Just want to know the TL demography of child sponsorship. I sponsored a child for several years but can't afford to right now (no job/uni fees) but I intend to again once I graduate and get a real job. You really do get a lot of satisfaction out of it, knowing that you are helping a whole community. edit: also when you are feeling down it always makes you feel better when you remember that even if you feel worthless your not cos your helping people out that need it :D
Poll: Do you sponsor a child?
No (26)
58%
No I can't afford it but I would if I could. (11)
24%
Yes (8)
18%
45 total votes
Your vote: Do you sponsor a child?
(Vote): Yes (Vote): No I can't afford it but I would if I could. (Vote): No
www.worldvision.com if you want to sponsor a child ----- Anyways thats not the whole reason for the blog/ The other night I was thinking (this is rare) and I thought why don't WoW and other subscription MMO's add an optional $1 a month extra that goes directly to charities, with say an insentive of a novelty item after 1 year of subscription? To me this seems to be a win win situation as 1. Companies can benefit from having affiliation with worldvision, world wildlife fund or other big charities (for image) 2. $1 a month is not a big amount and im sure a large proportion of players would pay this to get a novelty item (as they payed how much for that shiny horse???) 3. People like to donate to charities but some would not want to go out of their way and this way gamers (cmon a lot of us are lazy) would have an easy and affordable way to donate to charities without any hastle except unticking an optional payment box
There are something like 12 million WoW players right? Imagine if only 2 million payed thats still $2 million a month. I think this is great idea but have no clue where to start or if they are already doing this? (I quit before wotlk so I dont know but they weren't then)
I figure this could also apply to steam games as well. ----- Always hated The XX but i love this Biggie remix
Since no one has clicked the yes button I guess I will post. I don't do sponsorship through any company, but I do send two girls in mexico to school from my own pocket. It is one of the most rewarding things I've done/do. I try to visit them at least once a year, and see how they are doing. One of them is doing better in college then I did ( O.o ).
If you've never done something like this I highly recommend it, as you are not only helping someone else, in the end your helping yourself.
I've always wanted to do some kind of community outreach stuff, but given that I'm 21 without a job and currently in school collecting debt, myself, it's simply outside of my control right now.
Once I graduate and am in a healthy position regarding finances, I had always hoped to join Peace Corps for a few years or something. Maybe sponsoring a child would be more viable, however. I don't think I'd do it through any organization, however- I'd probably help someone in the family tree, or a friend in need or whatever.
At this point in my life, however, its hard to consider giving someone else money when I am afraid for my own future. Perhaps that's an extremely greedy thing to say, but its what my mind tells me subconsciously.
Your WoW idea could definitely work. The facebook game Farmville often do some charity events, and it works great (like 700k$ raised for Haiti just during the event that is currently held). It's indeed sad that people would pay for virtual items while the same amount of money could feed and educate a child for 1 year in a third world country.
This idea is called "Creative Capitalism", a term coined by Bill Gates.
There's a lot of debate about whether it works. I stand on the pro side, and I think this WoW idea is pretty cool. But it'll only do so much, and by that I mean like a-grain-of-sand-on-a-beach scale. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates collectively donates/pledged to donate over $50 billion to the Gates foundation, and honestly your estimate of 2 million buyers is WAY over.
What the third-world countries need isn't more money; what they need is a free global market. I think we can help the poor more by voting against import duties and subsidies to first-world farmers. That'll do more than giving them $1 billion a year in donations. "Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime."
On September 27 2010 17:39 Vinnesta wrote:...and honestly your estimate of 2 million buyers is WAY over.
Indeed. I worked for a theatre once, and we did something called "Stars of Hope" (I think, it was a long time ago) where you could add $1 to your ticket price and it went to some charity that I don't quite remember. I was working the front, mindlessly selling tickets, and you'd be surprised how halfway through the phrase "Would you like to donate an extra dollar for children with cancer," the large majority of customers have already interrupted you and said "no". Even in real life, charity is treated like a pop-up.
