# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/41 "2012-08-13T21:15:27Z")
Are the rules concerning requests for money written down anywhere? It would be a good idea to state explicitly what an approved request for money means. If the moderators have to approve them, then they’re endorsing them to some degree, and that should be stated no matter how low the bar is. After that, it should be up the individual to decide whether they want to donate or not, and take responsibility for verifying to their own satisfaction that it is worth doing. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/42 "2012-08-13T21:17:40Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > 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. Obviously, this means a poll before panhandles are posted would be in everyone’s best interests. Once the request for the request has been approved by majority vote, then the request can be made. 🙂 ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/43 "2012-08-13T21:19:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If the moderators have to approve them, then they’re endorsing them to some degree, and that should be stated no matter how low the bar is. I don’t think one follows the other automatically. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/44 "2012-08-13T21:26:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I don’t think one follows the other automatically. Sure. They are saying some are denied for some reason. I’m not saying they’re endorsing the particular cause, so maybe ‘endorse’ is the wrong word, but they are approving them, and there would be an assumption they’ve met some standard. ---
**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, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/45 "2012-08-13T21:28:43Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sure. They are saying some are denied for some reason. I’m not saying they’re endorsing the particular cause, so maybe ‘endorse’ is the wrong word, but they are approving them, and there would be an assumption they’ve met some standard. I think the the proper word would be “allowed”, like they allow most of the other posts on this message board. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/46 "2012-08-13T21:32:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think the the proper word would be “allowed”, like they allow most of the other posts on this message board. I don’t think it’s the same. It implies a level of content approval and pre-approval which isn’t required for all threads or posts. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/47 "2012-08-13T21:45:27Z")
I for one am glad both for the mods’ careful evaluation of such threads, and that they do allow some. I’m very glad I could help **Sunspace** out, with a loan. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/48 "2012-08-13T21:56:37Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t think it’s the same. It implies a level of content approval and pre-approval which isn’t required for all threads or posts. Not really. It can check for basic correctness (not political, not illegal) without any further vetting because this is a different type of thread. I do that on a board I moderate just to make sure something doesn’t break the ground rules. Beyond that there’s no editorial control. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/49 "2012-08-13T22:05:09Z")
Since it looks like CK is opening the flood gates now I’ll just automatically ignore any pleas. I would otherwise have been inclined to help with those in genuine need. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/50 "2012-08-13T22:05:58Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > ON THE TOPIC: Sorry to disillusion y’all, but (generally speaking) mods don’t do any serious vetting of requests beyond superficial levels. With all due respect, there is no need for serious vetting of requests, we are just suggesting that you ask one simple question, “what do you need it for?”. Its not exactly requesting financial records in duplicate is it. Take the bunny cooler for example. One thing that struck me at the time was it seemed like the mods had not even asked him what he wanted the money for. Everything in his OP screamed that it was not life or death levels of poverty, yet somehow he was allowed to post the request. Here a suggestion for you. Next time a poster requests permission to ask for money, tell them to submit a copy of their proposed OP via PM. All the info required should be there and the mods can make a yes/no judgement from there, job done. Sounds simple but fuck me I would almost bet some English pounds that when Lute Skywatcher posted his Bunny comforts requests that nobody had actually asked him what he wanted the money for. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/51 "2012-08-13T22:07:51Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Not really. It can check for basic correctness (not political, not illegal) without any further vetting because this is a different type of thread. I do that on a board I moderate just to make sure something doesn’t break the ground rules. Beyond that there’s no editorial control. Ok, but it’s still pre-approval. If it’s that minimal, then they should say so, and then everybody would know that saying a thread has mod approval means nothing. This is a type of thread where you need pre-approval. Other’s don’t. That approval comes from mods. It’s either random, arbitrary, or there’s a standard. But the mods are saying the thread is approved, and that’s not the case with other threads. We don’t if a mod has ever read any particular OP or post, but in this case they are claiming that they have done so before it was posted. That’s different from other threads and posts. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/52 "2012-08-13T22:15:30Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > 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. The bottom line is that you were asking for money to help keep a bunny air conditioned. Worse, you admitted you had the money on hand but it would be too much much of a pain in the rear for you to get it. That’s not what most people think of as a worthy charity. The [Getty Owl Foundation](http://gettyowl.org/), (run by a doper and designed to help really sick kids) is what most of us think of as more appropriate. ---
