# Heres my 0.2c Lute Skywatcher

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [May 15, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018 "2012-05-15T20:37:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/41 "2012-05-15T23:42:22Z")

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Dude made me uncomfortable when he complained about his Bro breaking a furnance that he’s been keeping alive for two years (what nerve!) and then has the audacity to not have any money (what a loser!) Notice there’s not an ounce of gratitude expressed in that OP…just complaints about his siblings not helping him.

I thought maybe there was a background story of sadness (long-term unemployment, disability, family drama, etc.) that I just wasn’t privy to.

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/42 "2012-05-15T23:53:09Z")

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Surely if it’s that bad, he has a friend or two who could take in the rabbits until they get things fixed?

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/43 "2012-05-15T23:53:15Z")

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This is all I’m saying here on the subject: I wanted to keep my options open until I heard from Sis. I’ve now heard from her. She is completely aware of the situation and will do what she can but it will take a few weeks. Between her, a few kind Dopers, and my savings, the situation is well in hand. Any monies from Dopers that go unused will be returned, any other monies from Dopers can be repaid toward the end of next month.

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**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/44 "2012-05-16T00:00:21Z")

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> [@Lute Skywatcher](#):
>
> This is all I’m saying here on the subject: I wanted to keep my options open until I heard from Sis. I’ve now heard from her. She is completely aware of the situation and will do what she can but it will take a few weeks. Between her, a few kind Dopers, and my savings, the situation is well in hand. Any monies from Dopers that go unused will be returned, any other monies from Dopers can be repaid toward the end of next month.

I think asking people for money when you have so many other options is a bit more than keeping all of your options open. Nice attempt to justify it, though.

I would hope that most people would turn to begging as a LAST resort. You seem to think it’s one of the first things to do. Different strokes, apparently.

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**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/45 "2012-05-16T00:01:11Z")

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Aka “I’m still going to take money that I don’t actually need, because I don’t want to have to use my own finances to take care of a non-emergency problem”

You’re a dickbag.

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**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/46 "2012-05-16T00:02:11Z")

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> [@Loach](#):
>
> I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. He said his savings was going to be used to pay for the labor. I’m assuming the money he would rather not touch is a 401k or something like that.

Tough shit on him.

I’d much rather touch a 401k then go beg on the net for a/c I didn’t need.

Go take a shower every thirty minutes to cool off if you don’t want to touch your savings. Bring the bunny into the shower with you for a few seconds.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/47 "2012-05-16T00:03:29Z")

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Do you not understand that mooching off strangers is the last resort? Not a “keep my options open” kind of thing? Who are these people giving you money because you are uncomfortable?It would never occur to me to beg.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/48 "2012-05-16T00:08:31Z")

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I would love to know who authorized the begging. I hope it sounded better at the time than “I’m uncomfortable so its an emergency. And I have other options but don’t want to use them.”

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**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/49 "2012-05-16T00:08:45Z")

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I just went and read the rest of that original thread. Now I’m mad. He said it was cheaper to have internet and cable together than just internet. When someone questioned that, he said “it happens.” He must think we are idiots.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/50 "2012-05-16T00:09:41Z")

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> [@$30 from 100 Dopers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-from-100-dopers/621893/23):
>
> A loan out of one of my retirement plans would be the absolute final resort.

I’m sorry-“_one of_ my retirement plans”?

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**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/51 "2012-05-16T00:10:08Z")

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His employer pays for half of his internet cost. So how on EARTH can it be cheaper to have cable and internet than just internet alone, when 50% of the internet cost is eaten by his bosses?

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**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/52 "2012-05-16T00:17:55Z")

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> [@Lute Skywatcher](#):
>
> Any monies from Dopers that go unused will be returned, any other monies from Dopers can be repaid toward the end of next month.

As I said in the other thread, you can finance it! [Heating and cooling systems. 18 months, no interest](http://www.searshomeservices.com/central-heating-air/improve). You shouldn’t take a single dollar from other dopers. You shouldn’t even take the 2 tenths of a penny that the OP is offering.

