Help an ailing friend to us all

We take it for granted that many of us know of P2, but the vast majority of others out there don't. It is not a matter of the "stick up the butt" but Porky is right, we should take care about who we give our money to. While it may be meritorious in this case, it won't always be.

We've had people come in RA before and beg for money for whatever other personal crisis they or their friend or their "friend" has had. RA is not an appropriate place for asking for this kind of assistance. But it is good that there are generous people out there holding fundraisers to help with these kinds of things, those that actually know the people behind the avatars.

I didn't want to make a fuss about this, but for what it's worth I have *no doubt whatsoever in my mind* that this is a real emergency.

I've known Phoenix inworld for ages, and I'm his most longstanding ad client in the Metaverse Messenger as well.

Not only do I trust Phoenix but I trust his close friends. I have no doubt that anything sent to his close friends will get to him and Sans, probably with more added along the way as very best as they can.

As a couple they have been on television regarding SL, they run a newspaper which is a *tough* way to get by on the grid, they have been known by thousands who can vouch for their credibility.

He's a class act, surrounded by others who are the same. I'm honoured to count Phoenix as an old friend - we are known by our friends more than anything.

This is a request from friends, by friends, for a friend. If you know Phoenix I doubt any question of trust will enter into it. If you don't, well that's that. He may not be 'feted inner core' with the Lindens or bestowed that by Prok, but he's special to us. His friends frequent this forum, and they deserve to know about something this serious. At least, that's what I think.

Also, if anyone wishes to help Phoenix and Sans out anonymously, Lucifer Baphomet is a good contact to discuss that with.

Quite Sincerely,

Des

If they had an appropriate place, I would have posted this there. I'll gladly break the rules if it results in one more person finding out about what's going on.

I'm a bit in shock at some of these replies.

Those of you urging caution are wise. I ran a collection of this sort for Katrina victims. It was legitimate, and all the money got to where it was needed...but there were scams out there as well.

This one is legit. If you care to contribute, your money will go to a good cause, not some scammer's pocket. If you don't know P2 or Sans (I don't, personally, but I do know and trust others who do), then feel free to keep your money in your purse, or give it to some other worthy cause.

One thing's certain: Charity is good, for both the recipient and for the giver. This particular charity may not be your cup of tea...but please do give, generously and often, to whatever cause you deem worthy of your support. It will ease your own soul as well as helping others.

I don't know them, but I trust the source! I hope I can make it to the auction, if not I will try to lend my support with a direct donation. I hope all the best for them during this hard time!

Step back and look at it from a different view. Why should people believe random people on the Internet? We know of some personalities based on longtime posting, but what do we really know about people we have never met? I'm not saying that this isn't legit. I'm saying that the warnings to take care are justified in the sense that there is no way for the average person to know what's on the up and up, and what's not. Porky is right, begging shouldn't be allowed here, for the protection of the user base in general.

The advice to take care is wise counsel. It is just not really needed for P2 because of who he is.

Sorry, but the means cannot justify the ends. [You're asking us to allow you to have your cake (violate the rules) and eat it too (the rest of us being subject to your personal interpretation of the Community Standards and Forum Guidelines)].

This thread violates Section 4.1.iv (invasion of another person's privacy) and Section 4.1.vii (unauthorized solicitation) of the Community Standards. Such violations, at Linden Lab's discretion, can result in immediate account termination.

Ray, I respect you for what you are trying to do here. Please, don't fall into a debate about the right or wrong of the thread. Let people report the thread and let the mods deal with it as they see fit. Armchair moderating can be left to the others if they wish, it doesn't change anything at all.

People will donate, pray, send well wishes, etc as they see fit. The others can challenge the thread if they wish. In the end our friends are having a hard time and that is what matters at the end of the day.

You made the thread.. no need to defend it. Real mods are here for a reason and it is their call solely.

QFT. People should be wary if they don't know any of the sources the story. Just Ray alone is enough for me, but I've heard enough reputable sources to be 100% sure in my mind and made a donation to the Alt account this morning. Maybe the thread is in the wrong place. BFD. Not the first time. Let a Moderator move it ,or close it or whatever.

I've been on the internet since 1994. I've learned to tell a con from the truth. This is the truth, and my donation has been made.

Where does the line drawn between begging and asking for a charitable contribution get drawn?

Isn't all of that Relay for Life stuff just anonymous people we don't know with cancer asking us for a little monetary assistance over the internet while they try to battle an illness? Do we spend a lot of time questioning whether the folks benefiting from RFL are actually sick? Or do we trust that RLF is a reputable organization worthy of our efforts to help?

