Does Charity Count as CFC?

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Recently I've seen a lot of people using their blogs to promote charity work. There was the Blogathon organized by shadesong and friends; today I spotted beetiger's new 24-hour Zine Thing. Both of those were inspired by other charity fundraisers.

Here's a question for you folks:

Do charitable projects count as cyberfunded creativity or not?

Money changes hands, sometimes rather a lot of money, but it doesn't go to the author or artist; it goes to some worthy cause. Audience interaction is often heavy. Traffic also tends to be heavy, and many new Friends are made. I'm also wondering if people who do a charitable event later see a boost in their for-profit CFC projects.

Let's discuss this.

Comments

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I don't, no. For the sole reason that people are always more willing to give to charitable causes. I've watched people bid on charity auction items while discussing that they don't want them and will probably throw them away once they receive them. The point is not the piece itself, it's the giving-to-the-charity, and it seems to hit people in a different part of their hearts.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Oh, aii! I hope everyone who won stuff in the Blogathon auctions really wanted it or will give it to someone who'll love it...

If I get to doing a Wind Tunnel Dreams story this month, I'll see if I make more than usual. But I think I'll make less, because everyone already gave to BARCC.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I hope so too, for your Blogathon items; they looked really cool.

If you don't mind sharing at least general reports on WTD results, I'd be very interested in knowing whether it goes up, stays the same, or goes down.

O_O

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

You make a good point about people being more willing to give money for a charitable cause, but ...

... the idea of bidding on something that you don't want just creeps me out. Why deny an item to somebody who'd really enjoy it? If you only want to donate, just go donate straight to the charity. And talking about throwing away a prize, where anyone could see you say that, seems horribly rude to me. A waste of resources and art.

[tonithegreat.livejournal.com]

I say no, also, although I'm not sure what use you can make out of being definied as "cyberfunded creativity" or not. When you give money to a charity, it is to support the charity, at least in part, even if the event that provoked your gift was a work of creativity. I'm more likely to give to a charity that includes a creative element that speaks to me, but ultimately, I feel like I'm funding the charity more than the creativity, even if I get a cool story or handmade item for it.

But as you point out, taking part in creative charity funding is a good way to network with even more people who may stick around for the creativity later.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>> I'm not sure what use you can make out of being definied as "cyberfunded creativity" or not. <<

It makes a difference whether that type of charitable activity should be discussed in this community. So far we have mainly posted about for-profit projects. The field of cyberfunded creativity is still developing, so that means when something new comes up, we should ideally discuss whether it belongs or not.

[chlorophyta.livejournal.com]

I don't see why not! Especially since it's generally a good cause, which somehow seems more noble than asking for money for oneself (even if it's needed).

[hafoc.livejournal.com]

It's still cyberfunded creativity; the money just goes to someone else. But I agree with the other posters who have said there's always the chance your "patron" only wanted to support the charity, and had no interest in your work. I've had a "courtesy bid" or two on items I donated to charity auctions. It's always heartbreaking when you see that what you considered a treasure is just an excuse to donate and will be thrown away as soon as possible. All the more so if what you donated was one of your creative works.

I suppose that if you can keep your ego and your heart out of it, it's not a bad way to support a charity. And when I find a writer or artist who can keep their ego and heart out of what they create, I'll be sure to tell you. :)

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>It's still cyberfunded creativity; the money just goes to someone else. <<

That's kind of the way I'm leaning, but I can see the other side too.

>>And when I find a writer or artist who can keep their ego and heart out of what they create, I'll be sure to tell you. <<

Heh ... yeah.