# Mods/Admins, seriously stop it with the "Pls help, I need money" threads. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 13, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333 "2012-08-13T01:57:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/21 "2012-08-13T17:51:53Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Except in the past, asking questions can result in snotty, condescending mod notes saying how it’s wrong to question someone and saying you can’t “bitch” about the request in MPSIMS so take it somewhere else, or equally snotty comments about how anyone who questions the request is kicking someone when they’re down. If you ask actual questions and make suggestions rather than snarking the OP or making accusations off the bat, you’re not likely to have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/22 "2012-08-13T18:04:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > If you ask actual questions and make suggestions rather than snarking the OP or making accusations off the bat, you’re not likely to have a problem. That hasn’t been the case in the past. [Cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=260464) Billdo says essentially, “hey guys, this character’s a mooch who I pitted a while back. Be careful if you give” and Tuba and Cajun Man have issues with Billdo outing a scammer. Yes, this is old. Doesn’t change the facts. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/23 "2012-08-13T18:07:40Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > A) My wife has cancer and needs an expensive experimental drug that has a 90% chance of curing her but the insurance company won’t cover it. > vs > B) I want to go to school to become a web-cartoonist because of the wide-open opportunities there. > [@Fenris](#): > > Seriously. Why is “Send me $1200 'cause I wanna go to school to get a degree won’t get me a job” OK for an SDMB sanctioned beg-a-thon? How is that a ‘real’ request? If you’re letting that one through (and granting that the “bunny” one was a mistake), what _are_ the standards of need? Wow, I thought these two examples were jokes, until I came across the thread in question. I appears that, despite mods’ vigorous pronouncements to the contrary, that there really is no bar that need be met. Hey, my ex raped me for cash during our separation prior to divorce because she knew she held the cards vis-a-vis my son…I was hurting pretty bad, but fuck me, I should have asked for a panhandling thread. It really does open up the door for the board to be exploited for this purpose, or to have some posters seriously butt-hurt when their request doesn’t get approved. What’s that? You say established posters will be given preference, obviously…can’t have someone signing up just to ask for cash. What’s the guideline? I’ve been here for a couple years, is that long enough? ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/24 "2012-08-13T18:16:01Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > That hasn’t been the case in the past. > > [Cite](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=260464) > > Billdo says essentially, “hey guys, this character’s a mooch who I pitted a while back. Be careful if you give” and Tuba and Cajun Man have issues with Billdo outing a scammer. Yes, this is old. Doesn’t change the facts. Thank you for that example _from eight years ago_ of someone doing the exact opposite of just asking a question. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/25 "2012-08-13T18:18:38Z")
Thank you for your valuable input in repeating what I said in my earlier post. However, the overall quality of your submission does not meet our aesthetic and technical requirements and will need to be improved before being resubmitted. Unfortunately we’re not able to provide more specific feedback for your submission at this time. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/26 "2012-08-13T18:25:11Z")
Care to respond to post #20 concerning your claim? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/27 "2012-08-13T18:32:49Z")
No, because while it’s fun to occasionally poke you with a stick, I’d like to keep the thread on topic and the fact that you’re not able to understand the relevance of the link shouldn’t be allowed to slow the thread down for the rest of the posters. We can’t always cater to the lowest common denominator after all. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/28 "2012-08-13T18:42:12Z")
I understand that your link is not relevant to your claims made in post #19 that > [@](#): > > asking questions can result in snotty, condescending mod notes . Your link from eight years ago didn’t show either a simple question or a snotty, condescending response from a moderator in my opinion, thus my request for a cite that more accurately reflects your claim. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/29 "2012-08-13T19:07:59Z")
You know what bugs me? Threads like this one. How the heck does someone else asking for money negatively impact your life? If someone has a need, and it passes the muster of the board admins, what difference does it make to you what the requester needs it for if you have no intention of contributing? How does it hurt you in the slightest if they need it for something you believe they can do without? Just read the thread, or not, and move on. I’m fortunate to be comfortable financially, but circumstances can and do change for people every day, causing their lives to spin out of control through little, or no fault of their own. I will continue to evaluate the individual requests and decide whether or not to contribute. I, for one, am happy the SDMB allows this. Some of you people should be bloody ashamed of yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/30 "2012-08-13T19:25:13Z")
They’re just cheesed off because they paid for their education on their own LIKE A SUCKER! ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/31 "2012-08-13T19:40:50Z")
