Caias Ward is a guy who used to weigh 315 pounds and then lost 100 pounds in a few months. As a result his skin got all loose and saggy. He's hoping to get plastic surgery to help tighten his skin, but the bill for the operation is $14,098, which he can't afford. So this is his solution:
I need 7500 people to donate $2.32 so I can get my surgery. If people want to give me more, that's great, but $2.32 is the number I'm looking for from people. If you don't feel comfortable just donating money, I'm willing to do a number of outrageous (or not so outrageous) things in order to earn your money. The amount you send will determine what I am willing to do.
The obvious question this raises is whether it's for real, or is it all an elaborate sob story to scam money? Caias says:
"some people have requested proof that I am a real person. It's completely understandable, and I appreciate the concern in this day and age. I'm working on a way to prove my circumstance, from the exam photos for the surgery consultation all the way to 'meet and greets' in the New York and New Jersey area." Caias sounds like a real person, but even so, what if he decides in the end not to get the operation because he only gets halfway to his financial goal? Will he return whatever money he received? Donate it to charity? Or what? That was the main problem with
Invest In My Breast (if anyone remembers that scam).
Comments
Ahh! Nothing like a good reciprocating probe...
Lucky for you all, Caias appears to have a decent enough sense of humor to press forward through the nay-sayers.
I never met him in person (as California is a long ways away) but know full well that he is an honest and sincere person and know people who know him personally.
Come on everyone. What have you got to lose but a little more than 2 bucks!
Ya know, it's all of the skeptics who miss out on the really good karma paybacks. 😊
Ohh, and just cause I forgot post these in my first few posts...
http://www.livejournal.com/users/k4tj3
http://dorei.dragonflydreams.org/sarah
http://www.okcupid.com/profile?tuid=14846935789043322841
And don't be dissin' Stephen. He has THE POWAH!
"You are indeed awe inspiring and interesting Stephen. I think I'm going to create a fan site and devote some of my time and energy into worshipping you... but only if you church up and send Caias a donation."
WoW!!!! This is what Im talking about. If Thea is a Woman, then I'm in LUV!!!! 😜
And it's not inconceivable that he just told his friends about it after he found the thread.
BUT, if you don't go into things with at least a BIT of scepticism, you would never find out if the guy was for real. As has been proven elsewhere ad nauseum, taking everything you see on faith can fuck you up pretty good. Just ask the peopple who gave Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker a bunch of cash.
Pay attention. Caias isn't asking for $2.32 for nothing. He's willing to sell products or provide a service. For those of us who are kind souls, we'll give him the money to help him out, for the rest of "ya bums"...duh.
Met her at a New year party and thought she was too cute to talk too. So I just kissed her at midnight on the cheek (Luckily, I didn't get slapped) The rest is history. That was a little more then a year ago.
And I don't see how thats a dis, it's an acknowledgement of his charming wit.
Something for nothing? Pay more attention.
And I wasn't "dissin'" Stephen, I was acknowledging his charming wit.
(if this double posts it's because IE is being fantastically lame today)
do
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job
That being said, I figured I could advertise my services so people could take advantage of my expertise. It's called marketing myself, and also finding a way to do so that will stand out past the other people. I happen to have a hook (I'm raising money for my surgery). My other work, I pay my regular bills with. But I've designated some of my consultant work to go towards the surgery. I've also have lots of stuff I can sell, and lots of other things I can do to raise money.
Panhandling is standing around and asking people to just send me money. I'm providing goods and services so I can reach a goal. I've selling a rare book this week; I've been tutoring college students.
Take advantage of my services or not, your choice. You don't want to, Charybdis, your choice. I have an interview with a web consulting firm that heard about my campaign and to which I was referred by a previous client. They will get value out of my work, and I will get closer to my goal.
But you shouldn't speak for everyone; it's gullible to assume everyone feels the same as you. The money I have earned so far, and the support I've received so far proves otherwise. I wish there was some way I could give you proof; maybe after it's all said and done, and you see the after pictures, you'll have a little more faith that not everyone is out to screw you.
Really?
If you really have all of these skills, which you probably do, then use THEM to get what you want.
Don't go on the internet asking people for money for this operation, go on the internet with an ad for your services.
And why should the person hire you just so you could get an operation, anyway? If I was to walk into a place and say I needed an operation (oh, lets say a sex-change), why the hell should anyone hire me just because I wanted to look differently?
And, by the way, panhandling is "approaching strangers to beg for money or food". Which is exactly what you're doing.
