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Recently my friend gave 100$ to a gofundme that was used to let someone(He didnt know) get their car from impound and license fee. I told him that it was wasting money and that if he really wants to give give me the money to get me a new car after mine got junked. I tried to explain that people have problems, and asking random strangers to fix your own financial problems is wrong and extortion. He explained he helped her because she put on one of his favorite brony conventions and he is being nice
With Indiegogo,Patreon,gofundme, and the infamous Kickstarter, are these things just now being used by people just as an excuse to not pay for their own problem. Spike Lee recently made a KS for his movie projects, Several go for celebrities. Several of my favorite movie reviewers now plug their crowdfunding page at the beggining of each video

I'm not sure I would compare start-up companies with people asking for others to help pay to get their car out of impound. If a company has a good idea and needs help funding it and don't want to go to corporations or hope for angel investors I'm all for it. If someone is just asking for money from the internet to pay for their problems they can ask elsewhere.

 Ahtman wrote:
I'm not sure I would compare start-up companies with people asking for others to help pay to get their car out of impound. If a company has a good idea and needs help funding it and don't want to go to corporations or hope for angel investors I'm all for it. If someone is just asking for money from the internet to pay for their problems they can ask elsewhere.

But what about Someone like spike lee, who has the money to make his "Dream Project" and fund it on his own, but goes to KS for it?

 hotsauceman1 wrote:

 Ahtman wrote:
I'm not sure I would compare start-up companies with people asking for others to help pay to get their car out of impound. If a company has a good idea and needs help funding it and don't want to go to corporations or hope for angel investors I'm all for it. If someone is just asking for money from the internet to pay for their problems they can ask elsewhere.

But what about Someone like spike lee, who has the money to make his "Dream Project" and fund it on his own, but goes to KS for it?

Funding a project isn't that simple, and he did put a decent amount of his own money into it. Getting fans to help back it keeps it from having to go through larger companies to get funding or their input. I just saw a bit about how the guys who made the designs for Alien Resurrection took in their designs for the human/alien hybrid to FOX for approval and the company asked some random 14 year that was in the building what he thought and they had to make the changes the kid came up with. Funding when not through them keeps you from having to deal with stuff like that. It is also voluntary so if you don't want to fund art don't. Art is still an investment, just often with a different sort of pay off. What is the pay off for helping that guy get his car out of impound? Where is the investment? Seems like it is just giving money to strangers at that point.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Recently my friend gave 100$ to a gofundme that was used to let someone(He didnt know) get their car from impound and license fee. I told him that it was wasting money and that if he really wants to give give me the money to get me a new car after mine got junked. I tried to explain that people have problems, and asking random strangers to fix your own financial problems is wrong and extortion

this word does not mean what you seem to think it means

What?

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
I tried to explain that people have problems, and asking random strangers to fix your own financial problems is wrong and extortion.

No, it is not extortion. That's insane.

Crowdfunding is still bad when your pitch is founded on lies - when you promise a product in exchange for people's money but fail to deliver, or when you beg for food money but you're really spending it on booze - but merely asking people for a favour in the safe environment of a crowdfunding website is not extortion. I'd say it's a lot better than doing it in person, where you may be inadvertently intimidating strangers who think you're sizing them up for a quick robbery or guilt-tripping friends and family.

I, for one, am sick of these crowdfunders stealing peoples' hard earned shoes and money.

Extortion is when you demand money with menaces, like a mafia protection racket for example.

Asking for money to help a problem is just informal charity.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
He explained he helped her because she put on one of his favorite brony conventions and he is being nice

Could you elaborate on this part a bit more, please?

So, someone who is "big" in a community asked for help from said community via gofundme.

Truly histories greatest monster, giving someone else money instead of you.

I think it is silly that people will do this for mundane things like an impounded car. But its great for other things.

An acquaintance of mine starts a Gofundme or otherwise begs for donations every time he needs anything - money to move, money for rent, money to pay for his cat's surgery, etc. The obnoxious thing is that he spends inordinate amounts of money on everything. He's got thousands of dollars in movie props and firearms that he refuses to part with. I would sell every last possession of mine before begging for money - it's pathetic.

Yes, it's gone too far, but only because people are disgustingly shameless.

My big problem with crowdfunding is not the supporting startups but it seems to be more and more being used as a sales platform for established manufacturers.

Also, there need to be a bit more quality control on the projects imho.

A deadbeat relative of mine asked for money to pay for them to move to Lousiana and be with their husband who was being released from prison there. They were funded.

Meanwhile, a person I know who has had genuine struggles and needed money to travel to the Mayo Clinic for treatment couldn't even raise as much money as my deadbeat relative.

I was somewhat surprised at what people will and won't fund.

If someone needs their car back and crowdfunds their car there is very clear definition of what it is:

Begging.

There is nothing inherently wrong with begging, the only trouble incomes from intrusive begging, which this is not, or if the money is not used for the purpose presented.

Unless we have evidence that the guy asking for his car o be paid for is a crook there is no need to rail at him. If anyone wants to give him the money, its up to them.

