There is this new trend where people (usually musicians)
need money for something and they go straight to Kickstarter or some other
crowd funding site to ask for donations. Since when is that not called begging?
First off, you don’t need money, you want money. In the rules of business, you
either can’t handle your expenses, or there is no demand for your supply. Second,
you’re not offering anything to anyone. You want me to give you money because
you can’t afford to do whatever it is you want to do. This wouldn’t even work
in communist countries and I can spend that money on something I want instead. Third,
you want me to enable your future financial woes by using me as your
contingency plan. You are the problem, not anyone else, or the world, or a
supreme being, or luck, fate, karma, etc. Not going to happen.
People dying from diseases or starving in foreign countries need
charity. Whatever happened to the days where you produced something someone
wanted to buy and this money went into furthering future ventures? I don’t have
a problem with someone jacking up the price on something they’re selling; it’s my
own personal decision on what I think is a good deal or not. But these people
aren’t selling anything. I’m not your girlfriend, your parents, or even a
friend, and certainly not an idiot who welcomes solicitations from a glorified
pan-handler pretending to be someone in need. They’re literally begging fans to
give them money for nothing in return. No ticket to a show, painting, mention
in their book, sexual favor, or anything besides a transaction from a bank
account. Instead, go to your local cheap store and buy them a calculator. Teach
them the basics about finance and how to save for their future. Ultimately, let
them know it’s only a job if they get paid for it and no one is paying them to
merely exist.
I just spent 44% of my income fund-raising for the new Nickelback CD!