#I've just donated to the ones that crossed my dash

[pebblysand]

okay, i'm just gonna say this because i'm seeing these popping up on my dash a lot and i'm sick of holding my tongue:

the gaza fundraisers are scams. like: at best, they're scams exploiting your well-meaning sentiments for money. as worst - for some of the ones i've investigated (and i remind you, internet safety is my day job, so i know what i'm talking about) - they're exploiting the images of children affiliated to child pornography. yes, trust me, i'm sure.

aside from the source images, i will additionally point out that they are systematically set up by third parties on behalf of someone else. strangely, if you google the names of these third parties, they never exist (and, really, who has no internet footprint, these days?). if these were real activists/relations to people on the ground, you would find: facebook profiles, profile pages on NGO websites, twitter accounts - literally any signs of life. but of course, because they're not real people, they don't exist. (these are not even elaborate scammers, ffs.)

lastly, i will add that they're all saying they're "verified" but if you click the links, it's either just verified by another tumblr post saying "yeah, i'm from gaza and i know them" (no shit sherlock), or because they're "verified" on gofundme. now, i'm not going to go into massive details on this because it's boring but just know that generally speaking, internet "verification" typically simply means the creator of the fundraiser has provided a real passport (often stolen on the dark web) or a real bank account that match. it doesn't mean the story is true.

it is actually very very very unlikely that gofundme would ever truly verify the story behind one of their fundraiser because this would automatically prevent them from availing of platform immunity. in broad terms, platform immunity means that as long as they only host the content that is on their platform without interfering with it, they can't be held responsible/liable for said content. any attempt at genuine verification would mean interfering with the content and being treated as its publisher, and the end of their platform immunity. trust me, they don't want that to happen and be liable for any fundraiser published there.

i know the idea of donating to individual "real" people is appealing because you feel like your money is actually going somewhere useful. you don't want to be paying for the red cross's functioning costs - i get it. but you know what comes with the red cross, MSF, save the children, and all actual reputable organisations? public scrutiny. like, simply put: their fucking books are audited. we know where the money goes. and i'd rather pay the salary of a staff member of an organisation that is actually doing something, albeit all its flaws, than donating to ... child-exploitative scammers.

so: let's put it in simple terms.

the war in gaza is a genocide.

donate to genuine, reputable organisations, thank you.

[solargrove]

kind of rambly post under the cut but ive just been going through it lately so if you're interested in taking a peek inside my head then feel free to read it lol

so lately ive been struggling mentally pretty badly, it's been that kind of depression that is so deep and so intense that it takes a long time to fully come out of it. the past few days i've felt happy at times, like.. i've spent time with friends and with family, and during those moments, i do feel genuinely happy! but as soon as i get back by myself in my room, that wall of emptiness just smacks me in the face like a ton of bricks, and i feel that absolute lowest of lows. i've taken a step back from being online, and in doing so, i've removed myself temporarily from the lives of friends that i've made online, and i feel guilty for it? even though what i'm doing is for my own mental wellbeing, as i don't think it would be very fair to my friends for me to try and hold conversations when i don't think i have very much to offer in the state i've been in, i still just feel bad and like i've been a bad friend by taking that time and space for myself. today, however, i've woken up feeling a bit lighter and brighter, so i'm trying to get myself up and around and back to where i WAS when things were going great.

but i realize now that i've not just taken a break from being online, but also from the sims. i was starting to get really frustrated with the way things in my game were going, and i am not feeling inspired to play with my current save right now. eventually, i want to try and play in that save again, but for now, i think i just need to take a step back from it and once im ready, i can maybe do some gameplay there again. i've been thinking about making a current household and just playing on my own for a while, maybe not sharing things as often. as much as i try to pretend it doesn't matter, numbers kind of do matter to me lol, and when a gameplay post doesn't perform well when i've put a lot of work into it, as a perfectionist, it really tends to get me down and it dashes my motivation almost completely lol.

in the meantime though, i have started a new animal crossing island on my second switch! my main island is kohaku (which im transforming into a studio ghibli inspired island lol) but my new island is called wisp! and my goal with this island (which will be a dreamy, green and white forestcore theme) is to 100% the game! in my terms, that's doing things like completing all nook mile stamps, donating all bugs/fossils/sea creatures/art to the museum, having 10 villagers i like (and obtaining their portraits!), etc.! so far, i've been making really good progress with the bugs and fish in the museum, and it really has been the one saving grace for my mental state these days haha. it's amazing the amount of serotonin i've been getting from these little anthropomorphic animals.

if you happen to read this, i appreciate it lol. i do want to resume playing the sims eventually, but only when i feel like i'm ready. i feel like with my current save, i've been teetering on the edge of burnout for a while, and i finally hit that and i just don't have any interest in playing for now. but i promise i will eventually! and this is not me announcing any sort of hiatus, i still will be around reblogging stuff, and i may even get into posting some acnh stuff on this blog as well! who knows! but yeah. that's been life lately. lol. i hope everyone here has been well! i hope september can bring us all the happiness and stability we deserve <3

[compassionatereminders]

Vent, and quite a long one - feel free to delete or ignore especially as on anon but need to vent and just. Don't want to do so anywhere off anon and you said vent sent to you is okay?

