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About Fernando's, but not.
13 years ago
General
Recently I'm sure a good majority are aware of the issues of a restaurant near AC called Fernando's. For those of you who aren't here is a quick summary:
*Restaurant well-loved by AC attendees was going out of business.
*Lots of furries did a donation drive to keep it open until AC (or longer).
*They raised a pretty amazing $20,000.00+ which would more than work.
Sadly it does not mean he will stay open forever, as a lot of restaurants fail if they don't constantly adapt or get really damn lucky. Watch the European Kitchen Nightmares and you'll see how even opening an eatery is a financial death wish. It's hard work and crazy difficult.
This is still a very nice gesture to a non-furry and his employees which is something nice to see. Furries stepping OUTSIDE THE FANDOM TO HELP. How often does that happen? Not a lot. The AC crowd felt he's done a lot for the Furry community, and making our social group a lot more welcome to others. It's like at FC where Psycho Donuts helps get some of us to mingle in the city and the regular folk see we're not a bunch of sex-crazed baby eaters. Well, okay the dingos are baby eaters, but that's another story.
Anyways.. The point is, it was a charity, and not a totally worthless one. All of the money went to Fernando's, and none to operating expenses like it would if you tossed a few bucks to the big worldwide named ones. It helped others who could use a hand.
Now I've been seeing a lot of shit from others about them doing this. They say the food wasn't great, it's failing anyways so you're an idiot for helping (tell me when you next tell a cancer patient that please), there are better things to spend money on, and even there are more worthwhile charities. All of this shit is pure salt and shameful to see. It is pure bitterness leaking out and realize it spreads and does no one any good.
Honestly, people's money is theirs and they earned it. Therefore they can choose where they spend it. If they buy a stick of gum they don't need, nobody gives them shit about it, so stop gritching when they use it to freaking help someone instead! Also, charities are not there for battling. Any cause where someone could use help in life is worthwhile, and sadly there are too many out there for people to only do the most dire at any given time. Sure he makes sandwiches and there are cancer patients, but there is also pathogen research, feeding kids, helping people on the streets, locating missing puppies, etc. Just because we help find that missing puppy doesn't mean we hate the cancer patient. It is sad too, and I'm sorry some feel if they aren't helped then nobody should be.
In scouts and ROTC, there were several times I helped out at the food banks and homeless shelters. Afterwards, I even went and donated free time to help at one of the night shelters with some other folks. We ended up helping for a few months doing face painting for the kids, and working with some of the battered and homeless women there as well. Eventually some of the people running the shelter complained that those of us showing up did not do enough. Why not spend our money on birthday cakes too for the kids, and even more clothes, and why spend time with other locations helping out when this one needs more?
Can anyone guess what happened next?
Let's just say instead of the group going all opening their pockets, they closed them. Completely. I stopped going as nobody else wanted to go, and a single male coming alone to the shelter was frowned upon. I miss doing it, and I really hope the people all got out of there and their lives picked up after.... but they did so without some of the charity they were given.
If you gripe at people who are actually being nice and helping, they'll stop that. Nobody wants to negativity for kindness. It's very hurtful to receive and it deters future chances for it to happen. So please stop being asshats about Fernando's before you make nobody want to do charity anymore.
The booze is kicking in a hair so I'm going to stop rambling here. Go out and be nice people.
*Restaurant well-loved by AC attendees was going out of business.
*Lots of furries did a donation drive to keep it open until AC (or longer).
*They raised a pretty amazing $20,000.00+ which would more than work.
Sadly it does not mean he will stay open forever, as a lot of restaurants fail if they don't constantly adapt or get really damn lucky. Watch the European Kitchen Nightmares and you'll see how even opening an eatery is a financial death wish. It's hard work and crazy difficult.
This is still a very nice gesture to a non-furry and his employees which is something nice to see. Furries stepping OUTSIDE THE FANDOM TO HELP. How often does that happen? Not a lot. The AC crowd felt he's done a lot for the Furry community, and making our social group a lot more welcome to others. It's like at FC where Psycho Donuts helps get some of us to mingle in the city and the regular folk see we're not a bunch of sex-crazed baby eaters. Well, okay the dingos are baby eaters, but that's another story.
Anyways.. The point is, it was a charity, and not a totally worthless one. All of the money went to Fernando's, and none to operating expenses like it would if you tossed a few bucks to the big worldwide named ones. It helped others who could use a hand.
Now I've been seeing a lot of shit from others about them doing this. They say the food wasn't great, it's failing anyways so you're an idiot for helping (tell me when you next tell a cancer patient that please), there are better things to spend money on, and even there are more worthwhile charities. All of this shit is pure salt and shameful to see. It is pure bitterness leaking out and realize it spreads and does no one any good.
Honestly, people's money is theirs and they earned it. Therefore they can choose where they spend it. If they buy a stick of gum they don't need, nobody gives them shit about it, so stop gritching when they use it to freaking help someone instead! Also, charities are not there for battling. Any cause where someone could use help in life is worthwhile, and sadly there are too many out there for people to only do the most dire at any given time. Sure he makes sandwiches and there are cancer patients, but there is also pathogen research, feeding kids, helping people on the streets, locating missing puppies, etc. Just because we help find that missing puppy doesn't mean we hate the cancer patient. It is sad too, and I'm sorry some feel if they aren't helped then nobody should be.
