I don’t have enough interesting in knowing how much money an arbitrary group of strangers gave to do this, but it would take like 5 seconds to write a perl script to keep a running total and stick up a web page where people could enter their amts and have it added up automatically.
I’m nowhere near protesting this as a curtailment of free speech; you put that reading in yourself.
I do think there is a distinction between “this [offboard thing] shouldn’t exist” and “this post shouldn’t exist.”
What “offboard thing” are you talking about? And what exactly do you mean by “shouldn’t exist”? When people gripe about something, they rarely mean “and I think it should be illegal.” For example, I don’t think people should wear flip flops as every day shoes. I think it’s dumb. But when I say “everyday wearing of flip flops shouldn’t exist,” it hardly means that I believe it should be ILLEGAL. Just that I think it is dumb.
Sure, assuming you have the knowledge and resources to do so. Let’s assume you don’t, but you do have access to a message board that you already paid $15 to join. What then?
Your example of cellphones and SUVs was the generic “offboard thing” I used in my example.
At this point, I think we’re splitting hairs, and frankly I’m not interesting in nit-picking any more. I’m going to bow out of this line of conversation.
If you want, I could head into that thread and claim to have donated several thousand dollars.
Um… wasn’t it a hair you proposed splitting?
Huh? That’s a complete non-sequitor.
Better answer: Fish.
You thought it was fun to watch the number go up, so he wanted to help. He’s also making the important point that the number in that thread is completely arbitrary. It’s certainly less than whatever all people on the board gave, so what difference does it make what the people who say they gave say they gave adds up to?
Your question is a leading one. “It is necessary to have this lame objective, and other proposed solutions are unacceptable. So what should we do???”
What people are supposed to not do is drop the amounts they gave to charity into conversations. It is one of those “manners” things that is so lost on our current generation of crass, self-absorbed, talking-during-movies, lane-hogging, red-light-running, line-cutting, oafs that it is pointless to expect anything different.
I’ll end my participation in this thread by saying of this topic what Louis Armstrong said of jazz: Brother, if you can’t feel it, I can’t explain it.
You thought it was fun to watch the number go up, so he wanted to help. He’s also making the important point that the number in that thread is completely arbitrary. It’s certainly less than whatever all people on the board gave, so what difference does it make what the people who say they gave say they gave adds up to?
Your question is a leading one. “It is necessary to have this lame objective, and other proposed solutions are unacceptable. So what should we do???”
What people are supposed to not do is drop the amounts they gave to charity into conversations. It is one of those “manners” things that is so lost on our current generation of crass, self-absorbed, talking-during-movies, lane-hogging, red-light-running, line-cutting, oafs that it is pointless to expect anything different.
I’ll end my participation in this thread by saying of this topic what Louis Armstrong said of jazz: Brother, if you can’t feel it, I can’t explain it.
I thought the quote was, “Some people…if they don’t know, you can’t tell 'em.”
Or as Miles Davis said, “Whatever. It’s not like I was there.”
Hence the creation of a thread solely for the purpose of tallying SDMB contributions. The talliers are not the one who hijacked the thread. It’s not like someone posted to the “sexiest hair/eye combo” with “Dark brown and blue, and BY THE WAY I GAVE $50 TO THE RED CROSS, LAUD ME!”
For everybody who objects to the Running Tally thread…Do you also object to telethons? Look. I understand that some folks wish the world was perfect and everybody simply donated what they could when they could and kept their classy mouths shut about it.
The world isn’t like that. Not everyone is as enlightened as cricetus and Dio. The fact remains that things like running totals help encourage more donations.
Some people won’t donate until Harry Connick Jr. tells them it’s a good idea. Some people don’t donate until they hear a story about a kid who sold lemonade to raise donation money. Some people don’t donate until they hear about a friend/co-worker/message board member who donated. The fact remains, some people are encouraged to be charitable. The result? More people are charitable.
Are you arguing with the result? Even if every single total in that thread is bullshit, if it encouraged one donation, or steered them to foundations that are matching donations, it has done good.
So go ahead, Dio & cricetus, and pat your selves on the back for being less unseemly than others. Your class and grace far outstrip any of those foul-mannered heathens in the other thread.
Me…I’d rather have more tacky donations then a lower total amount donated.
Either your for the bragging, or your for the hurricane!
You think we need this for the SDMB? Really? I thought we were nice people all on our own…
I’m pretty sure no one is arguing with the “results”. It’s just that it’s a totally arbitrary thread of numbers, that can’t be proven any which way.
Won’t anyone answer why some posters think we need a thread of numbers to give of ourselves? Why do you think seeing and hearing about and talking about actual tragedy and death, won’t move us on our own?
I would really love to hear the answer from the “posting the amount given makes others give more” crowd. I’m not counting anyone who came in and stated they intended to donate the entire amount given in the thread thus far, either. Sure i’ll assume those posts were genuine, no problem, and great job everyone. I’m sure thats not the norm, though.
You think I don’t give what I can? That Poster X stating a number will make a magical $50 in my pocket to give? Or are you just saying that SOME posters need to be prodded and poked to give to this cause?
Everything we post here could be bullshit. So what?
I agree that it’s tacky, and I doubt that many people were moved to donate just by reading the thread. I participated anyway. And I’ll do it again!
Ah. Now I get it. The lightbulb has switched on.
Where, exactly, in this blissful world of manners of yours, do accusations of “utterly self-centered unreflective defensiveness about being called on the tackiness of the former and the self-righteous indignation” fit in?
If you’re telling me the thread was pointless…or perhaps mundane & pointless…then perhaps it was in the right forum. We don’t have to have any threads in there, but I don’t see the harm. I certainly don’t see it as classless & unseemly.
I’m saying some posters have been prodded. Or acutally, may have been prodded. I meant no offense.
If you are happy and comfortable with what you give & choose not to share that info on a message board. Fine. I’m saying some people see others around them giving, and re-evaulate what they are capable of giving. If a person’s donation was changed and increased, I’m not going to judge their motivation for doing so.
I’m not accusing anybody of anything. If it makes you feel better to donate in private or participate in a community running total or not donate at all, that’s all good. My beef is with people looking down at the other thread like it’s benaeth them. “It’s so unseemly.”
I’m saying that the running total thread is doing good. I’m surprised that some Dopers seem so against the idea.
I think what Jesus meant in the verses on Matthew is about your intentions. Is it really to help others, or to glorify yourself? And that is strictly something that the individual knows.