Nothing gets me to do anything not aligned with Immediate In Front of Me or Inscrutable Whims of Brain. Seeing donation posts and subsequently ignoring them whilst working self up into guilt spiral till can't function for like an hour probably worst way to handle them short of like. Sending hate. Helps nobody and actively harms you. And yet. That's all I ever do. Every single time. I try to block them and cannot escape. I cannot blame people for being frustrated. I cannot blame people for thinking me a bad person for ignoring, I do not even wholly disagree. I have the resources to help, after all, the money and time, and yet...

I don't. I don't buy myself things without days of agonizing unless I can ride a spontaneous snap decision or also get some for a sibling. I don't help anyone unless it's both right in front of my face and incredibly easy and also I don't have to deal with it up close. I just get overwhelmed by Seeing Distress and shut down to avoid melting down and making it all about me.

But I want to make it all about me so bad but I can't but. I see people in distress and don't help and hate myself for it and know I will do the exact same thing next time, just maybe better at hiding it.

I've tried scheduling volunteer work, it fell through once and I never tried again.

I see donation posts bemoaning how people have stopped caring. Hating it, decrying how complicit we are. I am.

I agree.

It doesn't change my behavior in the slightest.

Nothing does. And I hate myself for it, until I can stick my head in the metaphorical sand and ignore everything until another crosses my dash.

I know I don't need to take on every problem in the world. But I won't even try to help with just one unless it directly impacts me AND a chance falls straight in my lap. And until I fix that, every call to action anywhere just makes me feel guilt.

I have material resources and loving support systems and I just won't extend help unless to those already close to me and even then it's a tossup if I just shut down entirely instead. And I don't even know why beyond presumably ADHD and autism having a hand in there somewhere.

I don't know. I know this isn't great but. I can't get myself to do otherwise. Maybe if I tried harder, came at it differently, just did it... I don't know.

I want to be better. I want to help. I don't do it. I never do.

Sorry for the rant. I just needed to get it off my chest somewhere, I'll be fine, no need to worry or anything, just already in a mood today.

If you are getting this torn up about tumblr activism, either filter your dash better or take a break from this app. You're not helping anyone by wallowing in guilt if it doesn't change anything about your actual behavior. This guilt is just hurting you, it's not actually improving anything. You don't explain WHY you can't or won't donate, so I can't get into that, but this isn't healthy regardless.

[hungarianmudkip69]

Hey, just a headsup since I've been getting a few of these asks and even DMs: I don't post fundraisers I get in asks or DMs. I will occasionally reblog one that crosses my dash IF it is confirmed to be vetted. I don't have all that many active followers, any of them who can donate almost certainly aren't rich enough to donate to many, I want to make sure I'm not directing any of that to unverified sources because anyone faking being affected by the I/P conflict is fucking disgusting and I want to make sure anyone directed to a fundraiser by me is donating to someone who actually needs it.

[re-lmayer]

on god i would sooner say to give sex work a shot instead of going back to your dad, with the understanding that life sucks and sex work ain't exactly easy. i just don't wanna see that happen to you man. i wish i could help meaningfully, i don't have the income to spare more than $20 to a single cause that crosses my dash.

thank you honey, i understand it's hard for everyone, especially in these trying times ;w; i appreciate any donations that may be made and commissions that may be requested, and definitely don't hold it against anyone for not donating, or not donating "enough." that's why i appreciate reblogs so much as well, since those are free and really meaningful too! one reblog at the right time on the right dashboard can let the right beings who do have more resources like disposable income see it

i've definitely been trying to hold out on going back to him. i don't shame any sex worker and they are stronger than any solider and provide much more value to society, but i've been trying to avoid getting into it myself simply because i'm aware i'm not sw material for a number of reasons and that it would still be a Lot to accomplish

it's just gotten to the point where i just don't know what else to do and with Recent Events [gestures around vaguely with my hands] i have fear it will get Worse, especially since social safety nets have already been failing me so spectacularly :,)

[swordofsun]

So, guess I'm doing this. First GISH let's raise some money?

