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03/02/2009 11:48:10 PM · #1 |
This is to be a sounding-board thread for those who just want to voice their joys and frustrations about working hard to make a difference in a world that seems to have a plethora of insurmountable odds.
Please tell us about how you're trying to save your world, your way, that we may throw kudos, a prayer, or just kind thoughts your way, and perhaps it won't seem so overwhelming when you realize how many of us really work hard at sharing the workload.
I was inspired to try and make sure that the amber alert thread got the attention it deserves, in a way that it may share the importance of what we all do, albeit in different, yet no less important ways.
I want to make sure that Joe  Dirt_Diver knows that his response in no way affected me other than to make me want to elaborate on why I feel the way I do about trying to save the world at DPC.
We can't....we're a photography site, and we do so much to help each other already in ways that though they're outside the normal scope of the site, it's people helping members of the DPC "Family", so it's just plain flat wonderful that it happens.
Joe, I know EXACTLY why you feel the way you do about a cause particularly close to your heart.
I am on the board of directors of PA CASA.
//www.pacasa.org/staffandboard.php
I deal with the heartbreak of abused and neglected children every day.
My own child was in foster care for ten months because of the way we screwed up our lives.....our child paid the price for that for a while.
It was only because of people who undertake the thankless job of trying to help hopeless cases on the off chance that maybe they can save one kid; make a difference for one family, that we have a happy and loving family today.
We were NOT the typical case.
It's a constant struggle for this organization to stay afloat, and part of that is because there is never enough money to pay the bills, look out for all the children, and keep trying to institute a CASA program in every county, in every state, in the country.
How do we raise money to keep the state level administration afloat knowing that every dollar we need could be better spent to train one more CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) or to go to another county that wants to open a CASA program?
My only point in my post was that how could we ever cover all the people and places that NEED our support?
How do you decide which one's right for you?
I'm going to Honduras Saturday on a church mission trip to build houses in an impoverished village in the mountains near the Guatemalen border.
I don't know if my week's worth of work will be much help, but I'm going to do what I can for the short time I'm there. At least I rounded up double what I was supposed to for building materials.
I spent a couple hours yesterday, after church, with the young man that I'm mentoring, and we went to take photographs for the newsletter of the local food bank distribution center.....Project S.H.A.R.E.
//www.projectshare.net/
I'm also helping him write an article for the newsletter as part of his requirements to do a service project. This is part of my responsibility as his mentor in our church's Coming of Age mentorship program.
It just happens that I accidently discovered that my young friend John has a natural eye, and it is wonderful to be able to put a camera in his hands and see what he does with it.
This past weekend, the people at my church saw more of me than my family did.....and sometimes that's just downright tiring.
And I don't know if my efforts will ever make a difference in the big picture, but we do the best we can.
I know it's almost selfish to a certain extent to want this to be a safe place, but I actually do come here to forget about the real world for a while because I spend too much time out here paddling upstream.
There are so many good people here that do so much....I love to hear about it, but it would really be depressing to me to have an amber alert notification here at DPC.
I honestly don't know if I could take it.
That was what I didn't say very well in my post......I *DO* mean that you should stay on top of it because it's so important to you, and if there are ways we can help, I'm guessing that as long as you remember that we all have places in our hearts, but some of those same hearts are REALLY busy.
It is terribly difficult to say no, but sometimes you have to in order to be able to be useful in what you DO choose to spend your time, money, and energy doing in your own personal version, and vision, of how to save the world.
I hope some more of you will chime in and let us know how you transform lives, and care for the world.
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03/03/2009 12:02:31 AM · #2 |
| i do it the best way i know how. I go out every weekend to talk to people at bus stops, gas stations, wherever...and at your door. though i think most people find it annoying i do it because i feel it is a life saving message. |
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03/03/2009 12:41:50 AM · #3 |
I used to go out and help protest the horror of abortion, but was so passionate about it that even the peaceful pro-life folks asked me to stay away.
This was back in the early 90s and I never accosted a patient or was aggressive physically with anyone. But back then they would have counter pro-abortion protestors out there as well who would get really radical and nasty and mean and of course the things they were saying made little sense... so I would argue right back.
