donation

Lesser Of Evils

After a tirade of abuse from a certain sect of what most people would assume to be kind-hearted and warm individuals, I wish to expose why exactly charity muggers, or so-called chuggers are the scum of the Earth.

I joined a group on Facebook following my personal experiences with these chuggers. It is called "Charity Muggers Hatred Society". Although I felt that the term hatred was strong, I felt it would be responsible to air my feelings towards their tactics. Shortly after I made my first post, I received a message from one of these chuggers threatening violence.

I responded calmly and eloquently. I was quite interested to see how they defend their profession. He did raise a few interesting points. They claim they are paid less than £3 an hour ("after expenses" — which probably fuels their 4×4s and caviar), work 12-hour days, are regularly abused by passers-by, and the job helps them get through university. He also says chuggers enjoy their jobs. He seemed approachable until he surprisingly claimed he violently mugged people to obtain their money.

Following from his original comment on "The Wall" on the group page, others followed. Though some points were raised in support of their work, most comments were contained within appalling personal insults and ridiculous tirades of abuse directed towards me. I’ve started to report these.

Some of the more interesting comments were:

He who deafens his ear to the call of the poor, when he himself cries … he shall not be heard.

In my eyes … – you are simply a prick – I could come up with well argued points like the lovely Hannah below me but I simply think they would be lost on you. You seem to have the intelligence of a bar stool but, unlike said bar stool, you have no use.

The only reason people don’t like "chuggers" is because they clearly like the fact they’re ignorant to the world’s problems. and we are trying to make them acknowledge the fact that actually the world is in a spot of bother and we could help being in a rich first world country and all.

What makes me angry more than most is the fact that they imply I don’t care about the world’s problems, either because I disagree with their methods, or because I don’t want to donate to their charity. This is the basis on which they take your money. And I have told them in my grand response exactly how they work:

The National AIDS Trust is one charity that I fully support. It does good work in both prevention of the spread of HIV and in the treatment of those infected with the virus.

If I were like you, I would give you the impression that you are a bad person for not donating. You obviously don’t care about the countless millions on this planet that are afflicted by AIDS, including its victims and their relatives if you don’t donate. Of course it’s obvious that you should donate. Not necessarily because it makes you feel good, or that it would do any good to anyone. But rather you feel compelled to do so, so that I don’t think you are uncaring and dismissive.

Of course what would be better is if you gave the money on your own accord, and I hope you do. Not because of me, but because you endorse their work. I don’t want to donate because some pushy high-and-mighty jumped-up little arse decides I have to on the basis they are standing there with a clipboard.

All I’ve had so far in response is a speculative comment designed to provoke an angry response.

The truth is, they don’t care. There could be a refugee in Sudan walking by; it could be an impoverished pensioner; it could be someone with an inoperable brain tumour, but they would still ask them for money for their charity. It’s not about raising money for charity — it can’t be. If they really cared about their charity, they would do something more productive, like volunteer work, or research, or donating themselves, or fundraising with less invasive methods. Don’t feel guilty not giving money to these people. If you support a charity, donate to them by all means. These people will only serve to embarrass and humiliate you, and take money that would be better spent by giving to a charity that you support and will find more fulfilling doing so.

Lesson of the Day

Chuggers — those poor souls — don’t be rude to them, and don’t simply ignore them, but don’t give in to them either.

...with no replies just yet.

Demand and Demand

I have decided on a New Year’s resolution. I shall only donate to HIV/AIDS charities, and I shall tell you why. I’ve often talked about why I’m such a supporter of the various and numerous HIV/AIDS campaigns, so I shan’t repeat why here. Instead I shall describe why I will be excluding other charities.

About a year ago, I was at home revising for my exams when the doorbell rang. A man with a clipboard said he wanted to ask me a few questions. I didn’t have a problem with that – I tend to enjoy being "quizzed". However, it soon became apparent that he was working on behalf of a charity, asking me questions about deafness in children. He would drop in the odd fact to highlight issues with deaf children. It transpired he was there to get people to donate regularly to this particular charity, the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).

Despite pleading my financial status (I am a student after all) he never relented. I really should have slammed the door in his face, but unfortunately I am quite diminuitive. So I agreed to pay £5 a month. He took my bank details (which, of course, I was extremely uncomfortable with, despite taking his identification to be legitimate), and stopped short of completing it. He asked me to raise my donation to £6.50 a month. I was astounded in short. So much so… that I agreed. I forget the exact reason he gave for me doing this, I believe it had something to do with them reclaiming tax on my donation.

Furthermore, two months ago, I got a phonecall from NDCS, thanking me for my continuing support. However, this quickly turned to a demand for me to raise my donation further. The woman was quite short and shrift, and after fending her off for nearly 15 minutes, I am fairly sure she abruptly halted and said "well I’m on commission so thank you for your time, bye".

