A Sad Realization

soupsoup:

hipsterdiet:

I’m completely bummed that not one of the companies, or publications I follow on Tumblr have donated to the Tsunami relief effort.

I know there’s corporate protocol to follow (in another life I worked in social media for a very large brand) and they all probably have other ways to contribute (and I’m sure they have), but the way I see it what’s at stake here isn’t guilt or shaming or humiliation.  

What’s at stake is a dead simple way for these participants in our community to say, yes, I agree, and I want to support this effort via the community I’m actively involved with.  

Is it a huge deal we should get angry about?  Not really.  

I just wonder if they see how it is a missed opportunity on their part.

It’s pretty sad that it appears that not a single brand or traditional media presence on Tumblr has contributed. That’s not to say they may not have done so off of Tumblr or feel the need to publicly show they’ve made a contribution but I definitely noticed just by looking at the lack of flags in their avatars.

Couple of things: 1) The majority of media Tumblrs are run by junior staffers at their orgs; for the most part these are people who probably don’t feel empowered to do things like make charitable donations on behalf of their organization. 2) As others have said, these orgs most likely have donated through other venues. 3) This is, fundamentally, a donation, not a demand, and people should feel free to donate or not as they see fit. 

That said, I’m so proud of and encouraged by the people on Tumblr who have donated; more than $65,000 so far, which is really fantastic. 

Notes

  1. mil0 answered: How do you know they haven’t donated? Is it because they don’t have a tumblr icon? Don’t jump to assumptions because they’re not bragging.
  2. elisblog reblogged this from soupsoup
  3. 55msk answered: Just wait and see. They’ll make a nice excuse along your cultural protocol lol
  4. nomadsoul answered: agree.what also irks me is the crap ppl buy where a tiny bit then goes towards relief..why not just give the $ if you’re so inclined?
  5. samhumphries answered: Tumblr is not free to give VC funding to orphans or light cigars with. There are legal obligations tied to that money.
  6. beenthinking answered: Choosing not to donate to the cause du jour IN the most popular and publicized method has little to do with your charitable fitness.
  7. legitimatelylegitimate reblogged this from monsterbeard
  8. monsterbeard reblogged this from hipsterdiet and added:
    matched funds from...$15,000. It managed to raise investments of $30 million
  9. brianlovesthis answered: Honestly, I didn’t even realize that was a donate button on the right. I just read my dashboard. Should’ve put it at the top. Also, I’m dumb.
  10. soupsoup answered: Minneapolis has donated all of the lakes
  11. gtokio reblogged this from markcoatney
  12. rightchpick-html answered: Sad.
  13. brianvan answered: I’m completely bummed thinking about those junior staffers at media orgs whose bosses ignore them all day
  14. callmecayce answered: unrelated, but i keep trying to donate and it says i do, but my $10 is never taken.
  15. tophatconspiracy answered: That’s just a donation to Red Cross? Because many people won’t simply because of RCs homophobia. There are alternatives
  16. summeroftylercats reblogged this from lindsaykap and added:
    Tanqueray has donated the entire city of Minneapolis.
  17. lindsaykap reblogged this from markcoatney and added:
    Soup personally told me EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD...Neighborhoodr is going
  18. drinkthe-koolaid answered: there are some concerns about the way the International Red Cross spends it’s money, as well.
  19. sarahlee310 answered: I think it is wrong to even bring it up. I contributed what I could, but not though this site. Doesn’t make me a better or worse person.
  20. markcoatney reblogged this from soupsoup and added:
    Couple of things: 1) The majority of media Tumblrs are run by junior staffers at their orgs; for the most part these are...
  21. incandenza answered: Just to say - and I know I’m not a corporation - but I donated before Tumblr started its efforts. That could be an explanation.
  22. cassieirwin answered: I don’t have a nifty little flag because I chose a different venue of donation. They should really sync that up so I can show off better.
  23. dobredobre answered: there’s plenty of ways to donate off-tumblr. assuming someone doesn’t care because they didn’t use a given platform seems irrational.
  24. soundcloud answered: Good point, done.