Quite agree that there is a massive invasion of privacy these days. The very things that were meant to make our lives easier and more convenient have become a liabiity, with firms selling our phone numbers and email addresses and charities sharing them among themselves. If you support them, it isn't long before they are asking you to increase your donation. I gave £3 to buy a blanket for a refugee, by mobile phone, recently and got several phone calls asking me (I presume) to contribute regularly to that charity. I decide for myself who I support! Fortunately, I'm deaf and did not hear the phone ring!
I have to confess that I rarely give to charities these days. As you say Gilly, the money they receive from donations of any kind is very small. Did a lot of research into this some years back because I was concerned about what was going on with the charity I then supported and was appalled at how much the higher archy are paid for their services and how much actually went to who it was meant for. As for these bags, they don't even collect them if they are not used! How much do they pay to have the printed up and used by recipient for anything except what they are meant for - me included! Grandchildren like the ones with handles as they use them to have sack races.
I heard on the news this morning that the 'chuggers' are to be targetted and fined. About time too. They are out in their droves at times in my High Street and are not too happy when you refuse to stop. I recently complained to a charity about the attitude of a 'chugger' who knocked at the door and was unpleasant when I refused to sign up.
If you look closely at some of those plastic bags, you find they are not, in fact, charities. They say some of the proceeds will be donated to the needy in places like Romania or Moldova. They are commercially-run companies ,usually operating from the same country - they all show ' registration numbers' designed to look like a charity number.
Bit like Frank, I only give to certain charities - small local ones, Help the Aged, Mind, RNLI, and the local air ambulance. I think it better to make a donation that's a decent amount, rather than spread the butter too widely on the bread, when it becomes almost pointless.
Anyway, my old clothes get used when I work at the allotment, and I use them until they are falling apart, and are so horrible my wife refuses to let them in the house any more!
Oops. Meant to go back to 'higher archy' and change it and forgot. Should, of course, be hierarchy.
That's what I prefer to do these days Pentille. In the past, I have donated to a particular ward in local hospital where they were wanting a certain item. At least I know it's going where it should be. RNLI is a must.
Last week G/G I received two large envelopes addressed to my wife one from Viking tours and one from a Woolen house. I have a letter in my files which I send off to those people saying my wife passed away yet still they come. Viking tours are a new one we never ever used them in our lives so the selling of names and addresses must now be big business. I will vote for any party who vows to curb such assaults on our privacy no matter who they are as the constant reminders do not help.
Have just read in my local that my council spent £279,000 on the Olympic torch run and evening celebrations, to which we mere mortals were not privy. It was all centred in one place. Coupling that with the fact that all London Borough council tax payers paid for these games for years and very few managed to get tickets, it's adding insult to injury. Am fuming.
Some years ago after the boxing day tsunami I contributed to the DEC ( Disasters Emergency Committee made up of a number of charities.) They sent a receipt where my name was spelt wrongly. Ever since I must get at least one appeal a week through the post from the mailing list generated by them. All from different charities, but all with my name spelt the wrong way. I will not contribute to any of these again, as so much must be spent on fundraisers salaries, postage etc. Little if any of my money gets to where it is meant. I always give to the Sally Army, for two reasons. My grandad said that during WW2 when he was on the front line, they would have starved if it wasn't for the Sally Army. Also his mother was a SA major, came from London to educate the heathens of shirebrook (and ended up marrying one) I also give to the RNLI. If someone went round with a collecting tin when they launched the St Ives lifeboat, all the onlookers would surely dig in their pockets. It brought me close to tears that these men risk their lives in rough seas for no recompense whatsoever.Every time I go out in a boat, I feel a little safer knowing they are there If needed. They at least deserve the best equipment.
Fidgetbones- I totally agree. I feel the same way about our mountain rescue teams. I think it's appalling that these types of organisation have to rely on charity. Sign of the times isn't it- we seem to bend over backwards to fund disaster aid in other countries yet we ignore what's under our noses. It would be different if the country was booming perhaps- but it isn't, and I feel we should be looking after people here first. That may not be a popular view but I get angry when I hear about hospices or facilities for disabled children or similar agencies having to close because there's no funding available.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Tina hit the nail on the head. Whilst the Olympics in London were great, the costs were obscene. Londoners who will be paying for it for years struggled to get tickets, even for 'fringe' events, whilst all the Suits, big names, and politicians showed up at all the events.
Why do they not build a permanent Olympic Stadium in Greece, to which all participating countries contribute? Better than now, when each succeeding country tries to outdo its predecessor, rather on the lines of 'mine is bigger than yours'.
Some of the money spent in the UK on the Games might then have found its way into a decent charity, rather than giving all those fat cats another nice ,free,jolly.
