Cyber Begging?

Canada
February 6, 2007 10:30pm CST
Ok, so a while back I was watching this late night show about different people and how they made money for whatever they were wanting at that time. This woman is making a mint letting people cyber beg on her site...which I feel is a rip off that someone would have to pay over 15.00 US just to "beg". So anyways, down to the point of this... In an earlier discussion, I asked for people's stories about breast augmentation, and have spoken to friends and family members about it. I've heard the same thing over and over again, and I know that it's my own decision, and that I'm doing it for the right reasons. So then this one friend tells me about what they call cyber begging...so I ask, WTF is that? Well, you ask for money AKA donations towards whatever it is that you want. Ok..so the next thing I'm wondering is, what does this have to do with me? Well, this friend says, you're a single mom, you're going to school, you are going to break yourself saving for this operation, so why not give it a try? So then I say, well why would people just donate money to me? They don't know me, so why? Well, now I want your opinions. Would you donate money if you could afford it to a total stranger? Why or why not? Thanks..and let's keep it nice :)
10 people like this
27 responses
• Canada
7 Feb 07
I don't think I'd go on to a site that charges people to beg for money. That sort of site just seems mean, and I'm sorry for the people using it, but I wouldn't want to support a site like that. But I have been on sites before, with a story about a person, or with a donate link on, and if the story has affected me, or the site has helped me, I'll sometimes give a couple dollars. Granted it's not much, but I don't have that much money that I can just give up, because I'm still paying off the college fees afterwards... But if my giving a couple dollars can show a person I support them, and maybe help them a bit, then I don't mind doing it.
• Canada
7 Feb 07
Thanks so much for responding. You are one of the few people out there without greed...paying off college fees and will still donate a few dollars. I'm sure that it is greatly appreciated.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
Who's that man? Is that real? As if everybody speakes the truth well for something, well anybody can lie just for money, so I wonder if the person who is running that site is crazy. Maybe he's a millionare who will die soon with no family members that don't know what to do with his money.
@paraacbe (231)
• India
7 Feb 07
being from india one thing i can do definitely is to find a good beggar(one really has no means or not can make money for his living)and a false beggar..people has to study before giving away money i guess...also callin people who gave away money to false beggars isnt essential de r foolish..just that de demand of de situation or de may have not encountered much cheatinfg before..peace out
2 people like this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I would donate in some situations. If there is someone struggling, I know they aren't just trying to scam, and I have the extra cash, I will. Though I'd urge them to do something to earn the money - even just blog about their experiences. I, like many other bloggers, have a donation button on my blog on the off chance someone feels like shooting me a few bucks for what I do. But I, personally, would never beg for money. It's just not who I am.
2 people like this
• Canada
9 Feb 07
I agree with you. I actually have a donate button on my blog as well, just there, nothing about it at all anywhere else on the page. I don't expect a donation at all, but hey, if someone wants to, I won't complain. Thanks for responding. :) BTW..I love your blog
1 person likes this
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I look at it as a form of entertainment. I mean, just because it is on the internet doesn't mean it's true, right? So I never go into something like this thinking that I am hearing the truth. But if I can tell they put thought into the story and it entertains me, makes me giggle, or makes me think, then I will most likely donate. I am actually right now doing something of this sort. I mean I am not simply begging. I worked hard and put together an ebook package of 50 ebooks to sell to people, but the reason I am doing it is for extra money to buy a few months of bill paying since my husband is switching jobs and getting paid $3 less an hour. I am trying really hard to get my eBay business going but I need some extra money to pay the bills in the meantime until my eBay business can make up the $3 less per hour. So I guess it is a form of cyber begging, but with an actual product to purchase based on the personal story. I put up a website and even included 3 different prices and they buyer can choose how much they think the ebook package is worth. I just went live today, so I cannot give you any stats on how well I am doing, but I hope I sell a lot of the packages. I am targeting ebook lovers and I think the package is well worth even my highest price. But that is just me. Anyways, I have donated before when the story was good enough, even though there was no product. I think there are many people out there who view it as I do. I mean what is a few bucks if the story made you laugh. I see this happening a lot on eBay, and there are a lot of people sending in the money.
