Howdy everybody, Jadedonall back again to give my thoughts on certain things that is in my head.
Today’s topic: Fundraisers: Doom and Gloom and The Resistance (The United Uplifters): Effects of Victory and Defeat; Never kiss the dirt and never go the violent path to solve the problem, no matter how tempting it is or how ‘quick and easy’ it is.
Part 1-2 : The Fundraisers, doom and gloom and how to solve the issue, in the opinion of the young Jaded Man.
Okay. I might rustle up some jimmies and pundits here and there, but here’s my thoughts and maybe potential suggestions.
Fundraisers: Some of us have the money to spare, most does not. I understand the need for them, since races can get really, really pricey and you want to help. Well, a good start, in my eyes is to suggest a goal, right off the bat, instead of just hoping people will chip in, since it does give the donator a clear goal to aim; I get the idea that you don’t know how much is needed and how much your opponents are raising, but time and time again, I, personally, see a fundraising, going as far as being bundled in a survey and something along the lines of this: Will you donate? Yes, I will or No, let my opponents win. That kind of framing puts the reader on a defensive stance, which makes them think they’re at fault if they shell out any kind of money; alternatively the issue lies in them coming in a huge abundance and it does make some readers just sigh and roll their eyes and think or say something along the lines of
“Why can’t they make due with what they got?”
“Ugh! Another fundraiser email! Why can’t they go bother someone else?”
“Don’t some of these guys have big, wealthy donors?”
“Enough is enough! I’ve had it with these monkey fighting fundraiser messages on this Monday to Friday Plane! Everybody strap in down; we’re about to open some freaking windows.”
I know the sentiment; I was and still am one of those people who thinks that. Like I said though, races can get really, really pricey for ads and what not, but hounding them constantly, making people feel bad for not being able to donate when they don’t have anything anything as well as constantly asking for it, in my eyes, isn’t the way. I know what’s it’s used for: ads, canvassers, phone-bankers, food, drinks and all the necessary bits and pieces that makes a campaign work. However, the way I see it, no goal, temporary stopping the messages but them popping back up in a week or two’s notice is filling up people’s mailboxes and as a result, they may not even bother trying to donate, especially since once they give up their money, it may not produce the result they want, but being slightly fair, that’s the risk one takes with donating: You’re giving up some of your hard earned money for a ‘CHANCE’ for the person in question to do their thing and it’s in no way surefire.
My suggestion(s) is to maybe set up a goal for the donators to reach, try to make matching more common, since it’ll double people’s efforts and help them feel like they are making a difference along with the mysterious donor matcher. (Who may, or may not, be sharks with laser beams attached to their heads.) Another idea is to understand that not everybody can or able to donate, due to situations that prioritize their lives over a fundraiser and most importantly, value ANY amount, not just a set amount. What would also help is don’t make the person(s) feel like crap if they didn’t chip in. In the end, you need numbers in the form of votes to win; you can be stacked with cash and still lose. Another thing that could help, other than donations is actually getting your brand out there, via social media and in general, the internet. There’s plenty of ways to go about this, but I’m underlying some basic repeats and ways to change it.
The one thing that needs to come to an end is the doom and gloom messages. Simply put, this can dampen any and all energy you’ve built up and not only come off as desperate, but making the donator feel like it’s one big waste of time and, well, money. In my opinion, the ENTIRE donating game for us changes when the doom and gloom messages takes its final bow.
This, instead, could help: “Even though we failed to reach our fundraising goal, the team and I would like to thank each and every one of you for chipping in and donating to our campaign. It’s going to be more tougher to get our objective’s done, but grace under pressure as they say. In the end, voting matters and if you’re able, tell your friends, family and even those who you’ve never met to get registered and vote; you’d be doing the biggest part of all. Thank you for your continued support. ”
“For those who didn’t donate, we understand. Not everybody are able to chip in. In the end, voting matters and if you’re able, tell your friends, family and even those who you’ve never met to get registered and vote; you’d be doing the biggest part of all. Thank you for your continued support.”
This would acknowledge our shortcoming as well as being honest, but it wouldn’t make people who donate feel like they got suckered, but it would make the sting of non-donators be more bearable as well as showcase the importance of the vote.
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Part 2-2: The Resistance or rather ‘The Uplifters’: Avoiding the violent path and the effects of victory and defeat.
I did say you need numbers to win, right? Well, this will nicely fit into the second part of this post: The Resis- Okay, I’m retiring that. From this moment on, I hearby will go with the term “The United Uplifters”. It’s not just against something, it’s fighting FOR something; uplifting you from (Insert problem/s here. We’re here to help and lift us up for a free, clean and just world.)
