i just don't understand....

send words of encouragement - www.forsickkids.bravehost.com
@rbailey83 (1428)
Canada
August 22, 2008 7:00am CST
i don't understand why there are only so very few people who are willing to take the time to do something for a child/children who may never see another year of their life, who may never experience even half of what we have experienced in life. i setup a website to allow others to send words of encouragement to terminally ill children, and since the time i have started it and got the word out, so very few people have actually cared enough to take 5 minutes of their day to do something that may make a difference in a childs life. i have done everything i can think of to get the site noticed by others. why? i just don't understand it. i would jump at the opportunity to do something especially something that requires so little time and effort.
2 people like this
13 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Aug 08
Maybe because we're a little tired of people using emotional blackmail to get us to back their causes. Maybe because it usually takes a few months to get a website up to a few hundred hits a day, and you haven't given it time to get on the search engine radar yet? Maybe it's because attitudes are infectious, and yours doesn't make us want to cooperate.
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
first of all, i never used emotional blackmail, i never said anything before this other than the opportunity to send the words of encouragement, so before telling someone that they are doing something, you should look into it, doesn't take that long to get up to a few hundred hits per day, i have done more than that per day in less time. and how can i make you want to co-operate, can't make you do anything, maybe you should try to understand what is being said instead of jumping to conclusions and automatically think you know what is being asked?? maybe before making statements of accusation like that you should do a little research first? just me but that is usually something that a decent person will do before issuing hateful words, and besides those types of words are uncalled for, try thinking a bit more before issueing statements like that, might help in the future
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Aug 08
Maybe you didn't use emotional blackmail before, but this artcile oozes of it.
1 person likes this
@bbjwlsn (263)
• United States
23 Aug 08
rbailey - This message is to you. I can see perfectly why you are a 10 and Para is a 7 or whatever they are. This person is way out of line to talk to you that way! I, for one, would love to go to your website. I am so touched by sick children. I will do anything I can to help them. You keep on starting your discussions and just ignore some people.
• United States
22 Aug 08
maybe because they don't know what to do. i checked out your site and stared at the text field for ten miutes trying to come up with anything other than, 'keep strong' and 'God Bless'. yes, it would take so little time but i don't think it's just a little effort... i don't want to say meaningless words. put the sick kid right in front of me and i still don't know what to say, probably just give a hug then turn around. it's hard to try to come up with words of encouragement when you, who is healthy and strong and alive, are discouraged by your own life or is still struggling every day to make it better. i can't come up with words that can show i care and express sympathy when i don't really know what they're going through... it would be easier for me to be a volunteer in a clinic or stay at the hospital to tell them stories rather than come up with anything to say. it'd be easier to pray for them and tell my friends to do the same...
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
that is very true, there is an aspect i didn't think of, not sure what to put, so what if i maybe had a suggestions section, something that might help people get started? do you think that might be helpful? i know what you mean about what to say when you yourself are discouraged by your own life, please believe me that i can understand that better than most. One thing i have found useful, and i bring this up not for the website but if you ever find yourself in a situation where words are needed but you can't think of anything, think about what you would like to hear someone tell you, what would make you feel better hearing from another person, and usually, with a few changes, you can use that to offer those words to the person in need, if you are in that situation. lol sorry if that doesn't make sense, best i can do to describe it but you never know when you might be in a situation where you feel you really want to offer some words but don't know what to say
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
oh lol sorry and thank you for pointing that out, if you hadn't i probably would never of even thought of that, again thank you, i am already working on how i can help overcome that issue
1 person likes this
@MagieL (266)
• China
23 Aug 08
well,though now i haven't married,i am really love children.when my old sisters have their babies,i often went to their homes and play with them.i think playing with children is the most happiness thing.because they are pute and simple,i will be relax when stay with them.^^
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
that is so very true, lol it's so much fun to revert back to a child yourself while you are playing with them, i love watching them use their imagination, and learning, they always seem to be able to bring a smile to your face even when you don't want to smile, lol and some of the stuff they do and come up with has you rolling on the floor laughing
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
23 Aug 08
I just looked up your web site, and left a little comment, I was not sure what to say but I tried to keep things possitive, I hope it does not seem to silly. Keep on plugging word will get around eventually. Don't give up, it is a nice thing you are doing.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
thank you, i don't plan to give up, it may take some time, but it will be well worth it, and it doesn't cost me anything but a little bit of my time each day
1 person likes this
• China
23 Aug 08
life is frail for everyday. plese bless for all catastrophic life.
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
good words
23 Aug 08
I have a friend (a 5 yr. old girl) whom I frequently see once a week. Let me call her Angel. She suffers from bone cancer but you rarely notice that she is ill. Angel is your typical girl who plays a lot, eats whatever she wants and have tantrums once in a while. Except when she just had her weekly treatment(injection on the forearm), Angel is as normal as every child is. One time, I offered to give her a chocolate bar for a song and poem recital (her mother in tow of course). Boy, she did deliver a couple of talents to her desire. Mind you, sufferring with cancer on a young age is no joke. Last time, I checked with her mother, she is on her way to recovery. Statistics show that 85% of children her age usually outgrow and survive the sickeness but adults have a lower chance of survival. I know God is always with them little children.