You have to be careful and accept if you’re giving your money to a stranger, there’s a chance you’re being duped. I know of 2 cases of charity fraud on forums I read. One of them resulted in an arrest. (I believe he plead guilty.) > **[AV123 Mark Schifter Indicted by Grand Jury on Five Counts](https://www.audioholics.com/news/av123-mark-schifter-indicted-grand-jury)** > > The story was first reported at length on our own Audioholics Forums several months ago, but the official grand jury indictment finally came through for Mark L. Schifter of AV123.com. The other was for less money 4 figures I think, maybe 5) and he was just banned from the forum. I think the longer this goes on, the higher the chances of con artists getting involved. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/32 "2012-08-13T19:47:58Z")
Might as well throw in my 2 cents. I think Fenris pretty much nailed it. Can the mods at least show a bit more discretion between “I’d rather not pay for this shit myself” and “I am fucking on my last financial/social safety net leg here folks…HELP (if you can and you want to thank you very much)!” ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/33 "2012-08-13T20:17:35Z")
In my case, I was looking toward Dopers _if_ what we had saved + money from my sister came up short, without getting into the financial quagmire that would have come with borrowing against my retirement account. I met my sister’s conditions and she sent enough to combine with our savings to pay for the parts and spread out the labor over a few months. All monies sent by Dopers would have been returned anyway because they were not needed. Some of you won’t believe that but whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Beastly\_Rotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Beastly\_Rotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastly_Rotter)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/34 "2012-08-13T20:18:55Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > They’re just cheesed off because they paid for their education on their own LIKE A SUCKER! Yeah, but you should see the fonts and kerning on my WILL WEBCOMIC FOR FOOD sign. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/35 "2012-08-13T20:35:35Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > No, because while it’s fun to occasionally poke you with a stick, I’d like to keep the thread on topic and the fact that you’re not able to understand the relevance of the link shouldn’t be allowed to slow the thread down for the rest of the posters. We can’t always cater to the lowest common denominator after all. MODERATOR INTERVENTION: **Fenris** , personal insutls are NOT permitted in this forum. You know better. Official Warning issued. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/36 "2012-08-13T20:46:27Z")
ON THE TOPIC: Sorry to disillusion y’all, but (generally speaking) mods don’t do any serious vetting of requests beyond superficial levels. We can’t – we don’t have the resources or the time to check whether someone is expressing a legitimate need or not. We don’t ask for bank statements, sworn affadavits, or a credit check. We just take the person pretty much at their word. Similarly, when someone says they’re a musician with a gig they’d like to let the Boards know about, we give permission without checking to see whether they really are a musician… or whether they’re any good. That’s not something we could do or want to do, and (frankly) we believe that most posters don’t want us to do that, either. Neither do we check whether a poster is REALLY a doctor/lawyer/seamstress, either. We take people pretty much at their word, and always have. That means that sometimes there are bumps in the road. Sometimes people say things under false pretenses – whether “I need money” or “I’m an alcoholic” or “come hear my bagpipe sonata.” We trust the Dopers to make their own judgements, whether they want to send money, give moral support, or go to the concert. We request and require advance permission for anything with a commercial/monetary/advertising edge, and we have rejected some that seem… well, too obviously unrealistic. But let’s not pretend that we could detect a fraudulent appeal for money (or support for artistic efforts, or moral support), beyond the most superficial of tests. It’s not the mods who are making these requests. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/37 "2012-08-13T21:02:30Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > But let’s not pretend that we could detect a fraudulent appeal for money (or support for artistic efforts, or moral support), beyond the most superficial of tests. No doubt on all that. I certainly don’t expect you all to remotely find out whether the request is bogus in the stated facts or not. But thats a totally different issue than whether a particular request is a “ohh come the fuck on!” one or not. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/38 "2012-08-13T21:04:27Z")
> [@keturah](#): > > Are you the same covered in bees soliciting adult sized baby clothing on SA? Inquiring minds want to know… haha that was brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/39 "2012-08-13T21:05:27Z")
> [@Beastly\_Rotter](#): > > I suggest a sub-forum to keep mendicancy threads separate for those who don’t want to see it; you could call it Alms Control. This was superb as well. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/40 "2012-08-13T21:12:15Z")
As for my views: I don’t see why anyone, no matter how ridiculous and undeserving their story, shouldn’t be allowed to start a begging thread, **so long as they are honest about the situation**. Its up to others whether to donate. Fenris: start your begging thread and I’ll pledge to match the first three dollars donated by someone else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333.md?page=3)