A lot of folks on this site ask for money. For political campaigns. (Which is part of this site) For progressive political causes. (which I also get) For charity. (ehh..i dunno) For others. For themselves. (feels creepy) I'm getting a bit overwhelmed and bothered by (some of) it. (italics in parentheses are an update for clarity's sake made at 1:59 PDT) Now, before I continue, I want to make it clear that I am not comfortable being the arbiter of others' behavior, but I do feel that as a responsible member of this community, I should express myself. Maybe something changes that increases my enjoyment of the site. Maybe, with the help of others here, I realize that I am just excessively grumpy on this topic and maybe I should stop yelling at kids to get off my wall (or stop cutting through the yard, or whatever). I looked for other diaries on this topic, found nothing and figured that was due to: 1) nobody else is bothered or really cares too much about this, 2) others are bothered, but largely quiet or, 3) the number of solicitations has grown recently, and therefore is just statring to reach "bothersome" levels. (Option #4: I failed in my searches). So, I feel it is my responsibility to myself as a dKos member, and to this site which I value to start a bit of dialogue on this topic.
/DISCLAMER
So...here's what's bugging me. I come to this site to get some info, some insight and a few chuckles. It seems that there has been an increasing number of pleas for money. On the one hand, I am skeptical. On the other hand, I'm a sap. So, this leaves me feeling a bit like a tool when I choose not to open my wallet. I resent that. I also own that. That's my bag. However, if we are a community, shouldn't there be considerations, or even accommodations for the feelings of others? If the golden rule around here is "Don't be a dick", where am I left if I think that, most times, soliciting for money on this site is a form of being a dick?
Why do I think it's dickish? If you're interested, join me below the fold for my personal feelings on that topic.
If you couldn't care less about my personal feelings on the topic, join me below the fold for some less touchy-feely reasons why all the solicitations might be a bad thing for the site, a mild suggestion or two, and (hopefully with the help of others) some good thoughts and comments on this topic.
Why I think it's dickish:
1. This is a fairly sensitive, generous and kind-minded group of people that are here because they care about progressive politics and each other. It just strikes me as taking advantage.
2. Using personal relationships and past good deeds whether on one's own behalf or on the behalf of someone else is somewhat manipulative.
3. It sets a standard of "If you care about the world, you'll give money to this cause" or "if you care about the dKos community, you'll give money to this member"
4. When an emotional plea for money gets gets recc'ed up, it encourages more.
5. when I click on a diary whose title seems to be about a topic, and there is nothing in that diary except for an emotional plea for money, that pisses me off. I don't enjoy feeling as if someone is trying to sucker me (and if you falsely advertise your diary, you are trying to sucker me).
My flower-like feelings aside, however, I think there are:
Non touchy-feely reasons why all this solicitation for money is not cool:
1. People get burned. I don't have any personal experience with this, but others here have posted this experience.
2. It attracts (more?) scammers. If dKos is understood as being a great place to siphon some money from a bunch a bleeding hearts, you can bet more con artists will arrive.
3. We are here to elect more and better democrats. If someone comes to this site and gives fifty bucks to some cause or person, that fifty bucks is not available for the November election.
4. (3b, really) Sucks energy from other endeavors, steals attention from other diaries that are more supportive to advancing progressive politics and getting better candidates elected.
All that said, sometimes a person has to be dickish. The need is so great or the issue so important, that one feels s/he must cross the line of acceptable behavior and decorum. That is why
I don't support banning these solicitations for money
1. If a person is still compelled to bring a request for money into an social climate that shuns that, it is likely that someone: doesn't understand that it ain't cool, is a scammer, or is someone who has no other place to turn. It would be nice to still have room for that person who may not have a supportive community IRL. If we are a community, then it seems like we should have this capacity
2. I am not a fan of Kos (or the government, or probably most other people and orgs) keeping us safe from ourselves. IMHO, if we are a community, we should try to sort out as much of crap together and among us. Let admin do what they have to maintain functionality and, if and when needed respond to requests from the community.
3. There are some legit requests. Obvious is "give money to this campaign". If a line were to be drawn, where would it be and who would patrol it?
4. If it were understood that asking for money is "dickish", a request here and there, or a request under extenuating circumstances would not result in being banned. Repeated actions, after public calling to cease, would lead to a warning and then a ban, just like most other forms of dickishness.
5. Any solicitations that did appear with a ban in place may be seen as authorized by this site and therefore runs the potential of harming this site's reputation
So...what to do?
1. From the people asking for money: cool it. We came off a round of buying each other life time subs before that went bye-bye, then we helped each make it to NN12. Let's pull back a bit. You may not be scamming, but you are attracting some folks who seem sketchy. If you are going to ask for money, could that go in the diary title? We have "Breaking:" and "Action Diary:" how about "Solicitation diary:"
2. From the people getting fed up: say so. In the comments of these diaries. If you don't like this activity or if you think this activity is harmful, step up. Change the climate.
3. From admin: consider the HRing of tip jars to solicitation diaries to be an act of support for this community and not HR abuse. In other words, allow us the room to act like a community on this.
4 Everyone. Comment below. Please. How are others feeling about this? I know I'm not alone, but am I part of a tiny minority that thinks this is a problem?
As you can see, I don't have the answers. I have questions:
1. What kind of requests for money do you think are or are not cool?
2. Is it just solicitations for individuals that makes you sketchy?
3. Do you think requests for non-political "good causes" have a place on this site?
4. Is buying Ministry of Truth a plane ticket not cool, because it's for personal gain, or is it cool because he is working to further progressive politics? (Personally, I think this is a good example of why a ban would be bad, but I'm not sure how I can justify this.)
5. What's the harm, really, of raising a few bucks so a dKos member can buy a new computer, if they are going to use that computer?
6. Is there a better way to go about getting that member a new computer, or otherwise dealing with some of these community support measures.
7. Is there a way that more transparency can be brought to these requests?
8. Is there a method of verifying these requests?
9. Are any solutions to 7 & 8 way beyond the scope and capacity for this site and could only lead to increased liability and shattered trust down the road?
10. Is it cool to provide a link to my kickstarter (or other site) for a really cool project that is driven by progressive politics? What if it's apolitical? What if helps little sad, sick kids? What if it has a religious element?
11. Am I just being cranky?