I only did it a few times and looking back I can see that while awful and murder, abortion *IS* legal and I was not helping the good work of the rest of the pro-life crowd and probably causing more harm than good. So I'm glad they asked me to stay away and took the fight to editorials to local papers where it might do more good.
Sadly though, this has been with us for 30+ years and probably won't go away completely, even if Roe vs. Wade is properly overturned (it was a bad legal decision and should be left to the states).
So yes, it's frustrating no matter what your cause (even if it's pro-abortion) to see so little progress made. |
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03/03/2009 08:05:31 AM · #4 |
In a small, insignificant, hardly noticed way, the "Desk" sets I started here on DPC.
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03/03/2009 08:32:38 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
In a small, insignificant, hardly noticed way, the "Desk" sets I started here on DPC. |
Dude, I have ALWAYS admired that you take the time & effort to undertake that task.
And looking at the thread views, I'd hardly call it unnoticed!.....8>)
Good on you!
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03/03/2009 08:33:44 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by smardaz:
i do it the best way i know how. I go out every weekend to talk to people at bus stops, gas stations, wherever...and at your door. though i think most people find it annoying i do it because i feel it is a life saving message. |
Okay....I can't stand it any more.....
WHAT do you talk to them about?????
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03/03/2009 09:02:54 AM · #7 |
If you could say one thing other than "I'm sorry..." to the mother of that missing child what would it be?
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03/03/2009 09:27:49 AM · #8 |
we are drowning under a sea of causes ..
yes, it is a shame
"think of the children!!" is now satire
i would guess we've had more than 100 solicitations form "worthy causes" since the beginning of the year..
we give & give .. where does it end ?
i come here for photography not someones "pet cause"
which is why there is an ignore button .. which i'll use on this thread as well .. |
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03/03/2009 09:32:58 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by ralph:
we are drowning under a sea of causes ..
yes, it is a shame
"think of the children!!" is now satire
i would guess we've had more than 100 solicitations form "worthy causes" since the beginning of the year..
we give & give .. where does it end ?
i come here for photography not someones "pet cause"
which is why there is an ignore button .. which i'll use on this thread as well .. |
wow....oooooook then.
hey jeb i figured when i said i knocked on doors on the weekend it would be pretty obvious that i am a Jehovah's Witness |
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03/03/2009 09:43:48 AM · #10 |
Dirt, please take this message with the thought and love that I am trying to say to you.
I think what you are trying to do is great.
On the other hand being hot mouthed about it, is not going to help you with your cause.
There are many many ways you can go forward with this and help. Being passionate about something is not wrong, but being rude is.
Amber alerts are very good at what they do, they have a very high success rate as well. You can get alerts on your computer, phone and there are many sites that let you get direct information sent to you ASAP.
Instead of doing a blanket plea for Amber alerts on a website for photographers and expect the cause to be taken up in a heartbeat and agreed upon by everyone instantly. Why dont you do some work for it,
If you are this concerned, find the people on here that live in your state. Send them information on what you want to do, send out emails when an Amber Alert goes out.
You could try that for every state in America.
It is a lot of work, but you can nto expect anything to be implemented on your say so. You do some work to show it can be done.
You do the work in your community and raise the awareness. Set up safe kids programs, go to after school classes to learn what you can do. When an Amber Alert is issued, it is usually the at the end of something that has been brewing for a long time. Get invovled and learn how to intervene before this all takes place
~~~~
You can not say that I do not know what I am talking about or argue with anything I have said. As you know what I do
You know
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03/03/2009 09:44:47 AM · #11 |
Now back to the original message on this board.
which I have to say was a nice post to read. |
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03/03/2009 09:50:33 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
If you could say one thing other than "I'm sorry..." to the mother of that missing child what would it be? |
What does this mean?
Are you saying that I somehow owe this mother an apology?
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03/03/2009 09:52:11 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by ralph:
we are drowning under a sea of causes ..
yes, it is a shame
"think of the children!!" is now satire
i would guess we've had more than 100 solicitations form "worthy causes" since the beginning of the year..
we give & give .. where does it end ?
i come here for photography not someones "pet cause"
which is why there is an ignore button .. which i'll use on this thread as well .. |
Originally posted by smardaz:
wow....oooooook then.
hey jeb i figured when i said i knocked on doors on the weekend it would be pretty obvious that i am a Jehovah's Witness |
Well, I didn't know.