Fucking A, you are a piece of shit.

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**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/53 "2012-05-16T00:23:27Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> I’m sorry-“_one of_ my retirement plans”?

One of them is for the bunny.

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**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/54 "2012-05-16T00:24:29Z")

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I think all of the active members of the SDMB should donate to **Lute**.

Namely, two tenths of a cent.

With 7,175 active members, that works out to _opens calculator app_ a whopping $14.35.

You could still buy a fan from Wal-Mart for less than that, though. But I don’t think this guy deserves that much, so let’s not.

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**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/55 "2012-05-16T00:30:11Z")

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> [@Lute Skywatcher](#):
>
> This is all I’m saying here on the subject:

Good. That means we don’t have to hear really stupid excuses from you.

Why would you beg for money from us _before_ waiting to hear back from your sister? Is the heat in your condo _that_ bad that you couldn’t have just waited a few hours before passing the hat around here? I’d like to think that you would have come forward about your sister’s assistance whether or not you had caught any flak, but I’m not sure. There’s nothing about refunding donations in the OP. And I’m not even sure why anyone should trust that they will be one of the lucky ones who receive a refund.

I wouldn’t have donated to you anyway, so maybe I have no right to comment. But you’ve put people in an awkward position. By not disclosing certain information (and then later revealing it like it’s no big deal), you’re putting generous people in a situation where they will feel compelled to give to someone only because they gave their word and don’t want to spaz on a promise. Those people should maybe grow a pair, but generous people often think more with their hearts than with their “pairs”. This is the kind of shit that makes giving to others hard to do.

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**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/56 "2012-05-16T00:41:29Z")

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> [@Lancia](#):
>
> I rarely post in the Pit, but this dude has me royally pissed off.
> 
> I, too am mystified as to just how in hell the mods allowed **Lute Skywatcher** to post that thread.
> 
> **Lute,** , listen up. I’m a husband and father of two. I work part time as a hospice worker, my wife works part time as a preschool teacher. Both of us are full-time college students.
> 
> So, between us we make _less_ than an _one_ 40/wk job earning minimum wage, which in Oregon is $8.80/hr. Between school and work we are away from home approx. 60 hrs a week each.
> 
> Despite this, we: A) pay our bills on time, B) have no debt except some small medical bills, and manage to do this C) without accepting handouts from friends/family/strangers/charity. How? We have no cable TV. We have no internet connection (use public or school library or public wifi). We have basic cellular phone service and do not have a landline. We have not seen the inside of real restaurant in several years. For that matter we haven’t seen the inside of a cheap fast food joint in several years. Its sandwiches and cold cereal or you don’t eat. Beans and rice, cooked at home. Lotsa veggies which are cheap and healthy to boot. We do not have car payments and pay for bare-bones insurance. Like most poor families, our daycare needs are met by generous family members (I guess you could call that family charity) or a local YMCA-type nonprofit childcare center.
> 
> In fact, I started a thread here some time ago asking car-savvy dopers if I should junk my old POS car or replace. Two pages of replies said overwhelmingly that I needed a new car. Well, that old POS is still in the driveway. See, I don’t have money for a new car, despite the fact that it would be exponentially safer for my two boys, age 5 and 8, to ride in a much newer vehicle. What little I had saved had to go to a doctor’s bill. Did I mention I have to drive them approx. 20 miles to school each day? Yeah. But guess what? I never came here asking for money for a new car so my kids would be safe. But you’re here asking for a shitload of money for goddamn central air so your fluffy little bunnies can stay cool. $3000 would get my boys into a nice, safe car. Give me fucking break. (Not that I’m against fluffy bunnies. But perhaps [not perhaps. Almost certainly] they need to be living with someone who does not need to panhandle to be able to take care of them.)
> 
> You said you worked. Good. Take some time, work some overtime, and save up the money you need. Or, dip into your savings, then use your next three months of overtime to replace those lost funds. Quit yer fuckin’ begging on the streetcorner, _especially_ since you’ve made it clear that you have the financial means at your disposal to repair your AC.

