link--this

Erika, it was the tone it was written in (blog quotes in italics):

"Statia is getting a free first-class ticket to Florida from Pennsylvania to celebrate Thanksgiving."

Not true. Statia is flying coach.

"On the other hand, shouldn't we be giving money to those who NEED the money, like victims of war, or the sick?"

I've never said they shouldn't. In fact, I have always said if you don't want to donate...don't. But on the other hand, what are THEY doing about the victims of war and the sick? Are they holding donation drives, too -- or just saying that people "should" be doing something like that. All talk...no action...

"Statia herself has owned several cars (6 new ones in the past 4 years). Pennsylvania isn't exactly poor."

Wrong again! Statia has owned two, leased two. Not six. And not all at the same time. And I'm sorry, but I lived in Pennsylvania -- Philly to be exact. I literally survived on Apple Jacks for a couple of weeks. Rent KILLS you there (although it's nowhere near NYC or Boston numbers which is even more frightening). But who says, "Pennsylvania isn't exactly poor"? Have they ever DRIVEN through West Philly? I have. In fact, I was offered a group-home management job there. I was afraid to drive through the neighborhood during the daytime. Much less the overnight shifts that would have been required -- even though my paycheck would have been $14K/year more than the other job offer I ultimately took. I wasn't aware this individual was an expert on the finances of the state of Pennsylvania and all its inhabitants. Much less someone that's just went through the cost of a divorce and losing a roommate.

"I don't know why she can't afford to make it to Florida, and I shouldn't care. This is her problem. Robyn implies at her site that it is tragic that ayone should be alone for the holidays. I can think of far worse fates, to be perfectly honest."

I wasn't aware anyone had to open up their bank statements and explain them to anyone. And the plane ticket was FOR a friend, paid for BY friends. And yes, I think it is pretty fucking tragic that she has been through a crappy divorce and poor family relations this year as well, and would have spent the holidays alone on top of everything else. I know things about her life the general public doesn't know -- and doesn't have to know. And as such, they have no right to cast ANY judgements. Only not donate. That's their right and their choice. That's it.

"Is this another form of prostitution? Maybe. Is it any worse than what many celebrities are doing? Or what we are doing every day whoring ourselves for cash at jobs we don't like? This is going in a direction I don't want to travel right now."

You may not see the offense in "maybe" being equated with a whore Erika, but I do. I never asked them to head off that direction either. Again, it is their choice. (See above.)

"Maybe I am jealous that I don't have the nerve or the attributes to pull off something like this."

Bingo.

¤ ¤ credit: robyn | 11.15.02 at 08:00 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

I can't believe the issues over this!! I mean, I will be honest here..the showing of the boobies, it ain't my thing. There are too many nutjobs out there. I am just not comfy with showing my ta-tas like that, lol. And mine aren't anywhere near as nice as all the ones that were shown. I would have felt really odd!!
I have no issues with anyone else doing it. It was for a good cause, so what is the problem? God, people really piss me off.

I think what you did Robyn was so thoughtful. Statia (I don't know her at all...) seems like a nice gal. She's honest, she's funny..and she certainly has a rack that leaves me wondering why I had to get such shitty genes!

Anyway, more power to you all. I am sorry I did not donate. My paypal account was not used in forever. I cannot remember the password. When I contacted them, they would not issue me a password over the phone or through email. I have to wait for one to come snail mail. I would send a check if it would work that way!! So, my apologies....I will however make a contribution to the Susan G.Komen Foundation when I get my password, if that is possible....

Good work guys. Good on yah. I hope Statia has a wonderful holiday, and I hope Robyn has a KILLER birthday!!

¤ ¤ credit: Jen | 11.15.02 at 08:28 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

Please guys, do NOT apologize if you can't donate -- whatever the reason! Just the verbal support is enough to keep us going...trust me on that... I just downed a shot of Malibu before I went off verbally executing people. ;-)

¤ ¤ credit: robyn | 11.15.02 at 08:32 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

Hey...West Philly isn't all bad. :( Now North Philly, there is a scary place. ;)

¤ ¤ credit: sphinx | 11.15.02 at 11:22 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

I was unable to donate because Pay Pal doesn't accept the cards I have and I'm *not allowed* the cards they accept.

However, the series of posts acted as a reminder that I don't even need to get off my arse to do a tiny little something, and I found the site of a breast cancer charity based in my own country (for which a friend works, as it happens), posted a link on my site and made a small donation.

I think it was probably better to do that than to sit moaning.

¤ ¤ credit: Gert | 11.16.02 at 06:48 AM | link--this ¤ ¤

I had this whole long comment written out, and of course IE decides to lock up and I lost it. So I'll just sum it up here instead.

Mean people suck.

¤ ¤ credit: Christine | 11.16.02 at 10:13 AM | link--this ¤ ¤

'Mean people suck'?

Leave to a past president and lifetime member of the American Congeniality Society to sum it all up in three words.

¤ ¤ credit: mike | 11.16.02 at 10:18 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

hey, i came to this site from jonasparker when he originally posted that entry on you. i really like the site and think it was a neat idea.

as i know jonas personally, i can say that what he wrote in that entry didn't convey negativity about the site or what you were doing with it. when i read it, i thought he was interested in the theory behind it - in social terms. i know him to be inquisitive, thoughtful, and, yes, opinionated. when you have things on the internet people will comment on them, it's their right to - free speech, all that. i understand that some of the things he said might be taken as negative, but he also said some very positive things about the site (and the breasts).

as for him judging you, isn't that what you are doing to him? i think that you may have dealt him a bit of a harsh hand. after all, he did get me to the site and aware of the good you are doing, so at least he has helped.

also, just because he hasn't used his online journal to contribute to charity doesn't mean he hasn't done helpful things for his community elsewhere. just thought i would let everyone in here know that calling someone out without really knowing them is a little unreasonable to me.

but yeah, great site, great idea, and good luck with everything!

¤ ¤ credit: crystal | 11.20.02 at 01:23 PM | link--this ¤ ¤

Be that as it may, you try being under attack for two weeks as we were. You know that proverbial straw saying? That was one of 'em... And judging by other's comments that visit the site as well, I wasn't the only person that misinterpreted his words. And he certainly misinterpreted several key facts in his argument.

I'm sorry -- but as a woman, every possible logical argument you could make goes out the window as far as I'm concerned when you see the phrases "maybe" and "prostitution and whoring" all in the same breath and linked, even loosely, to you and your friends names.

I believed I was being "called out" first. I just chose to reply back in a public forum since he did the same initially. Thanks for stopping by!

¤ ¤ credit: robyn | 11.20.02 at 02:31 PM | link--this ¤ ¤