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BarkAtTheMoon
O Captain, my Captain
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
Posts: 5023
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: Wilmington, DE
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 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:54 am Post subject: |
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| GhostRider wrote: | | hillbillyatheist wrote: | | Pile wrote: | | I'm just curious.. what's the problem with people in Indiana? If they needed a 20 grand, ok, but a thousand bucks can be made out front of a local wal-mart on a weekend, so why is this on the Internet? Seriously... |
really? tell me how (and leave out male prostitution, and drugs,) cause that ain't my bag.
1000 a weekend, times four weekends a month times twelve months gets me a nice round figure of 48,000 a year, I can live with that kind of money so do tell.  |
Hillbilly!
I have talked to a police officer in my neck of the woods. Some background: I live in a tourist trap called the Great Smokey Mountians National Park (or more accurately round-abouts). Anyway, she said that it's nothing for a panhandler with a good story, given the appropriate marks (people spending loads of money on vacations and what not) to make a couple hundred dollars in a few hours.
They busted one group of people from North Carolina that would cross the mountain and set up in front of the various shopping malls and Walmart in this area because they could make in a few hours of telling a "car broke down and they can't get home" sob story" as much as they would make working a full time job in two weeks... They would actually bring their kids along to amp up the sympathy... |
I actually got roped into doing the Salvation Army thing a couple years with a coworker in front of the Kmart across the street from our office. We made around 70 bucks or so in an hour without even trying hard from ringing a stupid bell, standing in front of a pot with a sign on it, acting goofy, and chatting with the people going into the store. A sob story about a dying girl would clean up.
This chick is in her mid 30's, and looks reasonably middle classish (is that a college sweatshirt she's wearing in her photo on the blog?). Doesn't she have a job or something? If by that age, you can't manage to save up a couple grand over the course of a year to save your own life, you've got more problems than diabetes. Oh well, good luck to her.
_________________
"The very existence of flame throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.' - George Carlin
"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey |
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Yellow_Number_Five
Forum Master
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 10036
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: The 5% Nation
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:57 am Post subject: |
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$1032 does seen like a suspicious number. If you want to help people, give to a recognized charity - there are plenty of secular ones out there if that's your hang up
Or give blood or or volunteer at your local food bank or shelter. That's what I do. I do that and I DON'T give the guy on the street a buck to buy booze with. Just like I DON'T give money to cyberbeggers.
Think before you throw money at what somebody else tells you is a problem.
_________________
I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. - Richard Dawkins
If you love God, burn a church! - Jello Biafra
When I hear of Schr?dinger's cat, I reach for my gun. - Stephen Hawking
Fear is just another word for ignorance. - Hunter S. Thompson
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politicalhumanist
Real Change activist
Joined: 15 Nov 2004
Posts: 1426
Local time: 12:23 PM
Location: on the streets of Olympia, WA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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I know a few homeless guys making enough to stay geeked on meth and stay in hotels flying a sign at the Interstate 5 exits in Olympia. They make me want to yell, "Get a job you fucking bum!"
Ever see homeless or working poor selling newspapers called Real Change? Give to them.
http://www.realchangenews.org/about.html
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CET
The Spiritual Atheist
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
Posts: 12865
Local time: 6:23 PM
Location: SoCal, USA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Pile wrote: | | No disrespect to Silky's friend... I have great respect for all of you... but you need to be tough.. these people need to be tough... don't let these corporations screw you over.... if it's called HEALTH insurance, and refusing to pay for something that might cause you do DIE.... well, regardless of the fine print, that's a PR disaster for any company involved if they find out their customer isn't a docile sheep willing to accept whatever judgement their bookeepers make. |
Word. This woman, and as many other people as she can muster, needs to be standing in front of the insurance company's front door with a sign that says something like, "I'm going to die because this insurance company wants to save a buck." Then, have someone call ALL the local press, newspapers, radio stations, tv stations, etc.
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Namaste,
CET 
The Spiritual Atheist
"Much of the suffering in the world comes from the delusion that we are separate from one another." - Gautama Buddha
"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music." - George Carlin |
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Yellow_Number_Five
Forum Master
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 10036
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: The 5% Nation
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:48 am Post subject: |
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| CET wrote: | | Pile wrote: | | No disrespect to Silky's friend... I have great respect for all of you... but you need to be tough.. these people need to be tough... don't let these corporations screw you over.... if it's called HEALTH insurance, and refusing to pay for something that might cause you do DIE.... well, regardless of the fine print, that's a PR disaster for any company involved if they find out their customer isn't a docile sheep willing to accept whatever judgement their bookeepers make. |
Word. This woman, and as many other people as she can muster, needs to be standing in front of the insurance company's front door with a sign that says something like, "I'm going to die because this insurance company wants to save a buck." Then, have someone call ALL the local press, newspapers, radio stations, tv stations, etc. |
Indeed. Guilt and ridicule work wonders. No insurance company wants somebody they supposedly support die on their doorstep. That would be bad PR to say the least.
