Men of metafilter: A call to arms! November 15, 2011 6:30 PM Subscribe
C'mon men of Metafilter. We need to up our Kiva loans!
The Metafilter team on the micro-financing service Kiva is doing pretty well. But I was just looking at some graphs for the team, and the donations by women are outnumbering us men by 3:1 (that's a stacked graph, so women have made about 1500 loans, but men have only made about 500).
C'mon guys! Join our team, lend someone in need some money, and help us reduce that ratio!
Yes, this is a shameless plug to get more mefites to join Kiva
The Metafilter team on the micro-financing service Kiva is doing pretty well. But I was just looking at some graphs for the team, and the donations by women are outnumbering us men by 3:1 (that's a stacked graph, so women have made about 1500 loans, but men have only made about 500).
C'mon guys! Join our team, lend someone in need some money, and help us reduce that ratio!
Yes, this is a shameless plug to get more mefites to join Kiva
I changed the category. This is not a meetup. Sorry Diag.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:38 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:38 PM on November 15, 2011
I signed up for Kiva some months ago and was utterly and pathetically overwhelmed by all the decision making YES I AM A HORRIBLE PERSON. Kiva needs to have a 1-Click Donating button: just click a big button and you will instantly donate $X dollars to the most praised/followed/critical project.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 7:00 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 7:00 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's pretty much what they do anyway. HEeeyo!
posted by Edogy at 7:04 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Edogy at 7:04 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
DUDE, can't you see I'm watching the game?!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:08 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:08 PM on November 15, 2011
I'm not convinced that micro-finance is always a good thing. I think this post is...questionable.
posted by clockzero at 7:17 PM on November 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by clockzero at 7:17 PM on November 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
I found that my first time watching The Game was the most effective, although I do enjoy it on repeat viewings, as there are subtle things happening which give depth to the overall (admittedly high) concept of the movie.
posted by hippybear at 7:18 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 7:18 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Are they loans, or donations?
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:24 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:24 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not convinced that micro-finance is always a good thing.
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 7:36 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 7:36 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not convinced that micro-finance is always a good thing. I think this post is...questionable.
I'm vaguely aware that Esther Duflo & the other developent economists have written/researched extensively on the subject, but I have to admit that I've fallen behind in my reading since school started asking me to memorize ALL THE DRUGS. Could you point us in the direction of any recent review literature that might catch us up to speed?
posted by The White Hat at 7:38 PM on November 15, 2011
I'm vaguely aware that Esther Duflo & the other developent economists have written/researched extensively on the subject, but I have to admit that I've fallen behind in my reading since school started asking me to memorize ALL THE DRUGS. Could you point us in the direction of any recent review literature that might catch us up to speed?
posted by The White Hat at 7:38 PM on November 15, 2011
Mefi is such a girlzone.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:42 PM on November 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:42 PM on November 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
Charity is not a team sport. Also, no thanks.
posted by scruss at 7:49 PM on November 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by scruss at 7:49 PM on November 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm happy to give more. Let's crush those pathetic females. (and by crush, I mean hug)
posted by ColdChef at 8:00 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ColdChef at 8:00 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
What about the ladies?
Read the post. You'll find your answers lie there.
posted by hippybear at 8:03 PM on November 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
Read the post. You'll find your answers lie there.
posted by hippybear at 8:03 PM on November 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
a ha! I hadn't logged into Kiva in a while and had enough reloan credit to fund 7 more loans, which I just did. Yay fellas! We'll crush those ladies!*
* As always, I fund women and women-led projects on Kiva almost exclusively, so take THAT dudes.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:15 PM on November 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
* As always, I fund women and women-led projects on Kiva almost exclusively, so take THAT dudes.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:15 PM on November 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
I can't figure out how to even tell Kiva what my gender is, and isn't that graph comparing loans made to males vs. females, not from?
This is not in any way meant to discourage anybody from joining and contributing to Kiva.
posted by Balonious Assault at 8:16 PM on November 15, 2011
This is not in any way meant to discourage anybody from joining and contributing to Kiva.
posted by Balonious Assault at 8:16 PM on November 15, 2011
Sadly, the only two loans I made that haven't gotten paid back were the only two Americans I loaned to. (One in Dallas, one in New Orleans). Otherwise, I'm 100%.
posted by ColdChef at 8:21 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by ColdChef at 8:21 PM on November 15, 2011
I'm not a playa I just crush a lot.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:21 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by villanelles at dawn at 8:21 PM on November 15, 2011
isn't that graph comparing loans made to males vs. females, not from?
I agree, I think it is loans made to gender type, not by loaner.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 8:29 PM on November 15, 2011
I agree, I think it is loans made to gender type, not by loaner.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 8:29 PM on November 15, 2011
I donate where and how I want, thanks; but I can't allow an opportunity to point out that Holden Karnofsky is a scheming weasel to pass me by.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:29 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:29 PM on November 15, 2011
I just took a look at Esther Duflow's papers and she has a working paper on the impact of MicroFinance in rural areas of Morocco.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 8:32 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 8:32 PM on November 15, 2011
You can lend to Americans?
posted by cjorgensen at 8:58 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by cjorgensen at 8:58 PM on November 15, 2011
I'd like to start an argument on the validity of using random controlled testing to evaluate "successful outcomes"
posted by infini at 9:09 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by infini at 9:09 PM on November 15, 2011
I'd like a massive derail on the subject of gendered pronouns and group identifiers.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:26 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 9:26 PM on November 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Hah. I fell for this last time. One donation over a year ago, and they KEEP FUCKING EMAILING ME every time my "loan" is "paid back", making me go through the elaborate charade of "loaning" it out again, even though my money has about the same chance of making it to the particular "clients" I select as your money has of making it to that one particular orphan in the Sally Struthers commercial. At this point, I would do anything, ANYTHING to make them just shut up and keep my damn money.
