Does the economy have you down, depressed, and dejected? Is money tight? Are your credit card bills soaring out of control? Maybe you've had some unexpected medical bills, or an accident, fire, or other catastrophe that is costing you far more money than you can get your hands on.
Or maybe you want something a bit more frivolous, such as that dream Caribbean vacation, breast implants, a nose job, or that Hummer you've had your eye on (and of course, then you will need extra finances to cover the gas!). No worries... just go online and ask for the money!
Otherwise known as "cyber-begging," asking for money online is the modern version of traditional panhandling. It involves asking strangers for money to meet a perceived or stated need. In a quote from Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, "Internet begging has the clear advantage to street panhandling in that it can be practiced with relative anonymity, thereby eliminating or reducing the shame and disgrace apparent of begging in public."
Yes it is. Countless of people have done it since the early 2000s. As a matter of fact, many are still doing it.
Take the example of Grace Haumphries, a dancer who begged online. In an article, Humphries asked total strangers for help with her career. She needed make up, hair arrangements, photo shoots, all of which are expensive.
Within days, photographers responded to help her… for free! In the end she saved £3,000 to upstart her career.
Cyber begging works but is extremely difficult. In difficult, I mean the waiting part. Some people have posted pleas and took years to be answered, many have no donations at all.
I’m sure your interests are aroused by now. Want to try begging for a semester’s tuition?
Having chosen a begging site, your request will be handled by the site itself. It’s going to post your ad in social networking sites, online poker sites, sites that are very popular. By doing so, bigger chances of donors answering your plea is possible.
I must warn you that you’ll have to make sure begging sites are legitimate. A lot are scams.
There are free cyber begging sites however that post your pleas. Pleas can be even be seen on Craiglist.
Take the case of “Bob” who donated to a beggar when he saw her ad in craiglist.
Everybody can beg online. You’ll just have to suck up pride and not be ashamed.
But… there’s good news to that aspect: Anonymity!
Now, one doesn’t have to be ashamed too much. Names are completely hidden when you do begging. Unless of course you choose to divulge it?
Aol news features Amanda Carson who begged online. She never thought she’d beg for anything in her life. She says however, she pushed aside pride and begged for Christmas gifts.
Now that she bought her sons gifts, Carson says cyber begging was worth it.
You can beg for anything.
You’ll be surprised though, at what other people can ask for. According to the Seattle Times, people have asked for divorce money to payment bills. Some even have silly appeals such as a “buy a hummer” request.
There are many heart breaking stories that are published with ads. These include pleas for medical bills and money to stay afloat. Whatever cause one has, whatever one needs, it can be begged for online.
Just as what I’ve mentioned earlier, there’s really no telling. Some pleas have been answered in days, some in months. Some, never.
Among the stuff I’ve read, I noticed that quicker donations happen when ads appear genuine. Donors can sense when a “beggar” is in need or just scamming.
So as an advice to those who plan on “begging”: keep it real.
