Donation campaign for Gandalf to fund a new server

[Gandalf Parker]

AS A NETCOP:
I should mention that PayPal has a great record (so far, knock on virtual wood)

However I often recommend that people who are nervous of the internet get an "internet credit card".
A) with a limited amount. I went with $200
B) NOT with your usual bank
C) NOT tied into your "real" moneys for things like overdraft protection
D) mark it for net use only to make it easier to track the usage

Then I tend to mention that most fraud involving credit cards tends to come from non-internet use. Most often from carbon copies which come from spending it on gas or restaurants. So the same suggestion applies. People should get a low-cap credit card from a different bank for day to day use and not carry the big cards unless you are specifically going out to make a purchase with it.

[MaxWilson]

Hey, watch the generalizations. There's no reason to think it's a U.S. American thing per se. It would be more supportable to say "there are people who would rather trust the (U.S.?) postal system than a wired transfer."

-Max

[lch]

I'm not one to generalize, but payment by check is a very American thing. In the EU, people usually use cash transfer / bankwire, and credit cards are uncommon, or at least "new", though payment via plastic is very common e.g. in France. Still, send a check by mail instead of an online transaction? That takes at least three times as long, AND can get lost.

[Gandalf Parker]

Actually Ive had people complain more about PayPal giving out their email address than concern over credit cards.

[Omnirizon]

we've reached goal, but I sent in a token amount to show appreciation.

i don't buy coffee from starbucks (i LOVE coffee, but don't like starbucks for whatever reason. its a sociologist thing, as most others of the tribe avoid the place too) and I don't see movies (I always seem to have something else I'd rather be doing). So instead, I donated the amount of a mixed drink at a bar, plus tip

funny how quickly we got there. when ppl are dealing with something they enjoy doing, they are always willing to donate. I used to haunt a mountain bike site before my fave forum got shut down (the socia-poli-religous-economic discussion forum. We tended to be a bit over the top and made the other bikers uncomfortable; who didn't understand what that forum had to do with biking). Whenver the forum held donation rallies to send bikes to kids in africa or something, we always hit goal quickly (and had goals of 1000's of dollars). Funny thing, the socio-poli-relgious branch of the forum was ALWAYS the biggest donor.

This is why donation rallies always link themselves to marathons or golf or something. ppl like their leisure, and are willing to give for it.

[lch]

Omnirizon said:
i don't buy coffee from starbucks (i LOVE coffee, but don't like starbucks for whatever reason. its a sociologist thing, as most others of the tribe avoid the place too)

I listed Starbucks because their coffee is quite expensive.

[Gandalf Parker]

Yes I know a number of online "budget aid" people who pitch "if you only give up one Starbuck visit a week you will be able to save xxxxxxxx" so I guess it makes a good example.

Personally I never did get hooked on caffeine. Ive been told thats the reason to blame for my lack of achievements
Im apparently the poster child for "wasted potential"