"Pay It Forward"
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From: Philly (Narberth)
Originally Posted by klassyblue,Dec 10 2006, 01:05 PM
....I volunteer my time A LOT and paying it forward is a great thing but I will PM you with the rest of my ideas since there are so many people here that really killed this for me. ....
Thanks Beth and I'll look fwd to hearing your idea. Please consider posting it here....there are a few folks who are interested. Hopefully the others will go back to the weather, joke or 'ferrari' threads. This was intended as an uplifting thread....in the best spirit of the season. I expected a few wise cracks like wildncrazy and Emil, but not the nit-picking analysis of every word of the original post
By the way, my Mens Group is a bunch of really good friends. We meet every Saturday at 7 am and discuss a topic of mutual support or common interest. Right now we're reading and discussing the short chapters in "Letters to Sam" by Daniel Gottlieb (a parapalegic....think about that for a moment).
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Originally Posted by paS2K,Dec 9 2006, 11:51 PM
At my weekly Mens Group meeting this morning (we've been meeting for ~10 years), one of the guys passed out an envelope to each of the other 10 men. There was a $50 bill in each envelop....not a lot of $$ but not chicken feed either.
"Jack" asked each of us to use this 'found money' however we wished: keep it, give it to someone less fortunate ($50, 5 ten spots, whatever), buy a 'toy for tot', etc.
It turns out that Jack had read about this idea: extend a kindness to someone (often a stranger) and ask them to 'pass it on' in some fashion....suggesting that the recipient do the same
There was not a lot of discussion about this....just that Jack asked everyone to come back next Saturday and report on what they had decided to DO with the 'found' money.
I went home and Googled 'Pay It Forward' and found that there is an entire movement around this concept....initiated in a book in 2000. In fact, there is apparently a reference to it in the book: The Tipping Point. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that there's a non-profit right here in Philly that is boosting this idea.
What would YOU do with this $50 of found money
Serious replies are most appreciated, but self-indulgent ones are OK too.
"Jack" asked each of us to use this 'found money' however we wished: keep it, give it to someone less fortunate ($50, 5 ten spots, whatever), buy a 'toy for tot', etc.
It turns out that Jack had read about this idea: extend a kindness to someone (often a stranger) and ask them to 'pass it on' in some fashion....suggesting that the recipient do the same
There was not a lot of discussion about this....just that Jack asked everyone to come back next Saturday and report on what they had decided to DO with the 'found' money. I went home and Googled 'Pay It Forward' and found that there is an entire movement around this concept....initiated in a book in 2000. In fact, there is apparently a reference to it in the book: The Tipping Point. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that there's a non-profit right here in Philly that is boosting this idea.
What would YOU do with this $50 of found money
Serious replies are most appreciated, but self-indulgent ones are OK too.I don't like people "giving" me something, and then putting conditions on that gift.
I'm more of a "random acts of kindness" type person. I'm a pretty good observer of people, and when I see a way that I can help that person, I do it.
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From: Mish-she-gan
I can't believe how many of you missed the whole point of the $50! So many negative comments. Willinathen gets it. It's simply learning the value of giving. Not everyone does - you know.
Jerry, I know you have charities that you believe in....... so pick one.
Jerry, I know you have charities that you believe in....... so pick one.
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From: Myrtle Beach, SC
I can't believe Vintage has disintegrated to the point of finding fault with this thread.
I interpreted Jerry's original post as follows:
A close-knit group of male friends meets every week for fellowship, support, discussion, etc. It sounds like the topics discussed are deeper than the Philadelphia Eagles football score. It appears there are substantive topics discussed which get the men thinking. I don't understand how anyone can jump down "Jack's" throat when they don't know his intentions. I doubt he handed out $500 so he can play king for a day and have the minions report back to him on what they did with the money. I find it a thought provoking exercise and quite frankly I'm interested in hearing what everyone reports back with. Perhaps the exercise is designed to get the guys thinking outside themselves and how best to multiply that money for the good of others. Given the demographic Jerry described, I doubt these fellas need the 500 bucks.
Perhaps one of these guys is going to find a way to multiply this money for charitable purposes which might spur others to do the same in the future. Or something along the lines of showing the starving how to fish and farm; or the thirsty how to purify water.
Jeez...