Though I worship a different way, I have always found JWs to be polite and earnest.
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03/03/2009 09:52:19 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by ralph:
we are drowning under a sea of causes ..
yes, it is a shame
"think of the children!!" is now satire
i would guess we've had more than 100 solicitations form "worthy causes" since the beginning of the year..
we give & give .. where does it end ?
i come here for photography not someones "pet cause"
which is why there is an ignore button .. which i'll use on this thread as well .. |
I have to agree. It seems many here feel the need to inundate us with their "worthy causes." I joined this site back in '05 and enjoyed it a ton. Last year I let my membership expire partly because of all the "Do-Gooders" around here. Look at the DirtDiver thread now. If someone even has a logical, well-thought out response that even remotely has the feel of contradicting the Do-Gooders cause, Do-Gooders goes ballistic and says anyone who doesn't agree with them must not care.
It's pretty sad really.
This is a PHOTOGRAPHY SITE! It's an INTERNATIONAL SITE! Your "Regional" good causes are wonderful, but coming here lambasting us because we don't' agree that the site should be reprogrammed for your good cause is ludicrous.
I still come look at the challenges here, but really don't want to waste much more time on this site than that just because of all the nonsense some folks post. Why I'm even responding to this post is a good question, but I'm off to look at some of the great photographs now from recent challenges, then be on my merry way.
Message edited by author 2009-03-03 10:34:43. |
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03/03/2009 09:54:22 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by JulietNN:
... On the other hand being hot mouthed about it, is not going to help you with your cause.
There are many many ways you can go forward with this and help. Being passionate about something is not wrong, but being rude is. ... |
Woah. Juliet, with all due respect - where in the world did this come from? The one-liner comment from Dirt_Diver in this thread was quite appropriate to this threads intent IMO.
"hot mouthed...", "being rude..." ???! Sorry, but I don't see it. |
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03/03/2009 09:57:16 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
If you could say one thing other than "I'm sorry..." to the mother of that missing child what would it be? |
What does this mean?
Are you saying that I somehow owe this mother an apology? |
I think the response that Joe was trying to get here was not so much a "response" per-se, but a thought. The easy thing to say to the parent of a missing child would be "I'm sorry...". Actually, that's the easy thing to say in many emotive situations.
When I really gave Joe's comment some thought, my response that would be appropriate, yet take the most effort, is "how can I help, is there anything I can do?". |
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03/03/2009 10:00:32 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
Originally posted by JulietNN:
... On the other hand being hot mouthed about it, is not going to help you with your cause.
There are many many ways you can go forward with this and help. Being passionate about something is not wrong, but being rude is. ... |
Woah. Juliet, with all due respect - where in the world did this come from? The one-liner comment from Dirt_Diver in this thread was quite appropriate to this threads intent IMO.
"hot mouthed...", "being rude..." ???! Sorry, but I don't see it. |
It was in the other tread that I am referring to Glad |
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03/03/2009 10:14:58 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
If you could say one thing other than "I'm sorry..." to the mother of that missing child what would it be? |
What does this mean?
Are you saying that I somehow owe this mother an apology? |
Well if someone dies you say I'm sorry right? I'm just asking you without saying the obvious "I'm sorry" If you could say something to her what would it be? |
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03/03/2009 10:17:20 AM · #19 |
I think the rational is , He is asking for help to find a missing child who just so happens to be with her armed and dangerous father with suicidal tendancies. This is an innocent 2 year old girl. She didnt just wonder off down the street, she is in a car speeding across state lines. The ideal here is to have as many people aware of it as posible.
Not sure how many will remember when DPC member Steve Davidson went missing? The thread was kept on the front page for 2 weeks in hopes that someone,. not just the people who live in Arizonia but all over the country kept an eye out for him. Where were the complaints then? If the only reason everyone was so concerned is because he is a DPC member. Then I gotta say that is just sad.