This is for Reading Is Fundamental an excellent charity that you should probably donate to if you can regardless.

I got randomly assigned to Team Maniacallaughter and they seem very nice. https://give.randomacts.org/team/417422 

And the missions statement with donation percentage breakdown:

OUR MISSION:

GISH is joining forces with Reading is Fundamental to provide children’s books to provide foundational literacy skills to children across the United States, but we need your help. Our goal is to provide 5,000 books to economically disadvantaged children to help them gain the foundational literacy skills they will need throughout their lives.

Together, we can support this incredible organization to help bring children the joy of reading — and with it, lifelong access to the world around them on any path that they choose. DONATIONS ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE. 90% OF THE DONATIONS GO TO READING IS FUNDAMENTAL; 10% OF DONATIONS WILL GO TO RANDOM ACTS TO FACILITATE ADMINISTRATION AND FUND ACTS OF KINDNESS (for countries other than the U.S., deductions are contingent on your laws).

[muchdan]

I know I haven't posted here in a while. Here meaning all three of my tumblr blogs: cappellapalatina (the general and hannigram-focused blog), busymarina (my studyblr account) and muchdan (the dan and phil blog). At different stages of my tumblr life, I've accumulated a few thousand followers on all of these combined. This is literally the biggest platform that I ever had. Which is why I wanted to pop up on your dash to share something. The very worst thing happened. My country is at war. I know you've been hearing about what's happening in Ukraine all around, but I realized that most of the news cover some high-level stuff -- the politics, the history, the horrors of war in scary numbers. Not many have heard what war has been like from the perspective of a normal person. Like me, my friends, colleagues. Just someone like you. Before the war, I lived in Kharkiv. It's a big, modern city. Every day, I went to work in the office downtown, went for lunch and shopping in the nearby mall, grabbed coffee with a friend, and spent evenings in my wonderful apartment. It was blissful life, truly. I didn't know it then. We knew Putin was going to do something. Kharkiv is close to Russia's border, and for the weeks before the war, we lived in constant fear. I started thinking about moving to Ukraine's western regions. I packed bags. This was heartbreaking. Imagine having to flee your home, your favorite place in the world. I also had a cat, so I couldn't take much stuff with me. I packed very few shirts, I didn't know if I should take summer clothes if I need them. I was hoping I'd return soon. It's been a month and I'm nowhere close to going home. I was lucky to escape the very first day -- on the bus, with my colleagues, their families, and pets. It took us three days to travel across the country and I've been here ever since. My partner and I rent an apartment from a nice old lady, but every day I miss home. I'm so angry that my life was stolen from me. I still have my job, my cat, all my family is safe for now, so I'm very lucky. But I'm so angry and devastated. Every day I try to check if my house still stands if it wasn't destroyed by bombs. I know this horror won't end any time soon. I know people who've lost their friends, families, pets. Those who haven't been in contact with their loved ones for weeks have no idea what's happened to them. Mariupol, the city on the shore of the Sea of Azov, is in a literal hell. People there have nothing, no food, water, electricity, gas. They have to drink snow, which is gone by now. They can't escape because civilian cars and buses are being shot by Russian soldiers. They live through some things we're used to seeing only in films or video games. I'm not asking you for anything. I just wanted to share what war is like from the perspective of a tiny human existing in the midst of it all. But I know that many of you want to help. Here are some of the ways to do that. Reach out to someone you know from Ukraine. Ask them how they're doing, tell them you're thinking of them. A few of my online friends messaged me since the start of the war and it was a tremendous support. Even if you can't help in reality, your words and your care mean everything. Host refugees or give them any support that you can. If you're in Europe, you can help refugees. Yes, you can share your home with them, but it's obviously not feasible for many people. But refugees still need so much information support. They're in a new country, they don't know the language, they're very lost and confused. If you know someone coming to your country, help them get around, translate for them, explain where they can get groceries, what apps citizens use, basically anything that can make their lives a bit easier. Donate. Please, don't send your money to huge organizations like Red Cross. They're cool, but their logistics are so complex and long that we likely won't get much from them soon. You can help volunteers that you know personally, maybe someone helping refugees or sending direct humanitarian help to Ukraine.

There's also a GoFundMe page that my company created, which operates through our American partners. I can vouch that this money will go where intended, namely to help people from my hometown Kharkiv. Of course, like and share this post if you can. If you have questions, ask away. I know Ukraine will win, but we still need to get through this horror. Thank you.

[ladyluscinia]

There is a lot of online misinformation going around about Ukraine right now, so I've decided this will be the only thing I post or reblog on the subject.

