Dear readers,
I honestly don’t know what to say! I’m awed and humbled by your amazing response to the emergency fundraising appeal I put up yesterday. You’ve pulled me back from the financial brink and provided me with the resources I need to get through the next several months while I work to put the blog (and myself) on a more solid financial footing for the long term.
When I started this blog more than eight years ago on a whim, I never expected such an amazing community to form around it. Your response to this appeal reinforces just how strong this community has become. I have formed real friendships with many of you who follow the blog, and readers and commenters have formed real friendships with each other. Community members have come through again and again for each other in difficult times, and have come through again and again for me. We care about each other; we help each other. We’re a family.
The outpouring of support has reaffirmed my faith in the mission of this blog. I’m deeply moved to see how much this blog means to so many of you. Crawling through some of the most hateful and toxic corners of the internet on a daily basis can get discouraging at times; knowing that my work makes a difference makes it all worthwhile.
I am extraordinarily grateful for those of you who dig deep to help me through this difficult time. I hope to never have to do another emergency appeal again. As I noted yesterday, I will spend the next several months ramping up my freelance journalism alongside my regular work on the blog; combined with the funds raised during regular quarterly pledge drives, this should provide enough to put me close to some sort of financial stability – insofar as that’s possible in our current world.
Thanks again for all the support! I’m still reeling.
–David
PS: If you still wish to donate, you can of course do so here, or on the Patreon I will be setting up soon, but the emergency is definitely over.
Congrats!
And congrats/thanks to everyone else for building an awesome community!
In similar news, I got myself a used-but-still shiny 2010’s toyota for a decent 80% of market value. Now to cross my fingers and hope I can get a job to pay my 2nd month’s gas and insurance and put my credit card back in the black.
It was definitely well-deserved; I was waiting for a chance for my cheque to come in so I could donate a bit, but I’m so glad the emergency drew to a close. I will donate when I have consistent money. Thanks for putting in a ton of hours to do work on a really dark, sad subject. I am convinced that this blog did the most work in putting incels and a lot of gender-based hate in the internet consciousness. So well done, and I am happy that people pulled together for you.
@Jane Done,
My 1997 Toyota is still going strong (though the bumpers duct-taped on…), so YAY for your new car! It should last you a good long time. ?
Fingers crossed along with you for your job-search (toes too if you think it’d help ?)
As someone who’s on a limited income, I wish I could afford to support this blog. Maybe someday when I have a few extra bucks. In the meantime, I’m proud to be part of the WHTM community. You do valuable work, David, and I’m so glad you’ll be able to continue.
David,
I’ve lurked for years. I am glad that you received enough to continue for a while and that I could contribute.
Thank you.
@Bookworm in hijab: thanks!
I’m glad the community was able to help you out! Wading through all of that awful, toxic garbage and being able to make the news of it readable and even funny is a herculean task, and one that you have done tirelessly for so long. Thank you for all your efforts, truly.
Glad to hear this worked out. With the media landscape being what it is today, it’s inportant to keep quality independent blogs and websites alive. Keep up the good work.
David I love your blog and have followed it for years. I am so sorry that I am not in a position to send you any $$. I have terminal cancer and am on a disability pension, but if I could I would.
I’m so glad to hear that other people are able to donate where I cannot. I look forward to reading more of your fabulous blog. ???
I’m a little ashamed that it took this crisis to remind me. Still, at least you’re alright for now. Keep up the good work!
My budget is always tight. When I see you post “Emergency” it’s all hands on deck and there are some things I can cut to help out. You wade through mud I could never handle to educate me – well worth it. Thank you Dave. I got your back.
I spread the word in a couple of spaces I’m in with leftists.
Heck, I think a few in my FFXIV Discord pitched in.
(it’s a discord for people from SomethingAwful forums who play FFXIV. Surprisingly chill, amazingly left)
I am so happy you managed to make it David!
Thanks, everyone, for your support, whether it’s financial or moral! (And publicity is always great!)
I’m still a bit overwhelmed.
Jane, best of luck on the job search!
No idea where I was when you declared the emergency, but I’ve given a top up now, and put a diary reminder for monthly donations in future (the amounts may vary, depending on my flushness).
So pleased the emergency is over and so sorry your savings have been eaten away in providing a place for this wonderful community.
Glad your finances are on a more even keel, David. You are doing splendid work with WHTM, please keep it up.
I just popped in for the first time in 4 days.I’m glad you managed without my help and I’m sorry you had to.
i think i need togive you a smidgen each month. you certainly deserve it.
Oh, Yay! I’m so relieved the emergency is over.
Yes, David, we like you. We really, really like you!
Seriously, though, I spent a good two years relying heavily on this blog always being here to get me through my dad’s passing. I’m so thankful to you and everyone here for giving me a reason to get out of bed each day.
And now, I think I have to seriously consider whether to go to the doctor to see if I have Fibro. I’m noticing more and more symptoms, including debilitating body aches EVERY FUCKING TIME I get sick. Doesn’t matter if it’s a head cold, the flu, food poisoning, or a shot reaction. It’s the same damn thing every time. I’m very thankful I’ve been able to use cannabis without fear of being arrested for the last five years, but I’m not all that functional on it, unfortunately.
I just needed to try to make sure this place stays around, I guess. Sorry for the illness rant part!
@David
I am so glad that you reached your goal and for this blog. Between lurking and commenting since almost the beginning, this blog often gives me hope that there are still good people out there. Your sense of humor is much needed and appreciated too. I’m just sorry I could not contribute this time-divorce be expensive. I’ll be contributing again as soon as I get my ducks in a row. ☺️ Thank you for all your hard work. You are a gem.
@everyone else
I’m also very thankful for all the commenters here. You have made me think, laugh, and lightened my heart in more ways than you can imagine. Having to deal with my ex (who spews the same things as the OPs in this blog) has been daunting and heartbreaking, but even though you don’t know it, you gave me strength to get through it. Thank you for that. ❤️ Take care of yourselves and know you have great worth to me.
I’m an avid reader but a very infrequent commenter. Thank you for all you do. I’ve set up a 2 dollar monthly payment, it’s not much I’m sorry but when I can give more I will. Glad you’re back from the brink, I’ve been there and it’s scary.
I am also a regular reader, but infrequent commenter; I frequently can’t catch up on posts until the weekend so many times what I would say has been said, and very eloquently! I’m always grateful that this community is here and that I can do the online equivalent of sitting in the circle and just listening. I’m especially happy that I could finally manage a monthly payment to help this place that has been such a comfort in general and amusement/learning for the troll takedowns.
For the people in the back who may pop up and ask why trolls aren’t just banned immediately, it greatly helps those like me when I run across that type elsewhere. So much knowledge is offered up here; it’s a full text card catalog of how to deal with everything from incels to general signposted. And one day my librarian ads wants to make a troll index for even faster sock-puppet identification.
Yes, good point Grace of Spades. We need to understand how these people operate to counter their vile ideas, and David is doing great work furthering that comprehension. Gruelling work it is, but worthwhile.