Concerns about greed in Giveaways? Impossible!

NJBillK

NJBillK

Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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I have been seeing a common thread tying together the GAWs recently. For example: When it is stated by the OP that entrants have to pick a number, people just say "I'm in". Are they not reading what the OP has asked someone to do in exchange for a chance at something FREE?

One recent GAW was hosted by a guy fresh out of surgery, giving away a Full Custom folder valued @ $425... Multiple people just stated I'm in, or count me in, with no regard to how he is feeling, healing, or well wishes. Some didn't even Thank him...

Which leads me to believe that there is a growing number of people who just search for "gaw" or "giveaway" and enter them all with no regard to how the GAW came to be, or Why a person is choosing to hold one...

I didn't mean for this to come off as a rant, but it pisses me off that there are some people who choose to take an interest in the actual lives and the personal reasonings and those that don't care to do so are just as likely to win, greed based or not...

I am not taking a shot at anyone in particular, but one would think at this time of year, where we are supposed to care More (if a reason is needed at all), it is just more of the same, all for the gifts...

I know that this may be expecting too much from some people, but to those, I can honestly say, I am glad I don't have any personal friends like that.

/rant off
Sorry for the long winded thread, the length was unintentional.
Veterans: Thank you for your service to our country, and Everyone have a Great Holiday!

Mods: if this is in the wrong location and belongs in W&C, or G, B&U. Please feel free to move it.
If I am out of line, let me know and I will delete this asap.
 
I believe you will always find greedy folks responding to free stuff, even when the giveaway is for paying bf members. Just a sad fact of life...
 
im in

I am kidding. Don't let it get you down mate ;) don't give such things any of your precious and finite energy- cheers!
 
That was a fantastic knife he was giving away.

I did not qualify, because my gold membership has expired, and I have not renewed (after years and years as a gold member).


It is easy to limit this type of drive by giveaway poster, by a post count limit, or time as a member, or membership level, etc.
 
I've done many giveaways over the last 12 years or so, I've also been the recipient of many giveaways over the years, I don't enter any giveaway that I'm not a contributing member on, many times I just want to say, "not an entry" with a thankfully for the generosity and a good luck with four those who enter.

People who host a giveaway set their own rules and if I'm entering I'll abide by the rules to the letter. What drives me crazy is when someone enters and never bothered to see if they've won, I've had to chase people down to give them a free knife, now I give them a week to contact me, I don't go looking for them they won, they can have the courtesy of contracting me.
 
pjackst said:
im in

I am kidding.
Click to expand...

SEE, That's what I'm talking about! He didn't even include his bank acct # and social sec #...
How am I supposed to send you the limited edition paper clip you didn't win?
:D
 
Hey! That's my GAW you're talking about!

From my point of view, All the support I got regarding my recent appendectomy was wonderful, but honestly, I know that we are all different.

I wasn't expecting anything more then people to enter and for someone to win, the happiness of that moment, and being able to do that was the point of it.

The reaction from the winner when I contacted him was amazing, and it made me feel good, I understood that this thing we share here is more about the people then the knives, and that making someone else really happy is something that makes me happy in the best way.

I think in the end, you can't ever do something like a GAW and expect or look for anything from the people who enter, you need to do it for yourself, you need to do it because you want to bring some happiness to someone else. The rest of it doesn't really matter.....
 
Bigfattyt said:
That was a fantastic knife he was giving away.

I did not qualify, because my gold membership has expired, and I have not renewed (after years and years as a gold member).


It is easy to limit this type of drive by giveaway poster, by a post count limit, or time as a member, or membership level, etc.
Click to expand...

I apologize for this, I did state the reason in my GAW. I just didn't want someone making a user name, putting in a number, and winning that knife, I wouldn't have felt right about that....

You are correct, I could have found a better way around that problem then I did, and I will for the next one....
 
Jr88, I understand where you're coming from, about the person giving the gift is the one who is actually receiving the greater end of the karmic scale, and should ultimately feel better than just the gain of a materialistic good.

With that being said, I just feel that the people entering a GAW should want to take an interest in the person who is initially extending like the olive branch. If out of nothing else but respect or sheer gratitude. And if they see reading and, dare I say, comprehending the post as too much of an investment then don't bother entering.

Call me bitter, honest, short, whatever you would like. There is a short list of things I find offensive in a person, and a lack of respect and a blatant disregard for someone willing to selflessly go out of their way for another is near the top of that list.

Unless there is a significant reason, I most likely won't be responding to this thread. I have said what I feel like I had to. I will keep reading it though.

Once again, enjoy your Holidays everyone!
 
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I agree with you, I think it's amazing that people are so generous that I always say a big thank you for the opportunity, and wish the op the best. I think that's the gentleman thing to do?
 