I'd say that maybe one out of 30 customers I sold (some who bought multiple tickets) pledged a single dollar. What's worse is that half of those probably felt guilty, and truthfully would have rather kept their dollar. Some people even voiced their guilt- one had the balls to ask for a manager to tell them to shut me up because they had to wait in line and listen to me try to collect donations.
Anyway, I'm getting too detailed about this. TLDR; If you think 1/6 of people are going to donate to charity, either I live in a bad neighborhood or you have terribly high expectations. This isn't to say that it wouldn't be awesome if Blizzard did this, but I doubt they'd raise $2mil/month in doing so.
On September 27 2010 17:39 Vinnesta wrote:...and honestly your estimate of 2 million buyers is WAY over.
Indeed. I worked for a theatre once, and we did something called "Stars of Hope" (I think, it was a long time ago) where you could add $1 to your ticket price and it went to some charity that I don't quite remember. I was working the front, mindlessly selling tickets, and you'd be surprised how halfway through the phrase "Would you like to donate an extra dollar for children with cancer," the large majority of customers have already interrupted you and said "no". Even in real life, charity is treated like a pop-up.
I'd say that maybe one out of 30 customers I sold (some who bought multiple tickets) pledged a single dollar. What's worse is that half of those probably felt guilty, and truthfully would have rather kept their dollar. Some people even voiced their guilt- one had the balls to ask for a manager to tell them to shut me up because they had to wait in line and listen to me try to collect donations.
Anyway, I'm getting too detailed about this. TLDR; If you think 1/6 of people are going to donate to charity, either I live in a bad neighborhood or you have terribly high expectations. This isn't to say that it wouldn't be awesome if Blizzard did this, but I doubt they'd raise $2mil/month in doing so.
yeah thats why having the incentive of a novelty item (maybe a rare mount or something) for 12 months of donation might work because blizzard made millions from that shiny horse
On September 27 2010 17:39 Vinnesta wrote:...and honestly your estimate of 2 million buyers is WAY over.
Indeed. I worked for a theatre once, and we did something called "Stars of Hope" (I think, it was a long time ago) where you could add $1 to your ticket price and it went to some charity that I don't quite remember. I was working the front, mindlessly selling tickets, and you'd be surprised how halfway through the phrase "Would you like to donate an extra dollar for children with cancer," the large majority of customers have already interrupted you and said "no". Even in real life, charity is treated like a pop-up.
I'd say that maybe one out of 30 customers I sold (some who bought multiple tickets) pledged a single dollar. What's worse is that half of those probably felt guilty, and truthfully would have rather kept their dollar. Some people even voiced their guilt- one had the balls to ask for a manager to tell them to shut me up because they had to wait in line and listen to me try to collect donations.
Anyway, I'm getting too detailed about this. TLDR; If you think 1/6 of people are going to donate to charity, either I live in a bad neighborhood or you have terribly high expectations. This isn't to say that it wouldn't be awesome if Blizzard did this, but I doubt they'd raise $2mil/month in doing so.
In real life, when you know nothing about a person asking you for money, I would expect that reaction.
But Blizzard is a company you KNOW wouldn't scam, and if it was done in a transparent way where you could easily see where your money will go, I can imagine the suggested WoW campaign to be VERY successful.
On September 27 2010 17:39 Vinnesta wrote:...and honestly your estimate of 2 million buyers is WAY over.
Indeed. I worked for a theatre once, and we did something called "Stars of Hope" (I think, it was a long time ago) where you could add $1 to your ticket price and it went to some charity that I don't quite remember. I was working the front, mindlessly selling tickets, and you'd be surprised how halfway through the phrase "Would you like to donate an extra dollar for children with cancer," the large majority of customers have already interrupted you and said "no". Even in real life, charity is treated like a pop-up.
