Internet begging
Encyclopedia
Internet begging, cyber-begging, or Internet panhandling is the online version of traditional begging
, asking strangers for money to meet immediate and other needs (money
, food
, and shelter). Internet begging has the clear advantage to street panhandling in that it can be practiced with relative anonymity, thereby eliminating or reducing the shame
and disgrace apparent of begging in public.
A cause website is a term for a cyber-begging site that presents a personal appeal for funds or help.
s became more popular, individuals began advertising their needs using the features available through website authoring. Many Internet service provider
s (ISPs) offered a free homepage
along with the basic dial-up connection service to the Internet. For many people, this was an opportunity to create an inexpensive website to host and share their personal experience and need.
As non-profit organizations began moving their fundraising efforts from snail mail
(postal mail) to the World Wide Web
, individuals began to create more elaborate forms of personal 'fundraising' by utilizing many of the same Internet techniques.
During the late 1990s, as the Internet became more sophisticated, resources became available allowing any individual to create an attractive website without requiring the knowledge of HTML
or other web authoring systems. These free-to-inexpensive web hosting services remain a constant on the Internet making it easy for the public to access, create and advertise an Internet begging website.
Internet begging gained notoriety and momentum after June 2002 when Karyn Bosnak started SaveKaryn.com
as an attempt to have the Internet public help pay her credit card
debt, which was in part due to her predilection for designer clothing
and Starbucks
coffee
. For Bosnak, the results led to traditional media attention, appearances on popular television programs and a book. Her website was probably the first Internet begging site to gain wide exposure and it became the example for many to follow.
In October 2009, the Boston Globe carried a story on so-called cyberbegging, or Internet begging, which was reported to be a new trend worldwide.
of their websites. Using free to inexpensive hosting services, Internet begging websites ask the public for help with many needs including breast augmentation
surgery, cancer
treatments, new cars, preventing personal homelessness
, and medical bills to suggest a few. Websites with names reflecting their needs directly or indirectly are panhandling for help with a variety of human needs and conditions, from deeply personal to very humorous.
Many 'cause websites' accept contributions via clickable hyperlink
s. Internet services like PayPal
and the Amazon.com
Honor system offer free to inexpensive credit card and payment acceptance services making it easy for cyber-beggars to collect donations directly from their websites.
Many of the Internet begging websites appear to be the result of an individual’s legitimate desire for attention and help. However, a new trend is emerging in 'Mega' begging sites that are ostensibly offering would be Internet beggars help with the details of website design, hosting and advertising.
Internet begging websites are essentially as transient as traditional off-line panhandlers with respect to territory and accessibility. Many Internet begging websites are not long lived.
rooms to beg for money. This practice often occurs at high stakes tables, where the beggars may believe they have a better chance of being paid by people who play for high stakes. However, this practice is usually frowned upon, and most online poker rooms employ countermeasures to prevent it. These countermeasures include revoking offenders' chat privileges, limiting chat to seated players only, and placing limitations on who may chat as an observer.
Mexico
has a law requiring those engaging in Internet begging to positively identify themselves and to accurately specify why they need money.
In virtually all places, those receiving money through Internet begging are required to pay taxes in accordance with all national, state, and local laws.
District attorneys in all places where such laws exist agree that enforcement is difficult, given that the Internet is worldwide, and since funds are usually solicited across jurisdiction lines, such prosecution is difficult.
Begging
Begging is to entreat earnestly, implore, or supplicate. It often occurs for the purpose of securing a material benefit, generally for a gift, donation or charitable donation...
, asking strangers for money to meet immediate and other needs (money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
, food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, and shelter). Internet begging has the clear advantage to street panhandling in that it can be practiced with relative anonymity, thereby eliminating or reducing the shame
Shame
Shame is, variously, an affect, emotion, cognition, state, or condition. The roots of the word shame are thought to derive from an older word meaning to cover; as such, covering oneself, literally or figuratively, is a natural expression of shame....
and disgrace apparent of begging in public.
A cause website is a term for a cyber-begging site that presents a personal appeal for funds or help.
History
During the early days of the Internet, cyber-begging was evident in the form of personal advertisements for help on local bulletin board systems (BBS). As personal websiteWebsite
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s became more popular, individuals began advertising their needs using the features available through website authoring. Many Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s (ISPs) offered a free homepage
Homepage
A home page or homepage has various related meanings to do with web sites:* It most often refers to the initial or main web page of a web site, sometimes called the front page ....
along with the basic dial-up connection service to the Internet. For many people, this was an opportunity to create an inexpensive website to host and share their personal experience and need.
