OMAT holding a kickstarter to fund his travel
May 7, 2014, 11:36 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 24
Sad and pathetic. Even most people who have nothing are too proud to beg.
May 8, 2014, 2:00 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: OKC (Oklahoma City), Oklahoma
Programs: Marriott Gold; IHG Platinum; Insomnia Cookies
Posts: 514
I'm not going to contribute to this campaign, but I don't consider it shameful. If the review happens, readers will get content, likely an fairly substantial amount of content. It could be entertaining. I suspect it will be.
People contribute money for entertainment content. There's the Veronica Mars movie Kickstarter, Tabletop Season 3 on Indiegogo, PBS, NPR. I've contributed to two of these. Is NPR shameful? Are they too proud to beg?
People contribute money for entertainment content. There's the Veronica Mars movie Kickstarter, Tabletop Season 3 on Indiegogo, PBS, NPR. I've contributed to two of these. Is NPR shameful? Are they too proud to beg?
May 8, 2014, 3:20 am
#33
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,623
As someone on Facebook put it regarding this effort: since when did kickstarter become make a wish?
But if Ben can find patrons willing to fund his travel then god bless. A fool and his money were Lucky to get together in the first place, as they say.
But if Ben can find patrons willing to fund his travel then god bless. A fool and his money were Lucky to get together in the first place, as they say.
May 8, 2014, 5:38 am
#34
formerly known as Frugal Travel Guy
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Greenville, SC
Programs: UA Gold, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 1,925
Hobo13, I'd be glad to pick up the dinner tab for a chance to swap stories with you. I've been trying for years to catch up with you
May 8, 2014, 5:48 am
#35
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
I like this Bolivia idea better: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...6/live-bolivia
FYI, another FTer raised nearly 19k$ and never delivered... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...re-documentary
FYI, another FTer raised nearly 19k$ and never delivered... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...re-documentary
Last edited by oliver2002; May 8, 2014 at 5:55 am
May 8, 2014, 6:28 am
#36
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Something tells me there will be reviews of this product without Ben's trip, at no cost to any reader.
May 8, 2014, 6:30 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
I like this Bolivia idea better: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...6/live-bolivia
FYI, another FTer raised nearly 19k$ and never delivered... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...re-documentary
FYI, another FTer raised nearly 19k$ and never delivered... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...re-documentary
May 8, 2014, 6:31 am
#38
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
May 8, 2014, 8:47 am
#39
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: EWR
Posts: 680
I'm not going to contribute to this campaign, but I don't consider it shameful. If the review happens, readers will get content, likely an fairly substantial amount of content. It could be entertaining. I suspect it will be.
People contribute money for entertainment content. There's the Veronica Mars movie Kickstarter, Tabletop Season 3 on Indiegogo, PBS, NPR. I've contributed to two of these. Is NPR shameful? Are they too proud to beg?
People contribute money for entertainment content. There's the Veronica Mars movie Kickstarter, Tabletop Season 3 on Indiegogo, PBS, NPR. I've contributed to two of these. Is NPR shameful? Are they too proud to beg?
May 8, 2014, 8:55 am
#40
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Beyond the obvious egotism at play here, I feel this violates the Kickstarter TOS.
He isn't producing anything. Kickstarter projects must produce tangible goods.
Secondly, they explicitly prohibit "fund my life" style projects, which a "buy me an expensive plane ticket" project seems akin to.
Also, it seems to violate copyrights, using Etihad copyrighted material without Kickstarter having prior consent (this is admittedly not that big of an issue).
He isn't producing anything. Kickstarter projects must produce tangible goods.
Secondly, they explicitly prohibit "fund my life" style projects, which a "buy me an expensive plane ticket" project seems akin to.
Also, it seems to violate copyrights, using Etihad copyrighted material without Kickstarter having prior consent (this is admittedly not that big of an issue).
May 8, 2014, 8:57 am
#41
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Yep, if lucky9876coins would have just added 'all proceeds will go to a 501 3c charity and I will match all your contributions' all would have been OK.
May 8, 2014, 9:22 am
#42
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: EWR
Posts: 680
Leslie Scott, spokesperson for AA, not too pleased with Ben.
May 8, 2014, 9:27 am
#43
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BNA
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Ex Plat, DL Dropout from Skymiles 2015
Posts: 42
That's why I don't waste miles on first class flights- I'd much rather fly economy and give the miles to someone (friends, family) so they can enjoy the trip and destination with me.
May 8, 2014, 10:25 am
#44
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,623
VFTW blogs about blogs and blasts (passive aggressively) Leslie Scott for saying what many of us were thinking:
http://boardingarea.com/viewfromthew...r-airline-bus/
http://boardingarea.com/viewfromthew...r-airline-bus/
May 8, 2014, 10:26 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,559
Seems tacky but dont really have a problem with it. People can spend their money however they choose. Seems like it would have been easy for him to announce that he was throwing in some specific amount as well (ie trip will cost $25k with blogger throwing in the first $5k or whatever) as this would defray at least some of the whining. No doubt the blog is very lucrative.
OMAT is one of the better blogs at there and has provided tons of information and content to the readers at zero cost for years, so not surprising that some of those readers see no issue in throwing some cash into the project.
As far as the "how dare he spend money like this when there are starving children" crowd, please spare the outrage and leave your false dichotomies at home. I doubt that the folks who donated were about to write a big check to the Red Cross but then scratched it out and sent it over to the blog...
OMAT is one of the better blogs at there and has provided tons of information and content to the readers at zero cost for years, so not surprising that some of those readers see no issue in throwing some cash into the project.
As far as the "how dare he spend money like this when there are starving children" crowd, please spare the outrage and leave your false dichotomies at home. I doubt that the folks who donated were about to write a big check to the Red Cross but then scratched it out and sent it over to the blog...