ratherastory (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ratherastory) wrote2011-03-22 12:38 pm
ratherastory) wrote2011-03-22 12:38 pm
Not-quite fandom stuff
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.
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.
no subject
I think that they have the right idea with this, the whole raising money to go thing; I've gone on trips to Mexico with some friends from high school, and part of the deal was that you had to earn the $1200 to go all by yourself, through bake sales/christmas tree sales/manual labor, whatever. The idea was that the family we build a house for raises money for the supplies, so in solidarity with them we raise the money to pay for our trek. It's a good motivator and when the people we help realize that we worked hard for the opportunity to help, they're really grateful to us. I think if the $5000 has to be raised like that, its a great idea. If the $5000 doesn't have to be worked for in its own right, fangirls will take it over and that seems like a bad thing.
I kind of really want to go, since I have actual semi-kind-of-not-really-legit construction experience (I helped build half a house, it should count for something =P), but I'm a freshman in college. I think it would be both an awesome experience and a ton of fun, but fangirls that go will probably get a rude awakening when they actually try and work.