In scouts and ROTC, there were several times I helped out at the food banks and homeless shelters. Afterwards, I even went and donated free time to help at one of the night shelters with some other folks. We ended up helping for a few months doing face painting for the kids, and working with some of the battered and homeless women there as well. Eventually some of the people running the shelter complained that those of us showing up did not do enough. Why not spend our money on birthday cakes too for the kids, and even more clothes, and why spend time with other locations helping out when this one needs more?
Can anyone guess what happened next?
Let's just say instead of the group going all opening their pockets, they closed them. Completely. I stopped going as nobody else wanted to go, and a single male coming alone to the shelter was frowned upon. I miss doing it, and I really hope the people all got out of there and their lives picked up after.... but they did so without some of the charity they were given.
If you gripe at people who are actually being nice and helping, they'll stop that. Nobody wants to negativity for kindness. It's very hurtful to receive and it deters future chances for it to happen. So please stop being asshats about Fernando's before you make nobody want to do charity anymore.
The booze is kicking in a hair so I'm going to stop rambling here. Go out and be nice people.
Plus, from what I hear, the guy was nice to the furries.
Do it or stop bitching. I've given to national campaigns that are known to be low-overhead and I've given to individuals in need. This fortnight I gave to Fernando even though I've never even been there because I've heard him speak of how awesome Furries are and I know his story as a struggling entrepreneur. Maybe we've only bought him a little time only to have him fail in the end, or maybe we've given him the opportunity to make the changes he needs to adapt to a changing world. I know what _I_ could do if I had that kind of money and that kind of opportunity just one more time, and I'm glad he's been given another chance.
10% or shut your pie hole. Do it, or begone!
Is Fernando's a restaurant I eat at? No. It's basically your standard greasy spoon, and normally not a place I'd consider. But I still donated solely on principle. This was a location that was good to our community, going above and beyond to cater to and be open to us and our event. It's only fair that we do the same with him.
As far as charities go, I lot of people stepped up rather than with other charities for several reasons. First off, you can SEE the results as they happen, and see first hand what good people can do. With a lot of the charities, you don't always see those results. Especially something as huge as Komen or a lot of the other cancer charities, which pimp a HUGE pimp for breast cancer and turn everything to a sea of pink....but yet very little fruits of labour are seen. Second is the fact that the bigger or more standard charities ARE covered by furry, Anthrocon included. It's just that those are also an ongoing project, and are things that conventions can raise money for as they happen. If anyone is skeptical about charity involvement for AC or any con, sit in on an art auction or watch closing ceremonies sometime.
I have my own beef with the event, but it has nothing to do with the event itself. it's primarily my issue with one or two individuals involved who I know were solely in it for themselves. Granted, their involvement did actually help the situation, and was a factor to the positive outcome, so I'm happy about that. But my irritation comes from personally knowing the people to a point where I know for a fact that had the situation not gotten them any attention, they wouldn't have bothered.
Also: No, I'm not talking about Uncle Kage. I have nothing but respect for the man, and I wholly applaud his efforts. He's one of the most amazing people I have ever met and without him caring as much as he does about people, Fernando's would have closed its doors.
Helping one person who was kind, who has worked hard, his workers, his little mark on this world is amazing! I am very proud of the out pour of love, saving a local business. People need to be nice or move on no one was forced to donate, its... voluntary.
With that said you stated a great fact Vermy, and people really just need to stop looking for negative attention.
People, this is why you have to stop bitching about someone trying to be helpful: http://xkcd.com/871/
also its cool to see that there was someone else here whos been in the ROTC. what branch were you? I was Navy.
"At Ease means to let your balls hang loose!" I'll never forget those words from my commanding officer.
First you're right that whatever people want to do with their money. It's meant for being used to spend. It's worthless if it's kept forever. Of course there's also saving up for retirement blah blah blah but the point of the money is to be spent EVENTUALLY. Not spending it just means they're pieces of paper that have no meaning.
Fernando's also did make us feel welcome and brought some really decent food for great prices to such a close location to the con. I know that taste is subjective, but anybody that hates that food just has no taste buds or something. Or has them wired to their ass, I dunno.
On the flip side, the difference between a lot of these charities and donating to Fernando's is that unlike Fernando's, most charity work is for donating to a cause that is due to a situation WITHOUT A CHOICE. Nobody CHOOSES to get cancer... ok yes there's smokers but that's beyond the scope of this topic. Animals didn't CHOOSE to become homeless. Nobody CHOOSES to have their house burn down, etc etc. And while Fernando's didn't choose to go out of business, he DID choose to OPEN a business, which in itself is a risk.
I believe that the overall issue folks may have is that folks are donating to a "cause" that is more due to a CHOICE and a RISK. While it's not the same TYPE of risk, would you feel it makes sense to have a large donation drive for somebody that gambled a large amount of money and lost?
In the end though, work was put towards keeping the business running, and for what he's done, I for one feel he needs the relief of the debt and donated. However I can ALSO see the concern from others and don't think it's totally unfounded.
ROTC and volunteering eh? There's more to you than drawing coyotes with peg legs and steamrolling over folks! ;)