I need 7500 people to donate $2.32 so I can get my surgery.
What kind of goods or services do people receive for their $2.32?
You may get some people to actually exchange their money for your services but mostly you seem to be relying on donations. Your own blog backs this up.
People on corners hold signs reading "Will work for food". They are still panhandlers.
There are hundreds of thousands of people trying to get something for nothing on the internet. Your comment about donations indicates that you are one of them.
I exchange my money for goods and services that I need or desire. When I donate money I do so for causes that help underpriveledged people or those suffering from life-threatening events beyond their control. I don't do it so a fat man can feel better about himself. I hardly think that cosmetic surgery to make you feel better about yourself counts as a worthy cause.
I freely admit one point. You are completely free to ask people for money. But don't be surprised if some of them don't appreciate your "entreprenurial" spirit.
Who cares if it's e-panhandling? Lots of people. Including Caias, apparently. This is important because we are a part of the general public, and that's who sees his site. If the general public that happens upon his site doesn't like panhandlers, they're not going to give him any money, are they?
Why would he not just have a site selling his books? I would think that he'd get a lot more cash if he asked you to buy his books so he can afford his operation.
I read his blog, and in one part he states that he's not asking anyone to "spread the word" for him. Yet only six days earlier he opens his entry with " Alright, word is spreading, but I need help.
I need people to put the banner in their own Livejournals, with it as an public entry. If you know me directly, feel free to say something not incredibly terrible about me. If not, just let people know it's a cool idea."
He does list some good ideas (tutoring, etc), but come on, is this guy seriously gonna snort pepper if someone asks him? For $2.32, like he says?
This man is a prostitute.
😏
Before you freak, look it up.
If it was not for cosmetic surgury, people would likely have no problem giving him a little cash. The exact same people who have given him cash now. And lotsa people would STILL say it was a hoax.
And nobody said the man didn't exist. HE is not the hoax referrred to. What he is DOING is what people are referring to as a hoax.
I can say that I am sometimes desperate to do something to make my life better. But, unlike Caias, I don't ask other people to do it for me. If I can't achieve my own goals in life then how can I respect myself?
I did lots of the hard work in losing the weight and working out. I'm asking for people to spread the message of what I am doing (fundraising for surgery). It's the same thing I do in my consulting work; refer me to others.
As for buying my books, much of my work is work for hire, so buying copies doesn't put money in my pocket. I've already been paid a flat fee for my work.
And Charybdis, that's former fat man, thank you very much. I'm getting the surgery for a better body contour and to help my sleep. No illusions about anything else. I would prefer to earn the money rather than get a donation, and pretty much every dollar I've gotten has been in exchange for goods or services. How many paintings have you done this week? I've done three.
In fact, I have a deal; find some good or service you need, and I'll see what I can do to fulfill it. You can continue donating money to whatever charities you donate to; I'll see what I can provide in real services or goods.
And no, I won't snort pepper for $2.32. I'll do it for $3.75, however 😊
Johnny Knoxville does it, it's great TV; I do it, it's being a prostitute?
A site just selling books won't get me noticed. A site where I sell my books, break boards with my head, and do many other outrageous things got me noticed enough to show up here. And the marketing has worked. Buy stuff from me or not, pay me for my outrageous stunts or not, your call. But someone will.
Not much I can say otherwise; you aren't likely to change your mind about this. You don't believe in it, that's fine. But all I need is for a maximum of 7500 people to get involved. You don't have to be one of them. 😊
And hey, I have never ONCE in my entire LIFE combined the words Johnny Knoxville and great tv in the same conversation. Until just now.
In that vein, why not make a video of yourself doing something stupid, like snorting pepper, and charge people $2.32 (or $3.75) to download it? People seem to like that stupid crap, as evidence by JK's "career".
Prostitute - defn
2. One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose.
I believe this describes what you are doing, as this surgery is not medically neccesary. Are you gonna die if you don't get the surgery?
And yes, your site DID get you noticed here. Judge the results of that yourself.
I wouldn't do it myself, but hey, if you want to do it, do it. You have the right. Carry on.
And yes, someone WILL give you the cash, eventually, if you work hard enough at it. I agree with you there.
People can get cash for doing stupid crap all they want.
But it won't be MY cash.
FREE, you can send me money for FREE, I will not charge.
I like how they won't call it begging, because it makes the person look bad, even though that is exactly what it is.
"We don't use the term cyberbeggars, cyberbegging or cyberbeg on our site because we think they are at least a little degrading."
