Sob Stories

[KCMiller]

I don't want to be mean, but if I see one more post along the lines of "Our car just blew up/my mama's trailer is getting repossessed/my dog done died and the vet is threating to garnish my wages, and here we've got this whole unrefundable trip planed and I just don't know how we're going to manage, but we're just going to bite our lips and forge ahead, despite the crushing financial burden, because it's all for the kids" - I swear, I'm going to scream.

These have started popping up on almost every board. Please, PLEASE don't tell me that any DIS'ers fall for these. Please.



KC

 

[Beezle2]

I don't want to be mean, but if I see one more post along the lines of "Our car just blew up/my mama's trailer is getting repossessed/my dog done died and the vet is threating to garnish my wages, and here we've got this whole unrefundable trip planed and I just don't know how we're going to manage, but we're just going to bite our lips and forge ahead, despite the crushing financial burden, because it's all for the kids" - I swear, I'm going to scream.

These have started popping up on almost every board. Please, PLEASE don't tell me that any DIS'ers fall for these. Please.



KC

>>

I gave sympathy Did I get taken? lol And yes I noticed a whole bunch like that today.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Are the posters asking for ideas/sympathy or money? I guess I see it as more venting, looking for a sympathetic ear than anything. But, then again, I don't send money to online people.

 

[furb & dez]

What gets me is that there's even a dedicated board here for all such attention (lady of the evening)s. Calls for sympathy/prayers and vents are all exactly the same thing: "PAY ATTENTION TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

 

[KCMiller]

They don't ask for anything outright. But there have been lots of threads indicating that these type of posts are fishing expeditions. Most folks either roll their eyes or say something sympathetic, but invariably some kind hearted soul sends them a PM, asking what they can do to help, and ends up sending money, or a gift, or something.

Honestly, in PERSON, I'm as kind as anyone else, but why, on a public internet chat board dedicated to strategies for touring the parks, would someone just randomly start talking aobut their hardships? And why tell a lot of personal stuff to complete strangers? I just don't get it, I guess.

KC

 

[RitaE]

what have I missed now ....... and have I mentioned my sick guppy? I just spent the entire Christmas fund getting the fungus out of those gills. Anybody have a website for making neato puppets out of old socks because unfortunately that might be our entire Christmas this year. Sad, my kids are such good kids too.

 

[wvjules]

So you've used up all of your sympathy for 2011?

 

[krcit]

What gets me is that there's even a dedicated board here for all such attention (lady of the evening)s. Calls for sympathy/prayers and vents are all exactly the same thing: "PAY ATTENTION TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

I have to disagree with this. I have asked for prayers on the board a couple of times. I am not asking for attention, I am asking for prayers because my best friend is fighting leukemia and it's one of the few things I can do. I believe in prayer and sometimes you just feel like you need to do something.


Now as for the posts that the OP is talking about, I don't get those. I do feel that some of them are thinly veiled ways of trying to take advantage of kind-hearted yet naive Dissers. Hopefully, noone will be fooled.

 

[KCMiller]

So you've used up all of your sympathy for 2011?

Sympathy for real people? Not at all - you don't use that up. Sympathy for the stories of anonymous posters? I never had any in the first place - because I have no way of telling if they are speaking truth or not. When you hear of tragedies on the news or in your neighborhood, you feel sympathetic and want to reach out because they are real people - they are being interviewed by reporters, or your church leaders tell you about them, or a friend knows them. But a tale on a message board, while it MIGHT be true, might just as easily be not true. So if a story you read on a message board touches you, just remember that the fiction section at the bookstore is a lot larger than the non-fiction section, and that while we all cried legitimately sad tears over Bambi's mother, she was a fictional character. In fact, from now on, I'm going to refer to postings like this as Bambi's Mom postings . . .


KC

 

[sydneysmom]

I guess the good thing is, you always have the choice NOT to read those threads.

You know, whether or not all of them are true, there are some people that maybe can't talk to anyone and feel better getting the opinions of people that are more anonymous. Don't have such a hard heart when someone is asking for help. If you choose not to comment, that's your business, but there are some people that truly may need people's help. If you think they're fake stories, don't read them ....but why create a thread basically slamming people that have questions or need help ? that's not very kind.

I'm sure I'm going to get slammed for this, but I don't really care. If you go through your life not caring about what someone else is going through or laughing it off that their problems are fake, you're going to find that when you have a problem that you need help with, you're going to be standing alone.

