If we all just ignore them, it won't seem like such a bright idea, and there will be fewer such requests.

I had to unfriend an ex-neighbor on FB because she was constantly creating go fund me's for herself... she had a heart attack... ok but she also has a great union job making good money with sick time and benefits. She had some sort of house repair she needed - go fund me. I forget the 3rd excuse but that was the last straw.

It is a shame that people are abusing it because it is a really nice way to help out for true emergencies or situations that are beyond someone's control.

I have also sent checks directly to someone if I know them and want to skip the go fund me website from taking a percentage.

I agree. I actually saw a go fund me for someone who wants a breast enlargement because she is tired of being small chested. Some people have a huge entitlement attitude.

I contributed a few weeks ago to a gfm for someone in a fb bicycle group that had suffered a devastating accident. In this world where too often the personal touch is missing, it is a way to show one cares.

I don't go looking for gfms so the ones I'm aware of are friends, family and groups of interest.

Overall it's a very worthwhile site. I cannot imagine going there just to see who needs help, but it's an easy way to help known friends or family. Sure, there are scams there, people who need to learn to stand on their own two feet. I would not think of donating to unknown people.

I just think a lot of them are so sad, when people are losing their homes because of medical bills, or when people have to choose between staying by the side of a sick child or putting food on the table. The medical debt ones seem so unnecessary in a country as rich as ours.

I'd never participate in a general solicitation for an indivdual but I've never encountered this being done by anyone I know or know of.

My niece tried a GoFundMe a couple of years ago and had no success. I think hers is valid though. She has debilitating painful endometriosis and there's only one place in the states that operates on her type. I wish I had the money to help.

Elmer, we've done this for a couple of GW members who had significant damage from a hurricane. So you have "known" someone, even if only through the Kitchen Table.

anglo, I don't know anyone here. Not in the past and not now.

If something was done by the people here, if the recipient was in desperate financial condition with no help forthcoming, then that's a choice people can make. If I saw it, I paid no attention to it because I would never participate in something like that.

I'm a generous person when it comes to charitable giving to deserving organizations (cash, not worn out clothes or old furniture) but giving money to individuals isn't something I would ever do.

I never looked on the site, but I have know a few people who posted on it for money. None I would even think of giving money to. The latest was for my SIL mother for home hospital equipment. I'll call the mother Gurt. Gurt and her 6 children's father lived as a family while not getting married so she could collect welfare. While he had a full time job, owned a boat docking business and owned an apartment building. Only after the kids were off welfare did they get married. Gurt is not hurting for money. She just wanted someone else to pay for the equipment like she had used other people's money to support her kids. If I knew someone was really hard up I would give directly.

I don't want to sound cold but most of the GFM campaigns I have been personally sent a request to donate to would have been unnecessary with a little responsible life planning. Of course, sometimes catastrophes happen. And it's really not possible to plan for every misfortune that may befall you. I get that.

Others that I have seen on the news have been flat out disgusting. The mother of Tyshawn Lee comes to mind first. Almost immediately after her 9 year old son, who she was not even raising herself was murdered, a GFM account was set up to pay for funeral expenses,knowing FULL WELL that the funeral home was providing all services free of charge. Then the kids father had the nerve to try to set one up. What did she do with the money she asked for to "bury her baby"? She bought herself a fancy brand new car. When she was exposed, she went online and posted a video telling people that her 9 year old WANTED her to buy a new car, and if you're not gonna support her,leave her alone. The NERVE of some people. And unfortunately, this is not a unique occurence. I have seen single mothers with multiple children by multiple men ask for money for christmas presents. I have seen people ask for money for plastic surgery. Not reconstructive. They just want a bigger butt or a touch of lipo. I have seen people ask for money because they want an expensive dog. Heck, one woman featured on "My 600 lb life" set one up asking for $50,000. Apparently, because she couldn't comply with the weight loss program she was denied free surgery provided by TLC (or whoever foots that bill) and so now wants the money to pay for a different surgeon to so it. I think her name was Shanae or Shanay. Ridiculous.

I don't mind helping those in need. But I wish GFM would really start placing restrictions on what you can raise money for, or put some sort or verification process in place. For now, I will just keep ignoring such requests.

I have no idea how many GFM pages there are ... but certainly sounds like there are way too many people abusing the system (not a surprise, unfortunately). I read lots of sad stories in the paper, on the internet, etc every day. No doubt there are many hurting people ... but I'm not equipped to meet every need, nor to judge every case. So like many others, the majority of my charity goes to established organizations who I entrust to do good.

For example, a local family lost their home in a fire. What help do they need now -- and how are they already prepared to get back on their own feet. Certainly I'm sorry for them, but unless and until I know a bit more than a headline, I'm not going out of my way to contribute time, money, or material to their exclusive use. I'd rather give to a charity that will help the family recover, but will use any 'excess' raised by the community to help additional people.

Soft-hearted, but hopefully not too soft-headed, lol.

I won't give to random strangers, but I have donated to people I know. For example a 13 year old girls who lives just down the road from me was fighting bone cancer which required many trips to the San Francisco area for treatment. My neighbors (her parents) needed help with travel expenses such as gas, food, lodging, etc. They stayed in a house hosted by the hospital when they could but it wasn't always available so there were times they had to book a hotel. Prices in the San Francisco area are very expensive; I was happy to help. Their daughter is 16 now and doing well.

Most of the time, my donations are to local charities such as the animal shelter, local theater, fire victims and so on, but for something like the above, I'll donate to a GFM page. I am sorry to see something that started out as such a positive thing with so much potential to help people is being abused by those who think others owe them whatever it is they want and feel entitled to.

What ever happened to self pride? I remember when taking charity (expecially money ) was degrading. Yes, neighbors use to help with a meal or labor if someone was unable to work, but it was degrading to ask or accept money.

My friend's grandson started a GFM to raise money for him to go to Fla. during spring break last spring. Needless to say he did not get to go.

While part of it is no self pride the ones that have been brought to my attention seem to have been set up by friends or relatives. I have sometimes wondered if the people mentioned in them even knew that they were being set up.

I remember when taking charity (expecially money ) was degrading.

Self-reliance is a good thing...up to a point. But if someone is really in need, and the offer of help or money is freely given, why should it be degrading to accept it? (I'm speaking here in general, not of GFM in particular.)

My concern is that it takes pressure off of govt to fix inadequate health care systems.

Self pride isn't always the case. When your family has died in a car accident for example, and you don't have insurance. Help is nice. When you've lost everything you have through no accident of your own and you need help, there's no harm in asking for help.

Maybe it's the city I'm from: we step up to help everyone in need whenever we can. It's what we are known for. There are those I refuse to help (like the person I mentioned in my post above), but if you lost your home in a flood and it's going to take weeks or months for insurance to help you and I have spare cash, then by all means I'll help you (we raised funds for my sister in law who fled her home in High River six years ago with literally just the clothes on her back) when her house flooded in the southern Alberta floods. I managed to raise $500 so she and her son could at least buy new clothes. They didn't even have a change of underwear. And no, she didn't ask for help; I did it on my own. (not a gfm page).

Also, while we do have excellent medical coverage here, it doesn't cover your household bills if your child is extremely ill and you need to take time off work and you don't have vacation pay or sick pay left. I'll help pay a bill or buy you some food. I've given my niece money when her son has been in the hospital for extended lengths of time.

It's not about the person not having pride. It's about the "it's in you to give". Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It's doing the right thing for the right reason. *IF* you are able to.

I feel that there are some true needs (losing one's home in a hurricane or to replace a furnace in a bitter cold climate come to mind), but for a breast augmentation...good grief, save your own money!