I’ve given money to other Dopers with no expectation of getting it back.
Granted, only the Dopers I’ve had sex with, so take that as you will.
I’ve certainly never given a large amount or money that I couldn’t have comfortably set on fire, of course. I’ve considered it worth it.
Good for you! It is hard to give to someone that you disagree with.
I have donated small amounts of money to various folks/causes. It makes me feel good, so I will probably continue to do it.
Yes. Someone quietly re-upped my subscription when I was ready to let it lapse, and I’ve tried to repay that in a diffuse sense. 
Hell, twice, Dopers have mailed me treasured (by me) objects just 'cuz they thought I’d appreciate them more than they did.
Nope. I just don’t have that much faith in human nature, I guess. I don’t loan money to friends, either: it’s a good way to lose both.
I think i donated a small amount once, although i can’t remember now who it was or what the reason was.
For me to do it again, i think it would have to be (a) a pretty serious situation, and (b) someone who had been around long enough for me to have interacted with them on a regular basis, and have a good sense (well, as good as you can get on the internet) of what sort of person they were.
I participated in the SDMB international candy exchange one year. I sent a package to my designated person, but never received one in return. I stopped opening those threads after that.
I did once when I knew the person in real life. That kindness returned to me, unsolicited (from a different Doper, no less), when we were going through tough times ourselves.
I donated to the aforementioned memorial plaque.
The second happened off the Dope, but involved another poster who was a Doper. She has had long-term health issues, and had made a comment somewhere about not having enough food for medication or food that week. So among the Giraffe boards community, I helped arrange a care package of vouchers for I think it was Kroger as well as a few other grocery stores and gas stations around the area, so she and her partner could get food, gas and medication to last them until their payments came through. Being that I helped arrange it, I also donated as well.
But this wasn’t a scenario where the poster had come begging. We’d just been talking and she mentioned about money being tight, and food and medication being the sticking point. The whip-around and gift cards were purchased without her knowledge, and sent to her as a surprise.
I’ve donated small (less than $20) amounts, in the same way I’d take an unemployed friend out to lunch. It might not be wise, but it makes me feel like I’m an ok person and I need that sometimes.
I have actually headed up two fund drives here at the dope.
The first was a case where a doper sent a check to someone for equipment for their special needs child.
The scum not only didn’t sent the stuff they altered the check and cleaned out the doper’s checking account.
They were going lose the lights cause that check bounced and they had next to no $ for food until next payday.
They posted a pit thread about it. Didn’t ask for money just vented.
Call me a softie but I could not let that one go by. I contacted Tuba Diva got permission and opened a thread.
The response was overwhelming.
Two days later I was able to fed-ex a check that covered the light bill and would pay for the replacement equipment.
I will never forget the voice on the phone when they opened that envelope.
In the other case a very well respected doper died of cancer and it was his wish that his friends donate money to cancer research. I was volunteered for the job based on the first thread.
If you wish to read these threads search a doper (no longer) in need, and Something for David.
In both cases the need was real, it was not the recipient that was doing the asking, and perhaps my reputation around here might have helped a bit.
Dopers can be wonderfully generous when they feel the need is real.
When the Dope first went to pay-to-post, I sponsered a couple of people who were unable to pay. It wasn’t a loan, it was an out and out donation. Thankfully, $7.50 is pocket change for me, and I valued the diversity here enough to spend some extra to make sure it continued.
I’ve got a couple of candle holders that one of them made for me as a thank you. They make me smile.
I would and have. I don’t give more than I’m comfortable losing outright and I don’t regret having given the money for a second. One of the recipients sent me a very nice thank you email that I still have saved.
Stuff a number of times, and some money too. I don’t regret it.
Me too. And I don’t regret it either. But I don’t know if I’ll ever do it again. That makes me real sad.
No. On another board a member fell on hard times and was selling off some guns and militaria to pay his bills. I bought a very common gun of no distinction from him and paid more than it was worth. He wouldn’t have accepted charity. Still have the rifle, still have no use for it, still haven’t shot it. Dopers, though, are supposed to be the smartest people on the web. I have every confidence they can think their way out of any problem situation.
As do I. And I’ll buy anybody a beer if they’re in town, or dinner if they need it. I’d probably even offer a place to sleep for the night. I donate to reputable charities and deliver Meals on Wheels every week. But a Cash For Individual Strangers plan isn’t in my future.
I’ve given money a couple of times to Dopers. Never more than I could afford to lose and never with the expectation of repayment.
Yes, a few times. I don’t think I ever have after a solicitation, but I’ve made direct offers a few times of money, cat food, etc.
And as the recipient of the aforementioned plaque after the death of my first husband (well, a copy, the original is at Jacob’s Field, the ballpark for his beloved Cleveland Indians), I know very well how generous and kind people on the internet can be.
It distresses me when anyone makes those who give feel like fools.
I would never send a personal check or even cash. I won’t do it through paypal either, but I have sent a gift card in the mail. I believe I would do so again. I like to help when I can and I don’t want this incident to change that.
I’ll donate to strangers if I can afford it, and I think the cause is good. Not here, but on another message board I donated $20 for a transwoman’s sex change operation (her insurance wouldn’t cover it). And I donated to someone who was diagnosed with breast cancer and didn’t have insurance. Stuff that I think is super-really important.