I'd say that maybe one out of 30 customers I sold (some who bought multiple tickets) pledged a single dollar. What's worse is that half of those probably felt guilty, and truthfully would have rather kept their dollar. Some people even voiced their guilt- one had the balls to ask for a manager to tell them to shut me up because they had to wait in line and listen to me try to collect donations.
Anyway, I'm getting too detailed about this. TLDR; If you think 1/6 of people are going to donate to charity, either I live in a bad neighborhood or you have terribly high expectations. This isn't to say that it wouldn't be awesome if Blizzard did this, but I doubt they'd raise $2mil/month in doing so.
Eh, I don't think it's as cut and dry that people aren't willing to give. What theater was it? Does your place have a history of giving, a reputation for being benevolent?? Would most people in your city even know where the hell your theater was?? Was there anything saying that 100% of that extra dollar goes to cancer research, or is it under the vague umbrella of charity?
It's quite hard to get people to give money if you or your group has no history of such actions. I give money and volunteer time a fair amount, but I regularly throw out idiots who come into my work asking for donations. Don't recognize you, don't recognize your company = fuck off. There's so many shiesters out there, or misleading organizations that only put a fraction of your donation to the actual cause.
On September 27 2010 17:39 Vinnesta wrote:...and honestly your estimate of 2 million buyers is WAY over.
Indeed. I worked for a theatre once, and we did something called "Stars of Hope" (I think, it was a long time ago) where you could add $1 to your ticket price and it went to some charity that I don't quite remember. I was working the front, mindlessly selling tickets, and you'd be surprised how halfway through the phrase "Would you like to donate an extra dollar for children with cancer," the large majority of customers have already interrupted you and said "no". Even in real life, charity is treated like a pop-up.
I'd say that maybe one out of 30 customers I sold (some who bought multiple tickets) pledged a single dollar. What's worse is that half of those probably felt guilty, and truthfully would have rather kept their dollar. Some people even voiced their guilt- one had the balls to ask for a manager to tell them to shut me up because they had to wait in line and listen to me try to collect donations.
Anyway, I'm getting too detailed about this. TLDR; If you think 1/6 of people are going to donate to charity, either I live in a bad neighborhood or you have terribly high expectations. This isn't to say that it wouldn't be awesome if Blizzard did this, but I doubt they'd raise $2mil/month in doing so.
In real life, when you know nothing about a person asking you for money, I would expect that reaction.
But Blizzard is a company you KNOW wouldn't scam, and if it was done in a transparent way where you could easily see where your money will go, I can imagine the suggested WoW campaign to be VERY successful.
Stars for Hope appeared on the receipt. I understand the concept of being wary to hand a minimum wage clerk a dollar when you think they could just pocket it, but when it appears on the receipt, and thus reflects on to my total when I cash out to the main office.
If my total doesn't match what the computer says it's supposed to match, then I'm screwed (except for the first warning, depending on the amount). Maybe the customers don't know this, but if you steal donations in this way, it's very easy to lose your job.
On September 27 2010 17:39 Vinnesta wrote:...and honestly your estimate of 2 million buyers is WAY over.
Indeed. I worked for a theatre once, and we did something called "Stars of Hope" (I think, it was a long time ago) where you could add $1 to your ticket price and it went to some charity that I don't quite remember. I was working the front, mindlessly selling tickets, and you'd be surprised how halfway through the phrase "Would you like to donate an extra dollar for children with cancer," the large majority of customers have already interrupted you and said "no". Even in real life, charity is treated like a pop-up.
I'd say that maybe one out of 30 customers I sold (some who bought multiple tickets) pledged a single dollar. What's worse is that half of those probably felt guilty, and truthfully would have rather kept their dollar. Some people even voiced their guilt- one had the balls to ask for a manager to tell them to shut me up because they had to wait in line and listen to me try to collect donations.
