Big News and Addressing the Mer Community

[Lotus the Mermaid]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUbYqwCX-XA&feature=youtu.be

I hope everyone finds this helpful! Love you all! :)

[SeaGlass Siren]

Lotus I can feel so much love coming from this video you made and I'm so proud of you for speaking your mind even though you know you might get lash back.so much respect for you girl.

i disagree with the crowd funding bit, but I understand your position on it comes from a place of unconditional love for everyone in the mer community and I think that's also something I respect as well.

[MerDragon Arie]

Thank you for posting this! I'm super proud of you Seaster! I hope fellow mers take this to heart and listen. I agree with you 1000% :thumbs up::cheerleader:

I also want to point out that I personally took down my GoFundMe because I was getting so much backlash from people about it. They thought that I was trying to manipulate people into giving me money which is something I would NEVER do. They have said "why aren't you working and saving to get your tail like I am" and other really rude comments. At the time these comments were posted I was working 2 JOBS and even looking for change on the ground just to get every penny that I can for my tail.

We are all apart of the same community guys and we should all be here to support each other! We are all one BIG family and should be treating each other as such. I have so much respect and love for ALL of you guys!

[Calizaire]

Sweetie, you hit the nail on the head!
Well said.
http://cdn.instructables.com/FBR/WYRZ/GB5HE3FX/FBRWYRZGB5HE3FX.MEDIUM.gif

[AniaR]

Yay for meetups :) good for you all.

I worry sometimes that if people get into a disagreement with me they think it's somehow going to effect their community cred. Believe me, no one judges anyone for disagreeing with me or not liking me lol

I find it's split down the middle. Veterans get frustrated because some new members aren't willing to look for their own info, or feel entitled to guidance. I've had people be incredibly rude to me because they expected me to help them with something right away. BUt it certainly goes the other way too in that old members jump on new people's back without even giving them a chance.

i'm the girl who has done like 6 successful gofundmes. LOL. I am so proud of how much we've been able to do for bringing Iona to Canada, getting Sean to Mermania, getting a tail for merman Christian after he was scammed, getting all those gifts and letters for little Miss K, upcycling a tail for Mimi, the girl's empowerment and more. I am all for gofundme but I do think the problem in our community is people rely on it 100% for their business and they shouldn;t. It can help with an aspect, or a project, But people should be exploring all avenues to raise money. I view things like gofundme and kickstarter as SPONSORSHIP. And Sponsorship is VERY NORMAL in business- especially in the arts and performance world. I did up a whole tutorial on how people can save and fundraise for a tail.

I did get upset with one woman's gofundme because day 1 she was bashing Hannah fraser and hating on mermaids, and day 2 she was asking for a huge amount of money for a tail saying it has always been her dream *rolls eyes*

you're right it is hard that there were so many scammers and stuff like Jesse, Kanti, Stevi etc. it makes some people really weary.

Honestly to me, it's a 50/50 split. People have to be more tolerant, but people also have to understand this is the internet and we arent owed anything, and try not to be so sensitive.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Yay! Good to see that I'm not the only one that says "Um" alot!!! I always try many video shoots to not say um, but it gets worse on, and keep saying um more times than I can count! Haha!

I don't support people for personal tails. Main reason is, I don't know you outside of Mernetwork. You may be true and friendly and all that here, but the internet being the way it is, one can never know if one is supporting a true cause.

On the other hand, I'll support a business because they'll have something to offer like fin or tail rewards, much like I did for the Sun Tail one.

[SeaGlass Siren]

I just don't donate because I'm a cheap motherfuxker :P but I have donated to causes that I saw fit so I'm not totally heartless lol

[Calizaire]

I get that this was more about some snarky attitudes that are present here and that the attitudes towards crowd funding example you gave was just that - a single example of some of that snarkiness. So, not to derail by focusing on that one example; but I agree with you Lotus. Whatever adults want to do with their money is not my business. Nor is it my business to tell another mer how they "should" or "should not" acquire the money needed to purchase a tail. Doesn't involve me: not my business. That said; I wouldn't do it myself and I probably wouldn't donate to someone who was, (depends I guess on the specific situation). But I'm not in anyway offended if someone wants to!

One of the most important pieces of advice I've ever received was from my mother. She said, "Don't offer advice where it was not solicited". It's condescending, patronizing, and assumes a role of superiority over another. (Yes, the irony of getting that unsolicited piece of advice was not lost on me, but I think it's still worthwhile). I'd like to see more members of this community practice offering advice only where it was asked for.

[AniaR]

Yeah I had some people make some really rude comments about my recent gofundme WITHOUT BOTHERING TO ACTUALLY READ IT and it's like, well no one is forcing you to donate so move along! lol

[PhaylennMurúch]

I'm all for GoFundMe campaigns, IF there is a good cause or a solid plan behind it and IF the person behind the fund doesn't come across as entitled and rude themselves.

A gofundme by a 14 year old for a silicone tail to use in 4 years when they graduate High School? no, because bodies change in the teen years and there is every possibility that the beautiful silicone tail will be nothing more than an art piece on a wall.

A gofundme for someone who has a solid business plan and needs a bit of help with overhead (possibly including a tail)? absolutely because having a solid plan means that the money is going to something that's already in motion and hopefully that person will pay it forward when they can.

A gofundme for a silicone tail by someone who has never even put on a tail before? no, because I feel that one needs to build up their strength with a fabric or neoprene tail before jumping into the pool with 40+ lbs strapped to their butt.

A gofundme for someone who got scammed out of their tail/money or had to spend their money because of a tragedy or illness? absolutely, because shit happens and someone shouldn't be punished for someone else's actions or the curve balls that life throws at us.

A gofundme for someone who insults mermaids, plays the victim, openly says that they've never had an interest in mermaiding other than selling to the community one second then turns around and claims that they've always wanted to mermaid and expects people to buy them a tail, then accuses people of bullying when they're called out on it (and trying to get people kicked off of Mernetwork over it)? no, just no. Beyond their crappy attitude and horrible presence in the community, not only is that person putting the cart before the horse by wanting to buy a tail for "when they're ready for silicone in two years or so", but the 'rewards' that they're offering are discounts at her store so you can buy their stuff and give them MORE money.

[SeaGlass Siren]

Exactly what phaylenn said.

[Mermaid Alea]

I missed you Lotus! A Texas meetup might not be too far for me so maybe I could make that! :D

As for new members, I know often they ask questions that have already been answered and that gets annoying, but anyone can feel free to dump them on me. I have no problem searching Mernetwork a bit for someone else. I am on other forums where new people are always showing up with the same questions, but it isn't so bad. If anything it keeps the information fresh in my mind having to always reference it. I still don't know a whole lot when it comes to mermaiding - but I can use the search function. :p

[MermaidAine]

Great video Lotus.


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