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Would this be illegal?

slooksterPSV

slooksterPSV

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 17, 2004
3,546
309
Nowheresville
I'm curious as to whether this would be illegal or legal. If I setup up my PayPal account to receive funds and asked for donations to help me get out of debt and into college provided I stated everything in a disclosure. Would that be illegal? --BTW its USBank's fault.
 
I've no idea i just can't see why it would be illegal to take money off people who are willing to give you it.
 
I doubt it's illegal - all you're doing is relying upon the generosity of others to help you out of debt. As long as it's clear that there's nothing in it for them (including receipt, tax deduction, thank you note, etc.) you should be good to go.

Internet panhandling, if you will.

You could start a new craze.
 
I don't think it's illegal either. However, do you think you'd get more money by doing something for it? It doesn't have to be the greatest internet idea ever or anything, but just something that'll make more people than just the ones you know or extraordinarily generous ones. I don't know, like saying for every donation over $20 you'll post a photo wearing a hat of their choice, or draw them a silly picture of their choice of subject or something. It just might give it that extra interest.

Actually, come to think of it, I might do that! :D
 
I feel bad/like an idiot for doing this, but heck I've scrounged up all the change I have around the house. Hmm... I do need to offer them something don't I? What can I offer people if they do want to donate?
 
slooksterPSV said:
I feel bad/like an idiot for doing this, but heck I've scrounged up all the change I have around the house. Hmm... I do need to offer them something don't I? What can I offer people if they do want to donate?
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I don't think you have to, but I think it would entice people more if you did. And it doesn't have to be something huge or time consuming or something you have to give them, it could just be something silly. Sing them a song, or take a photo of you holding up a sign for them, or anything really. I just think you might only get a few donations if you just ask, but you might get more people willing to drop $20 for something that would make em giggle as well as a good cause.
 
caveman_uk said:
Sexual favours? It's been a popular way of generating cash for thousands of years:D
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Hahaha, no one wants to see that, I don't even wanna see me doing anything like that lol.

How about eating catfood lol. I think today I'm going to go crawl into my room and grab some stuff, throw it on here for sale. I have (if I can find it) a Toshiba Pocket PC - e330, the sound doesn't work (headphone port, or speaker). Battery still carries about 6 hours. great flashlight, sell that for like $20, dock for $5 (USB Dock).
 
Lau said:
I don't think you have to, but I think it would entice people more if you did. And it doesn't have to be something huge or time consuming or something you have to give them, it could just be something silly. Sing them a song, or take a photo of you holding up a sign for them, or anything really. I just think you might only get a few donations if you just ask, but you might get more people willing to drop $20 for something that would make em giggle as well as a good cause.
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I won't take donations over $5, I don't think its worth $20 for my cause. Just a $1 here or there.
 
Ah, it all gets back to porn. :D

I like Lau's idea about offering somewhat silly things in return, but I'd suggest making sure it doesn't get too out of hand.

Also, do you have some way to host this donation website?

Oh, and why limit your donations? If someone wants to drop a grand, why stop them? Just make sure you don't give out too many personal details on the site.
 
emw said:
Ah, it all gets back to porn. :D

I like Lau's idea about offering somewhat silly things in return, but I'd suggest making sure it doesn't get too out of hand.

Also, do you have some way to host this donation website?
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I just threw together a page on FortuneCity where I'm hosting my MoneyData Manager application (hey ask for donations to help extend that app that work??)
 
slooksterPSV said:
I feel bad/like an idiot for doing this, but heck I've scrounged up all the change I have around the house. Hmm... I do need to offer them something don't I? What can I offer people if they do want to donate?
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Do you have long hair? Would it take long for you to grow your hair long?

You could do something like pick a couple different ridiculous hairstyles (like truly embrarrasing stuff) and for each dollar someone contributes they get to vote for one of them. When you reach a certain dollar amount (you would have to specify) you will get your haircut in whichever style has the most votes. You would then have to keep your hair like that for at least a week, taking pictures of it every day.

Of course, this would depend on you being able to grow your hair long enough while waiting for the money to roll in.

Really, though, anything silly like that is bound to get you at least a few donations since people feel like they're getting something out of it.
 
baby duck monge said:
Do you have long hair? Would it take long for you to grow your hair long?

You could do something like pick a couple different ridiculous hairstyles (like truly embrarrasing stuff) and for each dollar someone contributes they get to vote for one of them. When you reach a certain dollar amount (you would have to specify) you will get your haircut in whichever style has the most votes. You would then have to keep your hair like that for at least a week, taking pictures of it every day.

Of course, this would depend on you being able to grow your hair long enough while waiting for the money to roll in.

Really, though, anything silly like that is bound to get you at least a few donations since people feel like they're getting something out of it.
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Nah, my hair is kinda short (then again my def. of short and long is completely diff from everyone elses). my hair goes down to the top of my nose, the middle of the eye.
 
I like the hairstyle idea! Something like that, that pokes a bit of fun at you but isn't too awful to do is the best idea I think. Don't eat cat food! That would be gross.

Giving people the power to vote for getting your grown long hair cut into a mullet or a mohawk would be fun. And you could cut it back short again afterwards.

Edit: Just saw your reply. Well, something like that anyway. There's a lot of gross and destructive stuff out there on the net, but something fun like that would be a good laugh.
 
slooksterPSV said:
my hair goes down to the top of my nose, the middle of the eye.
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All the way around? So much for volunteering to do a goofy cut for money, since you're apparently willing to do it for free. ;)
 
slooksterPSV said:
I don't even know what I can do with my hair, it never does anything w/out lots of gel.
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Well depending on how long it took to get to whatever amount you set as the threshhold, you could have time to get it long enough for a mohawk or mullet like Lau said. You could also do something like Krusty the Klown where you left a long section in the middle and on each side and then gelled them straight up/out. When you were done you could just buzz it all off (unless you have a goofy shaped head).

Basically, it's something that would amuse people enough to promt them to give you money. And you would only have to live with it for a week. If you can laugh at yourself, it would't be too big a deal.

You don't need to do exactly that, though. I was just suggesting something that would be fun for people and not too dreadful for you. You don't have to provide people with goods to get money from them if you can offer some sort of interesting service.
 
Like anything when transposed online, begging seems somehow less... serious. Doesn't change the fact that it is begging of course and that you're no better than the guy by the railway station panhandling for change. It's not illegal but some forums would bar such solicitations.

Many people are more sophisticated about it. Check out savetoby.com which started out as effectively a begging site. Perhaps you should work on a 'shtick' too.
 
Are you good with simple animating? Make me an Apple related, interesting and/or funny avatar and I'll donate a dollar. :)

I'd give more, but I could use some donations myself, trust me. :(
 
gwuMACaddict said:
I'm confused... it's their fault that you kept overdrawing your account?:confused:
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hahah.....yeeah, what's with that?

it's HIS responsiblity to know how much money he has and keep track of how much he's spending.......and it's also his responsiblity to know what kind of penalties and fees there are for his bank accounts too....that's just a basic of managing your own finances
 
How is it the bank's fault? Not knowing the details, I'll just chalk this up to the lack of personal responsibility in this country.
 
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