Holiday Reminder - It's not always what it seems!

[stitchlovestink]

I will PM you later. I burnt my fingers on a poptart and am having a hard time typing and searching.

Me too please....
I've been on here for years and haven't encountered any of these...

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Sending a "bump" to keep this thread alive, and to serve as a good reminder of what can happen on the internet.

 

[natenapril]

Not sure if it's the same thing, but when I first came to the board there was someone on here that needed a mickey baking pan to "borrow". These pans are no longer made and are on ebay for quite the mark up. Needless, to say it was never returned. Not as big of a deal as sob story but still a disser who took advantage of a kind act. I no longer will be willing to help.

 

[MissUndastood]

There were people in the past here, that worked it better than the Nigerian money scam.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Could you link to previous begging posts-or would that give you points?
Just wondering

I am quite sure most of the people commenting on this thread in agreement know the posters to watch out for.

The closer it gets to the holidays, the sob stories will begin and people will hint that their holiday is going to be miserable without a specific item (hypothetically let's just say a Honey Baked Ham or the latest American Girl doll). People that have been around these boards will make comments about the begging and others will come in and "defend" this poor soul who posted their sob story and will start sending the poster money, gift cards, gifts, etc...

Happens every year like clockwork.

Me too please....
I've been on here for years and haven't encountered any of these...

That's because we haven't had lunch in way too long so I haven't been there to point them out!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thanks for those who came back and answered the questions about giving examples. I was thinking about this last night and trying to find the right way to handle it. I don't feel comfortable "outing" people specifically on this thread or in a PM. This post was intended to help others. So I think the best thing you could do is use the search function on this board. Search words that will get you results like those already provided in this thread.

When the posts start showing up, I will do my best to post on them and point them out as they happen. Better to catch what is happening than spend the time in the past.

Again, thanks to the posters who answered and stated what needed to be said better than I could.

 

[AmandaRG]

Thanks for posting this. While I don't *think* I would ever fall for one, I am a softie and could see the right heartstring being tugged on!

For me, the biggest issue is I think that everyone thinks like me (follows the rules, because it is what you are supposed to do) and therefore would NEVER scam or lie! Been bitten many times by that one, but thanks for the reminder!

 

[jaminmd]

For those that don't understand what the OP is referring to, here are a few examples:

"Money is so tight this month that I..."

"I can't afford $15 to replace my broken toilet seat but I'm here to ask y'all where I can find home improvements free or really cheap..."

"I'm so depressed watching all of you take advantage of these sales but I have no money to go shopping..."

"How much is a honey baked ham..."

"We are so fortunate that someone donated a turkey to us so we can celebrate the holiday..."

"Thank you to the special angels that made our holiday wonderful..." (meaning some kind hearted DISer sent the poster whatever it was they were complaining they couldn't afford).

Those are just a few examples. When you hear the same story & crying poverty with every post, it makes us very cynical. Does that sum it up, everyone?

 

[Alesia]

This is how it works:

January through September: The poster mostly posts normal things, but will occasionally post about their financial issues. Just little things. The sort of things we all encounter from time to time. Kid needs braces. School supplies are expensive. Things like that. Hardly noticeable.

October: The poster begins laying the groundwork in earnest. "I have to choose between diapers and soap this week." and "My son accidentally spilled the whole box of cereal all over the floor and I can't afford more until Friday. What do I do?" kinds of posts.

November: Now it really begins. "I guess we'll just have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Thanksgiving because we can't afford a turkey."

December: "My sweet little girl desperately wants an (insert expensive toy here) and I just can't afford it. I feel like a terrible parent. What should I do?"

Next thing you know kind-hearted dissers (who feel like they know her because they've been reading her posts all this time) are PMing her asking what they can do to help and (lo and behold!) she has a paypal account.

 

[garydeb]

Thanks for posting this reminder.

 

[MissBritt]

I know what being really poor is like and I question the dire need of anyone who still can afford a luxury like internet.

THIS. Internet access is not a necessity of life. Anyone who truly can't afford to feed their children truly can't afford Internet.

 

[Alesia]

THIS. Internet access is not a necessity of life. Anyone who truly can't afford to feed their children truly can't afford Internet.

Or trips to WDW.

 

[undertheradar]

Just wanted to warn everyone that you should be cautious about "outing" posters. I did it in April during one of the classic Honey Baked Ham, marching band trip to NYC, broken oven part, can't afford propane for the grill, threads and received several point violations for doing it. I still don't understand how points are awarded when we allow posters to come on the boards and repeatedly paint sob stories in hopes of receiving things from other posters. Saw that the same poster started a sob story again last month. Yes, I searched my violations history to see if it was the same poster and it was.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

THIS. Internet access is not a necessity of life. Anyone who truly can't afford to feed their children truly can't afford Internet.

I totally understand that people need to cut to bare necessities, as I have been there, but my son needs the internet for his homework. Our library system is only open a total of 12 hours a week do to budget cuts. So I tend not to take Internet out of the necessity group for all people. Maybe your school does not require it, and actually that would be great, but ours does.

This is OT, sorry, but I have been wanting to post that and well it came up.

BUT I DO AGREE, most things are definitely WANTS and not necessities if you can't feed your children and are skipping bills. And as the holidays approach, I will guess a lot of the posts will be of this nature.

 

[SoonerSarah]

I really have no clue what everyone is talking about, I'm not here all the time, but I ha e seen others n other websites get burned by scammers. And I have seen the generosity of people when something tragic happens.

I will say, some people's work provides Internet for them at home.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just wanted to warn everyone that you should be cautious about "outing" posters. I did it in April during one of the classic Honey Baked Ham, marching band trip to NYC, broken oven part, can't afford propane for the grill, threads and received several point violations for doing it. I still don't understand how points are awarded when we allow posters to come on the boards and repeatedly paint sob stories in hopes of receiving things from other posters. Saw that the same poster started a sob story again last month. Yes, I searched my violations history to see if it was the same poster and it was.

Thank you. I think your advice is very wise! No need for points, the object is to help each other out. That is why I declined also. But I am sure as the new posters start reading, they will learn to read between the lines, and get the subtle suggestions so no one will get blasted. Sorry about your prior one's though.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

FYI - I had NO IDEA what this meant. (I guess I'm not on here as much as I thought I was...hehe!) However, I read this thread "very carefully" and was able to find exactly what I needed, once I used the search bar.

So... "thanks" for the heads up Suffice to say that EVERYONE should always be careful believing 100% of what they read on a chat board.

 

[scrappinmom]

wow, I have to say I really am pretty surprised in a way...I'm not necessarily a "regular" on any one board...I kinda flitter around when I don't have a trip up & coming, ie, the closer a trip gets, the more I'm here!

I've "met" some really great people on the disboards, some irl some not, I guess I knew about the low post count thing...but would never suspect a scam out of someone with a higher count - would never even think about it....my bad...

thanks for the reminder I know I needed it.

 

[happygirl]

It's really sad, how a few low lifes, ruin help for those that really need it

 

[Alesia]

It's really sad, how a few low lifes, ruin help for those that really need it

It is sad, but in all honesty there are resources in every community for those who are truly struggling. There is never a need to solicit donations from strangers on the internet, and there is never a good reason to give your own hard earned money to stranger on the internet.

You should never let your heart take over for your brain.