but the whole thing is just kind of gross and makes me cringe when I see the thread pop up. The fact that only a minority of the money is going to a random person now kind of says it all to me, much less what I think of the significance and impact of giving $500 to a random server in the first place.
What would you do to keep your brother's life and spirit connected to this earth a little while longer and a little bit stronger? If you've ever had a sibling pass away, I'm saying this in no disrespect, what did you do to honor him?
A gratifying experience, surely. But no one says it isn't gratifying, and being gratifying doesn't count for much.
Gratification counts for a whole lot if what you're seeking are the "good things."
Problem is, these arguments have been endlessly rehashed in previous threads and Seth has already defended himself countless times. At this point, it's just redundant. Those of us who have been there to see a tip given out know how amazing the experience is.
You could have ignored the post instead of only shooting down part of the argument, thus legitimizing the rest.
I'd like you to talk to a friend of mine. Mr. Logic would like to see you at your earliest convenience. Seriously, that doesn't legitimize the rest. Not any more than ignoring the whole thing would legitimize it or offering rebuttal to the whole thing substantiate it.
Does everyone nag Wal-Mart about how they spend their profits?
He does have a point, Seth.
You want to know why this bothers people? Because the donors felt an itch to do something good after reading his story, and so they plunked down $50 or whatever. Maybe they will or won't give anything else toward charity this year, but we can pretty safely assume that this is $50 that definitely won't be going to another charitable cause, if it was going to go to one before this.
Actually, some of the waiters/waitresses who were tipped were charitable with the money they received in honor of Aaron.
But this story was on GAF, and it was so small in scope that donors could sort of witness the effects of their own donation and get gratification from that. So seeing the money going to a non-cause like this for that reason, this instead of any number of real desperate causes out there...well it sometimes feels evil instead of just stupid.
What exactly are you saying was small in scope? This "story?"
I don't doubt that 'the experience is amazing'. But when you're thinking about charity, you have to detach yourself from the momentary pleasures you gain from expenditures aimed at your own happiness. Instead, you should be thinking about the fields, victims, and patients that need really could use your help.
Think about where your donation would i) benefit society the most, ii) be utilized most effectively, iii) encourage change.
The "fields, victims, and patients" of, like, the sizable group of people who need help to pay the rent for where they lie down at night?
And there are so many problems in "society" that no charity is going to benefit society "the most." And, honestly, if you're wanting to examine "society's" problems, you need a LOT of resources to fix large-scale problems. No one person funds the American Cancer Society. No one person funds UNICEF. It's that hard-to-dissect notion that a successful group is made up of individuals who, on their own, cannot be successful. And each one has their own choice to make in the matter. People can see and empathize with Aaron; they feel the same about the people who work their butts off for others for a less-than-proportionate return. People are social creatures--we connect to others with similar ideals and become more productive. I, for one, would much rather have people productive in good deeds than bad ones.
You're going to be in Chicago on my birthday! For great beer and an arcade bar, go to the Emporium Arcade Bar.
This place sounds awesome. I must hit this up next time I'm in Chicago.
This is a consciousness-raising passion project inspired by Seth's loss and his brother's life. You might find it inefficient, but it would be a mistake to think that its financial inefficiencies were somehow a knock-down argument against Seth completing his vision. (Some people build memorials to their loved ones, and some people receive public funding to create those memorials. There are pretty stark "inefficiencies" there, too.)
I like what you're getting at here.
As a matter of fact, I'd love to offer you our guest room if it doesn't take you out of your way. You know how to get in contact with us 
