I still have mixed feelings about social media. On one hand, I love it because I’ve met so many wonderful people from all over the world. On the other hand, it seems much easier for people to be annoying. Or is that I let them be annoying? Is this a chicken and egg conundrum? Enough of the philosophy, on to my latest rant.
My latest rant is about people asking for money on Facebook. No, not the Nigerian prince stuff, but people asking me to contribute to some charity or other. The requests come mostly from people I know personally. All the charities are legitimate and are worthy causes, but . . .
The person has never bothered to comment on a post, send me a personal message or anything. Now, suddenly they are all fired up about some cause and want me to give them money? No, I don’t think so.
I also get annoyed at people asking me to post some stupid message on my Facebook profile to support a cause. Okay, how is that going to help a cause? To me, all it shows is that I’m a mindless sheep and just follows the crowd.
If I’m feeling especially cranky that day, I may even unfriend them.
What about you? How do you feel about your friends asking you to support one of their charitable causes?
Disgruntled cat picture is courtesy of Tomi Tapio’s Flickr Photostream, under Creative Commons Licensing.
Nancy Loderick's Blog 
johncoyote
March 5, 2014
I believe to ask a stranger for money is impolite. I give to charity at work and directly. Facebook is a business now. More garbage appeared than worthwhile things. I agree with your thoughts.
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Nancy Loderick
March 5, 2014
Hi John,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m glad you agree with this post. 🙂
Nancy
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the retrospective entrepreneur
March 5, 2014
Hi Nancy – this is a pet hate of mine also. I try to point out politely that I have contributed significantly for many years to a number of charities that I have personal reasons for supporting, I wish them luck in what they are trying to do (e.g. run 5 miles backward and blindfolded or spending 2 weeks walking up Kilimanjaro) and express the hope that they understand that there is only so much money one can contribute. However, this was one of the main reasons I left Facebook behind. I now miss the pictures of the grandchildren but my life is simpler.
Good luck & best regards, Tony
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Nancy Loderick
March 5, 2014
Hi Tony,
So nice to hear from you. I completely agree with you about the charity thing. Although when I’ve tried to explain my rational to folks, many just don’t hear it and ask me again to contribute to their cause. How annoying.
Nancy
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Professor VJ Duke
March 5, 2014
😆 The pic and your rant…funny! But, seriously, I understand your feelings on this. You know, I was thinking about getting FB.
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Nancy Loderick
March 5, 2014
Hey Professor,
Well, Facebook does have its place I suppose. I have acquired quite a few blog subscribers from there, so I guess I shouldn’t complain too much.
Nancy
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Ken Loderick
March 5, 2014
I am getting more tempted to drop out of Facebook because of annoying things like you mentioned in your blog. I especially hate it when “friends” post something for a cause and then say “I know that most of you won’t post this on your page”. I am always tempted to respond “If you know we won’t post it then why ask us to?”
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Nancy Loderick
March 5, 2014
Hi Mr. Ken,
Yes, Facebook is becoming more and more annoying, isn’t it? Or should I say that the people on Facebook are becoming more annoying….or maybe we’re just getting old and cranky.
Nancy
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colormusing
March 5, 2014
I’ve been noticing this pattern for some time now. Social (I use the term loosely) media sites start out social, then progress rapidly into commercial. Advertising starts showing up, followed by offers to sell you advice on how you, too, can make money on that social media platform. And then we have the charity solicitors! (Just because they’re non-profits doesn’t make them any less commercial.) Personally, I don’t mind them on Facebook, since they do raise my awareness of organizations I may otherwise never heard of, BUT I absolutely do not ever make contributions to anything based solely on what a FB page tells me– I prefer to make informed giving decisions, rather than being emotionally impulsive, which I think many of these people are counting on.
So in the end, is it even effective to market an organization this way? Not if it’s inspiring rant reactions, rather than contributions.
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Nancy Loderick
March 5, 2014
Hi,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. If only marketers realize that if they are annoying people, those people are not going to buy what they are selling.
