Comments on: The Saddest Plot in the World http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:46:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Barb http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44457 Barb Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:36:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44457 There's nothing that will make you feel better than the thank you package you get for a donation of over $100. Photos of the kids doing the project, letters and notes from the kids... you feel like a freaking superhero. Even just the thank you emails from the teachers are amazing. There’s nothing that will make you feel better than the thank you package you get for a donation of over $100. Photos of the kids doing the project, letters and notes from the kids… you feel like a freaking superhero. Even just the thank you emails from the teachers are amazing.

]]> By: Susan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44460 Susan Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:35:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44460 Wow! I can't believe the negative comments posted by some people on this site. Whatever happened to "If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all?" Additionally, I would assume most of you are professionals with an education. How could you mock donating $5 for education? @Yuval- No one can MAKE you feel guilty.If you feel guilty for not giving.....? @Ian- If your reason for not giving is not wanting to give your e-mail address, why don't you create a hotmail address for free? But Donors doesn't give your information to anyone and I am sure the school would NOT e-mail you. Wow! I can’t believe the negative comments posted by some people on this site. Whatever happened to “If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all?”
Additionally, I would assume most of you are professionals with an education. How could you mock donating $5 for education?
@Yuval- No one can MAKE you feel guilty.If you feel guilty for not giving…..?
@Ian- If your reason for not giving is not wanting to give your e-mail address, why don’t you create a hotmail address for free? But Donors doesn’t give your information to anyone and I am sure the school would NOT e-mail you.

]]> By: Barb http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44423 Barb Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:10:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44423 @Ian - the school does not get your email, nor do you get theirs. All communciation is handled through Donors Choose. I'm pretty sure that you can donate anonymously and I think that you can use PayPal. email zach@donorschoose.org and he'll help you with any issues. Honestly, he's a really great guy who helped me with a donation issue. @Ian - the school does not get your email, nor do you get theirs. All communciation is handled through Donors Choose. I’m pretty sure that you can donate anonymously and I think that you can use PayPal. email zach@donorschoose.org and he’ll help you with any issues. Honestly, he’s a really great guy who helped me with a donation issue.

]]> By: Ian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44456 Ian Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:17:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44456 I understand one reason why your donations are low. I tried to donate. I do not want the school to have my email address, but there is no option to give anonymously. Secondly I can't use Paypal and I am not putting my credit card out there. Unfortunately you cannot be too careful out there these days. Get DonorsChoose to be better website and you might get more. Sorry. I understand one reason why your donations are low. I tried to donate. I do not want the school to have my email address, but there is no option to give anonymously. Secondly I can’t use Paypal and I am not putting my credit card out there. Unfortunately you cannot be too careful out there these days. Get DonorsChoose to be better website and you might get more. Sorry.

]]> By: Barb http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44424 Barb Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:43:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44424 I admit that I am part of the bad part of your plot. I am doing my donating at Tomato Nation because I have to see a woman in a Tomato Costume at the White House. @Yuval: it's a contest to see who can raise the most money to fund projects that help kids learn. Most of the projects come from underfunded schools. Perhaps a little guilt that teachers are begging to get resources like markers and pencils is not a bad thing. I admit that I am part of the bad part of your plot. I am doing my donating at Tomato Nation because I have to see a woman in a Tomato Costume at the White House.

@Yuval: it’s a contest to see who can raise the most money to fund projects that help kids learn. Most of the projects come from underfunded schools. Perhaps a little guilt that teachers are begging to get resources like markers and pencils is not a bad thing.

]]> By: Yuval http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44455 Yuval Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:16:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44455 I'm a little disappointed that such a blatant logical fallacy is being posted on a blog dedicated to mathematical science. I'll point out that cosmicvariance.com has a lot of casual readers (like myself) who surf in if something interesting is said and then surf out. The ratio of donators to visitors is meaningless unless you have a reasonable conception of who your donators are. Why should someone like me donate? I come here to read news. I appreciate that people ask for donations from time to time, but I find the guilt trip a bit insulting. Your begging is a little choosy for my tastes. I’m a little disappointed that such a blatant logical fallacy is being posted on a blog dedicated to mathematical science. I’ll point out that cosmicvariance.com has a lot of casual readers (like myself) who surf in if something interesting is said and then surf out. The ratio of donators to visitors is meaningless unless you have a reasonable conception of who your donators are. Why should someone like me donate? I come here to read news. I appreciate that people ask for donations from time to time, but I find the guilt trip a bit insulting. Your begging is a little choosy for my tastes.

]]> By: Lab Lemming http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44459 Lab Lemming Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:15:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44459 Is it possible that most of your blog readers are made of dark matter? Is it possible that most of your blog readers are made of dark matter?

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44427 Mark Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:37:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44427 I've deleted some extremely off topic comments. I’ve deleted some extremely off topic comments.

]]> By: Speedy Gonzalez http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44458 Speedy Gonzalez Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:20:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44458 Barb, very very true and if I offended anyone I’m truly sorry. It was stupid of me to start a discussion about the "whole problem" in this post. Sorry. And to the guys at Cosmic Variance – I admire you and you are doing a great voluntary job. Barb, very very true and if I offended anyone I’m truly sorry. It was stupid of me to start a discussion about the “whole problem” in this post. Sorry.

And to the guys at Cosmic Variance – I admire you and you are doing a great voluntary job.

]]> By: Barb http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44454 Barb Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:31:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/10/10/the-saddest-plot-in-the-world/#comment-44454 If you are having trouble making a donation, email zach@donorschoose.org For those who choose not to contribute because there is no project in your country or lesser developed countries then find a different charity to donate your money to. There's no need to be nasty to people trying to do their bit to make the world a little better however they can. If you are having trouble making a donation, email zach@donorschoose.org For those who choose not to contribute because there is no project in your country or lesser developed countries then find a different charity to donate your money to. There’s no need to be nasty to people trying to do their bit to make the world a little better however they can.

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