I just felt like I should point out something I spotted when checking the actual news that may remind people of exactly how careful of misinformation you need to be. (All links in this post are from the Associated Press)

Seeing Ukraine posts on my dash today went something like this:

First, the donation posts - compiled by "Ukrainian citizens" asking for aid. Some of them even referenced the veracity of other posts to boost their own, like one that said a link to a long twitter thread was difficult to verify so here's a shorter list.

Then PSA callout posts for those. "By the way, some of the groups in this donation post that has been going around are far right neo-nazi groups, so stop sharing!" Usually they had sources but sometimes it was as simple as Wikipedia.

Finally, the general disinformation warnings, sometimes citing the second instances, that pretty much say "Check your info before you accidentally do this!"

Important sidebar before I continue: #2 is a genuine concern. You do not want to accidentally send money to some far right militia, and the far right infiltrating militaries is a documented pattern. They like guns and authority. There's loads of examples from the US about this, and also I remember a big story from Germany too.

But... (There has to be a "but" unfortunately)

If you think avoiding misinformation is as simple as checking to make sure that a group isn't secretly neo-nazis, you should maybe read this story...

... about how casting Ukraine as full of nazis is a major current tactic of Russian disinformation and justification for their invasion. So is the callout you just found a helpful citizen directing you away from donating to the far right, or Russia tricking you away from donating to Ukraine? I don't know. You don't know.

I also don't have specific donation sources vetted (and you would want to vet them yourself anyway) so unfortunately I can only repeat the common rules - go through legitimate news sites, major organizations with standing (like the Red Cross), governments, etc.

Just be careful, and don't trust misinfo debunks from strangers anymore than the stuff they are debunking. If it's true, there will be real sources.

[tenaflyviper]

(I wish I could put everything under a cut, but you can't on mobile. I will be tagging this with "TL;DR" for anyone that doesn't want to see it. It's nothing bad--I just want to outline where I go from here)

If it's okay with you guys, I'd like to keep track of my progress here. Not every single day, but when there are notable changes (I will likely not be checking my dash or activity page for a bit, but I keep in touch with lilkittay via the messenger).

I am determined to beat this thing. How I was Saturday night...didn't even feel like me. It almost felt like someone else was in control, and I couldn't stop them. It just kept escalating out of control, and I was fully cognizant the entire time, yet...I just kept making it worse. That scares the absolute shit out of me, and was a major wake-up call that I need to do more than what I've been doing. I've also come to see and accept that this behavior has happened in cycles before (thank you, @rainbowloliofjustice for setting me straight, even if I didn't want to listen at first). How I acted and how I treated others during those times was unacceptable, and I'm not letting it happen again.

I managed to get an appointment with my primary care physician for this Thursday, and I'm going to ask about anxiety meds, and cross-check any potential negative reactions with all the vitamin supplements I take. It might be that it's time to change one of my meds, as maybe it's not as effective anymore. I will be seeing my counselor later this month.

I got the necessary extension from my manager to reach the lady in charge of FMLA issues. I want to take a short mental health leave from work, and completely change my surroundings for a couple of days, as I feel maybe I'm getting a bit of cabin fever. I'm thinking of just finding a little motel outside of town, and crashing there a couple of days with a stack of books, and maybe taking walks to any surrounding businesses (don't be concerned about my safety. I'm a grown woman--I can handle staying alone at a motel. In a worst case scenario, I've taken self-defense, my legs are Chun-Li strong from years of daily bicycling, and I own a Gerber Gator machete that will be traveling with me).

I had a really great, highly productive day at work, and remained very positive, even though this weird feeling has still been lingering. It's hard to explain. It's like... You can feel really happy and upbeat, but it's like there's a small creature clinging to your leg that keeps whispering, "Something's wrong". I feel fine at the moment, but maybe because I'm plotting all this out.

I will be heading to the gym in a couple of hours. I suspect not having been there for a while due to getting over a cold hasn't helped my situation. I also haven't donated plasma in a while, so I may do that tomorrow.

Again--you've all been far more kind than I've deserved, given my behavior. It means a lot, and hopefully, in adding it to my list of affirmations (I bought a fluffy little unicorn journal, because I'm a massive fucking dork), your kind words will be another push to keep me on track.

My hp is low, I'm out of ethers, and it's a long way to get to the Final Boss, but I'm not stopping until I beat this.

[madmanatw]

I'm pretty sure I've reblogged this before, but this is one of those posts that I reread every word of each time it crosses my dash. Consider donating to this marvelous group, or just spread the word.

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