Comments on: craigslist Charitable Fund http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/ Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:22:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: jazz http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-194559 jazz Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:35:30 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-194559 Anyone who thinks shutting this section will stem the flow is nieve at best. Law enforcement should be against the ban if onlt for the sake that it gives them one place to enforce abuse. There are hundreds of sites that allow these types of ads and more will spring up to fill the void. Stiff and swift prosecution on trafficers is the only solution, censorship has never worked and it won't here. Anyone who thinks shutting this section will stem the flow is nieve at best. Law enforcement should be against the ban if onlt for the sake that it gives them one place to enforce abuse. There are hundreds of sites that allow these types of ads and more will spring up to fill the void. Stiff and swift prosecution on trafficers is the only solution, censorship has never worked and it won’t here.

]]>
By: fitBodyCoach http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-162923 fitBodyCoach Mon, 31 May 2010 18:31:11 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-162923 We all have a responsibility to do something about the human condition. Craigslist is definitely taking their responsibility seriously, we need more organizations to step up and establish charitable funds like this. Thank you Craigslist for giving back! We all have a responsibility to do something about the human condition. Craigslist is definitely taking their responsibility seriously, we need more organizations to step up and establish charitable funds like this. Thank you Craigslist for giving back!

]]>
By: Kathie S. http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-162889 Kathie S. Mon, 31 May 2010 14:32:37 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-162889 It seems that Julia Bates' approach would provide Craigslist with pro-active and advocacy choices. As a career teacher who has experienced 'information fear' in the form of censorship (yes, "Catcher in the Rye" and many others!) from "concerned parents" and "community moralists" seek to cut-off access to topics that offend sensibilities, feature dangerous practices, condone facets of sexuality, etc. The INTENT, at its core: to keep impressionable people from picking up harmful habits or enticing a wanderlust to 'live on the edge'---is ADMIRABLE. That is what love and affinity want for people, young or not!! It is, however, the 'control methodology' that falls short of the capacity to provide that very GOODNESS (love & affinity, safety, protection, etc.). The 'control methodology' is the beach-ball held underwater, that will eventually pop to the surface, whenever the hands holding it under become too tired to submerge the beach ball (holding the threatening/sadistic/immoral/whatever information) any longer! Then, THERE IT IS: with much more force and attention than had it been allowed to float atop the surface, noticeable and 'just there'. Real. REALITY is 'just there'; all the non-goodness that we may advocate and work against is REALITY. The knowledge of it existing is NOT GOING TO BE ERADICATED just because 'control methodology' deems such informa tion unaccessible ('submerged') and off-the-books, off of Craigslist's listings. The submerged version will, as others have said here and elsewhere--- (and research along the "forbidden fruit causes intrigue" idea)---POP UP SOMEWHERE ELSE !!!! We cannot ERASE reality: human beings have the potential for perversions, for greed, for victimizing, etc. We can, however, transform it. That is, 'change the form of reality'. Since we humans also have a huge longing to curb suffering, to contribute to healing, to assist those fending off temptation, to aid people who see no alternatives than following humiliating cultural practices ---- since we have a fount of benevolence in our souls, let us CREATE formats of DISCUSSION. Discussion and other communication modes (like speeches, pamphlets, billboards, t-shirts, websites, etc., etc.,!!) By OPENING the information with facts, interviews, anecdotes, pictures, and stories...the posture is 'an offering'. People receive 'offerings' much more readily than 'forced erased info'; citing how DIMINISHING the sex slave trade, forced prostitution, any sex-for-money arrangement is to the HUMAN SPIRIT, and creating opportunities for that information to substantiate such claims: well, I would be armed with real CHOICES!! I would become knowledgable and fueled with purpose AGAINST such bondage. I can be walking and be impacted by a billboard that imparts truthful information about the pain and compromised dignity and low quality-of-life that such perversion and/or greed and/or ______? leaves human beings with. I can then BE MOVED to, call the 800 #, I can see if my college campus already has an advocacy group, or if my workplace would support an existing outreach, I can petition, I can speak..... As long as the beach ball is 'gliding on the surface'--freely accessible--I have choices to ACT, to be in action against such abominations of humanity! When 'controlled info' is submerged, the abominations do not go away---they are simply not visible/accessible...and the true dangers and choices remain unknown and UNKNOWABLE. Putting energy and resources into 'controlling information' is short- sighted; educating and empowering has the potential to create new thoughts and informed choices. And THAT allows our own (young or not) dignity to 'be'. Humans need choices; THAT is empowering. Erasing 'what does exist' (REALITY) is DECIDING FOR someone (young or not!), and that is DIS- EMPOWERING. And, isn't 'disempowerment' the very experience that love, affinity and benevolence DON'T stand for? It seems that Julia Bates’ approach would provide Craigslist with pro-active and advocacy choices. As a career teacher who has experienced ‘information fear’ in the form of censorship (yes, “Catcher in the Rye” and many others!) from “concerned parents” and “community moralists” seek to cut-off access to topics that offend sensibilities, feature dangerous practices, condone facets of sexuality, etc.
The INTENT, at its core: to keep impressionable people from picking up harmful habits or enticing a wanderlust to ‘live on the edge’—is ADMIRABLE. That is what love and affinity want for people, young or not!! It is, however, the ‘control methodology’ that falls short of the capacity to provide that very GOODNESS (love & affinity, safety, protection, etc.). The ‘control methodology’ is the beach-ball held underwater, that will eventually pop to the surface, whenever the hands holding it under become too tired to submerge the beach ball (holding the threatening/sadistic/immoral/whatever information) any longer!

