Will you give money to Charity this Christmas?

Ian O’Doherty: Why should we give these lazy, work-shy scum free money?

Friday December 11 2009

As the country tries to come to terms with the combined fire storm of the recession and the Budget, it is at least somewhat refreshing to see that we haven’t lost our charitable instincts.

On the radio, on television, in print and via email, we have all received innumerable exhortations to momentarily forget about our own problems and instead start to think of those less fortunate than ourselves.

It’s a noble sentiment and there is no doubt that the need for charitable organisations has never been greater.

As a spokesman for the St Vincent de Paul correctly pointed out yesterday, the cuts in social welfare will force people who were already hanging on by their fingertips into the arms of groups like his.

And while the Vincent de Paul do sterling work, I am sure of one thing – they won’t be getting any cash from me this Christmas.

This is not, you understand, because I am feeling even more Scrooge-like than normal; nor is it a desire to see more people have a miserable Christmas.

Rather, it is because of an experience I had two Christmases ago which was a real eye-opener in terms of how charity is administered.

A good mate of mine was a volunteer for the group and, realising that it was about time I tried to bank any karmic points that might be out there, I agreed to help him out with a charity drive one night.

And so, in the company of some genuinely selfless volunteers, we went into the north inner city to deliver the traditional Christmas hamper.

Except the recipients weren’t getting a hamper – they were being handed envelopes full of cash.

The amount differed according to the perceived needs of each recipient – or ‘clients’ as they were politely referred to – and the whole experience was, frankly, nauseating.

For understandable, if misguided reasons, volunteers are warned not to make any judgments against the people receiving the free money, but the bile rose in the back of my throat with each house we visited.

Because what became clear was that these people were not poor – the vast majority of them were simply lazy, indolent good-for-nothings.

Now, that’s going to sound unduly harsh and mean spirited and cruel and judgmental and all those things that are frowned upon.

But when you go into a house to give someone an envelope of cash and you see that they have a bigger wide-screen telly than you yourself own, then you realise that there is no way you can equate these people with genuine, actual poverty.

When I pointed out that being so poor and destitute that you required the humiliation of charitable assistance was not exactly consistent with owning a big bloody telly, I was quickly informed that wide-screen televisions were seen as a status symbol among that group of people and therefore they all had one and, again, I should stop being such a judgmental jerk.

The other thing that struck me was the utter lack of shame the recipients – young, fit and healthy men in my age group – showed when they got their envelopes. The first person we encountered was a bloke in his 30s who had seen the volunteers entering his street and he rushed out, demanding in that appalling flat nasal tone so popular these days: “where’s meee Christmas hamper?”

And, having been given his envelope, he sloped off, issuing neither thanks for the gift nor apology for being a healthy man in his 30s reduced to the status of a bum.

This pattern was replicated in every house we went to – big-screen telly, eagerly outstretched hand and rarely a word of thanks.

And then, when one of the people we visited apologised for his dog – a lovely little fellow – for barking at us (what dog doesn’t bark at someone knocking on their door, for God’s sake?) and then issued the statement: “Sorry about that. I’m going to drown him in the canal tomorrow,” I finally lost it.

Here you have a scumbag who talks about drowning dogs and he’s being given free money? Where’s the justice or common sense in that? I then discovered, via the volunteer I was with, that it is actually against St Vincent de Paul policy to tell their ‘clients’ that you are going to kick their f***ing head in. Who wudda thunk it?

But there was one house, the last one we visited, that restored at least some faith in human dignity and, most importantly of all, pride.

A middle-aged woman who looked several decades older than her true years was single-handedly rearing all of her grandchildren because, I later learned, all her daughters were going through various degrees of drug addiction. She was an incredible woman, a noble throw back to the days of the true working class, not the welfare class that the younger generation had descended into.

And, tellingly, she was the only ‘client’ who seemed in any way embarrassed to be relying on the kindness of strangers. “Things will be better next year, please God,” she smiled weakly as she took the envelope.

As we left, I was filled with a burning sense of rage and injustice – in fact, I wanted to go back to all the previous houses we had visited and take all the envelopes back and give them, instead, to this woman – someone who genuinely needed and deserved it.

I’ve been thinking about that woman since the Budget was announced.

Why do we, as a society, make life more difficult for people like her? These are the people who hold communities together, who put their own lives on hold while they look after and care for those around them, while we continue to give lazy, work-shy scum free money?

It’s not the fault of the selfless, heroic and, in some areas, physically brave volunteers from the Vinny de Paul and other volunteer groups – they see what they see every day and have decided it’s best to simply try and do the right thing without making the kind of disapproving, libertarian judgments I had formed. They do an incredible job under increasingly hazardous conditions and they all deserve the thanks of a nation.

Nope – it’s the fault of a society which has told several generations of young men that it’s not their fault if they can’t get a job, even though, at the time, there was almost full employment and jobs were abundant.