This does make me wonder though : what actually happens if you change your email address to something fake and never log in again? Even if they won't loan it out without you "choosing" a "client" (which I doubt), it still goes to a good cause : an interest-free loan to the Kiva organization.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:00 PM on November 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
This does make me wonder though : what actually happens if you change your email address to something fake and never log in again? Even if they won't loan it out without you "choosing" a "client" (which I doubt), it still goes to a good cause : an interest-free loan to the Kiva organization.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:00 PM on November 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Bring it on Mefite men.
This chica joined Kiva tonight and made 2 loans.
posted by 26.2 at 10:03 PM on November 15, 2011
This chica joined Kiva tonight and made 2 loans.
posted by 26.2 at 10:03 PM on November 15, 2011
Afroblanco - you can set up Auto Lending so you don't have to make individual lending decisions (which I agree are not going to the clients you select anyway). It's under My Account. You can set how frequently Auto Lending occurs (whenever you have balance, or after X months of inactivity). You can set some criteria for who you automatically lend to (region, gender, type of business, etc.).
You can also set up how you would like Kiva to handle your second scenario under Inactivity Settings. Options are donate it all to Kiva or refund it to me via PayPal.
posted by rube goldberg at 10:26 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
You can also set up how you would like Kiva to handle your second scenario under Inactivity Settings. Options are donate it all to Kiva or refund it to me via PayPal.
posted by rube goldberg at 10:26 PM on November 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Awesome! Thanks, Rube! Just went and set up auto-loan. That must be new since my last login.
Yeah, I'm still cool with microcredit as an idea, but I felt kinda lied-to when I found out how Kiva operates.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:36 PM on November 15, 2011
Yeah, I'm still cool with microcredit as an idea, but I felt kinda lied-to when I found out how Kiva operates.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:36 PM on November 15, 2011
I (female, sorry) made a loan last week, before joining the Metafilter team on Kiva. Is there a way to like, make it count for Metafilter after the fact?
posted by hasna at 11:41 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by hasna at 11:41 PM on November 15, 2011
and isn't that graph comparing loans made to males vs. females, not from?
Ah, yeah. I guess you're right. Don't I feel like an idjut now.
But still, ve must crush ze women folk by giving them small loans!
posted by Diag at 11:44 PM on November 15, 2011
Ah, yeah. I guess you're right. Don't I feel like an idjut now.
But still, ve must crush ze women folk by giving them small loans!
posted by Diag at 11:44 PM on November 15, 2011
ok you're on
posted by parmanparman at 2:03 AM on November 16, 2011
posted by parmanparman at 2:03 AM on November 16, 2011
D'oh! I've made 21 loans all to females. 'scuse me for royally skewing y'all.
posted by fish tick at 4:40 AM on November 16, 2011
posted by fish tick at 4:40 AM on November 16, 2011
Microcredit - Women Demand More Than Incomes
Microcredit can help a woman to have an income. It can, for better or worse, also transform gender equations in the public and private spheres.
Making microfinance more meaningful for women in terms of real empowerment occupies much of the deliberations at the Fifth Global Microcredit Summit underway in this Spanish city.
Apparently, not all microcredit institutions (MFIs) are aware of the importance of contributing to a more integral and transforming vision that impacts women’s rights and human development.
posted by infini at 8:25 AM on November 16, 2011
Microcredit can help a woman to have an income. It can, for better or worse, also transform gender equations in the public and private spheres.
Making microfinance more meaningful for women in terms of real empowerment occupies much of the deliberations at the Fifth Global Microcredit Summit underway in this Spanish city.
Apparently, not all microcredit institutions (MFIs) are aware of the importance of contributing to a more integral and transforming vision that impacts women’s rights and human development.
posted by infini at 8:25 AM on November 16, 2011
my money has about the same chance of making it to the particular "clients" I select as your money has of making it to that one particular orphan in the Sally Struthers commercial
I understand that I'm not actually loaning money directly to people and I'm just sending money to lenders. But is the same borrower pimped out multiple times? If I cover the entirety of Joe's loan on Monday, will someone else be able to cover it on Tuesday?
posted by DWRoelands at 9:03 AM on November 16, 2011
I understand that I'm not actually loaning money directly to people and I'm just sending money to lenders. But is the same borrower pimped out multiple times? If I cover the entirety of Joe's loan on Monday, will someone else be able to cover it on Tuesday?
posted by DWRoelands at 9:03 AM on November 16, 2011
Wait, so the money you give to Kiva doesn't actually go to the person you select? So what's the point of selecting a person in the first place?
posted by Fister Roboto at 11:08 AM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Fister Roboto at 11:08 AM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
So you can hang their picture on the fridge.
posted by wayland at 12:14 PM on November 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by wayland at 12:14 PM on November 16, 2011 [2 favorites]
Your money is going to the lender who lent the money to the person/group that you've chosen. You then get paid back by the lender as the lender is paid back by the person/group. So, yes, it's not direct and Kiva should have made that clear up-front.
However, people are still getting micro loans and if we quit lending that money to the lenders, micro lending will go the way of the dodo.
posted by deborah at 2:16 PM on November 16, 2011
However, people are still getting micro loans and if we quit lending that money to the lenders, micro lending will go the way of the dodo.
posted by deborah at 2:16 PM on November 16, 2011
Your loan is pretty much going to the general area / lender. Good enough for me.
posted by flippant at 9:37 PM on December 11, 2011
posted by flippant at 9:37 PM on December 11, 2011
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posted by phunniemee at 6:37 PM on November 15, 2011