I’m cancelling the direct debit this month. I don’t feel any better for having donated that money. In fact, it doesn’t feel like a donation – it feels like a mugging. So I don’t get the usual satisfaction of donating to charity. So I’m only going to donate to charities that I immediately support.

Lesson of the Day

Give to those charities that you truly support by all means. Don’t let people blackmail you into dividing your loyalties at the cost of your self-esteem and dignity.

...with 2 replies.

Lucky Thirteen

I gave blood today. I had some problems in recent times trying to donate: mostly because the veins in my left arm are apparently quite deep (I can’t even see them) and donations started to fail, so I’m using my right arm now.

I did manage to make an arse out of myself though. I was sure the woman called my name albeit pronounced incorrectly – which is often done. She had apparently called for someone else, who obviously sat back down when I went up. I realised the mistake (after ‘confirming’ my name, address and date of birth) when I noticed the form had been filled in with black ink, where I had filled in blue. I felt a bit of a wally, but never mind.

...with no replies just yet.

Off I Go Again

I have been meaning to post a ‘review’ of my birthday, but I wasn’t sure what to say. Obviously, what I will say is a thank you to everyone that sent me birthday wishes (and to those that would have done had I given fair warning!). It wasn’t an epic day by any means, but still an enjoyable one. Twenty-two is a strange age. It’s the first one that doesn’t really mean anything, and isn’t a significant milestone. Therefore I was quite lucky to get the gifts I did, and not to get the proverbial socks and slippers.

From Dad, Karen and my stepbrothers – via a voucher – I got the CDs Train Of Thought by Dream Theater, and Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers, plus Los Amantes del Círculo Polar (The Lovers of the Arctic Circle) on DVD. From Mum – via money – I got some new togs and some spending money for my holiday on which I shall be going to tomorrow (more on that later!); plus she had bought my the final Harry Potter book. My sister bought me a book of newspaper clippings from Newcastle United’s season last year. It was a thoughtful gift, though I’m not sure I can bring myself to read it! I also got money from my grandparents; my aunty and uncle; and my great aunts. Thanks to all!

So tomorrow, I’m off to Kent. My friends and I are off for our annual "jolly boys’ outing" to Center Parcs. Hopefully it will get me back into shape, for a good reason. Today I received a letter asking me to consider becoming a platelet donor. It’s not easy to explain, so if you want to find out exactly what it is and what it entails, visit the National Blood Service website. I hope this will prompt me into taking better care of myself, since I reckon such regular donations would be impossible with my current lifestyle. It’s diet changes that I need to concentrate on – making sure I have a proper breakfast and eat more red meat (not many people get to say that!).

...with no replies just yet.

Oh The Luck

Well guys and dolls, I, for one, shall be glad once Friday the Thirteenth has passed (until the next time). The day did not go brilliantly for me, really. But nonetheless, it wasn’t a particularly bad one.

Having discovered that the Internet submission of my homework had passed (on 1st January 1970), I emailed my lecturer. Thankfully he was understanding enough to extend the deadline until Monday! So that’s all sorted. I had an hour between my last lecture and a tutorial, so I went and got a Burger King meal in order to get filled up for giving blood. Having done that, I had some change for the Big Issue bloke outside Milligan’s, and so I bought his wares, which he kept neatly in a plastic envelope.

I went back to Merz Court to eat my meal. I finished and went up to the tutorial. After that finished, I dashed for the bus. As I got to the bus station, I realised that I didn’t remember ever putting my Big Issue into my bag. As it transpired, it seems I left it in the common room as I was eating my meal. Very annoying, as I didn’t even read the front cover, let alone the inside of it. So it is probably in a bin as we speak.

Anyway, I went to give blood, and it was all going well. I passed the iron test. I was given my bronze award for donating 10 times – I got a certificate and a pin badge. So I went to give blood.

I have, save for two times, donating with my left arm every time I have donated. I prefer to use my left arm because, obviously, I use it less than my right (no dirty jokes please! :P ). However, the veins are apparently much deeper in my right arm. This seemed only to be a problem the first few times I used my right arm, but I haven’t had any bother with it more recently, so I elected to do the same again and donate with the left arm. This was probably the fatal mistake.

The poor nurse tried to get the bastard needle in, but apparently it burst one of my capillaries, and the needle eventually rested at one of the valves in my vein. So not only was the blood flow extremely slow (usually I’m a right little bleeder) but my arm was filling with blood too, and as such I would have a massive bruise. So after about 10 minutes of the maximum 15 or so of her trying to support the needle to get the best contact, the nurse decided that it was best to halt the donation. I managed a paltry 150ml (actually it was less than that…) of the 470ml maximum. That is less than half a can of pop (southerners, read Dr Pepper). So that was a shame.

It’s affected my typing too… my left arm wants to type the letter to the left of what I want it to type. One last word: I have added a page to the blog, with the songs currently in my Special “favourites” list in Windows Media Player. See what you think!

...with 2 replies.