Am I bad for doubting this?

[Eos of the Eons]

I think this fits under society...
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=31849&page=1&pp=10

I just can't corroborate the story anywhere. No news like CNN or ABC or newspapers have the story on this-something very recent. The family's identity is being protected, and I can understand that.

I just don't want to help until I see 'proof' other than these guys saying it happened. I did ask if it was covered by the media anywhere. didn't get an answer.

Am I rotten?

[rustypouch]

I also think this might be a scam.

There are no names given, and not even the city in which it took place is mentioned.

And I'm sure some newspaper would have picked up on it.

Maybe they should have put those altars that were defiled to better use... perhaps some insurance spells?

[Eos of the Eons]

The alarm bells went of with the paypal thing and walmart card account. Anyone could be the beneficiary. How do I know the money is going to a single mom for sure?

and this was posted about people wanting details:
I could also question a person's need to get the gory details. They say they want proof. I'm suspicious and skeptical enough to wonder exactly why they need it. Do they need a picture of her devastated home? Do any of us actually need to see it? Hearing her daughter cry about her favorite broken princess glass over the phone, is enough for me.

That's not why I want to know where it happened. I don't care if I don't see the busted up place, I just want a legit source of information outside of the forum that says that a couple of places were broken into and stuff written all over the walls.

The appeal at this forum is for 'one of our own' and that it seems based on some discrimination.

Not only that, but these things have happened to low income neighborhoods around here, and they still landed in the local newspaper.
I just need a city and a general date. Then I can go directly to that newspaper.

I still feel guilty about my doubt though.

[nightwind]

I have a lot of doubt too.

But I've seen too many of the internet scams that are similar too this.

However, doesn't being through Paypal lend some credibility? But I guess not, since anyone could just take their money and run.

But sounds a little fishy to me.

[Eos of the Eons]

I'm sure anyone can get a paypal account. Do the owners of that service really check to make sure names and addresses are legit. Look how it can be used kind of anonymously at this forum. It's simply mysticwicks as the receiver on your bill.

I'm bad for this though. I'm not a very trusting person.

Can anyone else find information on this vandalism?

I just would really like to verify this happened.

[espritch]

A few days ago a lady at my office sent me a satellite image of the recent power blackout as seen from space. I had no particular reason to doubt the authenticity of the image as the blackout had really occurred and we really do have satellites that can take pictures of earth from space. However, shortly after receiving the image, I got onto http://www.badastronomy.com/ and there was an article about the very same image. It turns out it’s a PhotoShop fake. There are real satellite images of the blackout but they are not nearly as dramatic.

The point is that nothing you see on the internet should be taken at face value without some corroboration - especially if there is money involved.

[Luceiia]

This article:

http://www.naplesnews.com/03/08/naples/d975576a.htm

was just posted by the thread starter (I think), and it says absolutely *nothing* about the catastrophic vandalism which would be by FAR the most newsworthy part.

Additionally the poster states:

It's a couple of days old and there are about six or seven other homes not listed. The people who are not listed were all single mothers and refused to sign the police report out of fear. (I shouldn't and won't say anything more about that).

Sounds like she's trying to spin a web of bs that also stirs up emotion (fear factor) to cloud the lack of any factual basis for the cry for help. I don't buy one iota of it.


Luceiia

[Eos of the Eons]

Thanks everyone, the above article doesn't mention two apartment complexes like the people are saying on the forum. It doesn't speak to the horrendous vandalism either. I think someone said another complex was hit too....anyway-at least 6 in this one and maybe 3 complexes? 7600, 7700, 8200

There were five other apartments in her complex vandalized in a similar manner, so I don't think that was the motivation at this point. There were nasty things written on the walls but nothing calling her evil or pagan, etc.


we have decided to send everything to her work, where we know it will be safe and the most manageable for her since she can't exactly bring everything into the house until it's fully cleaned

There isn't (a news story). Crime in a low income community isn't considered news in some places. If they are skeptical and they think I'm scamming them, they are free not to help. There are so many people here and everywhere that are giving, I'm sure we will make due.

My Mom taught me that it's wrong to question motivations/where the charity goes/etc. It's the spirit of giving that counts. I understand being skeptical with all of the news about scams and con artists you here everyday, but at some point, Faith had to intervene or where would we be?.

Too much fishy stuff. First there is no story, suddenly there is one, and on the same day the thread was started (Aug 27). They say 4 men, the article says 1. I won't bother anyone on that forum about it. They are a tight group-the ones asking for the money-so I don't want to get my butt banned.

If anyone finds out more, I'll be happy to know about it though.

[tim]

I confess I am a sucker for a sob story - but I need a bit more to go on than this.
We have a magazine in the UK called "Private Eye" which, although it targets people in politics and wrongdoers generally, has a section in the small ads entitled "Eye Need", where you will see begging ads with assorted sob stories. No names, no addresses, just bank details. I give a lot to charity and people in need generally, but only if I can validate the need. I can't in this case, so........sorry, but no.
http://www.private-eye.co.uk/

[Eos of the Eons]

I prefer snopes and such.

That private eye one is bad for pushing bad news as much as trying to expose anything. Too conspiracy theorist. They even make MMR look bad instead of Wakefield. Not good.

