Internet Begging is a subject that I really do not fully comprehend. Its not the fact that people use the Internet as a way to try to gain money through begging or otherwise asking for it, without selling a service or a product that confuses me; it is more the fact that people readily part with their money when scoundrels at worst, and people who really don't need the money at best, ask/beg us for ours. I have been guilty of this myself - no not begging for it in some underhanded way - but rather giving it to those who apparently have done just that!
Now don't get me wrong. If someone is truly in need of the money, and I do mean IN NEED OF, then I find nothing wrong with their asking for it. If they offer us something in return for the money we give them, then it is all the better to their credit as having some scruples in the matter. For example, if a blogger, who blogs for us every day, or close to daily, amuses or gives us interesting writings that we feel are worthy of recompense when that person needs the money - then fine - I see nothing wrong with it.
Heck, I do not even see it as all that bad if someone asks for money who just wants more of it to buy things that are luxuries, that is so long as the person asking for it makes it quite clear to potential benefactors that this is why they are asking, and that the beggar gives us something worthwhile in return such as a great blog. At least that type of beggar is being honest. While I might not give to someone who has money and asks for more just to buy more toys, so to speak, I don't necessarily consider that type of person to be a scoundrel just because they asked/begged for the money.
The thing is though that there are evidently many on the Internet who ask or beg we give money to them, and ask we donate by way of things like Pay Pal links on their sites or blogs, or by sending checks or money orders through the mail, who obviously either REALLY DO NOT NEED the money, or who do not use the money toward the end for which they claimed it would go - YET THEY CLAIM THEY ARE POOR, OR THAT THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED OF FUNDS.
The type I am speaking about often complain about not having jobs, about being down and out financially, about having sudden financial hardships, and so on. You know what I mean - don't you. For example someone may say that they are between jobs and their vehicle just got smashed up in an accident by an uninsured driver, and they themselves did not have collision insurance. So they ask/beg us to help them out. This of course could be on the up and up; but all too often it seems like a low down trick the get us to donate. All too often the guy has been between jobs for years; yet all to often the guy is spending money like it was dust in the wind.
Yes the persons vehicle may have gotten whacked and destroyed, yes the person maybe between jobs, but if you read their other postings you come to learn that they have recently and repeatedly done extravagant things that must have cost lots of money, and they are soon planning to purchase a luxury item that will also cost a lot of money. That is ballsy, but some are even more brazen that that. In fact some of them routinely boast about the extravagant life styles they lead by way of showing pictures of luxury purchases, or by way of trip logs of their vacations, or by way of showing pictures of their beautiful homes, and so on and also boast about the great paying jobs they have! Can you imagine that, being so brazen as to boast about how much money you earn, and then still begging for money - but some do it - all the while telling us how badly they are in need of it, the it being our money.
It is pretty disgusting when you stop to think about it. You really have to, or should, wonder - where in Hades are they getting the money for these luxuries. You should also be wondering why in Hades are they not using the money they would need to spend on extravagant items on the badly needed vehicle instead – that is at least the vehicle they claim they need so badly, and for which they claim there is a shortage of funds. Why are they not using their own money more wisely? Well because they are, in my opinion, scoundrels - dirty rotten scoundrels at that. They seemingly live by the credo of a man who was quite possibly one of the most reprehensible connivers of all time- P.T. Barnum, who was reputed to have said: "There's a sucker born every minute". Or maybe they live by this one, a sentiment expressed by W.C. Fields, in one of his many acting roles, when he said: "If we should ever separate, my little plum, I want to give you just one bit of fatherly advice: Never give a sucker an even break". Well, guess who is that sucker my friend – the you and I who give dishonest scoundrels our money – that’s who!
There is also another saying: "A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted". Sure, it is nice to be charitable, but charity should be given to those who truly are in need of it. After all, need is part of the basis for charity. It is also said: "It is Better To Give Than To Receive", and that may be so, but I would rather give to someone who deserves receiving rather than to someone who is trying to connive me or swindle me out of my money. I don't need to play the fool for a scalawag. I don’t know about you and your money, but my money has been honestly earned, and I have lots of bills of my own, as well as a few desires that cost money to fulfill. I spend my money on my wants though usually only when my needs have been fulfilled. I spend my money on other people’s needs usually when I can spare some of mine, often interfering with me obtaining things I desire. I even sometimes give to others when sparing my own money means doing without some of my needs, but then only so long as I believe the other person is in dire need of assistance.
I have in the past, made the mistake of giving to those who really did not need it though they begged for it as if they did, yet they spent money on unnecessary items with reckless abandon. I played the fool for them, I was the sucker of the moment. From now on though, I will be a little more careful about how I give my money to those who beg for it by way of the Internet blogs. My money was hard and honestly earned, and while it is not hard to spend it, I intend it to go toward honest ends either when I spend it, or donate it to those in need.
All the best,
Glenn B
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