As non-profit organizations began moving their fundraising efforts from snail mail
Snail mail
Snail mail or smail is a dysphemistic retronym—named after the snail with its slow speed—used to refer to letters and missives carried by conventional postal delivery services. The phrase refers to the lag-time between dispatch of a letter and its receipt, versus the virtually instantaneous...
(postal mail) to the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
, individuals began to create more elaborate forms of personal 'fundraising' by utilizing many of the same Internet techniques.
During the late 1990s, as the Internet became more sophisticated, resources became available allowing any individual to create an attractive website without requiring the knowledge of HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
or other web authoring systems. These free-to-inexpensive web hosting services remain a constant on the Internet making it easy for the public to access, create and advertise an Internet begging website.
Internet begging gained notoriety and momentum after June 2002 when Karyn Bosnak started SaveKaryn.com
Save Karyn
Save Karyn is the name of both a Web site and a book. SaveKaryn.com was the first notable "web panhandling" site. Save Karyn: One Shopaholic’s Journey to Debt and Back is the book chronicling the events leading up to and through the height of the site's popularity.The creator of both works is...
as an attempt to have the Internet public help pay her credit card
Credit card
A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for these goods and services...
debt, which was in part due to her predilection for designer clothing
Designer clothing
Designer clothing is clothing that bears the logo of a recognizable fashion designer.The 'designer' whose name is on the label may be:* A European couturier, e.g. Chanel, Christian Dior* A European luxury goods house, e.g. Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton...
and Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
. For Bosnak, the results led to traditional media attention, appearances on popular television programs and a book. Her website was probably the first Internet begging site to gain wide exposure and it became the example for many to follow.
In October 2009, the Boston Globe carried a story on so-called cyberbegging, or Internet begging, which was reported to be a new trend worldwide.
Internet begging sites
With hundreds of Internet begging sites on-line, it has become common practice for web beggars to register and own the domain nameDomain name
A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System ....
of their websites. Using free to inexpensive hosting services, Internet begging websites ask the public for help with many needs including breast augmentation
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation denotes the breast implant and fat-graft mammoplasty procedures for correcting the defects, and for enhancing the size, form, and feel of a woman’s breasts...
surgery, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
treatments, new cars, preventing personal homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, and medical bills to suggest a few. Websites with names reflecting their needs directly or indirectly are panhandling for help with a variety of human needs and conditions, from deeply personal to very humorous.
Many 'cause websites' accept contributions via clickable hyperlink
Hyperlink
In computing, a hyperlink is a reference to data that the reader can directly follow, or that is followed automatically. A hyperlink points to a whole document or to a specific element within a document. Hypertext is text with hyperlinks...
s. Internet services like PayPal
PayPal
PayPal is an American-based global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders....
and the Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
Honor system offer free to inexpensive credit card and payment acceptance services making it easy for cyber-beggars to collect donations directly from their websites.
Many of the Internet begging websites appear to be the result of an individual’s legitimate desire for attention and help. However, a new trend is emerging in 'Mega' begging sites that are ostensibly offering would be Internet beggars help with the details of website design, hosting and advertising.
Internet begging websites are essentially as transient as traditional off-line panhandlers with respect to territory and accessibility. Many Internet begging websites are not long lived.
Begging in online poker rooms
Sometimes beggars use the chat facility in online pokerOnline poker
Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide...
rooms to beg for money. This practice often occurs at high stakes tables, where the beggars may believe they have a better chance of being paid by people who play for high stakes. However, this practice is usually frowned upon, and most online poker rooms employ countermeasures to prevent it. These countermeasures include revoking offenders' chat privileges, limiting chat to seated players only, and placing limitations on who may chat as an observer.
Laws against Internet begging
Some countries and other jurisdictions have passed laws prohibiting or restricting Internet begging, though enforcement has been minimal, and there have been no major reports of anyone being prosecuted for the practice in itself.Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
has a law requiring those engaging in Internet begging to positively identify themselves and to accurately specify why they need money.
In virtually all places, those receiving money through Internet begging are required to pay taxes in accordance with all national, state, and local laws.
District attorneys in all places where such laws exist agree that enforcement is difficult, given that the Internet is worldwide, and since funds are usually solicited across jurisdiction lines, such prosecution is difficult.