It is nice to say thank you and a kind word. I gave away alot of custom scales and other items over the past year . Maybe a Dozen or so new . And other lots as well. I never really looked at it that way. 90% of the folks that want in are polite and show that they care about the cause and the opportunity. Luckily they always went to great people and I would not change any of it. But it is about giving and sometimes getting something back. I could never afford even buying a custom of that price to own. But some can and more power to them for sharing. It made somebodies year.
That is why myself and others set ground rules about paying members or a certain amount of time on here.
If you do a give away you can set the rules your self. I dont see it as greed to join a give away. Sure a percentage of the guys in it are exactly that.
But that is to be expected.
Keep on giving folks. This place has alot of love.
 
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If you don't like a person who has entered a giveaway just take his number off the list at drawing time. Easy.
 
JR88FAN said:
I apologize for this, I did state the reason in my GAW. I just didn't want someone making a user name, putting in a number, and winning that knife, I wouldn't have felt right about that....

You are correct, I could have found a better way around that problem then I did, and I will for the next one....
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I never feel excluded. It is a great way to suggest that people support the site.

I really do need to re-up.

The knife you gave away, would have been reason to re up for gold, but doing that, I felt would have been counter productive to the spirit of the giveaway!
 
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Could be greed, might be laziness. One hit wonders aren't a new phenomenon.

Even outside of giveaways, not everyone reads every post in a thread. Oh well.
 
Not everyone is a gentleman or lady, and not everyone has class.

Most here do, but not everyone.

When I do a giveaway - I just choose someone and give them what I want to give them.

No muss, no fuss, and no 20 post wonders who's 20 posts are all "I'm in - thanks for the chance!" posts.

I asked about this a few years ago and got sage advice - it's my giveaway and I can do it however I want.

best

mqqn
 
mqqn said:
When I do a giveaway - I just choose someone and give them what I want to give them.

No muss, no fuss, and no 20 post wonders who's 20 posts are all "I'm in - thanks for the chance!" posts.
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Leghog:
This is how I have done it as well. I have contacted the person that I feel would prefer to have what I can spare, or would get better/more use from an item that is just sitting in my closet or safe.

As far as why I have cross linked, I have spent enough time on the Becker sub to know that I get along with the mass majority of the people on there. So much so that I was willing to put the point I am making in this thread in the line of fire. Plus, Ka-bar being the parent company who produces Becker knives (where I linked the GAW post), is in line with the preferential knives of the majority of the posters/customers in that subforum.

I am certain that if you were to go through the posts of those who have entered via my cross link, you would see that the majority of their content would (hopefully) come across as comparatively kind, helpful and sincere while still holding onto some snark, as is the Beckerhead way.

Just for you, I will hold an "open to paying members gaw" tomorrow. If you would like to enter, feel free. Just please post a pic, of said item to be given away, in use. I hope that may satiate your need for a public justification of this little thread of mine.

If you have any further queries or concerns feel free to post them and I will address them when I get the time, seeing as how time is short this time of the year.

Be safe and I hope you find a Becker under the tree! I know I have a BK4, BK5 and a ceramic sharpening rod waiting for me under mine.
 
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The gaggles of people just looking for free stuff is one reason I only do giveaways in a particular sub forum out of sight from the regesterd users. As you say they never read the rules of entry or just think they may as well have a shot anyway. Keeping giveaways out of sight does perhaps exclude a lot people that I would be happy to have enter but that's life, I'm not giving stuff away to or interested in having a thread clogged up by guys that joined last week and have 3 posts. I also know others and I do stealth give aways from time to time, but they are generally sub forum specific and done amongs long term contributing members of said sub forum. :)
 
NJBillK said:
Just for you, I will hold an "open to paying members gaw" tomorrow. If you would like to enter, feel free. Just please post a pic, of said item to be given away, in use. I hope that may satiate your need for a public justification of this little thread of mine.
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Do whatever you want in your own GAW, but do think twice before cross linking someone else's GAW from one forum/subforum to another. The gifter can announce his own GAW in other subfora if he so chooses, and we should never assume he wants other to cross link his GAW into other fora/subfora. I just isn't our place to do so in another's GAW.
 
I am 100% certain there are a fair number of members who search for GAW's... This subject has pissed me off for quite some time now. If you spend time in a particular area, or areas, you get to know the names. It amazes me that these vultures are that greedy.
Some of the creative and motivated members will actually take time to explain why they should be included, even though they don't qualify for whatever reason.

I have done a few GAW's, but I rarely enter... The only time I will is if the knife is one that I REALLY want. I ask myself, do I like that knife enough to buy one, and will I use it ? If the answer to either of those is no, then I don't enter.
 
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