This would also legitimize this very cliche, cyberbegging story.
Prove you exist, and have the plight you claim, and I may help you out. Till then, I'll simply give to reputable charities.
_________________
I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. - Richard Dawkins
If you love God, burn a church! - Jello Biafra
When I hear of Schr?dinger's cat, I reach for my gun. - Stephen Hawking
Fear is just another word for ignorance. - Hunter S. Thompson
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Yellow_Number_Five
Forum Master
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 10036
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: The 5% Nation
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:52 am Post subject: |
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Why is this still stickied without confirmation?
_________________
I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. - Richard Dawkins
If you love God, burn a church! - Jello Biafra
When I hear of Schr?dinger's cat, I reach for my gun. - Stephen Hawking
Fear is just another word for ignorance. - Hunter S. Thompson
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hillbillyatheist
Administrator
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 16072
Local time: 9:23 PM
Location: Denver Colorado.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:38 am Post subject: |
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yellow, if I came online and said that my house burned down, and then asked folks for donations, wouldn't you believe me and offer to help me out?
maybe it sounds silly but I trust silkyshrew's word on this matter because I have known her for a couple of years now, (I talk to her via skype and even on a the phone a few times) and she hasn't ever tried to scam anyone to my knowledge. this connie is a personal friend of silky's. she is not just some random "cyberbegger".
so for me, it is confirmed.
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Yellow_Number_Five
Forum Master
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 10036
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: The 5% Nation
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| hillbillyatheist wrote: | | yellow, if I came online and said that my house burned down, and then asked folks for donations, wouldn't you believe me and offer to help me out? |
If it were YOU, yes, because I know you and consider you a friend. I don't know this other person asking for a hand out.
| Quote: | maybe it sounds silly but I trust silkyshrew's word on this matter because I have known her for a couple of years now, (I talk to her via skype and even on a the phone a few times) and she hasn't ever tried to scam anyone to my knowledge. this connie is a personal friend of silky's. she is not just some random "cyberbegger".
so for me, it is confirmed.
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I do trust silky as well, but in this case that's simply not enough. I know silky fairly well, and she does not seem to one easily duped, but you never know. If somebody wants my help, they can ask me personally, and get to know me. Until then, my charity only goes through reputable mediaries. Just a personal policy. I don't give money to people on the street. I give to organizations that help such people - I simply think that's a more responsible and better use of my funds.
_________________
I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. - Richard Dawkins
If you love God, burn a church! - Jello Biafra
When I hear of Schr?dinger's cat, I reach for my gun. - Stephen Hawking
Fear is just another word for ignorance. - Hunter S. Thompson
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hillbillyatheist
Administrator
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 16072
Local time: 9:23 PM
Location: Denver Colorado.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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that's cool.
I understand about donating to trusted charities.
by the way my house burned down and I need 100 bucks! (just kidding ) |
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Yellow_Number_Five
Forum Master
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 10036
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: The 5% Nation
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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Sure thing, right after you give me that kidney I'm in desperate need of
_________________
I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. - Richard Dawkins
If you love God, burn a church! - Jello Biafra
When I hear of Schr?dinger's cat, I reach for my gun. - Stephen Hawking
Fear is just another word for ignorance. - Hunter S. Thompson
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BarkAtTheMoon
O Captain, my Captain
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
Posts: 5023
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: Wilmington, DE
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Yellow_Number_Five wrote: | | Sure thing, right after you give me that kidney I'm in desperate need of |
Isn't a new liver what you're in desperate need of? 
_________________
"The very existence of flame throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.' - George Carlin
"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey |
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Yellow_Number_Five
Forum Master
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 10036
Local time: 10:23 PM
Location: The 5% Nation
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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| BarkAtTheMoon wrote: | | Yellow_Number_Five wrote: | | Sure thing, right after you give me that kidney I'm in desperate need of |
Isn't a new liver what you're in desperate need of? |
Nah, the liver's a freakin' champ! Second strongest organ of my body.
_________________
I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world. - Richard Dawkins
If you love God, burn a church! - Jello Biafra
When I hear of Schr?dinger's cat, I reach for my gun. - Stephen Hawking
Fear is just another word for ignorance. - Hunter S. Thompson
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politicalhumanist
Real Change activist
Joined: 15 Nov 2004
Posts: 1426
Local time: 12:23 PM
Location: on the streets of Olympia, WA
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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So why is this still stickied?
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http://freethinkernation.com
cooperative collective consortium of atheists, agnostics, brights, naturalists, humanists, and even believers |
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hillbillyatheist
Administrator
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 16072
Local time: 9:23 PM
Location: Denver Colorado.
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| nobody bothered to unsticks it. I guess there's no point in keeping it stickyed now. folks there will help surely have seen the thread by now. I'll unsticky it. |
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