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

[nyoka.livejournal.com]

I agree, definitely. At the end of the day I support initiatives that make people aware of what's happening around the world and also aid an area that is not getting aid from other places. And I say if folks want to use their celebrity for good, PLEASE do it. There needs to be more good in this world. And I'm not saying volunteer ops or humanitarian aid work is without fault -- there are many, many issues that come with this work including lack of financial accountability and transparency, doctrines steeped in institutional imperialism and racism, among other things.

But when it comes to Random Acts and ops like Habitat for Humanity, I personally think the good far outweighs the negative. And someone may argue that some of these fans are clueless about the issue and are only going to spend time with Misha -- well, if someone is really willing to raise 5K ONLY to see Misha, wow. But I have to think folks are also really concerned about the issue to be willing to put this much time and resources into it as well. Moreover, at the end of the day, at least Misha is able to funnel that 5K into helping a desperately-poor and disaster-ravaged country. He's using his celebrity for good. And maybe there might end up being some socially-unaware fen attending, but let's hope through this week in Haiti, they really will develop a broader analysis and a better consciousness about these issues. So maybe initially there will be some fans only going to see Misha/Matt, but in the end, we create actual humanitarians and social change makers. People willing to go home and volunteer at their local soup kitchen or vote for a politician who supports better funding for aid programs to Haiti. Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I think there's something important in first-hand education like this. I don't see it as simply more disaster tourism.

I think that fandom charity events like Sweet Charity, and the auctions fen have run for Haiti, Japan, etc. are a great way of pooling the resources of a centralized group. A great way of tapping into a pool of people already organized around core likes. I think Misha is taking it one step further, and I understand why folks area wary, but I've seen the good that comes from actually showing people what's happening right on the ground -- it can really change people's lives and perspectives.

I'm gonna stop rambling now. Can you tell it's an issue I'm passionate about, lol? *smh*

[faunaana.livejournal.com]

I very much agree with you.

Lord knows this is one million times more beneficial to the universe than the thousands of dollars that ppl paid to hear Jensen and $10Manns warble covers or to watch a no-name band with Jared and Gen.

If, like you say, ONE person's consciousness is raised and if just ONE person in Haiti benefits from this, that is doing far more for the world than paying the same amount of money to sit in a room with a celeb for twenty minutes.

[nyoka.livejournal.com]

Lord knows this is one million times more beneficial to the universe than the thousands of dollars that ppl paid to hear Jensen and $10Manns warble covers or to watch a no-name band with Jared and Gen.

Oh, yes. Thank you. Folks pay this sort of money just to sit in the same room and take a picture with a celeb.

So the idea of using that same celebrity to funnel money into something concrete is really pretty smart. I understand why folks find it squicky, but at the same time I think the opportunity to really consciousness raise is something that cannot be denied. And from what it sounds like, the money people are fundraising for this project is going directly into buying building supplies and materials. There's an accountability here that is so rare with most operations like this. At the end of the day I just can't be mad about someone donating 5K to build an orphanage and spending a week helping to construct it. And yes maybe many of these fans are only "in it" for Misha/Matt. But honestly I just don't care b/c at the end of the day we are putting their labor and money to good use. And I cannot stress how completely ravaged and in need of aid Haiti is. The devastation is immense and it'll take a generation or more to recover. No one who goes to volunteer there will come back unchanged. And if we can just shift one person's consiousness and at the same time build a community center where there once was nothing before, then I can't be mad.

(frozen comment)

[ali888.livejournal.com]

Lord knows this is one million times more beneficial to the universe than the thousands of dollars that ppl paid to hear Jensen and $10Manns warble covers or to watch a no-name band with Jared and Gen.

I agree that it's great that people are contributing to a worthy cause, but I don't understand why you feel the need to insult Jensen, Jason and their fans. People have the right to spend their money as they see fit. I'd love to have the opportunity to hear Jensen and Jason sing together. Doesn't mean I can't also donate to worthy causes and I'm sure Jensen, Jason, Jared and Genevieve also support charities in which they believe.

(frozen comment)

[faunaana.livejournal.com]

1. Having an opinion that runs counter to yours does not equal an insult.

2. There is no transparency in the supposed charity sharing that Jensen or Jared did from those cons. If you are able to show conclusive proof to the contrary, please do.

3. From my comment below that you seem to have missed "Besides, isn't the refrain against ppl spending this amount of money on cons "its their money, they can so what they want"? Then surely spending this money is not only their prerogative, but makes the world a far better place than it was before than any con can ever do."

(frozen comment)

[ali888.livejournal.com]

"Lord knows this is one million times more beneficial to the universe than the thousands of dollars that ppl paid to hear Jensen and $10Manns warble covers or to watch a no-name band with Jared and Gen."

So describing Jason as '$10Manns' wasn't intended to be insulting? Using the word 'warble' was meant as a compliment? Suggesting that people aren't benefiting the universe by spending money to hear people sing wasn't intended as a dig? Describing a band as 'no-name' was meant as praise?

Nowhere in my post did I suggest that Jensen or Jared shared money from cons with charities. I simply said that I was sure they have charities which they support.

I also started my post by saying that I think it's great that people are contributing to a worthwhile cause. I just don't think it's necessary to take pot shots at other people when making a point.

(frozen comment)

[faunaana.livejournal.com]

Oh, do you not know the $10 story? It is infamous in fandom, and if you were to give JManns $10 at a con, he would laugh (my friends have pic evidence of this from an NJ con). He knows he's called that, so no, that isn't an insult. If you chose not to believe me, you could literally ask anyone that's been in fandom since the incident occurred - roughly two years ago.

Jensen is not a professional singer, so the word choice of warble is correct. Reading one fan report from the event would clearly support this. As would the $10 story.

"No-name" means just that. That no one knows who they are. If you'll recall, that is the entire reason that Jared had them at two recent cons - so ppl would know who they are.

Both the JManns and Jensen singing and Jared and Gen's auction both clearly stated that part of the proceeds would be donated to charity. As of yet, the amount and to whom has not been disclosed. There is no transperency there, which you'll recall is what I asked you to show proof of since I was specifically talking about that (and your repeated quoting of my comment shows). You don't seem to know either, so I'm not sure why you must insist to the contrary.

I took no potshots, merely stated facts. If you would like to verify them on your own, I suggest you do so since you seem convinced that I am either a liar or unkind. Both of which are untrue and, frankly I'm taken aback that you would level those accusations at someone you do not know.

(frozen comment)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

All righty. I'm going to exercize my totally arbitrary authority here and freeze this thread before it goes further. I don't think that it's serving any good purpose other than fostering hurt feelings all around.

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I think there's something important in first-hand education like this. I don't see it as simply more disaster tourism.

I am with you on this. I know that I am sorta pie-in-the-sky when it comes to my belief that a vast majority of folks are actually pretty good hearted. My experience has been that when confronted with the reality of poverty, illness and need, most folks want to reach out to help.


And sure, that help may be condescending, socially inept, and clumsy. One can hope that isn't the case here. I sorta doubt it would be refused even if it was.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna stop rambling now. Can you tell it's an issue I'm passionate about, lol?

Oh, no, by all means. This is why I posed the question, after all, so that I could get some other perspectives on the matter. You've brought up a whole bunch of very valid arguments, so I am super happy you decided to participate in the discussion. :)