Internet fights are inherently pointless and so I generally try to steer clear of them. But sometimes, people say things that strike a chord and I feel it would truly be unjust to let it go without saying my peace.
In 2003, the guys over at Penny Arcade created a charity called Child's Play, in response to yet another article claiming games teach violence. They partnered with the Seattle Children's Hospital (which was at that time treating about 190,000 sick children a year) to create a Wish List on Amazon and invited their readers to purchase toys and games on the list for the children at the hospital who had to be there for Christmas. The response was overwhelming - games and game systems stacked floor to ceiling, and a check for over $27,000. Since then, Child's Play has expanded year after year and now partners with over 70 hospitals around the world, to help these children and their families. There are many moving letters on Child's Play's site from patients, family members, and others who have been touched by this organization and their mission. In 2010 they raised over $2,000,000.
Today, a person well-known in the World of Warcraft and Starcraft communities, TotalBiscuit (TB), made this tweet: "Please go away with the spam, I'm not a supporter of Child's Play (prefer charities that help third world countries) and I'm busy working." I am not certain what tweet he received that caused him to state this, and let me make this clear from the beginning: I have absolutely no problem if Child's Play is not a charity someone wants to back. After making this tweet, TB began to argue with a couple of people, making tweets such as "One 3rd world kid given cleanwater so he doesn't die of disease is more important than 100 1st world kids getting computer games" and, after apparently getting some grief from the community, "What, I'm a monster because I'd prefer to see brown people not die of dirty water rather than white kids getting videogames? Grow up." My personal patience was lost after seeing this one: "Guess what, I get asked to help charities all the damn time, big fucking deal, I pick the ones that actually matter." The implications that helping millions of children around the world, sick, injured, and dying in hospitals doesn't matter pushed me over the edge.
What follows, unedited, is the discussion that commenced, beginning with my reply:
Me: You don't have to berate good charities and say they don't matter just bc they aren't your thing.
TB: You don't have to get hideously fucking butthurt over nothing either and twist my words.
Me: "I get asked to help charities all the damn time [...] I pick the ones that actually matter." Twist words? You said it, not me
TB: If you think Childs Play matters more than charities that save lives in 3rd world countries you are a fucking idiot. Fact.
Me: Berating ones that "don't matter" is stupid. They all matter in their own way. If you don't think that, you're the idiot. And you don't have to monetarily support something to have some damn respect for it and for the people who do support it.
TB: I see words but no intelligence behind them. People have finite wealth to give to charity, it should be given to ones that actually matter and help people that really need it. Child's Play might as well be a charity that gives cake and balloons to sick white kids.
Me: More than just white kids get sick. And people can support more than one charity, hard as that may be for you to comprehend. Having support for Child's Play doesn't mean NOT supporting clean water charities.
TB: You live in a fantasy world where people have infinite money.
Me: I hope you never have to go through the pain of seeing a dearly-loved child suffer in the hospital with nothing to do all day, for days, weeks, months, etc. It can literally be the difference between the will to live, and wasting away to die. I've seen it firsthand, and I've heard it time and time again. Also, children of all races and colors and income levels get sick, all around the world, so you may want to change your racist tune of only "white kids" being helped. I have a lot of respect for ANYONE who helps charities, who has the good in their heart to put others first. You don't have to support Child's Play, but you also shouldn't berate it - it's doing good in an area you obviously don't care about. You donate your finite wealth where you like, and I'll donate mine where I like.
TB also made a point of posting a screenshot of himself donating to a clean water charity. Later, as arguments continued, (these were not directed to me) he tweeted "I'm sorry, please remind me how much you donated to a worthwhile charity this evening. I am beyond reproach right now." He continued to make personal attacks to others, apparently believing himself superior to all others by virtue of the donation he made today: "How much did you give to charity tonight you selfrighteous cunt? Lemme guess, nothing at all." "I have to wonder how many of those bitching donated a single cent. Somehow I doubt it's all that many of them." I am no Bible-thumper, I can honestly say I haven't read it for years, but this grandstanding did call to mind a quote which I looked up to ensure proper wording: Matthew, 6:2 - When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
As I said earlier in this post, I honestly don't care what charities someone does or does not choose to support. I care that those charities are respected, as are the people who do chose to support them. Apparently, TB believes that only clean water charities are worth supporting. I'm not certain how all those people who wrote letters to Child's Play would feel about that. Or how about the people whose lives have been saved by being provided with surgeries and treatments via cancer charities? What about charities that feed the hungry, or save women and children from abusive households? Or even charities that aid developing countries, like TB's preferred water charity - what about providing them with vaccinations, food, clothing, etc.?
Giving money to a charity - any charity - does not make you a charitable person. Charity is one of the seven heavenly virtues of Christianity, one of the five pillars of faith of Islam, and is an obligation in the Jewish faith. Charity comes from the heart, from a desire to give to others and help those who need it. All charities are worthwhile. If you truly think they aren't, TotalBiscuit, or anyone else reading this - I implore you, find someone whose life has been impacted by a charity that "doesn't matter" and tell them, to their face, that their suffering doesn't matter to you, and you don't want to help them - and that you don't think they're worth anyone else helping, either.
You may give your money to any charity you please. But please, have respect for the missions of all charities, even those you may not support.
As for myself, I will continue to support Child's Play.
UPDATE: I'm amazed at the views I've gotten here and the support I've received. In light of this and to shine light on this important charity which does good work around the world, I'm happy to announce that GKick, my World of Warcraft podcast, and its partner sites, will be organizing a charity giveaway later this year. Please stay tuned to our podcast and gkick.net for more details. Thank you.