Nigerian oil prince scams are different.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Easy E wrote:
A deadbeat relative of mine asked for money to pay for them to move to Lousiana and be with their husband who was being released from prison there. They were funded.

Meanwhile, a person I know who has had genuine struggles and needed money to travel to the Mayo Clinic for treatment couldn't even raise as much money as my deadbeat relative.

I was somewhat surprised at what people will and won't fund.

It doesnt surprise me.

Reunite a family, ok we can fund that. 'Deadbeat' relative has paid his debt to society and leaving prison, family might keep him on the level this time.

Fund medical treatment visits, isn't that what Obamacare taxes are for?

 granander wrote:
My big problem with crowdfunding is not the supporting startups but it seems to be more and more being used as a sales platform for established manufacturers.

Sometimes, I don't really see an issue with this, even from "established" players. IIRC, Square Enix did this with a couple games... They put 2 games up, and told fans on their website that the one that got funded, by them, got made. It lowers/eliminates the risk of not making your money out of a product. I don't personally like it (and may have started a thread on it, because they were blasting my email inbox), but I can *see* why it's done.


I do think that there are some crowdfunding things that are asinine or just plain wrong. Such as the "help me make a potato salad" one. Fairly recently, there was a domestic incident in my neighborhood where the kicked out husband returned to the house, and murdered the wife. Some of the neighbors started a fund either for a college fund, or something to help ensure they get adopted by a good family kind of thing... I have a friend who also had a liver transplant that asked others for funds for things related to her treatment not covered by insurance (which, surprisingly there are things Tricare won't cover or won't do)

 Orlanth wrote:
It doesnt surprise me.

Reunite a family, ok we can fund that. 'Deadbeat' relative has paid his debt to society and leaving prison, family might keep him on the level this time.

Fund medical treatment visits, isn't that what Obamacare taxes are for?

Last I checked Obamacare/Health Insurance doesn't cover travel costs?

However, I'm sure that was the thinking.

The problem with this OP in "crowdfunding getting out of hand" is the definition or how to segregate the different types.

Getting a car out of impound could be "crowdbegging" as mentioned. I am sure a fellow from Somalia could come up with a better sob story to get funded.

The worry is for the common person with a great idea getting missed by the noise generated by people wanting donations or corporations looking to have their next product line "pre-purchased".

If these sites can keep the various groups separated it would not get out of hand. I find we focus more on the people posting their "pitch" more than the groups hosting them.

How about crowdfunding a political party to get rid of all the corrupt/idiots in government.
Because it's being suggested ATM.

 loki old fart wrote:
How about crowdfunding a political party to get rid of all the corrupt/idiots in government.
Because it's being suggested ATM.

We do that every few years. There are only ever 2 projects that hit their backing goals. The problem is... well, beyond the scope of this thread, but suffice it to say one man's idiot is another man's 6 term senator.

 Ouze wrote:

 loki old fart wrote:
How about crowdfunding a political party to get rid of all the corrupt/idiots in government.
Because it's being suggested ATM.

We do that every few years. There are only ever 2 projects that hit their backing goals. The problem is... well, beyond the scope of this thread, but suffice it to say one man's idiot is another man's 6 term senator.

I meant a party funded by the people, not big business. Your system ATM seems to be. You can vote for our crony A. Or you can vote for our crony B. Ours is not much better. Most of our lot could sit on either side of the house, and be well at home.

I blame it all on the breakdown of the family, the state of education and the overall weird place the Youth of Today seem to be in.

In other words, you know who to thank/blame.

 Alpharius wrote:
In other words, you know who to thank/blame.

The Alpha Legion?

As long as it's completely voluntary I don't see the issue.

I'd much rather pick and choose who I help than have to pay a percentage to the government every year to let their bureaucracy try and muddle out who's in need.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Alpharius wrote:
I blame it all on the breakdown of the family, the state of education and the overall weird place the Youth of Today seem to be in.

In other words, you know who to thank/blame.

:::hand hovers over Bingo card:::

I love KS as a risk mitigation tool for niche companies. I'd be fine if GW used Kickstarter to fund smaller pet projects.

Croudfunding might be getting out of hand. If I can raise $1,000 I’ll write some vague report about how bad it is. If I reach my stretch goal of $5,000, I’ll e-mail you a copy.

Give now!

 Nevelon wrote:
Croudfunding might be getting out of hand. If I can raise $1,000 I’ll write some vague report about how bad it is. If I reach my stretch goal of $5,000, I’ll e-mail you a copy.
Give now!

I would rather commit to publishing a series of videos critically pointing out the tropes in TV shows about gamers.
I think the prejudice has not been adequately brought to light.
I will also ensure all comments are turned off but I will listen to the kickstarter comments!

I may want to add as a side note filtering by "finished product type" may be good as well: physical product, media... etc.

Some kickstarters have developed a notoriety like someone winning the lottery or developing a poisoned relationship with backers or working very well with backers, it has been an interesting lesson in social psychiatry in the human condition.

I think the biggest problem to take away from this is that a contributor to Bronyism is getting help. For shame!!

amidoingitright?

At least no one has blamed it on Obama yet.
To provoke further discussion