Go Fund Me

"Go Fund Me" should bear the title "Go f*** Me."

Are you serious?  Have people no shame?  Is every single life event now a fundraising opportunity?  We have cut to the chase, people.  Never mind the obligatory ceremonies and parties that just extract from the overall profits people hope to reap for the life event.....just contribute *MONEY* directly to "Go Fund Me."

Am I the only one appalled by this glorified form of panhandling?

I do not mean to insult those who are genuinely trying to share life milestones and want you present to celebrate.  Not every wedding invitation/party invitation/announcement is a summons for money -- but it's getting mightily close.   A dead give-away is mention of a gift registry, Go Fund Me website, or any hint of expectations of you bringing your wallet to said event.... collecting a sort of cover charge, if you will. 

Real friends do not expect you to bring your wallet or give shopping instructions for their own gifts.  Real friends will share their joy and want you to participate, but do not demand nor instruct payment. 

Begging: Not Just for Panhandlers on the Corner

Miss Manners has it down correctly -- there is no polite way to solicit nor expect any kind of gift from anybody no matter the life event.  There is no polite way to direct people to how to spend their money.  Miss Manners is appalled by the offensive suggestion that wedding guests contribute to the honeymoon, mortgage payment, future baby college fund, whatever.  I completely agree with Miss Manners.

Begging has gone beyond the shabbily dressed bums on the corner holding cardboard signs.

They are now college educated people of decent means who cleverly devised the "gift registry" (which was tacky enough all in itself) and brought it to the technical age of online begging.  Somehow, this self-absorbed crop of the already privileged sees no shame in directing friends and relatives to "fund" their exorbitant trips abroad and have developed an entire industry thinking it's OK for society to follow their lead.

Creators of this offensive practice claim that they are doing friends and family a favor by taking the guess work out of gift giving.  However, the creators fail to realize that no matter the motive, there is no tasteful way - not even moderately decent way - of directing present-giving when you are on the receiving end.