Not-quite fandom stuff

[ratherastory]

Y'know, I think it's awesome that Random Acts is trying to raise a ton of money for Haiti. God knows, that country needs all the help it can get in order to rebuild after last year's earthquake.

It's just... I am seriously uncomfortable at the idea of fans "raising" $5000 in order to go with Misha et al. to Haiti in order to have a more "personal connection" to what they're doing, or whatever. I just can't help but feel that that aspect of this fundraiser is entirely made of fail. The idea of a group of tourists (feel free to disagree with my nomenclature, but to me that's what they are) going over to witness how grateful the natives are for their munificence just sets my teeth on edge.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. After all, the money is going where it's supposed to, so it can't be all bad. It's just pushing several of my squick buttons.

Comments

[morganoconner.livejournal.com]

When I first heard the idea, I thought it was great, a wonderful way to get people really interested, and to give people a real chance to help in a way they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do. A way that feels more active than just sending money somewhere and forgetting about it.

But...the more I hear about it, and the more I see, the more I've been kind of squicked by it as well. Not just because of what you said (though that's gotten my back up as well), but also because it seems far more like a contest than people genuinely wanting to help. I doubt most people are looking at this project as a way to make a difference, but as a way to get to say "HA, I spent a week with Misha and Matt!" And that...bothers me. Maybe more than it should, and maybe I'm completely wrong, but...

I dunno. Hard to articular all my feelings on the subject. I like the idea in theory, but I'm not sure how much I like the way they went about it. :\

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Exactly! The idea was good, but the execution of it seems... off.