Now, the Uplifters’ morale. Well, naturally, if we win, we feel like anything is possible; we could build on our progress or that, not all is lost. When we lose, then we feel like our effort, though united, doesn’t mean a thing; yes, we do learn and we do make the opponent sweat, but they’re safe for the time being and it sends the message that “Voting is pointless people; either roll over and brace for death or it’s time to actually go the forceful route!” Okay, smugness and complacency is one thing, which I did cover to some degree Here.
I would like to note that it’s not game over and that we should be willing to either move, die or go violent; that is what Trump and his cronies want: Prove to our fellow peers and the world over that we’re worse than the Orange Plague via run off to a different country, getting on our knees and submitting for mercy, die, or go violent to “instantly” solve the problem. I would like to go on record and say that my old brother (R.I.P) wanted to go the violent route, since it would stave off the worst of the worst; to a very small degree, he has a bit of a point. However, that point is nullified since that route RARELY works and the end result is that not only the Orange Plague and his poisonites gets sympathy points, ala martyrs, but it would just embolden and empower these nuggets that do survive and we’ll just get something that matches our attitudes; we’d be punishing ourselves more than rewarding, since it also means anarchy wins the day.
Disclaimer: I am not advocating this stance. I am simply trying to convey that it’s useful but only if there’s NO other option remaining. As abysmal as the situation is, we still have options via voting, among other things.
Now that I’ve got that small part out of the way, let’s continue with “The Uplifters”. For the Uplifters, a victory in Virginia for example, would prove that this is not who we are and that’s a good thing, since not only it would put the GOP on edge, it would also mean that we refuse to go quietly into the night and reject evil soundly without using evil’s methods (I.E, using the GOP’s tactics, as justified as they might seem/sound, it’s not worth it if that means we validate the ‘both sides’ issue.).
I don’t have to say much if at all if the result is a defeat in Virginia, but the one thing it says to everybody barely noticing and that is this: The ‘Resistance’- crap. Sorry. The ‘Uplifters’ are just making noise; give them a few weeks, months and they’ll fizzle out and we’re right back where we started. That, and it may hurt our turnout as well as chill potential voters as well as donors; they’ll think that their time, money and energy is going to be wasted on battles that are going to be lost.
Both are a possibility. For ‘scoreboards’ and poll numbers, I cover a little to fair bit Here.
My suggestion, for those on the ground trying to pull in votes, if the voter in question refuses to vote, my suggestion, even though I hate it, is to do a bit of persuasion by any means, even if you have to stretch the truth; victory is all that matters, even if you have to rely on underhanded tactics(Note that I said ‘Underhanded’, not evil.) . I know we want to ‘go high’, but that, at times, sometimes, most times than not, does not work; Getting in the fight and getting dirty does. I have a personal quote here that might be appropriate, given the situation.
“There’s a huge difference between being ‘honorable’ and ‘winning’; the honorable warrior will play fair by the rules; the warrior who has victory in mind, will obtain just that, whatever it takes. Not every warrior with the ‘winning’ mindset is evil, just the method is ruthless; Much like the one with the honorable warrior is of for the people.”
What I’m trying to say, is, don’t be afraid to use some persuasion. If that fails, make sure to keep working and looking for the next potential voter; losing one hurts, but gaining two or three more not only counteracts, you gain. On step back, two steps forward. There’s a huge difference in candidates and in equal measure, tactics; ours don’t have to be disclosed if we go the sneaky route.
TLDR: There needs to be a way to make fundraisers without making the person in question that is unable to donate feel horrible, ala “If you don’t donate, then this sends a message that we are easy and we don’t care, which means our opponent can easily brush our strength off.”; This also means making ANY amount worth it as well as trying to double people’s donations as often as you can. Frame it to make sure that at least the donators and non-donators are acknowledged and that their efforts, profit or non-profit, big or small are not going by un-noticed.
As for the ‘Uplifters’ and some of the member’s willing to go down the violent path to solve the problem as well as the emotional reaction to victory and loss, This clip sums it all up, perfectly.
Agree? Disagree? It’s up to you. Feel free to drop your own thoughts and solutions to the problem.
If you wish for me to continue ‘Thoughs and Suggestions of a Young Jaded Man Going Forward.’ If you like it, dislike it, then feel free to leave a comment.
Jadedonall, signing out!
Why don't calm the mind and take a small breather, Positive Warrior of all backgrounds and factions