I made a GoFundMe if anyone wanna helpé

[gracebowen]

Eye opening for sure. Who gives these people money? Here is an idea, instead of having a go fund me account stand on a street corner with this sign and see what happens.
Attachment 41216

I did it selling water. Made about $20 in an hour. I was genuinely selling water and people were just giving me money. I felt bad so I packed up and went home.
I used the money for groceries. Ive since picked up more hours at work and should be able to actually start saving money next year.

[El JP]

Well I've known people with cancer to use such sites. Not sure it is the best way to do this, but I have donated to friends who have used them in this way. I thought the post re: who all was using it to fund AT hikes. But some of them seemed to be trying to fund charities and the like. I don't actually know how effective that is. Give to the charity directly, I'd guess dollar for dollar it would be more efficient.

I understand where you're coming from.

But having to drum up money due to cancer and all that is a whole other thing than asking for handouts to fund something like a thruhike.

[DownEaster]

I agree wholeheartedly about funding campaigns and the difference between a through-hike and cancer. The first is something you can, and should, prepare for. Cancer: not so much.

[rickb]

F

I agree wholeheartedly about funding campaigns and the difference between a through-hike and cancer. The first is something you can, and should, prepare for. Cancer: not so much.

Another difference.

Most of the funding appeals for people who find themselves in a really tough spot are not started by the person in need, but rather by a friend, neighbor or loved one.

Not sure if it is sad or funny to scroll down the list of 2018 hikers who have set up pages for themselves, only to find that they have not received a simgle donation.

Is it possible some of these people just don’t have a clue about where they and their hikes fit into the social fabric of their own community? Not because of any character flaw, but because of some deeper condition?

[TexasBob]

I did it selling water. Made about $20 in an hour. I was genuinely selling water and people were just giving me money. I felt bad so I packed up and went home.
I used the money for groceries. Ive since picked up more hours at work and should be able to actually start saving money next year.

Interesting story. I think most folks want to help those who really need help and are sympathetic toward those who are trying to help themselves. I hope 2018 is a better year for you.

[FlyPaper]

Donations would be appropriate if this were some noble or sacrificial endeavor. It is a vacation. Nothing more. Writing a blog or taking picture wouldn't change that.

[Gambit McCrae]

Another strategy that has become popular is people hiking for:"_________________" << Insert heart strings subject here.
People pick a subject to hike for that would be offensive for anyone to call them out as using it for funds to hike. In return they say that all proceeds will go to said subject, and I'm sure they do most time, but I am also sure people have used said heartstrings subject to hike off the proceeds.

[Puddlefish]

Here's the deal. Hike your own hike. What this guy is doing is flat out not impacting your hike. He's not begging on the trail, he's not robbing hostel owners.

Who would donate funds to someone going on vacation? The same people who provide trail magic because it gives them a warm fuzzy feeling to do so, because it makes them feel like part of the hiking community. This GoFundMe is arguably a better method of providing such trail magic, because it doesn't clog up parking lots, and leave litter on the trail.

All it takes is one ex-hiker, who sees something of themselves, something charmingly naive in being 29 and wanting to escape the drudgery of real life for six months to follow a dream. Maybe they see something of themselves at that age, maybe they're physically unable to hike, or even get to the trailside to hand out oranges. Maybe they routinely donate millions to real causes, and just want to amuse themselves by helping to change a random stranger's life.

There's nothing special about any given generation, that's never happened to other generations. There have always been people who whine, who beg, who blame others, who forget what it's like to be young, who don't understand statistics. I know I've seen a picture of someone busking for coins in the 60s/70s on this site, but that doesn't mean I'm going to dump on their entire generation for being annoying street scum. All that's changed is the technology and the way we take in information.

What I'm seeing in this thread, is an angry community, dumping on someone who's attempting to hike their own hike. I'm seeing, just like Rain Man said, a lot of broad brush comments about an entire generation, that's based on ignorance, and disdain for others. I saw none of this when I was on the trail. Do we really want to see the WhiteBlaze community to become a forum that welcomes new hikers, potential hikers with derision and generational politics?

[smoovoperator]

Yes, because you can generalize all individuals who are millennials into a category that this man falls into. Come on, people. What he is doing is frowned upon, of course. But that doesn't mean that we are all like that. Perhaps learn a new buzzword or two? Bit like others have said, good luck with getting funds from people to help your thruhike. It isn't likely here.

[TexasBob]

.......What I'm seeing in this thread, is an angry community, dumping on someone who's attempting to hike their own hike. I'm seeing, just like Rain Man said, a lot of broad brush comments about an entire generation, that's based on ignorance, and disdain for others.....

Out of 67 posts only about 4 mention anything about the OP's age and at least two of those where in jest. Lighten up. Someone who invites strangers to be part of his hike by giving him money is not "hiking his own hike" in my book.

[Puddlefish]

Out of 67 posts only about 4 mention anything about the OP's age and at least two of those where in jest. Lighten up. Someone who invites strangers to be part of his hike by giving him money is not "hiking his own hike" in my book.

It's been a giant dogpile of a thread. You apparently think this guy should hike your hike instead of how he's doing it, that's really kind of weird and controlling.

