with all deliberate speed and diligence. So, find us a leader! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/96 "2001-09-20T18:45:40Z")
**WE HAVE A LEADER!!!** John Corrado, leader extraordinaire, has volunteered in no uncertain terms! Here we go, folks! It’s gonna be quite a ride! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/97 "2001-09-20T18:52:46Z")
Thanks, Nocturne! You’re in. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/98 "2001-09-20T18:57:34Z")
All hail, **John Corrado**!! ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/99 "2001-09-20T19:02:25Z")
Whoops–I realized I forgot to mention an amount. Please put me in for $100, and use my real name. Also, should we wish to put out a press release, since that is exactly what my company does, I will foot the bill for the $100 membership for an account (under the name of whatever domain we decide on) and for one press release. (If we send it, for example, to our Kansas circuit, it would cost $100 for a 400-word press release, and reach not only all the newspapers, radio and TV stations in Kansas, but also the AP, UPI, Reuters, AOL, Yahoo!, Excite, and hundreds of other wire services, print and online outlets.) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892/100 "2001-09-20T19:12:01Z")
Wow, Phil, that’s truly awesome! (I wasn’t sure how to write up your resource offer, so if you could check that out on the Phelps Watch chart and correct me, if necessary, that’d be great.) Thank you! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-against-fred-phelps/81892.md?page=6)