Then, THERE IT IS:
with much more force and attention than had it been allowed to float atop the surface, noticeable and ‘just there’. Real.

REALITY is ‘just there’; all the non-goodness that we may advocate and
work against is REALITY. The knowledge of it existing is NOT GOING TO
BE ERADICATED just because ‘control methodology’ deems such informa
tion unaccessible (’submerged’) and off-the-books, off of Craigslist’s
listings.
The submerged version will, as others have said here and elsewhere—
(and research along the “forbidden fruit causes intrigue” idea)—POP UP
SOMEWHERE ELSE !!!! We cannot ERASE reality: human beings have the
potential for perversions, for greed, for victimizing, etc.

We can, however, transform it. That is, ‘change the form of reality’.

Since we humans also have a huge longing to curb suffering, to
contribute to healing, to assist those fending off temptation, to aid people who see no alternatives than following humiliating cultural practices —- since we have a fount of benevolence in our souls, let us CREATE formats of DISCUSSION.

Discussion and other communication modes (like speeches, pamphlets, billboards, t-shirts, websites, etc., etc.,!!)
By OPENING the information with facts, interviews, anecdotes, pictures,
and stories…the posture is ‘an offering’. People receive ‘offerings’ much
more readily than ‘forced erased info’; citing how DIMINISHING
the sex slave trade, forced prostitution, any sex-for-money arrangement
is to the HUMAN SPIRIT, and creating opportunities for that information to substantiate such claims:
well, I would be armed with real CHOICES!! I would become knowledgable and fueled with purpose AGAINST such bondage.

I can be walking and be impacted by a billboard that imparts truthful information about the pain and compromised dignity and low quality-of-life that such perversion and/or greed and/or ______? leaves human beings with.
I can then BE MOVED to,
call the 800 #, I can see if my college campus already has an advocacy group, or if my workplace would support an existing outreach, I can petition, I can speak…..
As long as the beach ball is ‘gliding on the surface’–freely accessible–I have choices to ACT, to be in action against such abominations of humanity!
When ‘controlled info’ is submerged, the abominations do not go away—they are simply not visible/accessible…and the true dangers and choices remain unknown and UNKNOWABLE.
Putting energy and resources into ‘controlling information’ is short-
sighted; educating and empowering has the potential to create new
thoughts and informed choices. And THAT allows our own (young or not)
dignity to ‘be’.
Humans need choices; THAT is empowering. Erasing ‘what does exist’
(REALITY) is DECIDING FOR someone (young or not!), and that is DIS-
EMPOWERING. And, isn’t ‘disempowerment’ the very experience that
love, affinity and benevolence DON’T stand for?

]]>
By: Scott http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-158457 Scott Sat, 08 May 2010 00:46:11 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-158457 Great job with the fund guys! Admirable. Great job with the fund guys! Admirable.

