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**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [January 20, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327 "2004-01-20T14:57:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2
**Author:**  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/21 "2004-01-20T17:37:32Z")
When i first started reading those cached sites, i thought the whole thing must be some sort of parody, along the lines of the [Black People Love Us](http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/) website. But they appear to have really set up a Paypal account for peole to contribute to their wedding.
As parody or satire, it could have been priceless. As a serious appeal for money, it’s disgusting.
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**Author:**  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/22 "2004-01-20T17:54:47Z")
Comment cribbed from someone’s LiveJournal:
> [@](#):
>
> Christ. That “cast” page looks like a list of all the people I hated in high school.
Seriously, I view the whole thing with a certain amount of incredulity. It’s too over-the-top-- it _must_ be a wind-up. It seems calculated to be as galling as possible.
> [@](#):
>
> Even with the time spent on researching, you’ll notice that our overall budget still makes it well over the national average. Dream weddings are so expensive these days!!
Right. The collection of smirks and gummy, insincere smiles on the photo page seems precision-engineered to convey the message “My peers and I are a collection of smug, venal cretins. _Despise us!_”
I have grave doubts that “Cynthia and Paul” are an actual couple in Washington, and would give odds that the motivation for shutting down the begging operation has less to do with received or perceived threats of violence than concerns that the huge amount of attention that the site is receiving will lead to a fraud investigation-- especially if (against all expectations or common sense) a percentage of the tens of thousands of folks who have looked at the page blithely ponied up a dollar or two.
-previews-
Drat you, **mhendo!**
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**Author:**  [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/23 "2004-01-20T18:06:05Z")
I dunno …
I’d like to believe it was a hoax, but there are too many examples of brides-to-be losing all contact with reality and forgetting that the world doesn’t actually revolve around them just because they are getting married.
[blackpeoplelikeus.com](http://blackpeoplelikeus.com) : what’s the story there?
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**Author:**  [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/24 "2004-01-20T18:24:39Z")
Nah…
If it were only a joke site, cynthia
would’ve posted those ‘threatening’ emails… unsolicited hate email has massive entertainment potential.
She went to a lot of (wasted) effort to build that site. She had to be scared to dump the content that fast.
If you really want to know, try emailing her:
[cynthia@payforcynthiaswedding.com](mailto:cynthia@payforcynthiaswedding.com)
Be nice, now! She’s hurting, you know!
Believe it or not, there really are self-centered, fantastically selfish people like this out there who believe the world owes them… whatever their cretinous little hearts desire!
Heh heh heh! 😃
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**Author:**  [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/25 "2004-01-20T19:37:48Z")
Vanity, thy name is Cynthia.
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**Author:**  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/26 "2004-01-20T19:42:42Z")
> [@gluteus maximus](#):
>
> Cool, **Gaudere**! You got link!
>
> I’m guessing the threats were from either Madonna or Martha Stewart.
I’d put my money on Miss Manners.
One thing that struck me about that site…she said something like "Quote for the week “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” So she must have received a few opinions about her website and plan earlier than this morning (which is when I last checked her site).
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**Author:**  [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/27 "2004-01-20T20:09:25Z")
> [@gluteus maximus](#):
>
> Nah…
>
> If it were only a joke site, cynthia
> would’ve posted those ‘threatening’ emails… unsolicited hate email has massive entertainment potential.
>
> She went to a lot of (wasted) effort to build that site. She had to be scared to dump the content that fast.
I’m inclined to agree with Larry. I’ve seen plenty of joke sites, even with Paypal or other pay service logos like that but when you click to pay you get some other run-around and never get somewhere where they will actually take money from you. If this site actually collected money, and it turns out it’s not Cynthia but some college fratboy beer-money venture. . .those people who would have been weird enough to donate would probably be plenty pissed off and ready to file suit. As has been mentioned before, so many of the statements are pretty obviously carefully crafted to evoke a negative response. And the “it came with the frame” pictures don’t help the credibility either.
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**Author:**  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/28 "2004-01-20T20:31:54Z")
Geez, **troub** , thanks for the support… but…
I figured I’d dig around a bit to try to prove that the whole thing is a sham, and I’m afraid that I’m now convinced that it’s the sorry truth.
The tracks lead back to a real Cyntha, who really does work as a paralegal, and there is substantial documentation of her home address, telephone number, work contacts, etc.
If it is a hoax, it’s a cruel one with a specific intended victim.
I think it’s the real deal, though.
Another blow to my general estimation of the human race. ☹
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**Author:**  [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/29 "2004-01-20T20:54:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> ENGAGEMENT RING: $2,236.49
Who the _fuck_ needs a ring that costs that damn much?!
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**Author:**  [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/30 "2004-01-20T20:55:39Z")
Did you notice on the home page, at the bottom, she was offering her wedding dress for sale (after her dream wedding, of course)? Boy, I’d just love to have a used wedding dress, especially one loaded with all her karma.
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**Author:**  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/31 "2004-01-20T21:03:56Z")
> [@cowgirl](#):
>
> [blackpeoplelikeus.com](http://blackpeoplelikeus.com) : what’s the story there?
It’s just a parody, and i think it’s designed to make fun of whites who feel some sort of guilt about not knowing any black people, and/or whites who feel the need to appropriate black cultural forms in order to be hip. There have been SDMB discussions about it before, but i’m too lazy to look for links right now.
