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Build a Better Caias
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).
Categories: Body Manipulation
Posted by Alex on Sun Mar 06, 2005
Comments (85)
More from the Hoax Museum Archives:
"C uunng... A ooohhh... I whooah... A eieeeee... S urk!...", he managed to say between the reciprocations of the probe." - Charybdis

Ahh! Nothing like a good reciprocating probe...
Posted by Rod  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  02:19 PM
Hey, Who wants Pro Ana back!!!!!!!!! For good old times, sake!!!
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  02:40 PM
Them's fightin' words Stephen. Ya shoulnda outa gone there.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  02:51 PM
Wow, there's a lot of inagination that you all have put into these comments, especially that last one Charybdis, a real piece of work.

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. 😊
Posted by Thea  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:04 PM
Where did that come from?????????? She speaks of him as if he's a GOD!!!
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:06 PM
So if we are all imaginary friends of Caias who is just using something like the Ghost-thingy, why bother? And if you do want to bother, why not follow the links we provide and talk to us instead of assuming that Caias is doing all this to "dupe" you into giving him free money (which he isn't asking for in the first place)?

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
Posted by Sarah / k4tj3  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:07 PM
Why don't you all talk about me that way....I need better followers.
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:07 PM
Well, Sarah, it's more fun to think it is a scam. With all of his followers comming forth, I can see that it isn't. But that ruins the fun!!!
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:18 PM
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. 😊 😊
Posted by Thea  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:20 PM
It's not that we don't believe all of you. I'm willing to believe that you are all on the up-and-up. I just don't like people asking for something for nothing. Therefore I poke fun at them. Get a job, ya bum!

And don't be dissin' Stephen. He has THE POWAH!
Posted by Charybdis  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:27 PM
Thea said :
"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!!!! 😜
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:30 PM
I thought you had a girlfriend. Is it an open relationship? If so, is she cute? 'cause I'm available.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:35 PM
Oh wait. You're in McKinney. Damn furreners.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:36 PM
Like I said, it's not that I don't believe the guy wants surgery.

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.
Posted by Rod  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:37 PM
Charybdis,

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.
Posted by Sarah / k4tj3  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:40 PM
HEY!!!! yous, your the Forrener, This has nothing to do with my woman!!!! and yeah, she's a babe!!!
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.
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:42 PM
Something for nothing? Have you even read what he's doing, or have you just bothered to read the flame war?

And I don't see how thats a dis, it's an acknowledgement of his charming wit.
Posted by Thea  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:42 PM
Ok, so I rambled a little.!!!!
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:43 PM
Are you Wiccan Thea????
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:44 PM
I mean, Sara???
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:45 PM
Eeeenteresting how you don't appear to have read what he is actually proposing.

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)
Posted by Thea  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:45 PM
Does it matter? No, I'm not wiccan.
Posted by Sarah / k4tj3  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  03:58 PM
Just curious, The words you used earlier reminded me of how my Best friends mother talks.
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  04:00 PM
I have Charming wit......I knew it.... She Digs me!!! any way, I have to leave work and go home. Night everyone!!!!
Posted by X  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  04:01 PM
I need 7500 people to donate $2.32 so I can get my surgery.

do
Posted by Charybdis  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  04:21 PM
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job
Posted by Rod  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  04:35 PM
I have services worth 14,000 dollars. I'm a professional writer and editor. I wrote 4 books last year for several roleplaying game companies, and have worked for such companies as Hewlett Packard (contact privately and I'll send you links). I've done graphic design for two political campaigns in the past two years.

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.
Posted by Caias Ward  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  06:08 PM
Caias... Do you honestly believe that this is not panhandling?

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.
Posted by Rod  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  06:23 PM
Ok, folks, seriously, this is getting kind of out of hand. "Get a job." Duh. Caias has plenty of skills and does plenty of work, but that doesn't mean that he has all the money in the world to do whatever he wants. Shit, I've worked at the same place for the past year and a half, make decent money and have decent skills, and I still cant afford a $500 car I'm buying off my sister. And anyway, who cares if its e-panhandling, begging, selling, whatever. It DOES NOT make him a hoax. Regardless of if you want to donate or not. It just makes him desperate to do something to make his life better. Thats more than I can say about a lot of people in this world.
Posted by Sarah / k4tj3  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  07:27 PM
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 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.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Tue Mar 22, 2005  at  07:59 PM
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