[txmx2000]

Do not donate or help the American Red Cross.

They do almost nothing to help those affected by natural disasters. All they do is setup shelters and feed people in those shelters. They do not help rebuild.

They do an exceptionally poor job at this. Everyone knows about Katrina. In Houston this year, food sat on loading docks downtown while people starved in local shelters. The American Red Cross ran the main shelter so poorly that the city had to build an entirely new shelter and move everyone there...in the middle of a hurricane.

They don’t need your donations. They have a deal with the federal government where they get reimbursed for whatever they spend during a national disaster. The local American Red Cross chapters do this. The national organization does not provide the resources for this.

If you donate to the American Red Cross, you’re throwing your money away. The money won’t go to the local chapters. It won’t go to rebuild. It won’t go to the victims of the natural disaster. Do not donate to the American Red Cross.

[KGIII]

Maybe a better statement would be, "If you donate to the Red Cross then know what your donation is going to support..." Then maybe you can enumerate the complaints and, if wanted, provide citations.

As it is, I think some folks may take offense with you telling them how to spend their money. I, for one, read it as you trying to tell me what I can or cannot do.

Edited to add: I see your dead reply. The difference between my suggestions and your post is that you demand, as opposed to ask. You may notice that I'm making a point of not saying you should do something, but that pointing out that you can choose to do something.

It's received much more gracefully and people are much more open to the ideas when they are asked, instead of when they are instructed. But, it's entirely up to you how you take it and what you decide to do with it.

I've spent years learning to say could instead of should. It has helped me immensely.

[mbrookes]

http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red...

To be clear, this article is about the American Red Cross (which is not to say that other branches and other NGOs aren't as bad), but if you want to know what your donation is going to support... good luck!

[KGIII]

Oh, they are pretty horrible. I was more concerned with presentation than content. I support the idea of educating people about the horribleness of the American Red Cross. I also know it is more effective to do so by engaging then demanding.

People, as a general rule, don't like being told what to do. They respond much better when being asked politely. We didn't develop politeness for no reason, after all. We have all sorts of negative phrases for demanding people.

As I support the idea of making people aware of the problems with the American Red Cross, it stands to reason that I'd like to not sour them on the process of learning about the reasons for the complaints.

[mbrookes]

Ah, got you. I misinterpreted your statement as a defence of ARC, but rereading I see that's not the case.

[KGIII]

For better or worse, society respects a well dressed person with manners more than they do a spittle-flecked zealot. I suspect more people have been turned away from desktop Linux precisely because of this.

It has been very, very socially helpful to learn to not say should and to substitute could. Relatedly, I also try to say I can relate, and not to say I understand. Just a couple of small things completely change how people respond to me.

You could try it in your everyday speech and see if you notice a difference?

[Dowwie]

Donny, you're out of your element!

You are so wrong about the American Red Cross. The ARC is an non-profit organization supported by a movement of volunteers from all walks of life. It gives resources to volunteers willing to help those in need. Thank god it exists.

I'm not going to convince you by arguing on HN but would gladly talk, or at least chat online, about it with you.

I took a month leave of absence from a programmer position at Merrill Lynch when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the U.S.. I signed up for a disaster response role in the American Red Cross, who dispatched me relatively quickly to a major shelter in Alexandria, Louisiana.

I can confidently tell you and anyone reading this that great good came of what was donated, at least to the population served within the jurisdiction I was stationed.

[syshum]

Thank You....

I cringe when ever I see People posting links to donate to the Red Cross.

[zeep]

This is true for most charities... you are probably better off helping someone you know personally even if it's not tax deductible...

[jacalata]

I don't think this is intrinsically true - a lot of people just don't personally know anyone who desperately needs help. Is it really overall better to be 100% efficient at getting a rich private school a new telescope instead of being 50% efficient at getting people with no safe drinking water a means of access/production of safe drinking water?

[skybrian]

If getting maximum impact is your main concern, I'd go with GiveWell's recommendations:

http://www.givewell.org/charities/top-charities

[throwaway5752]

Might help if you noted an alternative.