Please give generously

I know before I even start I am going to be shouted down and, only metaphorically I hope, be put up against a wall and shot for what I am about to say. But it’s annoyed me enough, so I will.

#twitrelief was/is an obviously well-intentioned, but misguided attempt, to raise money for those in desperate need in Africa and at home. The premise seems to be that by bidding a suitably large sum (out of bounds of most ordinary working folk) some “celebrity” will follow you on Twitter for 90 days, Retweet you once and send out a tweet with your username. Wow, really, no you shouldn’t.

For me It’s possibly the 2nd most ill-conceived and utterly pointless twitter thing I’ve seen, but hey It’s all for charity, so what’s my issue? A much better concept would to make it a raffle, so everyone on Twitter had a chance, not just those with the deepest pockets of biggest egos. I suspect more cash would of been made that way too. I don’t want a celeb to follow me as a charity case but I have no issue with anyone who wants a piece of a celebrity but alas they will not have a chance.

Unfortunately the relentless charity fascism that has become the normality in society has found its way onto social networks like Twitter. If anyone attempts to be negative in anyway they are met with the chorus of “…it is for charity, you know!” as if that alone makes it okay.  “Sorry”, Colonel Gaddaffi will say, “I didn’t mean to wage war against and persecute my fellow countrymen, but I have raised £15.20 for charity”. And then we all clap our hands and say how wonderful it is.  Okay I’m being flippant but it feels that if you don’t immediately fall to the feet of whatever is the latest charity wheeze you’ve got a heart of stone.

Now I know that to raise money for a concern you need to advertise it. Twitter (other social networks are available) are wonderful resources in doing this but these high profile cause’s drown-out the just as essential,  but lesser known, charities who are desperate for you attention and your cash. I’ve seen plenty of good individuals do runs or bike rides for small worthy causes and receive nothing from their followers. That’s fair enough, you can’t support everything. But those same individuals who ignore these little campaigns get terribly excited by the mob mentally of charity giving as they are swept along in retweet crescendo of back patting that comes with potential twitter glory. It makes no difference what they charity is but usually includes one of the big 5 that already make more money than all the rest.

But there’s another point about Twitter charity gigs; quite often money is raised but not awareness. You’ve got an audience, you’re free from the constraints of media broadcasting, tell us about the charity, what it does, what it achieves, how it will make a difference. But no, it’s give us another £5 and we’ll make it to £1000, then we’ll all feel very good about ourselves.

It also fails to acknowledge the contribution people make to charity regularly. This is the bread and butter of organisations, the guarantees that allow them to run their programmes from day to day and support those who need it.

I hope you do, if you can afford to, donate to comic relief, not because these “Celebs” will tweet you, but because its the right thing to do. But more importantly, instead of getting all excited and giddy next time a twitter charity event happens, can I suggest that you pick a charity and give it your full support.  Donate regularly and raise its awareness with the people in life and on Twitter. That’s what I’m going to do.

Rant over, please return your seats to the upright position.

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