This is a little kid who has no way of helping herself so the more people that help her the better. This is not a tree hugging situation, This is a little kids life that needs to be protected. If it were my child I would hope that everyone on DPC would be willing to look instead of the usual complaints and bitching that happen here. Some of you people act like you dont care. Don't clutter up my photography site with useless missing person information. But please do when you want your kids school project to score well with the teacher or when you want help buying a new car etc.... If you are going to draw the line. Then draw it at photography and discuss nothing but photography in the forums . I dont always agree with Dirt and I do not think his response to Jeb was fair,. But I do not believe Jeb thought it through before he shot down a pretty nobel effort to help someone who really needs the help. I can understand why it would upset some.
I hope they find the girl safe and sound. and even though I live up in Wisconsin, I will keep my eyes open just incase they end up heading this way.
To implement an amber alert to the site would be very simple. add another forum topic down in the section with the personal forum, make it so each user can choose to ignore it. But also make it sticky for 24 hours with option for person who started thread to remove the sticky if person is found before time expires. Make a clear rule that that forum only be used for serious official Amber Alerts. So it doesnt fill up with help me find my lost cat posters.
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03/03/2009 10:18:10 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
yet take the most effort, is "how can I help, is there anything I can do?". |
EXACTLY
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.... |
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03/03/2009 10:18:11 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
If you could say one thing other than "I'm sorry..." to the mother of that missing child what would it be? |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
What does this mean?
Are you saying that I somehow owe this mother an apology? |
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I think the response that Joe was trying to get here was not so much a "response" per-se, but a thought. The easy thing to say to the parent of a missing child would be "I'm sorry...". Actually, that's the easy thing to say in many emotive situations.
When I really gave Joe's comment some thought, my response that would be appropriate, yet take the most effort, is "how can I help, is there anything I can do?". |
Here's something that may be too late, but you never know.....this is an organization that seeks, by court appointment, to give children a voice, on a one-on-one basis with a volunteer caseworker whose sole purpose is to be an in-depth liason FOR the child between the court system and the social service system.
These three links are pertinent to the area.
Kentucky statewide CASA Here
Franklin County CASA Here and Here
Many children & youth organizations are horrendously overworked and understaffed, so often kids don't get the attention, and representation, they should.
Often, identifying bad situations BEFORE they occur is helpful so that these abductions are lessened. We really don't know all the details as the courts and caseworkers do......is this abduction a real problem, or has the father taken the child where he feels it's safe?
It's a slippery slope to try to ascertain all the details from outside, though I'm certainly not condoning the method used to spirit the child away, no matter what the reason.
The involement of CASAs over the years has helped many a family through the twists and turns of both family problems and the oft-times confusing meleé of the court/social services systems.
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03/03/2009 10:18:29 AM · #22 |
We now have four threads on this topic.
Just sayin'. |
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03/03/2009 10:22:13 AM · #23 |
 bugzeye
Message edited by author 2009-03-03 11:16:54. |
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03/03/2009 10:29:33 AM · #24 |
Originally posted by citymars:
We now have four threads on this topic.
Just sayin'. |
Yeah. Reminds me of my family at a holiday. All in the same room talking over one another with different threads.
Can have 8 people and 6 conversations. :) |
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03/03/2009 10:30:27 AM · #25 |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
If you could say one thing other than "I'm sorry..." to the mother of that missing child what would it be? |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
What does this mean?
Are you saying that I somehow owe this mother an apology? |
Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
Well if someone dies you say I'm sorry right? I'm just asking you without saying the obvious "I'm sorry" If you could say something to her what would it be? |
That IS easy....."How can I help?"
But that has to be real, heartfelt, and you have to make the commitment to follow it through if you ask.
And that's goes back to the crux of my issue....I'm exhausted, and feeling wrung out from the amount of time I spend in my life trying to make a difference outside of this place where I come to relax....(though the jury's out on how relaxing it is here.)...and to have a grabber like this thrust into our faces, with a whole lot of passion and without the nod from the powers that be just seemed a little over the top.
And the response to my post, though obviously not interpreted in context, showed not only a lack of knowledge of my own efforts, but a complete, secondary disrespect for them as though discounting them entirely.....and I'm sure you didn't really mean to do that, did you?
In no way did I infer, imply, or outright state that it isn't an important issue......my point was merely to try to ask that everyone's efforts be considered as well, and in order to do that, we cannot turn this site into a "Cause of the Day" kind of site. That wouldn't be a reasonable burden to thrust upon the men and women who devote many hours of THEIR time to keeping this site going, thankless task that is some days as well.....
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