And it appears that a week has gone by without anyone getting any. (Pictures, that is)
He says he's up to around $1000.
Mostly from work and selling things, not, unfortunately, by running his own version of Jackass.
Actually, 1,400 dollars is more like it. And I have done some crazy things like the pepper snorting and letting a friend of mine give me a DDT. I've also edited someone's paper on Japanese economic policy, and am working on editing one for a report on binge drinking and college students.
Ever forward 😊
I need to do an update soon; I have been busy with a new consulting position I got through my fundraising efforts.
Either that or Import/Export?
😊
Part of being free in this country is deciding whether or not you wish to part with $2.32 towards surgery no medical plan would cover.
Caias is granting a wish of mine that costs nothing but trust.
He would not accept the money I offered in exchange for my wish.
I find him noble.
I believe in him more than I believe in the NYS lottery.
Good wishes to Caias.
"One who sells one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose."
Were prostitution the case, then your local convenience store vendor is as much a whore as you assume Caias is. I mean really, they're selling goods/services for your money - yet, when it comes to purchasing your pack of Marlboros and a six pack every day, yet you don't consider your local convenience vendor a whore. And honestly, you know that they're selling product to line THEIR pockets.
He's not asking you to GIVE him money. He's requesting donations for services and/or goods.
[x]The excess skin could cause sores and/or infections.
Considering the fact that Caias has a considerable amount of life in him, the duration of time and the financial requirement for constant daily antibiotics would far succeed the one time fee for an abdominoplasty; which, by the way, would remedy the health issue as well as mental stability.
[x]The excess skin causes discomfort in and of itself even withOUT sores/infection.
Consider yourself, a male, carrying around an excess of weight on your front and back for the rest of your life. It would be something equivalent to being pregnant indefinitely.
The same circumstances apply; lower and upper back pain, knee displacement, arthritic pain, the possibility of diabetes and the possibility of extreme anemia - just to name a few.
[x]Garments even if fitted in larger sizes to accommodate the excess skin, are not comfortable, can cause rashes and/or the equivalent of "rug burn".
When YOUR garments and clothing fit too tightly, they often leave creases and marks in your skin - imagine what this would do to a person with several pounds of extra useless meat. When your garments fit too loosely, you're constantly pulling them up and in some cases, have to suffer through chafing. The same applies doubly for those that have the abundance of skin. With the amount of excess skin in question, there is no comfort zone.
I do believe that mentally, these issues would be enough to cause anyone distress and depression. I'd hate to know that I'd have to live on medication and pain for the rest of my existence.
Personally, I think Caias's actions are commendable. He's taken every step necessary to lose weight, has been consistent with his training and physical routines, he keeps up steadily with his diet.
He's asking for help and in return, he's offering help.
If you don't like it, you're not required to donate. But I'd be willing to bet that you read through every one of those entries to find a reason to snivel and whine about what you consider "prostitution" and "stupid". But wait, it gets better. I'll bet that you were soooo appalled by the story that you just HAD to forward it to your friends.
Bravo! Go you and THANKS for helping my friend!
(I mean really, if you were going to spend all that time reading, you could've saved yourself a couple of hours and just donated the two and a half bucks.)
First of all, he IS asking us to give him money. As stated many, many times before, he was relying mainly on DONATIONS.
I commend Caias for losing the weight, but I condemn him for begging other people, including us, to help him feel better about his looks. That's narcissistic and moochy. As I said before, get a job and do it yourself. Don't prey on people's emotions for financial gain.
If that concept is beyond you, then I'm sorry. I can't make it any more clear than that. Caias is either incredibly lazy or a con man. Your protestations against either are meaningless since we have no way to verify that anything he or any of his supporters, or naysayers for that matter, says is truthful. I can get 100 people to come on here and tell you how great and honest I am, but it's still a lie until proven.
I work as a consultant, which is my job at the moment. Not preying on people's emotions. I'm offering services and goods with the hook that there is a worthwhile goal. Certainly not lazy, as I've been the contributing author of 7 books. Not a con man, far as I know.
Please let me know where it says I am mainly relying on donations, because I am curious. Once a consulting check comes in next week, I will break the 3k mark on the fund. This is for **work** I've done.
But it seems that some people will latch onto what they believe and say it to their dying breath. Once the surgery is done, will that be enough proof for you? I'll be more than willing to share the pictures of before and after with you then.
Caias
And I never said that you were a con-man. I said that you might be, and frankly, I have no reason to believe otherwise. Your protestations are meaningless. And even if you're not, I still can't respect a begger.