[Old_Man]

The request was in poor taste. Ageism is as well. Get over yourselves. I suggest going for a hike.

[OCDave]

It's been a giant dogpile of a thread. You apparently think this guy should hike your hike instead of how he's doing it, that's really kind of weird and controlling.

Puddlefish, your posts suggest you codone the OP's tactics. Clearly, many more of this community do not. Consider the "dogpile" to be a microcosm of society as a whole. When the individual violates social norms, shaming by the collective whole acts to suppress behaviors the community finds unacceptable. Long before formal legislation mankind relied on a socially reinforced sense of right and wrong. As the OP is new to this community, would it not be appropriate for the community to reinforce their overall collective values? Weird and controlling perhaps but, it is the way of any intelligent society.

[ZombieDust66]

I’m taking my family to Costa Rica this year. It’s expensive.

1. Will one of you set up a go fund me page. I don’t know how and haven’t looked into yet.
2. Please donate generously after you set it up for me.
3. Who can give us a ride to the airport?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rickb]

Here's the deal. Hike your own hike. What this guy is doing is flat out not impacting your hike. He's not begging on the trail, he's not robbing hostel owners.

Here is another deal.

Thru hikers tend to feel a bond between them— somtimes a brotherhood — that transcends age, sex, economic status, sexual orientation, athletic ability, IQ, or year/decade of their hike, etc., etc.

When confronted with evidence that suggests the core values of some within this fraternity are diametrically opposed to their own, you get no small amount of cognitive dissonance— and a reaction.

How could you not?

[JPritch]

I'm getting tired of the "hike your own hike" deflection when anybody tries to question or criticize any one else. If I'm gonna blast my radio with vulgar songs the entire way up the trail and punch anybody who complains square in the face, nobody say a damn word to me, because I'm gonna hike my own hike. Yeah, it's no skin off my arse for the OP to ask for a handout, but that doesn't mean I can't tell him/her I disagree with their method of financing or to get a better job :-)

[TexasBob]

It's been a giant dogpile of a thread. You apparently think this guy should hike your hike instead of how he's doing it, that's really kind of weird and controlling.

My point is that kids who go to bed hungry, old folks who can't afford their medicine, people with devastating medical problems need charity not people who want a 6 month vacation and I am amazed that anyone would give to the latter rather than the former.

[gracebowen]

Here's the deal. Hike your own hike. What this guy is doing is flat out not impacting your hike. He's not begging on the trail, he's not robbing hostel owners.

Who would donate funds to someone going on vacation? The same people who provide trail magic because it gives them a warm fuzzy feeling to do so, because it makes them feel like part of the hiking community. This GoFundMe is arguably a better method of providing such trail magic, because it doesn't clog up parking lots, and leave litter on the trail.

All it takes is one ex-hiker, who sees something of themselves, something charmingly naive in being 29 and wanting to escape the drudgery of real life for six months to follow a dream. Maybe they see something of themselves at that age, maybe they're physically unable to hike, or even get to the trailside to hand out oranges. Maybe they routinely donate millions to real causes, and just want to amuse themselves by helping to change a random stranger's life.

There's nothing special about any given generation, that's never happened to other generations. There have always been people who whine, who beg, who blame others, who forget what it's like to be young, who don't understand statistics. I know I've seen a picture of someone busking for coins in the 60s/70s on this site, but that doesn't mean I'm going to dump on their entire generation for being annoying street scum. All that's changed is the technology and the way we take in information.

What I'm seeing in this thread, is an angry community, dumping on someone who's attempting to hike their own hike. I'm seeing, just like Rain Man said, a lot of broad brush comments about an entire generation, that's based on ignorance, and disdain for others. I saw none of this when I was on the trail. Do we really want to see the WhiteBlaze community to become a forum that welcomes new hikers, potential hikers with derision and generational politics?

IMHO it already is. You have to have a thick skin to post here.

[gracebowen]

Or rather stay here

[Puddlefish]

I'm getting tired of the "hike your own hike" deflection when anybody tries to question or criticize any one else. If I'm gonna blast my radio with vulgar songs the entire way up the trail and punch anybody who complains square in the face, nobody say a damn word to me, because I'm gonna hike my own hike. Yeah, it's no skin off my arse for the OP to ask for a handout, but that doesn't mean I can't tell him/her I disagree with their method of financing or to get a better job :-)

I always felt the general rule was hike your own hike, but don't make anyone else hike your hike. When you blast music on the trail, it forces other people to hike your hike.

There's nothing at all wrong with giving another hiker advice on how to finance their hike, after all this is a website all about hiker's helping other hikers, right?

Telling someone to stop being poor, to stop begging, to work harder, to work smarter, to get a better education, to stop being a bum, to behave off the trail in a certain manner... in my opinion is moralistic grandstanding and has nothing to do with hiking.

I'm not going to donate to the guy either, but judging his life choices is not why I come to this website. Driving him from the hiking community is, again, in my opinion very wrong.

I get it, we all have political agendas, but let's not discourage people, even poor people who make choices that are different from our agenda, from getting out and enjoying nature.