The whole Cynthia thing reminds me of [Karyn](http://www.savekaryn.com/AboutSaveKaryn.htm), who managed to find enough idiots to actually pay off her $20,000 credit card debt.
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**Author:**  [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/32 "2004-01-20T21:20:53Z")
> [@Arden Ranger](#):
>
> Who the _fuck_ needs a ring that costs that damn much?!
In the grand scheme, $2,200 isn’t really all that much for a diamond ring. Of course, it’s not all that much assuming you can _afford_ it! If you can’t really afford it, like Miss Cynthia, it’s a huge waste of dough.
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**Author:**  [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/33 "2004-01-20T21:30:06Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Other miscellaneous expenses
> $2,500.00
So she has $2500 worth of stuff that’s not important enough to itemize? :dubious:
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**Author:**  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/34 "2004-01-20T22:25:36Z")
> [@Super Gnat](#):
>
> So she has $2500 worth of stuff that’s not important enough to itemize? :dubious:
Sheez. That woulda paid for most of our wedding right there!
The part I liked was right up front:
> [@](#):
>
> I set up a budget, but you know how that goes. Things come up. And, it was really hard to cut out buying and buying and buying whatever tickled our fancy that week.
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**Author:**  [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/35 "2004-01-20T22:36:27Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#):
>
> Did you notice on the home page, at the bottom, she was offering her wedding dress for sale (after her dream wedding, of course)? .
Even better, she overstates the value.
From Page 1:
“It retails at over $900.00”
From Page 2:
“Bridal Gown $438.00”
😃
> [@](#):
>
> Boy, I’d just love to have a used wedding dress, especially one loaded with all her karma
Didn’t Monica Lewinsky have a dress that was loaded with karma? Oh, wait - that wasn’t karma.
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**Author:**  [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/36 "2004-01-20T22:38:30Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> In the grand scheme, $2,200 isn’t really all that much for a diamond ring. Of course, it’s not all that much assuming you can _afford_ it! If you can’t really afford it, like Miss Cynthia, it’s a huge waste of dough.
We’ll have to agree to disagree there. Diamonds are hideously overpriced and no one needs one _that_ bad. For that amount of money, I better need a cigarette afterwards.
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**Author:**  [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/37 "2004-01-20T22:51:04Z")
> [@gluteus maximus](#):
>
> If you really want to know, try emailing her:
> [cynthia@payforcynthiaswedding.com](mailto:cynthia@payforcynthiaswedding.com)
Let’s assume that she’s serious (I believe she is)…
Imagine getting emails from people saying, “Wow that was too funny! Thanks for a great laugh! The kicker was your BMW at 16… ROFLMAO! CLASSIC!”
Here’s what’s troubling … in her TEN PERSON wedding party (WTF? How many guests that she can’t afford to feed?), is there not ANYONE who she respects, who pulled her aside and said, “You’ve got to re-evaluate, Hun.” What about her parents? Did they not try to talk some sense in her? Presumably, SOMEONE must have unless they were fearing their own safety.
Makes me look forward to that new show at the end of January (I think on Fox) called Bridezilla.
I should write one letter to Cynthia, and one to Fox to let them know about her.
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**Author:**  [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/38 "2004-01-21T01:20:53Z")
over twenty thousand dollars for a wedding :eek:
I know it is a “national average” but it is not something to strive for :rolleyes:
I got married las October, had nearly 100 guests, photographer, hot hors d’overs, full two meat dinner, dessert spread, huge wedding cake, open bar, 4 hour reception and a night at the Four Seasons. We paid for all the tuxedo rentals and the bridesmaides dresses and including my dress (which after alterations totaled 900.00) we spent a little over 7000$ and it was paid for before we even said “I do” (paid for over a 5 month period) It was such a great time and even three months later people are still telling me what a great time they had and how beautiful everything was etc etc…
This girl Cynthia is so pathetically tragic. I seem to lack the vocaulary to describe her patheticness. I hope that she will learn a lesson at some point in her life that just because you **WANT** to live a “champagene & caviar” lifestyle doesn’t mean can (especially if you cant afford it)
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**Author:**  [@Sonyadora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonyadora)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/39 "2004-01-21T02:01:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Growing up in California, my family didn’t have much money. My parents taught me that if you want something you have to work for it. \*\* If that didn’t work, credit cards were the answer\*\*
Bolding mine.
I find it by far the most frightening thing about this site that someone’s parents would actually teach them such a thing.
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**Author:**  [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-those-poor-poor-lame-ass-html-literate-white-people/225327/40 "2004-01-21T02:54:49Z")
> [@World Eater](#):
>
> RTFA
>
> May Cynthia’s account expire in 5 days.
I did RTFA, whatever the fuck that means. I was registering my astonishment that she was actually being _pitted_ for trying to do the right thing and manage her debts responsibly. I felt sorry for her. I actually sent her $100.
Who here hasn’t been in debt? Felt the ping of sadness and worry when you have to settle when buying basic household items?
I mean, when hunger is staring you in the face, and you consider going to Taco Bell, rock bottom isn’t much farther away. You think it’s _easy_ to manage a respectable wedding ceremony and keep the cost down?
I’d like to see _you_ plan ahead like Cynthia has. But when you get down and dirty and depressed, don’t come crying to me for charity. I’ll remember how you refused the basest of human kindness in the face of this kind of adversity.
You sicken and disgust me. You should be ashamed.
:mad:
But really, just ☹
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