Facepunch's Opinion - Sending spare "Steam Funds" to Charity. - General

This is an idea I had a while back, and I decided to post it around a few people to gather interest in it, get peoples feedback. Here's what I wrote on the Steam Forums: [quote=Me] I know suggestions have been made to have Steam funds given to other players, and gift cards etc, but I was thinking about this recently and it seemed like a good idea to me, especially to promote the better side of the gaming industry. (As we are all basement dwelling maniacs who will go on murderous rampages after an hour of GTA ) The idea is simple: You want to add Steam Funds to get a game. You add £10, and spend £9.50 and you have 50p left in that wallet, sitting there, and you can't figure out what to do with it. It's happened to me, there is nothing I want for 50p. There should be an option to donate an amount of money of your choosing to a charity through Steam funds, similar to the way these "Humble Bundles" work, although IDEALLY Steam wouldn't take a percentage. A list of pre-approved charities would be there to choose from, designated by Steam. I know it may not seem like much, but if 100 people donate a spare 50pence, that's £50. Are there not adverts saying that £1 can buy a mosquito net? Or that every penny helps a good cause? I'd like your feedback, any holes in the idea, suggestions, modifications, or criticisms as to why this is a bad idea! But keep it friendly. [I]This post will be updated accordingly with credit. [B]Found a couple threads with similar goals: [URL="http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1731057"]http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=1731057[/URL] [URL="http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1773784"]http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=1773784[/URL] [/B][/I][/quote] Steam thread: [URL]http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2295145[/URL] I really would like to get something implemented like this, it wouldn't hinder those who didn't want to use it, but for people like me the option is just always there. There would be no advertisements of it apart from maybe a news announcement and a banner on the Steam Store for a couple days, and it would benefit the chosen charities such as Child's play, etc. As said, any ideas, holes etc? (Keeping it friendly!) Constructive criticisms and ideas are wholly welcome. Edit; Hm, I got my tabs mixed up as this was supposed to go in General Gaming. I guess General everything is good though!

Sounds interesting. I hate old men who don't know shit giving gamers a bad name all over the overspun and winded media circus. It's notable how they don't apologize or say anything after all these charity events like Bundles and whatnot. Just when someone who claims he gamed goes on a murderous rampage.

I was actually thinking about this earlier. I have 5 cents left in mine and I can't do anything with it.

Only problem is that when i pay by card after using up wallet funds, it uses any wallet remains as a deduction from what my card is billed.

I would love a charitable donation system.

I'd appreciate it if people would spread this idea, maybe over twitter or other forums who may be interested :) I hope Steam/Valve will take eventually notice of it.

Nobody is hurt, there is nothing to object. Just make it happen already

As long as it's not some bullshit dumb charity like Child's Play

Why is child's play bullshit?

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33758735]Why is child's play bullshit?[/QUOTE] It doesn't help the poor, the hungry, or the sick. You're giving money to these people so they can buy video games for upper-middle class children in suburban hospitals. That doesn't seem like a valid cause to me.

I don't think you realize how much Chemo costs.

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33758817]I don't think you realize how much Chemo costs.[/QUOTE] You're not buying them chemo though? You're buying them a video game? [editline]17th December 2011[/editline] I mean you could be helping them pay off their chemotherapy bills. but instead you're buying them a video game.

Hospital is quite boring don't ya know. Also, when Your getting cemo via IV, you have to sit still for a few hours. Most adults bring books, Kids generally don't like books, they like video games. Childs play helps ease the boredom. Chemo Costs allot, families don't have enough money to buy videogames for the children because of chemo. Childs play creates gaming infrastructure in hospitals, helping hundreds of terminally ill people ease the boredom. Games work, specifically games on the Kinnect have been proven to help people with Parkinsons disease, and majorly slow the symptoms. [editline]17th December 2011[/editline] Again, You seem to be suffering white guilt. Even UNESCO and Oxfam have to pay a fee to local warlords to avoid being hunted and killed by his troops. Sure, some of the money goes to the children, but a vast majority goes to a warlord. In other places, the money gets thrown in to the government to allow them to spend it helping poor people, the money filters down through the levels of government, each corrupt official taking their share.

