[SilverStreak]

It occurs to me that you are putting a lot of time and effort into defending your words and actions here. really trying to twist into a personal attack and not an attack on the fight against AIDS or those who have AIDS.

Wonder why that could be?

Maybe because HIV/AIDS is not funny and now that you have spent an entire day making fun of it you don't feel very good about it?

Pretty defensive, defensive indeed.

[Lupin..the..3rd]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

nobody turned on you. they didn't know something, you taught them. they DARED to question some aspects of the organization and again, not only did you defend (red) but you also explained and educated the ones that didn't fully know.

Edzachary. My first post was an opinion based on about 30 seconds of reading on the (RED) web site. Of course all the facets of the program would not be apparent in 30 seconds of casual reading. Hunt, you gave your response, provided additional facts, and all was well. You've successfully expanded awareness of this program to a dozen or more people just in this thread alone.

No reason for you to go on arguing because no one here is insulting the (RED) program, the cause, the people who have Aids, or even you. Some mild ribbing and things said in jest, but that's the nature of the place. All you had to do about 6 pages ago, is sit back and relax, ignore the sophomoric stuff, and be satisfied about your success in getting the word out. But you didn't.

[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by SilverStreak

If, as you claim, nothing is beyond ridicule here, then how come we can't discuss politics or religion? Oh that's right, Dorkis get their feewings hurt when they talk politics.

That there is hypocrisy. Not much describes Dorkiphus better than hypocrisy.

Sigh.... well, I really wanted to stay out of this fucking train wreck of a thread, but leave it to Hunt to drag me in

Hunt - I am the board admin, and I alone set the policy on the board. It is my rule that no politics or religion here. This rule has nothing to do what-so-ever with your little pissing match you have here with }{. This rule was in place long before you got here. It also has nothing to do with "Dorkis get their feewings hurt", as I've explain thousands of times. I couldn't care less who's feeling are hurt. It has to do with turning this board into a right-v-left political cesspool, which I don't want to happen. I know you know this, but to say so wouldn't play into your hyperbole quite as well, so you have to deliberately mis-represent my policy and call me a hypocrite.

So please, explain to me how your fight with }{ makes me a hypocrite because of my policies that have nothing to do with this thread or you? BTW, I suggest you look up the definition of "hypocrisy" first. It's pretty clear from your post here you don't understand the meaning of the word. I guess that means anytime you have a little virtual fight with someone here it's somehow my fault and I'm a hypocrite? Explain please.

Also, please explain why you've decided to drag me into this in the first place while you're at it.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by SilverStreak

For the record }{ I don't think you would make a breast cancer joke if you found out that one of your friends wives or mothers either had it or died from it.

I believe humor is definitely a healing catalyst. The way my friend made her mother (along with the doctor and every nurse on the floor) laugh was when she took in a box of titty cupcakes during her double mastectomy recovery. Death is part of life. Try and prevent it, but face up to it when it's inevitable and have a blast. Before the surgery she was told she only had months. She shaved her head before the chemo did it for her and started wearing a pink sparkly wig. People would say "Act your age" and she would respond with "How should you act when you have months to live?". That question scared a lot of people, but intrigued the smart ones.

[Charlie Stylianos]

I'm going to try and turn this thread around.

I'm sure we are all sympathetic to what's happening in Africa. I thank you, Hunt, for bringing it to our attention.

As I do like helping when and where I can, I made avatars to try and help boost our local awareness.

Please feel free to use.

We can call this Dorki(RED)?

[}{arlequin]

Originally Posted by SilverStreak

If, as you claim, nothing is beyond ridicule here, then how come we can't discuss politics or religion? Oh that's right, Dorkis get their feewings hurt when they talk politics.

That there is hypocrisy. Not much describes Dorkiphus better than hypocrisy.

Kind of chicken shit to say there are no taboos except . . .

This thread has turned into an assassination of my beliefs.

For the record }{ I don't think you would make a breast cancer joke if you found out that one of your friends wives or mothers either had it or died from it.

But there I go, expressing an opinion again. Damn my hide, I just won't cave into cyberbullying by a bunch of 14 year old men. I just won't meekly fade back into the interwebs because someone disagreed with me.