Nancy
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Judy A. Beebe
March 5, 2014
I understand what you’re saying/feeling. I get those type of money requests, but I don’t let it annoy me. They have a need to ask, and I don’t have a need to contribute (if I don’t feel like it). It all evens out in my book. Now, if the person asking is a friend or family, and they start holding a grudge because I don’t contribute….sorry, that’s their problem, not mine; they will come around eventually.
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Nancy Loderick
March 8, 2014
Hi Judy,
I love your attitude. I really should stop letting the money requests annoy me. Life is really too short.
Thanks for the positive perspective!
Nancy
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Mind Margins
March 5, 2014
I have a lot of issues with Facebook as well. I skim a lot. I ignore any requests for money. And I unfriend anyone who posts disrespectful political rants.
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Nancy Loderick
March 8, 2014
Hi,
Thanks for your thoughts!
Nancy
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MikeW
March 6, 2014
Facebook’s clunky, and doesn’t look that good graphically IMHO, and yet it is used massively. As is McDonalds. No offense Zuck!
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Nancy Loderick
March 8, 2014
Hi Mike,
Yes, Facebook sure is clumsy and annoying to boot. I’ve all but stopped using it because all the dribble in the time line feed was too much.
Nancy
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MikeW
March 6, 2014
Great Churchill-cat picture BTW.
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Nancy Loderick
March 8, 2014
Hi Mike,
I’m glad you liked the picture. I couldn’t help but laugh when I came across it.
Nancy
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Unshakable Hope
March 10, 2014
Good post,, Nancy. I think most “normal” people have a love/hate relationship with FB. My FB is deactivated right now because I just needed an FB vacation (I do this probably 3 months a year). Even when my FB is activated, my wife goes on it more than me.
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Nancy Loderick
March 10, 2014
Hi,
I love the idea of a FB vacation! I think that is what I need. 🙂
Nancy
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sf
March 13, 2014
Oh, wow. Ya know, Nancy, I actually had re-logged into my FB account JUST to post about a marathon I was running and if anyone would like to donate to the charity I was doing the run for. So your post here really went, “Ahoy! You there! Charity money asker who doesn’t even come on Facebook until now!” I hear ya, though, Nancy. The reason I don’t “stay” on FB is because I just can’t seem to feel comfortable about spending my time on there. Even though I’m looking through pics and reading friends’ statuses…not sure why exactly, but I just end up having a LAZY attitude immediately afterwards. It’s like social media overload – even though 15 minutes was spent browsing on there. Anyhow, that was what I did, in regards to that charity run I did, cuz FB’s the best place “to get the word out” when ya need to, no?
Oh, but in regards to someone asking YOU to post something on your profile for them, then yeah, I very much agree with ya. I too, don’t see the point in how I’m supporting them or the cause. Especially because heck, most of the time, I don’t even agree with the cause! (happened in a big way one time).
What bugs me the most about Facebook? All the males’ shirtless selfie pictures! UGH! I can’t stand it when men who’ve worked out and gotten fit suddenly think all their friends want to see their bulging chests shirtless and them standing in front of a big mirror, taking a selfie of themselves. Ack!
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Nancy Loderick
March 14, 2014
Hey sf,
Yes, I agree with you about those weird selfie pictures. Too creepy!
Nancy
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theeditorsjournal
March 27, 2014
Nancy I couldn’t agree more. It would be different if you had regular interaction and swapsies with the person, then it comes with some credibility. Plus the sheeple aspect of it is off-putting.
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Nancy Loderick
April 1, 2014
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it wouldn’t be so bad if there had been at least some interaction before the money request.
Nancy
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theeditorsjournal
March 27, 2014
…Erm but while I’m here I’ve been having a slight problem with my bank. They won’t let me access 80 million dollars that Prince Iboocaziwala has sent me…was just wondering….no, okay…you’re busy. 🙂
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Nancy Loderick
April 1, 2014
Ha Ha 🙂
N
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annetbell
March 27, 2014
Oh it is so easy to get sucked in . . . isn’t it?
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Nancy Loderick
April 1, 2014
Hi,
Yes, it sure is. 🙂
Nancy
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