Let’s put it this way – unless you have a genuine medical condition which precludes you from working, nobody should be entitled to any social-welfare benefits as long as McDonalds are looking for staff. It’s as simple as that.

So, this year, I will as usual be making a donation to charity.

But it will come in the form of teddy bears and toys and things that will help to make a kid’s Christmas a bit more bearable – and you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be no cash involved.

  • Ian O’Doherty

Irish Independent

What a moronic comment. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be employed by McDonalds or in other similar jobs because I’m “over-qualified”, i.e. they either think you’ll piss off as soon as something better comes along (which I would) or they reckon you’d be a troublemaker cos you went to college and think you’re smart. So if I’m out of work, as I was during the summer, and can’t find any work, I should starve and get kicked out of my apartment for not paying the rent just because Ian O’Doherty got a bit upset while dishing out handouts last Christmas. Ian O’Doherty is possibly the biggest WUM in Ireland at this stage and I wouldn’t even wipe my arse with his articles.

Ah you wouldn’t be able to stand the customers Woody. You’d be asking them outside for fights and shit.

True enough. I’m like you, I don’t like people :smiley:

I only had time to read the headline because I’m pushed for time but I’m in total agreement that there’s no way these lazy, work shy freeloading scum in the banking sector should be getting any charity money. That is what this article is about, right?

Hate IoD but for the most part that’s a good article, shows the SVP for what they really are, a shower of fucking cunts!!

I’m genuinely shocked that charitable money is handed over to people as cash. I have scanned the SVdeP site and I can’t find anything which suggests that occurs. They have questions to answer after this. I naively assumed really destitute people would be helped with paying ESB bills or given food etc. Fuck it, the welfare state will look after them well enough after this expose.

Is Focus Ireland any better?

[quote=“SHANNONSIDER**”]I’m genuinely shocked that charitable money is handed over to people as cash. I have scanned the SVdeP site and I can’t find anything which suggests that occurs. They have questions to answer after this. I naively assumed really destitute people would be helped with paying ESB bills or given food etc. Fuck it, the welfare state will look after them well enough after this expose.

Is Focus Ireland any better?[/quote]

A prison officer I know who works in Mountjoy says the Svdp come in there every Saturday with free cigarettes for the inmates. Cunts.

any of the charities got a chipped xbox- i have a few games that dont work on mine

I have a strong dislike for O’Doherty as he’s just a WUM and not a very good one at that, I do agree with a lot of that article though. In particular the distinction between the welfare class and the working class in particular.

I think his evidence is a bit out of date though, a friend of mine does a bit of work with SVdP and I helped her our last year, there was most certainly no cash being given out, it was all Dunnes vouchers. This year it’s Lidl vouchers.

[quote=“briantinnion”]I have a strong dislike for O’Doherty as he’s just a WUM and not a very good one at that, I do agree with a lot of that article though. In particular the distinction between the welfare class and the working class in particular.

I think his evidence is a bit out of date though, a friend of mine does a bit of work with SVdP and I helped her our last year, there was most certainly no cash being given out, it was all Dunnes vouchers. This year it’s Lidl vouchers.[/quote]

I changed my annual donation to Dunnes and Boots Vouchers last year, and it was on the back of something here about the VdeP paying the ESB bills of those who turn their houses into the Las Vegas Tangiers.

But I couldn’t argue with the article either. One year, when I lived in town, I got notice of the VdeP collection the following week. So I prepared a parcel that included some good winter geansai’s, an overcoat and an electric blanket. When the reps arrived; they refused to take the parcel.

They would only take cash.

I think its also worth noting that the VdeP have an investment portfolio that’s reckoned to be valued in the nine noughts range.

[quote=“briantinnion”]I have a strong dislike for O’Doherty as he’s just a WUM and not a very good one at that, I do agree with a lot of that article though. In particular the distinction between the welfare class and the working class in particular.

I think his evidence is a bit out of date though, a friend of mine does a bit of work with SVdP and I helped her our last year, there was most certainly no cash being given out, it was all Dunnes vouchers. This year it’s Lidl vouchers.[/quote]

Tinnion, I think you’ll find come January when ESB Bills are being paid, they come for handouts, depsite having their houses lit up like Christmas trees for the past 6-8 weeks. I know this for a fact.

[quote=“Mairegangaire”]I changed my annual donation to Dunnes and Boots Vouchers last year, and it was on the back of something here about the VdeP paying the ESB bills of those who turn their houses into the Las Vegas Tangiers.
[/quote]

Yep.

[quote=“briantinnion”]I have a strong dislike for O’Doherty as he’s just a WUM and not a very good one at that, I do agree with a lot of that article though. In particular the distinction between the welfare class and the working class in particular.
[/quote]

Yeah but the pity is that if these points were made by a reasonable person in a reasionable way maybe people would take some notice of it.