Phoenix Psaltery with the Metaverse Messenger is as close to a reputable organization worthy of our efforts to help as SL is likely to produce. He is someone who has gone out of his way to help SL as a whole.

I don't even know him, have never met him, and yet I can't even imagine this as "begging" with all its negative connotations. This is a man who has GIVEN to this "community" (har har, yeah right... community? what's that??) and in asking for assistance when he's down you kick him and call him a begger. Nice.

Who IS worthy of your charitable contributions? Just those nameless people behind a nice tidy non-profit organization? Or your neighbors?

Phoenix Psaltery is your neighbor. He needs some help. If you can't help then at least don't piss on people who want to.

Should you be wary of those evil internet scammers trying to sucker some sympathy money out of you? Sure ya should. But this ain't that. And if you can't see that then maybe you just don't have enough information to make an informed decision.

"For those who know me, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't know me, no explanation will suffice."

Jerry Lewis, when questioned about his motives for his involvement with MDA.

The man nearly died,

Cut Ray and all his friends some slack.










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Some sour people around here these days ...

This community has the power to move mountains, if only in a virtual sense. And yes, Pie, we are a community, warts and all.

When a brother or sister is in need, it is our responsibility to come to their aid. The Second Life community has a unique ability to do just that. We have an economy and a currency which can be leveraged to impact people all over the real world for the better. Why not endeavor to do so for one of our own? We're all in this together, and we all succeed together or we all fail together. It's our choice.

To suggest that this is some sort of scam is an insult to the Community as a whole, and to Sans and Phoenix particularly.

I will be donating more than I can afford.

zk

Maybe it's a new clique......

/me hopes this thread does not turn into an argument.

If you don't trust this, don't donate! If you do trust it and have some extra L$, I'm sure they will appreciate it.

That's all there is to it.. No need to argue.

QFT

I think at this point a very important observation needs to be made:

Phoenix didn't ask for anything.

It was offered by his friends, who posted this thread to let folks know what the situation was, and what THEY are doing to help him. It's an INFORMATIONAL thread. (Though the title does make it sound like a request).

It is about as far from begging as possible.

That said, here are a few more observations (some are repeats):

1) We REALLY REALLY need a General forum back. This really doesn't belong in RA.
2) When people are skeptical of a good cause, the proper response isn't defensiveness, but understanding and support. Going on the defensive causes even more alarm bells to go off. It also can alienate people who would otherwise want to help.
3) I would hope that everyone who cares would go out of their way to help anyone under similar circumstances, not necessarily just "famous" people who are lucky enough to have airtime. (That is NOT intended to be a gripe about Phoenix and this situation, just a general observation of how humanity tends to work)

In accordance with #3, I just want to say, Mung, if you are out there, I hope you are OK. We miss you.

Same is true with Phoenix. I hope you pull through this. Get well soon and return to us.

Even if you're unsure about simply donating money, there are a lot of nice items and services that will be auctioned off during the event this Saturday, August 23rd, including one of a kind outfits from various designers, pre-release items, limited edition and no-longer-available outfits from more designers and much more. So, even if you are skeptical, you have the opportunity to acquire some fine and rare items by attending the auction. Proceeds will go to Phoenix and Sans, but if you don't know them and/or don't care about that aspect you can still help yourself while helping them.

The current schedule is to start at 9am and proceed to midnight SLT.

Donated to the alt a few days ago; we have to support the good folks...life is hard enough as it is without us not helping each other. I really hopes he has a full recovery and that is wife has her husband home soon.

"The suspicious mind believes more than it doubts. It believes in a
formidable and ineradicable evil lurking in every person." E. Hoffer




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Get well soon Phoenix

That's really well said.

It would have been better if this happened after a general forum was restored here, but, well, one doesn't plan these things.

IBTL.

Agreed. This is Resident Answers, not a personal fund-raising site, whether the cause is to help someone who is ill, cure the dying in Africa, pay for someone's vet bills or to buy a new motorbike.

If the apparent beneficiary is actually a friend, I am not sure anyone is really doing them a sevice by publishing details of their real life on the internet, and apparently without their permission. If you want to make it genuine then someone should get that permission, or get Power of Attorney over the apparent beneficiary to publish their details and then ask Linden Labs to put something in the Announcements section of the Forums.

This thread should at least be locked, and probably deleted, or other threads (of which this is a reposting) will follow this example and Resident Answers will just become (and arguably continue to be) a haven for scam-artists.

Oh pish

Please note, this response was to a post that has been deleted... not to Desmond's post

imogen

When I read the original thread on the other forum, the donation idea arose from many people on that forum ASKING if there was some way they could contribute to help - a Paypal account, etc. NO ONE "begged" for money.