• Canada
7 Feb 07
Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I agree that when looking at stories that you cannot take them as whole truths. You have to be careful about it, but if you must donate, then it's great to at least get something back, even if it is a laugh. Thanks again.
1 person likes this
• India
7 Feb 07
If I had money , I would surely donate it to a stranger who is desperately in need of it . However , I would first find out as to this is bogus of not and in this case , whether the site is scam or not. I think cyber begging can be a good way for people who do not have money but suffer from diseases which require a whole lot of money. I think its a great idea and yes , I would definitely go out of my way to lend a helping hand to some one even though he is a stranger.
@msqtech (15074)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I think the only thing though is that they should go through an organized charity so that tax deduction can be given to the donors
1 person likes this
@Sissygrl (10912)
• Canada
7 Feb 07
money - free money ??
I do not think that i would give money to someone i dont know. i can't give money to people i dont know. now if i had money to give away, i'd give it to friends in need, or organization like cancer society and other charities. i know you and you would use the money that you were asking for for what you were asking it for. does that makes sense? but do you really think other people are using the money that they get efor the things they ask for it for? i dunno. it all seems kind of weird to me. why would ANYONE give away free money? it doesn't seem like it'd work out very well to me.
3 people like this
@ephi4real (564)
• Nigeria
7 Feb 07
If I can afford to give, I would not hesitate to give money to a total stranger, as long as the person's cause is worth donating to. If I think the reason for soliciting financial support is silly (like getting a new tattoo), believe me, i will tell the person to go get a job.
2 people like this
• United States
7 Feb 07
People these days will come up with all different kinds of scams to make money but as long as people feed into it and give them the money to keep going why shouldnt they do it. If I would have known I could make a site where peolpe would pay me so they could beg I would have done it.
2 people like this
@tigrashadow (1086)
• Australia
8 Feb 07
honestly i would love to have enough money to donate or help many people and causes. as for this online begging thing, it can often be difficult to gauge how 'real' the situations are, i mean for someone who wants to scam money from people, its easy to create a sob story online. having said that i know there are many honest people in genuine need out there on the internet. if i had money myself id love to donate but usually only do sometimes to charities here (like buying a little toy dog for guide dogs etc) i often dont have money to be able to give online in my paypal account etc so cant even when i want to...i wouldnt want to be helping someone who wants a cosmetic operation or just wants something for the sake of wanting it.
2 people like this
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
i respect what others doing in their life, i think cyber begging is the first thing comre to their minds, wow, begging had evolved,usually we see beggars on the streets, now they are updated, they are modern, they use the internet,LOL we call them cyber beggars, i think there are people who give extra money for beggars, but it depends on the situtation, for me i do not give money to beggars, i rather give bread or food to them. good day and happy posting,,
2 people like this
@linda345 (2661)
• Canada
8 Feb 07
Boy that would be a big decision. I give to alot of charities like Mad and others like that. I might give a few dollars to one situation like this. I could afford it and I feel a woman is intitaled to do to her body what she wants. Maybe you should try it. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
2 people like this
• Canada
8 Feb 07
Wow..this is a totally different post from the rest of them..lol. I agree, it's my body and I will be getting it done regardless of how I get the money. I am saving like crazy and have learned alot about saving money on different things. Now *knock on wood* hopefully something won't happen to take most of that money like it usually does.
1 person likes this
@vicky1 (240)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I have seen this begging before. And nope I won't give. I have been on one forum and it is small. Well over the years being there and if the need some money I would give to them. But as I said I have been there for years. I have been to other forums and they might be asking for donations for someone and will give a couple bucks. But I won't go to a website as you said and give.