Just wanted to quote this again and say that you’re awesome.

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/57 "2012-05-16T00:50:25Z")

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> [@ntucker](#):
>
> I’ve suddenly realized that I should be very angry at my brother.

I’m angry at your brother too! That jerk!

> [@Astroboy14](#):
>
> I got nailed hard with taxes this year… my options are:
> 
> 1)take all friggin’ year paying them off.  
> 2)sell my car and walk to work (about 23 miles one way).  
> 3)get someone online to send me a whole whack of money…
> 
> So anyone wanna send me a check? 😛

I have to pay a whole whack of money to pay for my cat’s teeth fixin’ - who wants to send me money? We can afford it - I just don’t want to pay for it.

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**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/58 "2012-05-16T00:52:54Z")

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I’m sorry to be the dissenting voice here, but I don’t think it’s that big a deal. Many of us know first hand how it feels to unexpectantly feel the crush of (what to your mind is) a serious financial emergency, I know I have. You rack your brain and consider many things you never thought you’d ever be considering. You just want the crisis to be over and almost every option is on the table.

I came this —\> \<— close to selling my grandfather’s railroad watch that is the only thing I have to remember him by. Luckily other options came through and I got through it. If my financial situation was more stable, I would have probably sent Lute a check, not because it was a life or death situation, but just because it would be a nice thing to do for someone whose posts I’ve read for years. If I got paid back, great… if not, oh well. I’ve done the same in the past and have never come to regret it. Sometimes I get paid back, sometimes not. I never send any more than I can afford to lose.

I do understand that many people got upset by it, I’m just not one of them. I would never have posted the request for money myself as I’m not one of the board regulars but Lute is. I’m glad he got what he needed and that his crisis has been averted. Just because his situation didn’t seem a crisis to you doesn’t mean that it didn’t seem that way to him.

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**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/59 "2012-05-16T01:00:13Z")

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The thing is that board solicitations are a rarity, and when we see them we usually assume that it’s an actual crisis. Not a “oh crap, I’m gonna have to invest in some box fans this summer!” kind of crisis. But a “I’m gonna have to sleep on a park bench with my five-year-old child who’s dying of a terminal illness…which I have too” kind of crisis.

If people start begging for charity for their about first world problems, their wails will drown out those who are really in need.

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**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-my-0-2c-lute-skywatcher/622018/60 "2012-05-16T01:02:15Z")

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> [@Who\_me\_1](#):
>
> I’m sorry to be the dissenting voice here, but I don’t think it’s that big a deal. Many of us know first hand how it feels to unexpectantly feel the crush of (what to your mind is) a serious financial emergency, I know I have. You rack your brain and consider many things you never thought you’d ever be considering. You just want the crisis to be over and almost every option is on the table.
> 
> I came this —\> \<— close to selling my grandfather’s railroad watch that is the only thing I have to remember him by. **Luckily other options came through and I got through it.** If my financial situation was more stable, I would have probably sent Lute a check, not because it was a life or death situation, but just because it would be a nice thing to do for someone whose posts I’ve read for years. If I got paid back, great… if not, oh well. I’ve done the same in the past and have never come to regret it. Sometimes I get paid back, sometimes not. I never send any more than I can afford to lose.
> 
> I do understand that many people got upset by it, I’m just not one of them. I would never have posted the request for money myself as I’m not one of the board regulars but Lute is. I’m glad he got what he needed and that his crisis has been averted. Just because his situation didn’t seem a crisis to you doesn’t mean that it didn’t seem that way to him.

The difference is, **Lute** already had options on the table; he was just adding begging on the SDMB to his options. That’s what is upsetting a lot of people.

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