I would lean towards "polite", with a healthy dose of hesitation.
Sweet would be more like "Here is a donation for the con. This con is very important to me, and I'd hate to know you were struggling or that it might not happen again because of money."
The "Um" is critical. Without that you are simply being helpful, kind, generous.
With the "Um" you are either hesitating, suggesting modesty, caution or uncertainly, or you are pausing for dramatic effect, suggesting you think you are totally cool and about to save the day in a shower of bank notes.
Noncommittal, unless you've established a pattern of providing donations when asked in the past. Then you are generous.
Sweet is "I have these things which I can donate" or some non-money form of aid which they won't need to spend money on later.
Generous (without a past pattern of behaviour) is "Here's some money. If you still have problems that are money related later, let me know and I'll see if I have more money."
Thoughtful is "Can I help you brainstorm some ways around the problems you foresee? My expertise is in x, y and z."
Naturally, my examples define a ballpark area of offers, rather than definitive boundaries.
Requires more context. Is this part of a conversation? Is it solicited? Do you know the person? What's the power dynamic? Are they a minority? Unsolicited offers of help from random people (white dudes in particular) can sound condescending. In particular if they are from someone you don't know.
The world has given me money, and I want to spend it on ... well, three things: 1. Ending poverty via give directly. 2. cash infusions to black women in america because obvious reasons are obvious. 3. Games and gaming!
There’s a reason I picked the two words I did. You want to use your money to support institutions and causes that have problems mere money can really help.
One needn’t be Soros or Carnegie or Gates to pursue this goal, just have a notable comparative advantage in that area.
I should say by needs more context I mean, that you need to have context in the offer. But this is probably colored by my own hang ups regarding how I interpret unsolicited offers of help.
Also, I wonder what sort of responses you expected, if these responses have led you to think you should close the thread...
Thoughtful, generous
ReplyDeleteHelpful? Not to be super-literal, but.
ReplyDeleteI guess. To my view, it's just pragmatic. If it costs money to run cons, people will stop running them.
ReplyDeleteI would lean towards "polite", with a healthy dose of hesitation.
ReplyDeleteSweet would be more like "Here is a donation for the con. This con is very important to me, and I'd hate to know you were struggling or that it might not happen again because of money."
The "Um" is critical. Without that you are simply being helpful, kind, generous.
ReplyDeleteWith the "Um" you are either hesitating, suggesting modesty, caution or uncertainly, or you are pausing for dramatic effect, suggesting you think you are totally cool and about to save the day in a shower of bank notes.
Hard to tell without a more detailed script. :-)
Noncommittal, unless you've established a pattern of providing donations when asked in the past. Then you are generous.
ReplyDeleteSweet is "I have these things which I can donate" or some non-money form of aid which they won't need to spend money on later.
Generous (without a past pattern of behaviour) is "Here's some money. If you still have problems that are money related later, let me know and I'll see if I have more money."
Thoughtful is "Can I help you brainstorm some ways around the problems you foresee? My expertise is in x, y and z."
Naturally, my examples define a ballpark area of offers, rather than definitive boundaries.
If my aunt is the one organizing the convention, you are being sweet, she'll tell you so. As in "aren't you sweet?"
ReplyDelete“Patron” or “Benefactor” are traditional.
ReplyDeleteCitizenly.
ReplyDeleteBut given yoyr explanation in comments, William Nichols what you are being is pragmatic.
ReplyDelete(Like sugar!)
ReplyDeleteI think this thread was a bad idea. I may delete it.
ReplyDeleteRequires more context. Is this part of a conversation? Is it solicited? Do you know the person? What's the power dynamic? Are they a minority? Unsolicited offers of help from random people (white dudes in particular) can sound condescending. In particular if they are from someone you don't know.
ReplyDeleteThe world has given me money, and I want to spend it on ... well, three things:
ReplyDelete1. Ending poverty via give directly.
2. cash infusions to black women in america because obvious reasons are obvious.
3. Games and gaming!
There’s a reason I picked the two words I did. You want to use your money to support institutions and causes that have problems mere money can really help.
ReplyDeleteOne needn’t be Soros or Carnegie or Gates to pursue this goal, just have a notable comparative advantage in that area.
I should say by needs more context I mean, that you need to have context in the offer. But this is probably colored by my own hang ups regarding how I interpret unsolicited offers of help.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wonder what sort of responses you expected, if these responses have led you to think you should close the thread...
Nothing to do with the responses, Matt Johnson. More it just seems totally unnecessary and weird to have this thread.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm ... processing something.
ReplyDeleteTaking about money is weird.
ReplyDeleteMoney is ridiculous. I just want to be a commercial starship captain officer.
ReplyDelete