GoFundMe Pages – Digital Begging, because it’s easier than work.

I’m going to start off by saying, not all the campaigns on gofundme are bad.  In fact, many are worthwhile causes from individuals who really do need help for legitimate purposes.   However, more and more there are just plain greedy people running campaigns for things they should be saving on their own.

Look at this list:

http://www.gofundme.com/Weddings-Honeymoons?page=3

The first thing that pops into my head is why doesn’t any “NEED” a wedding.  It’s not life threatening.  It’s not something that you are required to do.  So I delved deeper to find out why people are posting these campaigns and some had truly good reasons, but then I saw one where they wanted others to pay for the costs of their photographer.  Or another where they wanted others to pay for the reception.  And my favorites of them all, they want others to pay for their honeymoons.

Hey I can understand you want that special day and need cash to pay for it.  I really do.   But this is something you have to save your money for and create a budget that is within your means.  Or have your family help out, you know, the traditional way.

Why should the world pay for your wedding?   Why is it so important that you need funding from the general public?  Your not that special princess.

I saw another one for a couple who wanted a down payment on their first home.   Are you kidding me?   GET A JOB!  I yelled at the screen.  Save your money and be responsible.   What has this world come to?

Then the one that positively infuriated me to the point I had to close the window out of fear of throwing my keyboard at my monitor was this one:

Meet Stacy, a student who is deep in debt, who admits that she can’t pay her bills and has creditors calling day and night, and wants to start her career off right.   How does she want to do that?   By begging on GoFundMe for funds to purchase a $2500 camera!

http://www.gofundme.com/nl9jt8

That one got me the most angry.  Why?  I’m a photographer myself.   I work hard, pay my bills, have a mortgage and run my business.    Bills comes first, then comes everything else.    I save for what I want.   Like cameras, trips, lenses, etc.    And here is this girl who is begging for money to buy a new camera.    What’s worse though, is that people are giving her the money.   Oh yes.   She is almost to her goal and I have a bad feeling she will get it.    The tragedy is not only she feels entitled enough to beg for money online but that people are actually giving her the money.

If your a student you go into university or college with student loans.  That means you have debt, that means you have to pay that debt back.    That means GET A FUCKING JOB and pay your bills FIRST.    Just because your going to university for a career that you want, doesn’t mean you will get a big pay cheque at the end and your debt magically goes away.   MOST students know this and get jobs and pay their loans as they go.  Heck, some students get two jobs.   It’s called responsibility and being responsible.   Begging like this girl is doing is the height of greed.  And it’s downright wrong that they’re being rewarded for it and worse, that people are stupid enough to give money to them.

Now like I stated at the beginning, there are legitmate needs for this.  Medical expenses that are not covered by insurance, raising funds for an invention, medical bills for a beloved pet that goes beyond your means.   I’m not saying there isn’t, but when they are being done for weddings, trips or those pricey merchandise items you want, then that crosses that line.    And the people who donate to them have no right at all to put down people on welfare or any social programs that help people who are in real need.