]]>
By: Is Craigslist Money Suitable for Human Trafficking Prevention Charities? | The Deets http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-157809 Is Craigslist Money Suitable for Human Trafficking Prevention Charities? | The Deets Wed, 05 May 2010 03:17:54 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-157809 [...] traffickers place 1., cooperates with law enforcement when they’re working on cases, and attempts to donate the money they’ve brought in to organizations that work on human rights iss...2., only to have their donations rejected and press releases issued explaining that they’re a [...] […] traffickers place 1., cooperates with law enforcement when they’re working on cases, and attempts to donate the money they’ve brought in to organizations that work on human rights iss…2., only to have their donations rejected and press releases issued explaining that they’re a […]

]]>
By: Urban News Ninja http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-157740 Urban News Ninja Tue, 04 May 2010 20:38:45 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-157740 Any free site like craiglist deserve all the praise they can get for at least trying to change the life of others forever. Well done ! Any free site like craiglist deserve all the praise they can get for at least trying to change the life of others forever.

Well done !

]]>
By: Chip Bennett http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-156544 Chip Bennett Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:50:31 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-156544 I don't think the they are worse than me defense really makes the cut. What harm comes from stopping a service that can so easily be used to exploit people? Kudos for the charitable contributions. Let's keep the ball rolling. I don’t think the they are worse than me defense really makes the cut. What harm comes from stopping a service that can so easily be used to exploit people?

Kudos for the charitable contributions. Let’s keep the ball rolling.

]]>
By: Julia Bates http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-156486 Julia Bates Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:16:47 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-156486 In the area of human trafficking and the sex industry, what are ways that you can monitor ads on Craigslist to ensure that people are not upholding these illegal practices? The New York Times article, "Sex Ads Seen Adding to Revenue to Craigslist", did bring up the point that "the site remains the biggest online hub for selling women against their will". If this is the case, would Craigslist be willing to partner with organizations like CaliforniaAgainstSlavery.org, Oasis USA, the Polaris Project, or other activists groups to crack down on one of the most profitable industries in the world? It's true that sex sells, and the illegal practices annually reap an estimated 31.6 billion dollars, according to the United Nations. In the initiative to bring justice to the thousands of men, women, and children trapped in this industry, how can Craigslist assist the fight? In the area of human trafficking and the sex industry, what are ways that you can monitor ads on Craigslist to ensure that people are not upholding these illegal practices? The New York Times article, “Sex Ads Seen Adding to Revenue to Craigslist”, did bring up the point that “the site remains the biggest online hub for selling women against their will”. If this is the case, would Craigslist be willing to partner with organizations like CaliforniaAgainstSlavery.org, Oasis USA, the Polaris Project, or other activists groups to crack down on one of the most profitable industries in the world? It’s true that sex sells, and the illegal practices annually reap an estimated 31.6 billion dollars, according to the United Nations. In the initiative to bring justice to the thousands of men, women, and children trapped in this industry, how can Craigslist assist the fight?

]]>
By: Glenn Fleishman http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-156466 Glenn Fleishman Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:02:37 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-156466 Jim, the public document would be the Form 990 your tax folks must file each year showing expenses, contributions, officers, etc. I did a quick search at http://dynamodata.fdncenter.org/990s/990search/esearch.php for craiglist and found all the 990s. They're a matter of public records. The $2.7 million is shown, and you and Craig are listed as officers, but you're not listed as providing the funds, of course. The Schedule B shows clearly that craigslist (the company) was the source of funds. I happen to be a journalist, but it should take anyone about five minutes to get these facts, if not less. Jim, the public document would be the Form 990 your tax folks must file each year showing expenses, contributions, officers, etc. I did a quick search at http://dynamodata.fdncenter.org/990s/990search/esearch.php for craiglist and found all the 990s. They’re a matter of public records.

The $2.7 million is shown, and you and Craig are listed as officers, but you’re not listed as providing the funds, of course. The Schedule B shows clearly that craigslist (the company) was the source of funds.

I happen to be a journalist, but it should take anyone about five minutes to get these facts, if not less.

]]>
By: katherine. http://blog.craigslist.org/2010/04/craigslist-charitable-fund/#comment-156459 katherine. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:15:09 +0000 http://blog.craigslist.org/?p=146#comment-156459 I understand the objection to the NY Times article...but I still have some questions. http://katinsc.blogspot.com/2010/04/picking-up-shovel.html I understand the objection to the NY Times article…but I still have some questions.

http://katinsc.blogspot.com/2010/04/picking-up-shovel.html

]]>