[quote=“Mairegangaire”]I changed my annual donation to Dunnes and Boots Vouchers last year, and it was on the back of something here about the VdeP paying the ESB bills of those who turn their houses into the Las Vegas Tangiers.

[/quote]

The idea that the cost of running Christmas lights is expensive is a bit of an urban myth methinks.

From the Electricity Supply Board:

"Rising Electricity bills linked to the price of oil have potentially made us all more aware of our energy consumption. Combine this with the environmental pressure to reduce carbon emissions can we still have fun with Christmas lights?

The answer is a resounding YES. LED Christmas lights use up to 90% less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs. LED fairy lights are more reliable (as there is no filament to break), they generate virtually no heat and they will last up to ten times as long as traditional fairy lights.

For example from our outdoor connectable LED Christmas light range, it is possible to connect 800 White LED fairy lights (8 sets) and still use only the same amount of electricity as one standard 60 watt domestic light bulb. So by switching off one light in your home allows you to have up to 800 LED fairy lights outside!"

[quote=“Woody”]
For example from our outdoor connectable LED Christmas light range, it is possible to connect 800 White LED fairy lights (8 sets) and still use only the same amount of electricity as one standard 60 watt domestic light bulb. So by switching off one light in your home allows you to have up to 800 LED fairy lights outside!"[/quote]

Superb work there from the ESB. :clap:

[quote=“Mairegangaire”]
I think its also worth noting that the VdeP have an investment portfolio that’s reckoned to be valued in the nine noughts range.[/quote]

:eek: What’s that about?

Shocking stuff here,i was always naive eneogh up to now to believe that only the genuine hardship cases were assisted by SVP and never thought they would be hoodwinked by scam merchants so to speak,i contribute very little to charity myself,ive eneogh bills to pay without giving away my money is the honest truth of the matter,id give genourously to people collecting on the street for good causes over Christmas etc but im not in a position to shove €100 in an envelope to send away to any charity,i give an envelope to the church alright.

I wouldnt be giving it to that shower of cunts either.

If anyone reading this is in a position to contribute can I ask ye to consider sponsoring a family via Hospital Social Worker’s List.

I sponsor via St James’s List. You are given a case profile with some personal details, and you fulfil their requests at your own descretion.

In 06 my family was something like this:
Mary is 33 and married to John 40 who is coming home for Christmas Day. John has terminal cancer and is in full time care. Mary has learning disabilities and has difficulty with their son Max who has ADHD. Max is 9 loves card games and magic tricks. They live in the Charlemont street Area

Decorated Box with Christmas Decs and Crackers, Card and Family games, a starter Magic Show, Tins of bikkies, chocs. A fruit and Veg Hamper. And a Meat Voucher from local butcher.

Its fantastic, and now people always ask me about the family.

Like last year I had a girl (33) who was in and out of Brendan’s, with two teenagers and living in Blessington but all her family were in Tallaght. So I gave her Boots voucher, and two Argos vouchers for the kids; and had a tree delivered to her house.

This year I have a widower (38) and part-time taxi driver with twin boys (13) and a girl 8. From Drimnagh. All they asked for was a Christmas Day feast. I’ve prepared a hamper with Turkey & Ham collection docket, Fruit & Veg hamper docket, pud, cake, Crackers, selection boxes. We included a 4 place dinner set, and disposable tin foil trays for roasting/ baking. And a Santy Apron. I can’t wait to deliver it.

[quote=“Mairegangaire”]If anyone reading this is in a position to contribute can I ask ye to consider sponsoring a family via Hospital Social Worker’s List.

I sponsor via St James’s List. You are given a case profile with some personal details, and you fulfil their requests at your own descretion.

In 06 my family was something like this:
Mary is 33 and married to John 40 who is coming home for Christmas Day. John has terminal cancer and is in full time care. Mary has learning disabilities and has difficulty with their son Max who has ADHD. Max is 9 loves card games and magic tricks. They live in the Charlemont street Area

Decorated Box with Christmas Decs and Crackers, Card and Family games, a starter Magic Show, Tins of bikkies, chocs. A fruit and Veg Hamper. And a Meat Voucher from local butcher.

Its fantastic, and now people always ask me about the family.

Like last year I had a girl (33) who was in and out of Brendan’s, with two teenagers and living in Blessington but all her family were in Tallaght. So I gave her Boots voucher, and two Argos vouchers for the kids; and had a tree delivered to her house.

This year I have a widower (38) and part-time taxi driver with twin boys (13) and a girl 8. From Drimnagh. All they asked for was a Christmas Day feast. I’ve prepared a hamper with Turkey & Ham collection docket, Fruit & Veg hamper docket, pud, cake, Crackers, selection boxes. We included a 4 place dinner set, and disposable tin foil trays for roasting/ baking. And a Santy Apron. I can’t wait to deliver it.[/quote]

Flano punched a rabbit in the ears once …

They can afford to stump up out of their own pockets instead of knocking on doors with the ‘silent’ collection tray.