So Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has come to West Chester. Here's an article about the family. And while I've never actually seen the show (as in sat down and watched an entire episode start to finish), I think it's pretty cool that they're here, and I think, at its core, it a show that truly does mean to do good.
But reading the comments to that article, I am reminded once again that on the Internets, people will hate on anything. Really, you're going to hate on a family that has three kids, one with Crohn's disease and two (TWO!!) with spinal muscular atrophy because they want things like digital cameras and laptops? Shame on them for wanting things! You're going to hate on a television program that wants to actually help these people and others like them? Shame on them for wanting to help!
I think my favorite comment was the one that said the family should be ashamed because they had already gotten a trip to Disneyland through Make-A-Wish and now they're getting this. As if there's a quota on the charity you're allowed to receive.
"I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do for you. Someone's already cared about you once."
Some claim that there are other families "more deserving" than this one. What the fuck does that even mean? And why does that even matter? Is it about helping only the "neediest" families (and really, who's place is it to make that call), or is it about helping anyone at all? I'd like to think its the latter.
Casey: Hey, you solved your problem yet?
Dan: On how to be guilt-free altruist?
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: It's easier being a miser.
Casey: Can I say something?
Dan: Sure.
Casey: You're not going to solve everybody's problems. In fact, you're not going to solve anybody's problems. So you know what you should do?
Dan: What?
Casey: Anything. As much of it as as often as you can.
Work-related sidebar: I found out today that my company is doing the footing inspections and compaction testing for the new house (which I think is pretty cool). We keep telling our man who's going to be on site that he needs to continually fail the fill material that they'll be placing in an attempt to get on TV. Bad fill is a headache on regular job sites, and at times, it can be a costly problem to fix. So I wonder how the show would deal with it? How long would they try and work with the material they have before deciding to move on to a different solution? They have 106 hours to finish the job; they can't spend a whole day fucking around with crappy material like normal job sites can. I guess most people don't think about things like that.
Edit: Apparently, my company was also involved the last time Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to the area. So we're 2 for 2.
Friday, July 11, 2008
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3 comments:
So, I guess that is going to be your thing, "Sports Nights" quotes?
I don't want to so too belittling, but that is a family that shouldn't procreate anymore. Talk about a tainted gene pool.
It probably won't be exclusively Sports Night, but I am leaning toward using a TV/movie quote in every post from here on out. However, if I go down that route, there's a good chance that a lot of the quotes will come from either Sports Night or The West Wing. I'll have to be sure to mix it up a bit.
you can't dismiss, though, one of the underlying messages from the commenters. if the goal of the show is, to some extent, distribute the feel-goods to as many as possible, then perhaps this family, which has already received *something* from other foundations may not be as deserving as others in similar situations.
that said, though, your sarcasm is right-on: the commenters just sound like greedy, envious bastards who should stop complaining that someone isn't giving them a handout.
by the way, i have watched the show on occasion and it really is touching. although, i have never really thought through the tax consequences of the new home. the tax code defines income broadly as any accession to wealth, so everything they get is income: the house, the furnishings, etc. also income is the forgiven mortgage (i.e., debt forgiveness is income in the amount of the forgiveness). these people can't possible pay that tax bill, and i wonder what the irs has done to collect - how often, how soon, and how much.
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