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33758955]Hospital is quite boring don't ya know. Also, when Your getting cemo via IV, you have to sit still for a few hours. Most adults bring books, Kids generally don't like books, they like video games. Childs play helps ease the boredom. Chemo Costs allot, families don't have enough money to buy videogames for the children because of chemo. Childs play creates gaming infrastructure in hospitals, helping hundreds of terminally ill people ease the boredom. Games work, specifically games on the Kinnect have been proven to help people with Parkinsons disease, and majorly slow the symptoms. [editline]17th December 2011[/editline] Again, You seem to be suffering white guilt. Even UNESCO and Oxfam have to pay a fee to local warlords to avoid being hunted and killed by his troops. Sure, some of the money goes to the children, but a vast majority goes to a warlord. In other places, the money gets thrown in to the government to allow them to spend it helping poor people, the money filters down through the levels of government, each corrupt official taking their share.[/QUOTE] Ah yes, I'm suffering from White Guilt because I'd rather have my money donated to a charity which actually helps people rather than paying to relieve rich children of their temporary boredom. And by the way, there are plenty of poor and hungry and sick people in first-world countries, too. And there are plenty of valid charities which help these poor people in first-world countries, and none of the money donated to these charities go through a warlord or a corrupt government?

Like? I'm calling your bluff.

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33759257]Like? I'm calling your bluff.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.ampleharvest.org/[/url] [url]http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/[/url] [url]http://feedingamerica.org/[/url]

I don't like charity because I don't actually know where my money is going. I'll pass on this.

[url]https://www.wishuponaherofoundation.org/[/url] [editline]17th December 2011[/editline] [url]http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100220101354AAO5nls[/url]

There would have to be a selection of charities. I don't use steamfunds, but if I did I would throw my change their way.

OKay, tell me how wish upon a hero is different from childs play. The money from that could go to helping starving children in Sudan.

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33759411]OKay, tell me how wish upon a hero is different from childs play. The money from that could go to helping starving children in Sudan.[/QUOTE] Oh no, not the starving children in Sudan!! We wouldn't want [I]that[/I] to happen.

I'm using your agrument, how is helping "rich" vet's different from helping "rich" kids with cancer. Your move.

giving to charity because you want to improve the reputation of your hobby is a terrible reason to donate, but other then that seems like a decent idea

If Valve would go for this I would be impressed. Companies earn by people not being able to spend that money

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33759477]I'm using your agrument, how is helping "rich" vet's different from helping "rich" kids with cancer. Your move.[/QUOTE] First, the website makes it clear that it helps veterans and military families "in need", which generally means the opposite of "rich". Second, even if you were right on this subject you still have only crossed off one of the many valid charities that I listed, so it's not even worth it to bother arguing your point.

You see, childs play doen't donate to families that are rich. Do you even know what childsplay does?

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33759694]You see, childs play doen't donate to families that are rich. Do you even know what childsplay does?[/QUOTE] Stop purposely misappropriating what I say. We both know very well that I know what Child's Play does because I said so the very first time you asked. [editline]17th December 2011[/editline] You even bothered to explain it to me in your own words afterward to make sure

So helping Cancer and Parkinsons (alzhimers too) is a stupid cause? Mentioning that they are poor because of chemo, and Parkinsons treatment is really, REALLY expensive. God, some nursing homes for parkinsons, dementia and alzhimer suffers require a $100,000 usd deposit before they even start caring for you.

[QUOTE=The Aussie;33759894]So helping Cancer and Parkinsons (alzhimers too) is a stupid cause? Mentioning that they are poor because of chemo, and Parkinsons treatment is really, REALLY expensive. God, some nursing homes for parkinsons, dementia and alzhimer suffers require a $100,000 usd deposit before they even start caring for you.[/QUOTE] Reminder that this charity is for buying video games for these people, so they don't get bored while they're receiving treatment which their parents have already paid for. The charity doesn't go toward medical research for these people. It doesn't help offset the costs for the families paying for the treatment. It goes toward buying the kids video games to play in the hospital.

Emailed to Gabe!