Anyway, I'm getting too detailed about this. TLDR; If you think 1/6 of people are going to donate to charity, either I live in a bad neighborhood or you have terribly high expectations. This isn't to say that it wouldn't be awesome if Blizzard did this, but I doubt they'd raise $2mil/month in doing so.
Eh, I don't think it's as cut and dry that people aren't willing to give. What theater was it? Does your place have a history of giving, a reputation for being benevolent?? Would most people in your city even know where the hell your theater was?? Was there anything saying that 100% of that extra dollar goes to cancer research, or is it under the vague umbrella of charity?
It's quite hard to get people to give money if you or your group has no history of such actions. I give money and volunteer time a fair amount, but I regularly throw out idiots who come into my work asking for donations. Don't recognize you, don't recognize your company = fuck off. There's so many shiesters out there, or misleading organizations that only put a fraction of your donation to the actual cause.
It was a Regal Entertainment, a chain theatre up there with AMC. 100% did go to charity (although I didn't specify that unless they asked, nor can I verify it as that's just what the manager told me.)
I'm in no way claiming that Regal is benevolent. We had a clean theater located in a mall in a nice part of the city, surrounded by luxury apartments and restaurants. Regal did Stars for Hope annually for at least 5 years, and thus I would imagine it has at least somewhat of a reputation of validity.
All I'm saying is that the large large majority of people that passed by me seemed extremely disinterested, to the point where asking was almost futile. I kept asking anyway, as the Managers expected to see a handful of paper stars with customers' names on them, but it was sometimes depressing. I don't pretend to know everyone elses financial situations, but the simple atmosphere or attitude of a customer suggested, to me anyway, that most people were more upset that I asked them if they wanted to donate.
Anyway, all I was replying to was the OP's Blizzard donation idea. Blizzard obviously has a lot of customers, but I'm pretty sure Regal Entertainment is a bigger business as a whole. So in terms of credibility, that's all I can really say (even though big =/= credible).
Oh yeah, at the same time I don't doubt that people are shitheads. Just putting a little perspective on why people might not being willing to give, but it does sound like people being shitheads over a buck in that case =[
I don't think I would ever do a sponsor a child program. Mostly because it just doesn't make sense to me in terms of my ideals. I actually want to physically do something to make a difference and affect a person's life, not just pay money to a program that will do that for me.
For me, I would rather participate in community events that directly work to benefit people who need help. That is 1 million times more satisfying, meaningful, and useful (not just for helping others, but for allowing myself to grow as a person).
Honestly, people (in first world countries) are so conceited in the sense that thinking they make a difference by donating money/sponsoring child/whatever.
Given that you're not in debt and have any form of after-necessity-expenses disposable income (income after minimum amounts of food, housing, etc.), if you're not donating say, 40% of that to people in third world countries then you obviously value your own quality of life a lot higher other people's lives.
It's the sad truth, who in their right mind in a first world country would give up their own standard of living to save/drastically improve the lives of others? We just don't give a fuck.
On September 28 2010 03:22 ArbAttack wrote: Honestly, people (in first world countries) are so conceited in the sense that thinking they make a difference by donating money/sponsoring child/whatever.
Given that you're not in debt and have any form of after-necessity-expenses disposable income (income after minimum amounts of food, housing, etc.), if you're not donating say, 40% of that to people in third world countries then you obviously value your own quality of life a lot higher other people's lives.
It's the sad truth, who in their right mind in a first world country would give up their own standard of living to save/drastically improve the lives of others? We just don't give a fuck.
From the sound of it, not you. Personally I sponsor a few kids... and then a little bit extra to help in general. It works out to 85 bucks a month, which isn't really that much in the grand scheme of things, but over the course the year that's about one twentieth of my income. Not a lot out of my total income, but out of income that I consider disposable... it's quite a bit.
The arbitrary cutoff of 40% makes absolutely no sense to me- if you want to do something, you do it. It might not do a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it's better than nothing. Certainly better than being a judgmental prick about the motives of people who are doing something.
EPT
