Chugging.
April 3, 2008
The title of this post may or may not be already familiar to you, but it was new to me a few moments ago when I read it in this article on the aggressive behaviour of some charities.
The article, from as far back as June 2005, is an informed piece on “charity mugging” (hence the contraction, “chugging) — and I found it after Googling the words “charities” and “aggressive”. It succinctly outlines the need for charities to allow their supporters to feel valued and not undermine their sense of altruism (i.e. by making supporters feel that they are giving for the wrong reasons.) And judging by the television adverts and unsolicited mail with which we are continually bombarded, I think it fair to say that few have learned its lesson.
A point in case. My father recently made a donation to a UK cancer charity. It wasn’t huge, but it was planned to be another of his yearly donations. He sent off the cheque and forgot all about it until, a few weeks later, he received a thank you. Nice. So what’s your point, Gary? I hear you ask. Well, you see, this wasn’t just a thank you. Oh, no. It was also a request.
A request for more money.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m highly sympathetic to charities. They have to struggle for every penny in an increasingly demanding environment. But this is just unacceptable. It’s up there with the emotional bribery of the children’s charity ads on television and the charity circular with the deformed face of a child on the envelope that fell through our letterbox this morning.
So, if you are a charity board member, worker, publicist etc, do the genuine cause you represent a favour and take the wise advice of Dr. Farsides:
“It’s like any other relationship. If you get your own way only by nagging, threatening or pleading, other people will eventually help you only when they feel they have to. They also will not like you very much. On the other hand, if you show warm appreciation for someone who voluntarily helps you, you will have a friend for life.”
April 3, 2008 at 6:24 pm
They need a new name for that… I imediately thought of beer chugging when I read that
April 3, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I agree totally with this statement Gary. I donate money each month to three very well known UK charities. Nothing annoys me more that to receive an occasional large envelope with various literature from two of these charities asking me for more money. I give what I can afford, so why do they pester me for more!!!
April 4, 2008 at 10:11 am
I am 100% in agreement with you on this one. Well, said!!
April 4, 2008 at 10:15 am
Yes, me too, americandust!
Thanks, Gordon. It is extremely annoying and, I would bet, ultimately counter-productive.
Thank you, Anon. I’m glad I’m not alone in my views on this issue.
April 4, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I don’t do the charity thing - I did once but no more, ever.
When the money goes to those who really need it then I may again.
April 4, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Yup, I completely understand where you’re coming from there, Will. We tend to focus on small, local charities, where the benefits to those needing help tend to be fairly obvious.
April 6, 2008 at 8:23 am
I completely agree..and when I contact you one day for whatever charity I start I will recall this lesson..and send you a very nice hooker as a thank you. *cheeky grin*
April 6, 2008 at 8:24 am
OMG I hope you know that was just a joke..cause I am against hookers..I think their prices are too high. ( bigger grin)
April 6, 2008 at 9:09 am
LMAO… so you plan on rewarding me with a cheap hooker and a bad case of crabs? :p
April 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm
It’s all you deserve, Murning.
April 7, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I’ll have you know I’m a man with standards, old chap; only lobsters will do for me, thank you very much.
April 9, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Lobsters down the pants, oh dear. That sounds… crowded.
April 9, 2008 at 5:32 pm
For some of us, yes…
April 10, 2008 at 10:03 pm
You must have roomy underwear.
April 11, 2008 at 10:03 am
Yup… good for the… circulation
April 18, 2008 at 6:36 am
Leave english chaps alone for three seconds and they start comparing undies..honestly!