Posts
Quite agree that there is a massive invasion of privacy these days. The very things that were meant to make our lives easier and more convenient have become a liabiity, with firms selling our phone numbers and email addresses and charities sharing them among themselves. If you support them, it isn't long before they are asking you to increase your donation. I gave £3 to buy a blanket for a refugee, by mobile phone, recently and got several phone calls asking me (I presume) to contribute regularly to that charity. I decide for myself who I support! Fortunately, I'm deaf and did not hear the phone ring!
I have to confess that I rarely give to charities these days. As you say Gilly, the money they receive from donations of any kind is very small. Did a lot of research into this some years back because I was concerned about what was going on with the charity I then supported and was appalled at how much the higher archy are paid for their services and how much actually went to who it was meant for. As for these bags, they don't even collect them if they are not used! How much do they pay to have the printed up and used by recipient for anything except what they are meant for - me included! Grandchildren like the ones with handles as they use them to have sack races.
I heard on the news this morning that the 'chuggers' are to be targetted and fined. About time too. They are out in their droves at times in my High Street and are not too happy when you refuse to stop. I recently complained to a charity about the attitude of a 'chugger' who knocked at the door and was unpleasant when I refused to sign up.
If you look closely at some of those plastic bags, you find they are not, in fact, charities. They say some of the proceeds will be donated to the needy in places like Romania or Moldova. They are commercially-run companies ,usually operating from the same country - they all show ' registration numbers' designed to look like a charity number.
Bit like Frank, I only give to certain charities - small local ones, Help the Aged, Mind, RNLI, and the local air ambulance. I think it better to make a donation that's a decent amount, rather than spread the butter too widely on the bread, when it becomes almost pointless.
Anyway, my old clothes get used when I work at the allotment, and I use them until they are falling apart, and are so horrible my wife refuses to let them in the house any more!
Oops. Meant to go back to 'higher archy' and change it and forgot. Should, of course, be hierarchy.
That's what I prefer to do these days Pentille. In the past, I have donated to a particular ward in local hospital where they were wanting a certain item. At least I know it's going where it should be. RNLI is a must.
Last week G/G I received two large envelopes addressed to my wife one from Viking tours and one from a Woolen house.
I have a letter in my files which I send off to those people saying my wife passed away yet still they come.
Viking tours are a new one we never ever used them in our lives so the selling of names and addresses must now be big business.
I will vote for any party who vows to curb such assaults on our privacy no matter who they are as the constant reminders do not help.
Frank.
Have just read in my local that my council spent £279,000 on the Olympic torch run and evening celebrations, to which we mere mortals were not privy. It was all centred in one place. Coupling that with the fact that all London Borough council tax payers paid for these games for years and very few managed to get tickets, it's adding insult to injury. Am fuming.
Some years ago after the boxing day tsunami I contributed to the DEC ( Disasters Emergency Committee made up of a number of charities.) They sent a receipt where my name was spelt wrongly. Ever since I must get at least one appeal a week through the post from the mailing list generated by them. All from different charities, but all with my name spelt the wrong way. I will not contribute to any of these again, as so much must be spent on fundraisers salaries, postage etc. Little if any of my money gets to where it is meant. I always give to the Sally Army, for two reasons. My grandad said that during WW2 when he was on the front line, they would have starved if it wasn't for the Sally Army. Also his mother was a SA major, came from London to educate the heathens of shirebrook (and ended up marrying one) I also give to the RNLI. If someone went round with a collecting tin when they launched the St Ives lifeboat, all the onlookers would surely dig in their pockets. It brought me close to tears that these men risk their lives in rough seas for no recompense whatsoever.Every time I go out in a boat, I feel a little safer knowing they are there If needed. They at least deserve the best equipment.
Fidgetbones- I totally agree. I feel the same way about our mountain rescue teams. I think it's appalling that these types of organisation have to rely on charity. Sign of the times isn't it- we seem to bend over backwards to fund disaster aid in other countries yet we ignore what's under our noses. It would be different if the country was booming perhaps- but it isn't, and I feel we should be looking after people here first. That may not be a popular view but I get angry when I hear about hospices or facilities for disabled children or similar agencies having to close because there's no funding available.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Totally agree Fairygirl- charity begins at home
Tina hit the nail on the head. Whilst the Olympics in London were great, the costs were obscene. Londoners who will be paying for it for years struggled to get tickets, even for 'fringe' events, whilst all the Suits, big names, and politicians showed up at all the events.
Why do they not build a permanent Olympic Stadium in Greece, to which all participating countries contribute? Better than now, when each succeeding country tries to outdo its predecessor, rather on the lines of 'mine is bigger than yours'.
Some of the money spent in the UK on the Games might then have found its way into a decent charity, rather than giving all those fat cats another nice ,free,jolly.