 

[Juliet25]

I guess the good thing is, you always have the choice NOT to read those threads.

You know, whether or not all of them are true, there are some people that maybe can't talk to anyone and feel better getting the opinions of people that are more anonymous. Don't have such a hard heart when someone is asking for help. If you choose not to comment, that's your business, but there are some people that truly may need people's help. If you think they're fake stories, don't read them ....but why create a thread basically slamming people that have questions or need help ? that's not very kind.

I'm sure I'm going to get slammed for this, but I don't really care. If you go through your life not caring about what someone else is going through or laughing it off that their problems are fake, you're going to find that when you have a problem that you need help with, you're going to be standing alone.

ITA. I don't see anything wrong with venting on a message board. I never think such posts are a solicitation of funds. Some people have very poor support systems IRL. A kind word is probably all most people are after. I know beggars exist, but I think they're fairly easy to spot.

 

[Southernmiss]

I guess the good thing is, you always have the choice NOT to read those threads.

You know, whether or not all of them are true, there are some people that maybe can't talk to anyone and feel better getting the opinions of people that are more anonymous. Don't have such a hard heart when someone is asking for help. If you choose not to comment, that's your business, but there are some people that truly may need people's help. If you think they're fake stories, don't read them ....but why create a thread basically slamming people that have questions or need help ? that's not very kind.

I'm sure I'm going to get slammed for this, but I don't really care. If you go through your life not caring about what someone else is going through or laughing it off that their problems are fake, you're going to find that when you have a problem that you need help with, you're going to be standing alone.

ITA. I don't see anything wrong with venting on a message board. I never think such posts are a solicitation of funds. Some people have very poor support systems IRL. A kind word is probably all most people are after. I know beggars exist, but I think they're fairly easy to spot.

I agree with both of these. Who hasn't had a tough week or month or year where the hits just keep on coming? I am in the middle of such a week and thought that it was over and I was coming out of it until I went to the mail box today and found an unexpected dental bill that I thought insurance would cover. Venting keeps one from the loony bin.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

oh wow

 

[ilovemk76]

Honey-baked Ham packed and ready to ship.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Honey-baked Ham packed and ready to ship.

Can you send an American Girl doll with it? My DD would love to get one.

 

[S. C.]

I guess the good thing is, you always have the choice NOT to read those threads.

You know, whether or not all of them are true, there are some people that maybe can't talk to anyone and feel better getting the opinions of people that are more anonymous. Don't have such a hard heart when someone is asking for help. If you choose not to comment, that's your business, but there are some people that truly may need people's help. If you think they're fake stories, don't read them ....but why create a thread basically slamming people that have questions or need help ? that's not very kind.

I'm sure I'm going to get slammed for this, but I don't really care. If you go through your life not caring about what someone else is going through or laughing it off that their problems are fake, you're going to find that when you have a problem that you need help with, you're going to be standing alone.

ITA. I don't see anything wrong with venting on a message board. I never think such posts are a solicitation of funds. Some people have very poor support systems IRL. A kind word is probably all most people are after. I know beggars exist, but I think they're fairly easy to spot.

I agree with both of these. Who hasn't had a tough week or month or year where the hits just keep on coming? I am in the middle of such a week and thought that it was over and I was coming out of it until I went to the mail box today and found an unexpected dental bill that I thought insurance would cover. Venting keeps one from the loony bin.

I agree with all of these!

 

[Graciesmom77]

A little over a month ago my Mom passed away and I have been a mess, especially with this trip coming up. I came on here and asked people's opinions on canceling or going. I got a lot of good advice and compassion which was greatly appreciated. I can't believe people would want someone to send them money (though I am sure it happens). Some of us just need to vent, or like in my case opinions and maybe a shoulder to cry on.

There are people who take advantage of others and thats sad, but in this Season, in which we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, we should be even more compassionate and understanding.

 

[Planogirl]

Venting is great and expected but trolling is not. Even though I just got ANOTHER car repair bill. I could use a shot of something if anyone has a spare.

 

[usnuzuloose]

This is for everyone who needs some compassion and a

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Everyone that posts gets my thoughts and prayers...never money/gifts. Even if they are the slimes of the earth for asking there will be something in their life that is real. Everyone deserves thoughts and prayers even if the problems they post are fake.