A request
8Hey Meh? As someone who grappled with and couldn’t meet the necessities to tattoo last year, and was very happy to have the opportunity this year, I’m a lot saddened to see people in similar situations not have that second chance. And so, I’d like to propose crowd-sourced tattoos, for people who are enough a part of this community to comment, but had personal issues that clearly kept them out.
I got to climb a ladder a year after I expected, and I don’t want to draw it up behind me for people who are as much engaged as I am, if we can maybe give them some help they need.
So please, can we crowdfund some tattoos, for longtime Mehtizens or those who were overwhelmed by life events?
I’d go with @riceatusc and @savvysapphire as priorities.
- 11 comments, 24 replies
- Comment
@snapster @ChadP @Dave @ExtraMedium @thumperchick
Seconded
With various backer levels. $100 you get to pick the design. $200 you get to pick the placement.
@medz
I wouldn’t want that. Some donors might
; )
@medz I wouldn’t want it either. Let’s just give people a leg up, without trying to own any part of it. Let’s help people with no further requirement than we had: get a tattoo.
My intent was never “hey, let’s see what additional hoops we can make someone jump through!”
It’s to acknowledge that, for a lot of people, the one hoop was a lot, no matter their commitment. And, if they want to make that hoop, but can’t, on their own?
Give them a leg up and help push them through it.
@brainmist @medz
I think @medz was just making a “contrarian joke”.
/giphy “contrarian joke”
@medz and that could be dangerous lol!!! I’m also sure you meant this as a joke, but could you imagine someone having to get ink on their butt? And having to see that every meh-rethon?
@medz @savvysapphire Quite possibly, but we live in contrarian-enabling times, and I’m kinda exhausted on patience.
Yes I’d agree. I got very, very lucky and am reasonably sure the barter market for things like this isn’t all that wide spread. Had that not happened I’d be in the can’t afford to buy enough to get a free irk group, let alone pay for a tattoo and be cut out of the fun. Life can really suck at times when you have to continually choose between needs and needs; where wants aren’t even remotely part of the picture, or when something bad happens that means needs come first as there isn’t enough money for both. Heck I only have VMP because a good friend pays for it as my birthday gift every year. Sometimes an unexpected gift like this, besides reducing someone to tears, uplifts that person more than you could ever know if you have never been there and gives them a moment of hope. It can make more difference than you ever would suspect.
And this is related to community, it’s not just a really kind gesture, but is an indication that we still have remnants of the community we once had where we’d help people, donate money to teacher projects every year, have our informal exchanges where some would give free boxes expecting nothing in return… @snapster you said for years our community here is important. Doing what @brainmist is suggesting builds exactly that. And is also a signal that we still have a bit of that going strong here.
Community is also is why I think you need to, for the sake of that, even if it isn’t a good financial business decision, balance how you offer irks during mehatrons. Not everyone here has enough discretionary funds to spend enough to get one the current way. The crap shoot way during a mehathon to get them at something very close to the old price (because yes that can matter if you are broke enough), even if you have slow internet with a ton of latency, includes those folks in the community fun.
The current way reminds people in a financial fix yet again of their situation. I think in the context of the mehrathon’s irk letting folks know in advance (that is important as it will keep people here to keep checking, keep them engaged and let people know everyone has a chance, not just those with money) that there will be some offered the crap shoot way along with the $100 this time around. Offering irks the crap shoot way more than once, even if it is only twice will help people feel included (but don’t tell them how many and between mehrathons don’t be consistent about how many times so people hang around).
You also need to offer enough that people with slow connections have a chance as the broke can’t afford fast ones either ACP (free internet) not withstanding. By offering them the crap shoot way too and not just the spend the $100 way will matter for community. We already know most will lose in the chase and those who can afford it or who don’t want to hang around for the door to crack open to get one will still buy one the $100 way. Those that can afford one and who really want one will still buy one when they lose. That way everyone will feel more included and engaged because they know they will have a chance too, just like in the old days. Some of the fun is in the chase, the chance however remote, that you too can end up with a “lucky ticket” and not only get an irk but to get one that is good (knowing most won’t be). PS I’m still waiting for the birthday fun events. Hoping some show up today (grin).
@Kidsandliz
meh.
@Kidsandliz Holy crap, Liz is laying it out!! Yes, let’s let us even the playing ground! We can do this! At least a little!
I still say it’s exceptionally kind to even suggest the idea! Good to know there are still kind people out there, I thought they were a dying breed! I’m usually the type who will do anything for others, but sometimes life just doesn’t allow it. I know I’ll be ok again someday and will be back in a position to help others…so it’s nice to see some people still do when they can as well!
@savvysapphire We get to live in the world we build. Personally? I prefer a kinder world. So I try to build that.
I’ve been on meh since the days of missing bandoliers of carrots on woot and though I’m rarely on here, things like this make me miss it.
/showme crowdfunded meh tattoo on someone’s butt
@mediocrebot @medz supporting people does not mean controlling their bodies or their choices.
Don’t be such a disappointment.
@brainmist lighten-up, buttercup
You weren’t kidding about having no patience.
@medz I was not. It’s a shitty fucking world and I am out of slack to cut.
/showme crowdfunded meh tattoo on the inside of someone’s lip
/showme a foot with a meh tattoo being squished into a large bowl of potato salad
@medz Are you helping? Or just being pissy?
@brainmist this is the final enrollment period for ink for irks. I doubt any crowdfunded effort would happen on time to qualify.
I probably wouldn’t donate to this particular cause, but I’ll go now and let you have your fun.
@medz If you were in this for more than lolz, you’d probably have noticed I recognize we’re past deadline. Hence the request thread.
But by all means, have your fun.
/showme crowdfunded meh tattoo on someone’s taint
/showme fake Meh tattoo
Let’s have a new way to earn irks that doesn’t involve tattoos. Not everybody can tattoo themself.
@Star2236 something equally permanent and regrettable.
@medz @Star2236 like say, amputating a finger . . .
@ekw cosmetic surgery and/or skin pigmentation to look more like Irk.
@ekw @medz or maybe made-up, dressed up like Irk, in public. Hairdo, ears, skin “tone”, teeth, purple shirt. Anyone know what Irk wears for pants?
I’d say in a Wally World, but I’m not sure that would be a stretch. Maybe walking down the street. Call it the Irk Strut.
Not permanent, but you’d have to do a new outing each time
@ekw @medz @ybmuG Or walk into a bank or police station or high end designer store.