GoFundMe has shut down repeated attempts to use its platform to finance the legal defense of alleged healthcare assassin Luigi Mangione.
Meanwhile, another such site reportedly remains open to it all, having seen the misguided contribute $132,000-plus to the cause in a continuing campaign.
And so it goes in the online begging community. It’s hard to find a definitive source on how often such efforts ever go toward funding miscreants less high-profile than Mangione, or if the funds raised in general actually are used for the advertised purpose instead of, say, someone asking for help with medical bills and instead spending the windfall on vacations or cars.
After having taken a brief holiday break, I’m back with a Christmas carol update on the matter. Sing it to the tune of Deck The Halls.
Shake the bowl just like GoFundMe
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Make the fat the more rotundly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Send your cash to shaky causes
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Makes you feel like Santa Clauses.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Holidays they call for gifting
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Even if it’s more like grifting
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Seeing this it makes me sick
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
That you think you are St. Nick
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Begging bucks is now a pastime
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Without reason — even rhyme
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
All should hang their heads in shame
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Over this insane fund game
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sam Ross Jr's site 