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Caveat Emptor

  • July 19, 2007 at 12:11 pm

    #179830

    Humanity

    I'm forgoing the Friday poll this week since some of the recent ones haven't been tremendously popular and, well, I couldn't come up with anything good. I've got some cooking, but they aren't ready yet 🙂

    So in this case, it's more the "donator beware", as suggested to me by Andy, one of the founders of SQLServerCentral.com, and who is supporting me in my efforts to raise money for Katie both with technical help and some prize donations from End to End Training.

    We all get tons of SPAM every day, lots of phishing and numerous attempts to separate us from our money. I'm sure some are legitimate, but lots aren't and it can be hard to tell what's real and what isn't. I'm not the most trusting person (not sure if that's good or bad), and I don't donate over the phone and I'm careful about money. So I have to admit that I was slightly skeptical when a member of this community sent me a note about Rex Winn's story.

    I'll leave it to each of you to decide what's real or not, but I did some checking myself before I decided it seemed like a real story and I contacted Rex with an offer to help. We went back and forth a bit and after a few weeks, mostly my delay, we started the raffle. I thought it was worth doing and so have many of you. I know Katie and family appreciate the support and we've raised a few thousand and hope to do more over the coming weeks.

    There are so many people out there that would love to con you and prey on your good nature. The Internet in many ways has made things worse since a con man can reach out from across the glove and touch you. It's sad that some people are willing to do so and while I don't belive Katie's story is a hoax, I can't be 100% sure. I haven't ever met Rex and Idaho is slightly far for me to drive. Though I wouldn't mind delivering the check in person if I could get a flight out and back in a day 🙂

    So while it could be a scam, I don't think it is and I don't care. It's a story that touches my heart and reminds me how very, very lucky I have been in life and with my family. And I'm in a position to help and think I should do so.

    I keep a "life list" of things that I want to accomplish in my life. I've been fortunate enough to get through many of the items, but one I haven't is "start a scholarship fund." This doesn't really provide a substitute, but it is something that I think shows the humanity that exists in the world. It shows how a community, even this loosely joined community bound by working with technology, can come together and help someone that had never heard of this site before.

    So on behalf of the Winn's I thank you for your support and I encourage you to check out Rex on Code Project, to do your own research and dig into your own heart. And if you feel you should, make a donation.

    And make a life list, but that's an editorial for another day

    Steve Jones

    PS - Support Katie and her family : Purchase a raffle ticket today for a chance to win some great prizes.

  • July 20, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    #721249

    Not to quibble, but shouldn't that be "Donor beware"?

    Steve G.

  • July 20, 2007 at 9:28 pm

    #721310

    It should, but I didn't trust my high school Latin to find the word

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