2 people like this
• India
8 Feb 07
20/20 did a special on cyber begging tonight. To be honest, I have never heard of the term before, I guess I am sort of out of touch. In any case, the show featured Dustin Diamond on how he used his website to sell t-shirts to beg for money in order to save his house. He made thousands of dollars from his website, and then he made some porns because he is deeply in debt. The show also featured a woman name Karen. Apparently, she was a shopaholic who was $23,000 in debt. She went online and created a website begging people to send her money so she can pay off her debt. She ended up getting $13,000 from strangers. I think that if strangers want to give her money, then more power to her. I personally would never and have never send people money just because they ask for it. Really, if you have money to give away, you should send them to legitimate charities where you know that people truly need them; like helping the homeless or poor animals, not to someone who shops herself into debt or people who simply spend more than what they make.
2 people like this
@Alphasee (389)
• United States
7 Feb 07
Hahha, that's funny. Sometimes people honestly want money that badly that they ask others for it? Why not go out and get a decent job that actually earns you something, other than money? there is often more to it than just one, and frankly, I understand that. Sometimes though, people need to earn stuff the hard way, not necessarily the easy way. Another thing it does for you to actually earn the money is that it gives you the power to put that work on a resume.
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
18 Feb 07
People were doing it here when I first started. It was getting riduclious but Mylot put I stop to it. do people acually do that to get money?
• Canada
18 Feb 07
As I said, there is a site that you pay approximately 15 dollars to join, and it allows you to 'cyber beg' on it. Some people actually do get money. Thanks for responding. :)
• Netherlands
7 Feb 07
I wouldn't donate money to a random stranger on the internet because you don't know who they are and what they are doing with your hard earned money. I a distrustful of people in general and can't imagine freely donating for who knows what.
2 people like this
• Indonesia
7 Feb 07
mm.. i am make a donation section too in my blog.I will make money seriously as a writer and designer, marketer,but it's cannot work till now, so i decided that maybe though donation section i can make money. Who knows? am i cyber begger? here my link , you can visit what i am talking about.
• Indonesia
7 Feb 07
mm.. i am make a donation section too in my blog.I will make money seriously as a writer and designer, marketer,but it's cannot work till now, so i decided that maybe though donation section i can make money. Who knows? am i cyber begger? here my link , you can visit what i am talking about. http://blogman07.bravejournal.com
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
7 Feb 07
i am sorry , about double posting.
2 people like this
• Canada
9 Feb 07
I will be sure to check out your online journal. Thanks for posting, and no worries about it posting twice..that's a common mylot glitch :)
@mishald (176)
• India
7 Feb 07
no i would not donate money to someone i dont know. i hind it really ridiculous that people would do such a thing. i mean the person at thge other end may be quite rich and having a string of these begging sites to give him a steady income. i dont know how people can fall for such gimmicks.
2 people like this
@Denmarkguy (1845)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Quite a while ago-- maybe 5 years-- I was looking to consolidate debt, and ended up on what was (at the time) the site of a woman who's possibly the "original" cyber beggar. She was someone who obviously had a huge problem with "shopping addiction," and had pretty much lost her entire life due to overspending with credit cards. As I recall, she had something to the tune of $80,000 in consumer debt... Her site was basically "her story" of turning her life around, including getting counseling for her spending problem, going to college for a graduate degree, and a whole bunch of other stuff. And the entire thing was being paid for as a result of her "experiment" of "asking strangers for help, a little bit at a time." I think she actually sent hand-written thank-you cards to anyone who gave $20 or more. However... Whereas I can see a total stranger (including myself) chipping in towards the plight of a struggling single mom trying to balance work, kids, getting an education and "life in general," sponsoring an operation like you're wanting is a little different. Why? Not because I doubt your authentic want, but because it's "elective," rather than "essential." A small inner voice says "why doesn't she finish school first, and then 'just pay for it' when she gets a well-paying job?" No disrespect, just being honest.
• Canada
20 Feb 07
Don't worry, you are only expressing your opinions. I was actually not considering this and only wanted to know what other people thought of the cyber begging thing as a whole. I am paying for it on my own, and using money made here to buy the new clothes, and finishing school. It was just a conversation that was brought up because this person knew I wanted my surgery.