posted on September 13, 2001 06:36:02 PM
The attorney general in my state has issued an advisory about scams. Be careful who you give your donation dollars to.
Give your money directly to the Red Cross, nowhere/nobody else.
http://www.redcross.org/
Worse than the people trying to sell WTC postcards are the people who are saying in their auctions that this money, or part of the money will go to the victims. PLEASE do not fall for this scam, and PLEASE do not participate in this, even if you are not scamming.
If you are using the WTC to help promote your auctions, shame on you. SHAME! Get those flags out. If you want to donate part of your profits, by all means do so, but don't make a specticle of it. Do it privately. Don't put it in your auctions like you're trying to make a scam off the suffering of others!
And buyers, DO NOT bid on auctions that say they will donate the money, DO NOT give donations unless you know the money is really going to the proper place. Give money to the Red Cross directly ONLY.
posted on September 13, 2001 07:25:39 PM
petertdavis...Although I'm sure you deeply believe what you are saying, I am offended that you have the audacity to infer that I should be ASHAMED to show my support for my country and my people in this time of crisis by adding the American flag to my auctions. It is no different than flying the flag in front of my place of business which I do. Not everyone, and I'm sure, not most of those who have the flag on their auctions ever even considered that it would be viewed as some sort of money-making, commercial statement. I hope you reconsider your point of view.
posted on September 13, 2001 07:28:02 PM
If you don't think your auctions will do well in this climate, without the flags, then postpone them. Don't try to profit off the suffering.
posted on September 13, 2001 07:35:01 PM
I can understand not bidding on or hosting charity auctions (and just quietly donating money), but I don't understand how having the flag all by itself in an auction could be seen as a bad thing. Maybe we are misunderstanding you peterdavis?
posted on September 13, 2001 07:35:44 PMExcuse me? I'm really sorry for you. That you believe it's all about making money. That I, as an American, can't show my support for my country without you believing it's for my own profit. You are the one that should feel shame. For essentially spitting on the good hearted people that are seeking some way, any way to just show how they feel...to express their sentiments without words.
My auctions, my profits and my support for my country are none of your business and I'm sure you will be quite comfortable from here on out on my "ignore" list. Thanks AW. In all the time I've been here, I've never had to use it. I'm grateful for it now.
FWIW, I don't disagree with you about the scams, but the flag thing is just too much. Get a grip. It's not all about money.
posted on September 13, 2001 07:53:14 PM
Well, paperfan, if it's none of my business why are you so proudly trumpeting it in such a public forum?
Wear your flag on your arm, in your home, speak out as an individual. I support all of this without hesitation.
But, when you start doing it for profit, you've turned the corner. I must have received fifty spam e-mails today from fifty different companies telling me how very very sorry they were to hear about the WTC. If I got this e-mail from an individual, it would have been touching. But, when I get it from a company, with their logo and link to their website, it's just crass exploitation.
If someone wants to make a donation, PLEASE DO IT. Give to the Red Cross. I support them without hesitation. Give directly to the Red Cross. I do not understand why people need to brag about it publically, or tie it in with some marketing campaign. It just strikes me as too greedy when PR people are counting how it will help the business when they market themselves as 'compassionate'. Why weren't they supporting the Red Cross last week?
posted on September 13, 2001 08:44:21 PM
Obviously, I don't have you on ignore just yet. You hit a nerve and made me mad. I've calmed down and would like to reply.
You hit a nerve but truthfully, I don't have a flag in my auctions YET. I had several running before the attack and haven't added any since. Haven't added any TO my auctions because between the news and a sick child, I just haven't had the energy.
In my head, I understand what you say. In my heart, what you say is painful. I refuse to be that cynical. I won't let the best of this country, of this huge, incredible community be sullied by that kind of thinking. You see, the thing about America is the opportunity. I don't have to work for the "State." I can work for myself, and I do. And so much of myself is in my business. You say "as an individual" I can say what I want but when I combine it with my business it is suspect. I do not agree and it is painful to me that you are evidently so blinded by your cynicism, that you can't tell a heartfelt effort from an insincere one. Much of who I am is intertwined with what I do. So much of my time and effort are in my business, why should I divorce my love of my country and my support for it from my work? I loved my country before this happened. In the past I have flown the flag at my store on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. From now on I will fly it every day. I should have been all along. Unfortunately, it often takes an earth-shattering event to open our eyes. Did I have the flag in my auctions? No, but I should have, and I'm sorry that it took this event to make that so obvious.
Are you so wise that you can see into the hearts of all individuals and businesses and determine the sincerity of their efforts? Sometimes people need a wake-up call to learn what is really important to them. I feel that for many that call has come.
There is a huge difference between profiting from disaster and supporting your country. I respectfully suggest you might learn to discern the difference.
geez, that spelling thing again...
[ edited by paperfan on Sep 13, 2001 08:47 PM ]
posted on September 13, 2001 08:50:27 PM
paperfan, I'm glad you decided to respond so reasonably and respectfully. I believe that I'm not expressing this as well as I could be. Probably my state of mind. I'm sure that 99% of the people expressing their patriotism are genuine. But, how do I tell who's who? Which ones are the bad apples that are just trying to make a buck out of it? We've all heard about the gas stations that promptly raised their prices to $5/gallon, we've heard of the people who wanted to sell videos of people falling off the WTC on ebay, we've heard of the donation scams. Yes, I'm cynical.
posted on September 13, 2001 09:01:35 PM
Peter, I guess we're just two sides of the same page. I see what you say and I know that it is often true. Yet, I try to look at the glass as half full. I think you see it half empty. I appreciate the heads up. I hope that you won't bypass every auction with an American flag.
If this was a face-to-face I'd like to shake your hand. We've got enough enemies in this world. I think I'd rather consider you a friend.