**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, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/53 "2012-08-13T22:21:43Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Worse, you admitted you had the money on hand but it would be too much much of a pain in the rear for you to get it. Not just “a pain in the rear”; I could have easly gone into default on such a loan due to the way that retirement account is set up. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/54 "2012-08-13T22:31:43Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Not just “a pain in the rear”; I could have easly gone into default on such a loan due to the way that retirement account is set up. Not to be a dick but that’s still not a problem for Dopers to help solve. You should have talked to your bank or your financial planner or your company’s HR department first instead of asking Dopers to contribute to get air conditioning for your bunny. The fundamental point is that you admit you had the money to fix the problem. Please tell me you see the difference between your “problem” and that of the Doper who reasonably asks for money for research into and equipment for his baby daughter’s horrible medical condition. :dubious: The Getty Owl Foundation is the sort of cause that should be allowed. The give me money so I can get air conditioning because I don’t want to touch my retirement fund is not. It was mocked and rightfully so. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/55 "2012-08-13T22:33:49Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Not just “a pain in the rear”; I could have easly gone into default on such a loan due to the way that retirement account is set up. You didn’t reveal all the relevant details up front. ---
**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, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/56 "2012-08-13T22:36:06Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Please tell me you see the difference between your “problem” and that of the Doper who reasonably asks for money for research into and equipment for his baby daughter’s horrible medical condition. > > :dubious: > > The Getty Owl Foundation is the sort of cause that should be allowed. The give me money so I can get air conditioning because I don’t want to touch my retirement fund is not. Please tell me where it says you get final say on what Dopers can contribute to. :dubious: ---
**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, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/57 "2012-08-13T22:44:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You didn’t reveal all the relevant details up front. Right. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/58 "2012-08-13T23:10:29Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Please tell me where it says you get final say on what Dopers can contribute to. > > :dubious: I don’t. But, like my fellow Dopers, I get to mock them when I find them stupid. I’ve personally been scammed by someone a few years ago. It’s annoying. Worse it makes it that much harder for real causes to get noticed and funded. Do you really want to rehash this? Because I believe you admitted you were in the wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/59 "2012-08-13T23:11:16Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > With all due respect, there is no need for serious vetting of requests, we are just suggesting that you ask one simple question, “what do you need it for?” > [@](#): > > Take the bunny cooler for example. One thing that struck me at the time was it seemed like the mods had not even asked him what he wanted the money for. Everything in his OP screamed that it was not life or death levels of poverty, yet somehow he was allowed to post the request. > > … > > Sounds simple but fuck me I would almost bet some English pounds that when Lute Skywatcher posted his Bunny comforts requests that nobody had actually asked him what he wanted the money for. Basically he sent us the same information that was in his OP, saying he needed it to fix his AC. He left out a lot of the other relevant details. Once we found out the actual situation, the thread was closed. As **Idle Thoughts** acknowledged when he closed the thread, we should have examined it more thoroughly. (But “life or death levels of poverty” is not a requirement for us to allow a thread.) > [@](#): > > Here a suggestion for you. Next time a poster requests permission to ask for money, tell them to submit a copy of their proposed OP via PM. All the info required should be there and the mods can make a yes/no judgement from there, job done. We do require such proposals. Since the above situation developed, we have been looking at them more critically than before. Even so, as has been said above, we have no way of knowing for sure if someone is accurately presenting their case. So you’re always going to have to depend on your own judgement as to whether to contribute. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333/60 "2012-08-13T23:13:41Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Please tell me where it says you get final say on what Dopers can contribute to. > > :dubious: > [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I don’t. But, like my fellow Dopers, I get to mock them when I find them stupid. I’ve personally been scammed by someone a few years ago. It’s annoying. Worse it makes it that much harder for real causes to get noticed and funded. > > Do you really want to rehash this? Because I believe you admitted you were in the wrong. [Moderating] Let’s not get into an argument about this situation in this thread. The Pit is still available if you want to revisit it. Colibri [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-admins-seriously-stop-it-with-the-pls-help-i-need-money-threads/631333.md?page=4)