and you are most certainly entitled to it. But let me explain why I posted what I did.



"To say that some people are not donating money or adding their name to the list because of competition is totally unfair."



How is it unfair? I did not say ALL people who are not donating money are doing so out of competition. I said SOME are. How do I know that? Well, when a breeder laughs at you over the phone and tells you that they "are not going to participate in the reward because they have no desire to help out the competition" then that pretty much validates my point. And when another breeder tells you they "wont be giving because the above mentioned breeder has contacted him and others and asked them not to" then I have every right to say it is out of competition. Because that is what I was told.



"You can not force or shame people into donating just because YOU think it is the right thing to do."



I am not trying to "force" or "shame" anyone into anything. I spent hours on the phone and thanked every single person I spoke to. Even if they didnt give, and almost ALL of them didnt give! Is that wrong of them? Of course not. Only a moron would think it was! SOME people cant give, and I understand that completely. Some people wont give because they are skeptical. Others just dont want to give and that is their business.I was not refering to these people in my earlier post. This isnt some televangelist campaign where people are conned into giving. The folks I refered to in my post know who they are, and they know the reasons they gave me for not giving. And when they said it was out of competition, I feel that is wrong.



"This isn't the first time that I've donated money to one of these 'help a fellow herper' pleas. I've done it before and been made to feel like a fool after certain things came to light. The names Jerry Tubbs and Neil Gubitz kept flashing through my head when I first saw the request to pledge money."



Why would you feel like a fool? If you gave that money out of a sincerity, it doesnt matter what people say about you. The fact that those things "came to light" does not negate the fact that you gave. Do you not believe that you will reap what you sow? You have given generosity and compassion. And when you are in need of it, you will recieve the same. Is that why we give? Of course not, but it is a reality.



"I don't think that 'competition' has ANYTHING to do with it."



You seem real adamant about this. But since you did not speak to these individuals, how is it possible for you to know what their motives are? I would be more than happy to share the contact info of the individuals I was refering to in my post outside of this forum. You are welcome to call them and listen to their opinions regarding the reward. If I were trying to Shame them, I would have just posted it here. But that wasnt my intention at all. My post was my opinion based on the reasons I was given. And like you, I am entitled to it.



Sincerely,



Michael.

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