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
lol i got a chuckle about the chocolate bar for a song and poem recital, that is awesome, and definately good to hear she is on her way to recovery. thank you for sharing the story
1 person likes this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
Hello my friend... What site is this? Send me the link and I'll take a look at it. I salute you for the time you've spent in making little kids lives a little better. Something that is really unexpected. I'm pretty sure once your site gets enough coverage, you'll get a lot more people to invest a little of their time in writing down their encouragements (you can count me in as well.) Thanks for letting us know about this.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
hey there, thanks for the support, the address is www.forsickkids.bravehost.com
@ashar123 (2357)
• India
23 Aug 08
There are very very few people now who care for others. If you have given the site in the discussion then it would be my pleasure to help the little children but the world of today is turning into a mean one and everyone is busy in earning and earning.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
it's funny how that works, i wonder what triggers that type of reaction and behavior in us. if you want the site it is www.forsickkids.bravehost.com
@ReenaDKL (206)
• Mauritius
22 Aug 08
Maybe because we simply did not know about the site. Now that i do i will post a message. You know there are times when people are so tired of everything around them. Maybe we should try not to push them to do anything. It's better to have people write on your site if they really feel it down in their heart and soul than just jot something because they feel obliged to...
@ReenaDKL (206)
• Mauritius
22 Aug 08
Yes, there are some people like that and though it's sad we can do nothing to stop them from being how they are. Just don't worry, am sure many will leave amessage on your site. Just too bad for those who don't. It's up to them..I posted a message on your site, so try to be happy about that :) Am sure many more will follow!
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
thanks, lol not really worried about it, i guess more a question of curiosity and gaining insight from others, we're all so completely different from others, sometimes it is interesting to hear what others think about why some of us do or don't do certain things in life, and sometimes it can be a learning experience
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
what you say is very true, i am not referring to those who are unaware of the website, i am referring to those who have seen it, but pass it by, can't expect those who haven't seen it or who haven't heard of it to write anything, that's an impossible expectation,
@bbjwlsn (263)
• United States
23 Aug 08
Hi rbailey. I went to your website and sent my message to the children. I think that you are a kind, compassionate, and wonderful person to have this site so that people can send messages to the sick kids. I would love to be able to give a donation to Sick Kids, but, unfortunately, I live on a fixed income, and am not well. I have so many medical bills, I don't know what to do. Anyway, that is not your concern. The kids are. You just keep doing your good deeds, and ignore the ignorant people who make derogatory comments to you. What you are doing is fantastic.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
thank you, i appreciate the kind words, and i know what you mean about money situation, i am on a fixed income as well, but sometimes money is not what is needed the most
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
23 Aug 08
Could you gimme the site link please? Maybe you could send me a message... I would love to give them encouragement, and might post it on my blog, so others might give them too... you know I have this 13 years old girl student with thalasemia mayor, and she's already lost one of her kidney, but still she have lots of spirit to life the live :)
• Indonesia
23 Aug 08
Uuuppssss sorry, just saw ur link, but I can't open it though, will try again later...
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
i have noticed that about a lot of the children that have these illnesses, i wish i had half the strength and courage they do.
@bryanski (497)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
Hmmm yeah, this makes sense. I truly believe using the simple ways of helping by the people who care and combining them all could make a HUGE difference in the lives of the needy. But also, help should be extended to those who need it. Human as we all are, we are also capable of surviving on our own productive ways. The needy should be helped to the extent only of nothingness. If they can stand on their own, then it is time for the people who helped to say that they have already done their part. Life is a matter of help and receiving help but also there is a greater part of it, self-preservation. Help only comes when all resources have been exhausted.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
so in a way, we should help only to a certain extent, say to the point of where they are on their feet, but at that point pull back and be there as more of a supportive help than anything else, give them a nudge when they need it, but they need to be the ones to do it for themselves from that point on
@bryanski (497)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
I admire your efforts. Hmm most people today are insensitive to the needs of the others. Primarily because this is the economic world we are living in. We survive for ourselves. But also true, we can devote a portion of our time into helping the needy and the sick. We all are not born blessed. Some of us are really unfortunate. So, why not help if you can? A little help could surely make the difference.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
22 Aug 08
do you think that in this world we live in today, we have become too selfish? we think more about ourselves, more often than we should? it's hard sometimes to put yourself in a train of thought to ways of helping the needy, or with how busy some people are to do things that take up a lot of time. If we were somehow able to organize our lives and everyone contributed to helping in some small way, do you think it would make enough of a difference to start seeing changes? or would those in need possibly get more lax and depend on us more because we are always there to help?