to feel uncomfortable about people bidding huge sums of money for Children In Need experiences (Chris Evans this morning)?

[Megainstant]

It made me feel...odd. Or something. To hear people bidding thousands and thousands of pounds to play tennis at the Queens Club. I know all the money goes to charity. I know its a worthwhile cause. But it made me feel strangely uncomfortable and I don't really know why.

[Vango]

It's only 5 breakfast shows in the whole year! It raises millions. There are other radio stations.

I personally hate it when the normal TV schedule is interrupted for football.

[Theoretician]

I think I'd dislike listening to such an auction as well, and I'm also not sure why.

It's not because its ostentatious. If someone wanted to spend their own money on a gold-plated super-yacht, I wouldn't be in the least bothered.

I think my discomfort might be because it's bad value for money. The things being auctioned are things I simply wouldn't want. I subconsciously feel bad for them because at some level I think they are wasting money. I know that's irrational.

If I had their money and wanted to give it to charity, I would feel better from just giving it than from winning an auction with a dubious prize. The latter would frame itself in my mind as a purchase transaction, and I couldn't resist labelling it as a very poor one.

[GruochMacAlpin]

Why is Chris Evans getting all the stick for this? It wasn't his idea.

It was started by the sainted Terry Wogan years ago.

[Scaredycat3000]

Why I think makes some of us uncomfortable is that the rich are getting richer at the expense of the poor who are getting poorer. If the rich stopped buy to lets, avoiding taxes, paying unfair wages, etc. our poor wouldn't be so poor, they would get a livable wage, houses and rents would more likely to be affordable and as a result be less likely to need help. And the government pot would be bigger and group smaller that weren't helped by the above changes. Less people would then need groups like CIN. So auctions on public radio who raise such huge sums from individuals who are part of the reason we need charities like CIN is a bit of a kick in the teeth. Especially when CE I assume celebrates and thanks the bidder for being so generous. When really they should stop buying up family homes, avoiding tax and pay any staff better every single day of the year.

[Megainstant]

YES SCAREDYCAT

Thank you. That is completely why I feel uncomfortable with it.

And also that I find Chris Evans incredibly annoying.

[Megainstant]

AND - its the congratulations and the thanks

"Big thanks goes to Clive in Cheshire who has bid an amazing £35k for 10 minutes in the same room as Chris from Coldplay!! * massive cheering and backroom applause ** Well done Clive you are changing peoples lives mate, thank you thank you thank you"

Clive is a rich wanker with more money than sense and really doesn't need this kind of fawning celebrity approbation

[sarahsarah76]

charities like this are a sham. people don't realise that if they really wanted to help kids and the communities that need it they could go there themselves. instead they send money to a faceless organisation and expect change to happen with imaginary numbers.

[Scaredycat3000]

Somebody agreed with me and didn't say I was over thinking it, thank you Mega.
And any questioning of it can be shut down with you're jealous Coldplay and Tennis, no Thank you, you don't understand we do, you're over thinking it I'm not, but think of the children I am!

[TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing]

Scaredycat that's a lot of assumptions you're making there about people who are probably using some of their company profits to contribute to their CSR activities.

But obviously they must be evil corporate gougers too; not, for example, someone who has worked 80 hour weeks for 20 years to set up their own business and employs tons of local people at a decent wage.

[Scaredycat3000]

Of course they could be The, these people do exist. If they were in the majority this country wouldn't be in the state it is in.

[TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing]

Yes, let's blame SME owners for the state of the nation.

[Vango]

charities like this are a sham. people don't realise that if they really wanted to help kids and the communities that need it they could go there themselves. instead they send money to a faceless organisation and expect change to happen with imaginary numbers.

If people don't want to give, to any charity, then they really don't have to give.

There's no need to tar all charitable organisations with the same brush. CiN is not faceless. The numbers are not imaginary. Why would anyone say that, seriously?

[Vango]

Clive is a rich wanker with more money than sense and really doesn't need this kind of fawning celebrity approbation

There was a thread here the other day from someone who had unexpectedly inherited £100k (and was naturally a little overwhelmed). What if he/she had been moved to bid? We have NO idea who these people are.

[MuseumOfCurry]

I think the idea of raising money for a 'poor kid' to play tennis at Queens Club is pretty vile, actually. Way to drop him into a situation he can't possibly navigate, much less appreciate.

Bid it up, let the money find its way to his parents so that they get to play the good guy.

[Megainstant]

Yes museum you are right in retrospect

And vango I was being a bit flippant about Clive.

[Vango]

Worth remembering, though, that Clive's £35k might pay for a sensory room, or respite for hundreds of young carers. The list of grants is worth a read.

[TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing]

He's still a wanker though, just for, you know, having money to give.

[Megainstant]

Not necessarily. I give money and I'm not a wanker.

I was being facetious, I do apologise to fictitious Clive.

[TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing]

I know I was making a sarcastic point!

[Vango]

I'm really beginning to warm to Clive. He knows he's spending money on nothing. He probably doesn't even like Coldplay. But what the heck, he's getting the bids going and he's happy to donate.

[TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing]

Let's face it, he's got all the comfy slacks he needs, a nice country pile and his pilot's licence. Now he's kicking back and giving back.

Go Clive

[KathArtic]

Can't bare to say his name Bono's poverty charity gave just over 1% to good causes, I don't believe the other 98% was for admin fees

To put it in monetry terms, £1.9 million raised - £118k given to charity. Thats very expensive toners, paperclips and polly pockets!

[Vango]

You're thinking of someone else. Clive's an elderly bachelor with no family who was once a Barnardo's boy before training as a GP. He lives a frugal life and has no-one to leave his savings to.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

I'm another one that would prefer a 'lottery' system for these prizes. Very rich people could just buy loads of tickets then, couldn't they, and donate that way, but there would always be the tiniest, slimmest chance that someone who could only afford one ticket might have a fabulous experience.

I can't even afford the TV licence to watch the bloody programme, so maybe I am biased.

[TheWrathFromHighAtopTheThing]

Ahhh, Vango.

I heart Clive.