You'll be fine Tempy old bean. You are simply too smart not to do quite well, at the very least. I think quite well - as I see it the worst possible scenario, is good enough, at first, for an arts grad, but I suspect you'll do better much than that. You just need to go through this horrible stage of insecurity to get there that many do, but get there you will.

Vere wants rid of his Switch - let's buy it off him and send it to Jon

If Muzzy doesn't want it, I guess so?

I think we risk going a little bit crazy with fundraisers. A worthy cause - Davie needing a flat to rent after his dad died; you needing to pay rent and get transport to a job interview, sure. Getting people consoles is a bit ridiculous, though, particularly when others might be financially struggling but either are not part of a clique/ don't have people like Shabs ready to start a fund.

I'll give you an example. Two years ago or more I gave some money to get Dan, djr, to London. Nickfullspec was running that. We went way over target for the train ticket, by over a hundred quid at least. When blueswirl, who had been having a bad time getting a job after his PhD, expressed an interest in coming to the London stock, I tentatively suggested using the excess to pay for his travel. No, it was spent on booze and chili and whatnot.

I thought that was thoroughly rum at the time, but old swirly quickly said he wasn't coming, so I didn't push it. I chose not to turn up at that stock.

Now, a month ago, the same Dan (djr) posted on the destiny thread that he was struggling to pay bills, and would do runs or account recoveries for ppl for money. AFAIK he is still struggling, since destiny kind of died and stream revenue with it.

I think he would rightly be upset to see us raise money for someone to get a console, all because he is to proud to ask for help and doesn't have a bunch of (nice) people like Shabs looking out for him. Instead he has unpopular grumpy old cunts like me putting a mirror to all you's

This is not a personal attack on anyone. I like 10p, I like Jon, I like Shabs. But we have to be aware that plenty of people see this kind of fund raising as a but cliquey, unwieldy and perhaps unfair. That's the last I'll say on the topic.

Totally agree with Gonz. I have no problem contributing towards things I perceive as needs rather than wants, but I do think buying people consoles over helping folks survive isn't something that sits well with me. I get that it isn't an either/or but hope you get my drift. Ultimately though, if people want to do lovely gestures like purchasing consoles then it's their money to do with as they see fit. 

I have previously mooted that I've got a bit uncomfortable when I've seen targets smashed and that money has then gone to the same person. Rather, why not use some of that to help another badger in need? When I mentioned this before, Paul and Andy were having a rum old time and I thought they would have been blown away by an altruistic gesture out of the blue, a la Reg's card. 

I'd be more than happy to put money into a Badger in Need slush fund. I'm also happy to contribute to 'life support' initiatives. But contributing to helping someone get another console doesn't sit well with me. I do try and pass on as much help and freebies as I can and hope I don't come out of this looking like a tight arse, but I'd rather put £20 towards a Badger's rough patch than towards being able to play platform exclusives.

Edit - reading that back I didn't want it to seem like I'm criticising what an amazing sense of community there is and how great it is that there is such caring to our fellow forumites. Just wanted to justify my position.

Gonz, you want some dough?

Fuck you Griff, I'll suck cock before I accept ur ill gotten gains!

Just sidling in to say I'm on the same page as Gonz hence being happy to help out Gav and Temps for actual real world financial issues but have quite deliberately ignored the buy X a console fundraisers.  Then of course between the time I started writing this, got distracted by bedtime routine and came back to it Yoss had posted and goddammit Yoss for pointing out that it's not quite that binary.

I'm still not contributing to console funds though.  Bunch of arse.

Well now I feel bad and don't really have anything else to contribute apart from that I wouldn't have expected such a generous thing to happen to me, it was incredibly kind-hearted, and in no way would I begrudge anyone thinking it was a mad thing to do. 

This could all get very uncomfortable though, chaps. Tread kindly.

tigerswiftly wrote:

This could all get very uncomfortable though, chaps. Tread kindly.

I think it's great that these acts of kindness happen. No-one need feel uncomfortable for receiving anything and no-one has ever been made to feel uncomfortable for not contributing. There's never any point-scoring in theses initiatives and just a wholesome sense of community.

 Stoph & Unlikely. Not the mention of Griff's cock.

Right, so I've ordered my copy of Zelda. When's this Switch coming?

What if it's an emotional support Switch?
With a little yellow jacket and it's own passport?

Agreed with a lot of the recent posts. I'll always love you guys for buying me an Xbox One, and Yoss for starting it, but I have to be honest its rarely played, hence my protests at the time. Now I've got a good income coming in its genuinely just sat there, and I feel a bit of a cunt for not playing it. Putting money towards those who actually need it is an awesome thing and God bless yous all.

I intend to keep all my Switch games, even though I doubt I'll replay any.  Not sure why I'm doing that, but that's the way it's going this time.  Grab the console when you can and I'd be happy to lend you the software.