This Private Eye Special looks at the evidence and reports on the intransigence of the government and the pharmaceutical companies when faced with it.
Yeah, let's push the gov't and drug company conspiracy angle.

Bad Private Eye, very bad Private Eye...me wishing private eye would disappear from planet.

https://secure2.subscribeonline.co.uk/PEYE/product.cfm?cmp=SPECRPTS&CFID=672078&CFTOKEN=63222542


Here is a good site about rules charities or people asking for donations are supposed to follow
http://www.wa.gov/ago/consumer/charity.shtml

[RandFan]

There are so many people who have letimate needs. Those who would exploit this fact and the people who are willing to help are amongst the worst of society.

I would urge people not to let these types of stories dissuade from seeking out people who truly need help.

Thanks eos.

RandFan

[Glory]

Mymom taught me that it is wrong to question the motivations/where charity goes. It is the spirit of giving that matters...

Doesn't that really tell us all we need know?

My mom taught me that there are people in the world who will seek to take money from people under false pretenses.


Glory

[Eos of the Eons]

Originally posted by RandFan
There are so many people who have letimate needs. Those who would exploit this fact and the people who are willing to help are amongst the worst of society.

I would urge people not to let these types of stories dissuade from seeking out people who truly need help.

Thanks eos.

RandFan


That's what I need to hear, so Thank you. I checked out snopes too, and found some similar situations. There are legitimate charities you can give your money to that can then help out families in need.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/adults/sheffer.asp

Err on the side of caution. Send your best wishes but leave your cash in your wallet.

[Eos of the Eons]

Originally posted by Glory


Doesn't that really tell us all we need know?

My mom taught me that there are people in the world who will seek to take money from people under false pretenses.


Glory

That was the biggest indicator yet. That defensive stance is bringing out the biggest part of my suspicions. Your mom sounds much wiser.

[tim]

Bad Private Eye, very bad Private Eye...me wishing private eye would disappear from planet.

Ermmmmmmm.........but I AM a Private Eye! Well, private investigator anyway. We're not all bad, you know!

Yeah, I know, I took it out of context, but I couldn't resist. Sorry!

[Eos of the Eons]

:p Okay, bad Private Eye MAGAZINE, Verry verrrrryyyy bad Private Eye MAGAZINE. Could also call it PEM. Rotten horrible PEM! Hah!
:wink8:

[tim]

Originally posted by Eos of the Eons
:p Okay, bad Private Eye MAGAZINE, Verry verrrrryyyy bad Private Eye MAGAZINE. Could also call it PEM. Rotten horrible PEM! Hah!
:wink8:

OK, they do get a bee on their bonnet about stuff, and sometimes they are a pain in the a*se. But they also do good work exposing corruption in local and national government.
The magazine was started by, amongst others, Peter Cook, so you just KNOW intention was to take the p*ss out of the establishment. They take great delight in pointing out the hypocrisy (how do you spell that?) of the press and media. They champion cases of injustice (which endears them to me quite a lot).
On balance, I think they deserve a certain amount of praise, despite their mistaken stance on some issues.

[Eos of the Eons]

I'm sorry, I won't be reading anything else on that site after reading that. There is a line they crossed IMO, and I won't trust anything else because of that. They didn't do their homework on Wakefield. Who knows what else they have conveniently left out of their side of things in their stories.

Sure, read it for fun, but I would take it all with a big huge grain of salt (like with any media). There are better sites that can expose corruption. The government is not always the bad guy though. The site is very one-sided.

That's just my opinion, but I will spend my time elsewhere for news on corruption.

It is hypocritical that they so severely point the finger when they themselves are committing the same type of 'offense'. These guys aren't immune to being just as bad as the rest of the media.

[tim]

Eos, It could be you are condemning them on their site alone.
Yep, a lot of it is one sided. Yep, they have a lot of the faults of the rest of the media. But at least they speak out and take the flak. None of the papers here would criticize Robert Maxwell, except PEM.
If you want to read a copy, let me know by pm and I'll mail you one.
p.s. it has a certain amount of humour as well.

[Eos of the Eons]

Well, I'm getting newsletters from other sites-like the skeptics and others. I don't even know who Maxwell is...so maybe there's a bit of awareness that this Private Eye can bring. I can look up stuff they write about if I find it interesting-and make sure there some truth to the story. I am going to hold the MMR book against them though. Is there anyone I can write to and find out if they even know about Wakefield? If they do, then I will boycott them for being so horrible as to give the MMR causing autism garbage any credence. This is a sensitive subject for me because I've lost friends who now think I'm terrible for getting vaccines for my kids.

My email is eostory@shaw.ca

[Dancing David]

Doubt is good, why ask for help on the internet. Pagans can suffer in living too. But no names no address, no locations , no foundation names.

remind me of when some people ask me for a dollar to buy coffe, I say "Okay, lets go get a cup."

I don't know how you could directly help these people. Sounds like a fellow coven memeber run amok, how would her neighbors know she is pagan. It is generally unwise to advertise that. This would be a hate crime as well, which would get huge media publicity.

I am very suspicious, despite my oath to hold thier honor as my own.