My .02
I interpreted Jerry's original post as follows:
A close-knit group of male friends meets every week for fellowship, support, discussion, etc. It sounds like the topics discussed are deeper than the Philadelphia Eagles football score. It appears there are substantive topics discussed which get the men thinking. I don't understand how anyone can jump down "Jack's" throat when they don't know his intentions. I doubt he handed out $500 so he can play king for a day and have the minions report back to him on what they did with the money. I find it a thought provoking exercise and quite frankly I'm interested in hearing what everyone reports back with. Perhaps the exercise is designed to get the guys thinking outside themselves and how best to multiply that money for the good of others. Given the demographic Jerry described, I doubt these fellas need the 500 bucks.
Perhaps one of these guys is going to find a way to multiply this money for charitable purposes which might spur others to do the same in the future. Or something along the lines of showing the starving how to fish and farm; or the thirsty how to purify water.
Jeez...
My .02
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From: Randolph, NJ
If Jack wanted to give the money to charity, why didn't he just give the money to charity? He wanted to see what others would do with the money. And perhaps this was his attempt to teach others to be charitable.
If you truly want to be charitable, you don't need to test others sentiments and you certainly don't need to ask them to report back with what they did with the money. I for one am always more than a little bit leary when a person needs someone else to participate in being charitable.
I stand by my original statement, I'd give him back his $50 and tell him that if he wants to be charitable he should do so, but don't involve me in your giving.
If you truly want to be charitable, you don't need to test others sentiments and you certainly don't need to ask them to report back with what they did with the money. I for one am always more than a little bit leary when a person needs someone else to participate in being charitable.
I stand by my original statement, I'd give him back his $50 and tell him that if he wants to be charitable he should do so, but don't involve me in your giving.
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Originally Posted by OhioRacer,Dec 10 2006, 04:54 PM
I can't believe Vintage has disintegrated to the point of finding fault with this thread.
I interpreted Jerry's original post as follows:
A close-knit group of male friends meets every week for fellowship, support, discussion, etc. It sounds like the topics discussed are deeper than the Philadelphia Eagles football score. It appears there are substantive topics discussed which get the men thinking. I don't understand how anyone can jump down "Jack's" throat when they don't know his intentions. I doubt he handed out $500 so he can play king for a day and have the minions report back to him on what they did with the money. I find it a thought provoking exercise and quite frankly I'm interested in hearing what everyone reports back with. Perhaps the exercise is designed to get the guys thinking outside themselves and how best to multiply that money for the good of others. Given the demographic Jerry described, I doubt these fellas need the 500 bucks.
Perhaps one of these guys is going to find a way to multiply this money for charitable purposes which might spur others to do the same in the future. Or something along the lines of showing the starving how to fish and farm; or the thirsty how to purify water.
Jeez...
My .02
I interpreted Jerry's original post as follows:
A close-knit group of male friends meets every week for fellowship, support, discussion, etc. It sounds like the topics discussed are deeper than the Philadelphia Eagles football score. It appears there are substantive topics discussed which get the men thinking. I don't understand how anyone can jump down "Jack's" throat when they don't know his intentions. I doubt he handed out $500 so he can play king for a day and have the minions report back to him on what they did with the money. I find it a thought provoking exercise and quite frankly I'm interested in hearing what everyone reports back with. Perhaps the exercise is designed to get the guys thinking outside themselves and how best to multiply that money for the good of others. Given the demographic Jerry described, I doubt these fellas need the 500 bucks.
Perhaps one of these guys is going to find a way to multiply this money for charitable purposes which might spur others to do the same in the future. Or something along the lines of showing the starving how to fish and farm; or the thirsty how to purify water.
Jeez...
My .02
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Originally Posted by ralper,Dec 10 2006, 05:14 PM
......... I for one am always more than a little bit leary when a person needs someone else to participate in being charitable.
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Jerry, it sounds like a great group of guys and I hope you all find something you deem worthwhile to do with the $$.
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From: Smalltown
Originally Posted by ralper
I for one am always more than a little bit leary when a person needs someone else to participate in being charitable.
Originally Posted by beloved dean +1
Sorry, but this makes no sense to me. But, I don't believe that was the point of the exercise anyway. I think OhioRacer put it much better than I can and I agree 100%.
with Martha and with Carmen/Ohio RacerIt's obvious none of these guys needs $50.00. I doubt any of them would pi$$ it away on themselves. When they all get together again, and talk about how they used the $50.00, my bet, is, that most, if not all will have found creative ways to help others.