Basic human decency is all I asked but thank God (can I say that?) that Dorkiphus is here to tear me down and keep me grounded.

politics and religion are not permitted b/c EVERY single thread ab it turns the way this one has. jazz is right in trying to limit these kinds antics.

assassination of your beliefs? lmao are you serious??? as i said, once you taught everyone here a lesson, no one has bothered you ab your beliefs. not since pg 5 or 6...

you're right. i wouldn't make a cancer joke then. i would make a HUNT joke. just like in this instance

nobody is making you cave in or even prohibiting you from expressing your opinion. in fact, everyone here benefitted from what you know. no one in the slightest wants you to meekly fade into anything. (where on earth are you getting this??)

you're so knee deep in the wrong aspect of this thread that i guess you really do not realize the joke was about you. just about you. oh my, so i insinuated that maybe there is a reason you chose that cause. if you wanna make that leap, you could say i made a 'hunt might be a fag' joke i guess. a ghey. a queenie? catcher?? boy toy??? it's the same lame joke people made when you were in high school. i can't believe anybody even chuckled at it, let alone get affected. why so bothered? i guess you getting butthurt is actually the appropriate term then

btw,
the rainbow flag here is the visual equivalent of my joke. i wondered if you laughed at that one b/c if you did, omg you're a hypocrite!! GUARDS, TAKE HIM AWAY!!! OFF W/ HIS HEAD!!!

[}{arlequin]

Originally Posted by SilverStreak

Maybe because HIV/AIDS is not funny and now that you have spent an entire day making fun of it you don't feel very good about it?

wow, are you daft! i've spent an entire day making fun of your sensitive bleeding vagina, not of the disease.

when i mention sensitivity here, i am referring to your ultra fragile feelings whenever someone says something less than kind to you, not of your sensitivities towards the plight of those affected by the virus.

[berettafan]

i realize i'm not part of the brotherhood and i am aware of the 'bust on hunt' gig here....but guys honestly when somebody is yukking it up about cancer or aids or children suffering or an entire race facing extermination by a lunatic....well it makes you think such a person is missing some perspective.

and Hunt how on earth can you be taking shit from a guy who owns more shoes than the rest of this forum combined?

[Mark in Baltimore]

Thread lock, please.

[Parenn911]

Originally Posted by SilverStreak

You both miss the paradigm shift that (RED) represents. The whole point is that it is not a handout. (RED) provides a constant revenue stream instead of irregular spurts of money. (RED) is a conglomerate of retailers and manufactures that make and sell fresh products to keep the revenue stream going.

Another aspect of (RED) is that, as is the case with most of the Hallmark products, they are actually made in Africa by Africans. What (RED) does is open a market for these tiny little towns that would otherwise be absolutely closed to them. It sustains industry and jobs that weren't there before. Sustainable industry and jobs. Novel concept.

The purpose of the products is that the profit goes to (RED). The other beauty of (RED): everybody wins. You buy a pair of cool converse shoes, converse gets paid what it cost to make and a pregnant mother in Africa gets medication that prevents her from passing her terminal disease onto her infant child.

There is no ego involved. In fact I'd bet that I could wear any number of garments to a DE and you would never know they are (RED). That's another aspect of the program, it's passive which means many people will buy (RED) products and not even know it. How much advertising do you see for (RED)? I haven't seen any since the launch a few years ago. This started long before the down economy. Why don't you go to joinred.com before you make judgments.

Be as skeptical as you want but this campaign is born of people and corporations that are motivated for the right reasons. It's not Sally Struthers begging you for money. It's not slick mailers asking you for money. It's not the power company asking you to add $! to your bill. It's an entirely different concept that provides a continuous flow of revenue for products that otherwise would just go into the Gap's pockets.

Of course you may contribute to those less fortunate however you wish but to put down the way one person does it is a little self serving no?

I happen to believe in the concept and I chose to heighten awareness by putting it on my car just as other people put breast cancer ribbons or make-a-wish or autism liveries on their cars. Are you going to criticize them? I chose this for my own reasons.

What's the difference?

You should also read the FAQ as it refutes most of your objections

Here is some info from the website:

Global Fund financing has also:

* Reached 62 million people with HIV counseling and testing
* Provided 3.2 million AIDS orphans with basic care and support
* Reached 91 million people with community outreach services for one or several of the three diseases
* Trained 7.6 million health or community workers to deliver services

(RED) is the Global Fund’s largest private sector contributor

The Global Fund, working together with (RED) and the countries in question, has selected established grants with sound performance to receive money raised through (RED). To date, (RED) partners have generated more than $130 million for the Global Fund. No overhead is taken out of these funds – 100% of this money flows to Global Fund financed AIDS grants in Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda and Swaziland.

In these countries this money is helping to finance comprehensive national HIV AND AIDS programs led by the ministries of health to provide antiretroviral treatment for children and adults, assist in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, support essential counseling and testing activities to reduce the overall risk of HIV transmission.

Additional contributions of funds will continue to be made to these programs as they achieve tangible, measurable results in their lifesaving work. Additional amounts of money are sent by the Global Fund to (RED) grants according to the grants’ own requests to the Global Fund – usually every 3 to 6 months. As with all Global Fund grants, additional funds are sent only once results in-country have been reported and verified.


Try the calculator

http://www.joinred.com/Learn/Impact/Calculator.aspx

"The real value of a conflict is, the true value, is in the debt that it creates. You control the debt, you control everything."