Neat but not for askme December 21, 2010 5:52 PM   Subscribe

I agree.

Its totally not what askme is for. But I still think its very awesome.
posted by hal_c_on to Etiquette/Policy at 5:52 PM (26 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- loup



WADR, what's awesome is donating money/time/talent other than at Christmas, when you see the need, where you see the opportunity.
From now, don't wait to be prompted.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 6:02 PM on December 21, 2010 [1 favorite]


A well meant gesture.
posted by clavdivs at 6:04 PM on December 21, 2010


Yeah, it pained me to flag that, because it was such a great idea. May the generosity continue!
posted by ldthomps at 6:08 PM on December 21, 2010


It could go here in the grey though, right?
posted by nola at 6:24 PM on December 21, 2010 [3 favorites]


Previously, previouslier, and there have been several more threads about helping MeFites. FWIW, I still wish there were an organized way to do this, and maybe someday somebody will build a spinoff site for MeFites to help each other out. I hope so.
posted by Gator at 6:47 PM on December 21, 2010


help
posted by Sailormom at 6:56 PM on December 21, 2010 [2 favorites]


I still wish there were an organized way to do this

We do too in a sort of "it's one thing on a very long list" way. This time of year espcially I think people both feel philanthropic and also are acutely aware of other people's needs and the gaps that exist. At the same time, having a MeFite helping MeFite setup, while it appeals to us, hasn't been something we can envision in a really clear way and so we've sort of had it as a hazy "someday" goal.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:05 PM on December 21, 2010


What would be cool about a MeFite helping MeFite sort of thing is if it could be other than financially. Yeah, sometimes money is needed, but sometimes a ride, meal delivery, get well emails, or just another kidney.

I often have time, but that's about it.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:24 PM on December 21, 2010 [3 favorites]


Jenny at The Bloggess has been doing this awesome thing where she is matching people who can't afford gifts for their kids this year with donors who will buy them gift cards. She got more than 500 offers, and the best bit was that her blog traffic really didn't increase during this period: i.e. these were just her regular readers helping out.
posted by lollusc at 7:58 PM on December 21, 2010 [1 favorite]


cjorgensen: "just another kidney"

You just reminded me that I have a small amount of money left over in a flexible spending account that I need to spend before 12/31. Would it be possible to buy someone some kind of medical doohicky via amazon or something to use it up? Does this violate any dependent care account rules?
posted by Big_B at 8:10 PM on December 21, 2010


Whoops - not dependent care - medical flexible account....
posted by Big_B at 8:11 PM on December 21, 2010


"...helping MeFites. FWIW, I still wish there were an organized way to do this..."

Yes. This is one of the few things that I think Reddit does a lot better than MetaFilter:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Favors/
http://www.reddit.com/r/assistance
http://www.reddit.com/r/mentors/

"At the same time, having a MeFite helping MeFite setup, while it appeals to us, hasn't been something we can envision in a really clear way and so we've sort of had it as a hazy "someday" goal."

How about set it up like AskMe with broad categories for different types of help offered/needed, and add in some of the IRL functionality to filter by location when relevant? That plus the tags that are already on all parts of the site would probably work really well.
posted by Jacqueline at 8:32 PM on December 21, 2010


Big_B, that does violate your account rules. It probably also violates the law.

This said, nothing it stopping you from buying up whatever your account allows and donating that to a shelter or something. Mine has a proscription against "hoarding," but I was still able to fill up a closet with every bandaid configuration you can imagine. I also bought a bunch of crap I didn't need (yet).
posted by cjorgensen at 8:41 PM on December 21, 2010

Does this violate any dependent care account rules?
I think it does, but I can't imagine you'd get caught.

(I just went to drugstore.com and bought like $130 worth of contact lens solution and band-aids and shit to use up my Health Spending Account money. It did occur to me that there are plenty of people who have more pressing medical needs who might have been better served by that money. Also, can I take a moment to rant about how stupid and fucking short-sighted it is that you can't use HSA or FSA money for anything preventative? Thank you.)
posted by craichead at 8:43 PM on December 21, 2010 [1 favorite]


cjorgensen: "or just another kidney."

BTW I have an extra spleen if anyone is in need.
Just thought I'd share.
posted by charred husk at 5:47 AM on December 22, 2010


I am really in need of another lobotomy. If you could help out with that cause, I promise to be less intelligullible and comprehendivebomb than normal.
posted by Grither at 6:09 AM on December 22, 2010


lollusc, I was watching Jenny at The Bloggess, too. $40,000 exchanged. That was really something!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 6:23 AM on December 22, 2010


Why not create something like MetAdHoc and every now and again open that up for discussions of things like seasonal giving, Earthquake relief, or begging for/offering a place to stay when a mountain decides to explode grounding all air traffic between Europe and North America.

On the bright side, at least Shike didn't comeback in sock puppet form to tell us about GiveWell or complain about not sleeping for a month or something.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 7:20 AM on December 22, 2010


Thanks craichead and cjorgensen. I'll find another path.
posted by Big_B at 7:36 AM on December 22, 2010


Charredhusk: BTW I have an extra spleen if anyone is in need.


Um.

Really?

.
posted by ~Sushma~ at 9:06 AM on December 22, 2010


~Sushma~: "
Um.

Really?
"

Okay, you got me. It's vestigial so it may not do much good in a transplant.
posted by charred husk at 9:43 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


It could go here in the grey though, right?

It ain't cannibalism, but it'll do.
posted by coolguymichael at 11:11 AM on December 22, 2010


I apparently have some extra Islets of Langerhans!

Or maybe just an incompetent radiologist. I haven't explored it further.

charred husk, maybe we should start a Frankenstein club and build a monster out of our excess vital organs!
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:14 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'm gonna be needin' a liver
posted by Carbolic at 11:24 AM on December 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


BTW I have an extra spleen if anyone is in need.

Heterodoxy-polysplenia syndrome? Definitely something to be blue about.
posted by TedW at 4:09 PM on December 23, 2010


Ugh! Heterotaxy; stupid autocorrect.
posted by TedW at 6:51 AM on December 24, 2010 [1 favorite]


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