March 31, 2008
Philanthropy Satire Blog Shuts Down
After less than a month, a blog that made fun of the nonprofit world and gender roles has shut down.
Men in Philanthropy, which promised to recognize “the vast, marginally relevant, contributions men have made to the world of philanthropy” has been “removed,” according to its Web site host.
While some said the site was in poor taste — one commenter on Give & Take called it “insulting and stupid” — Phil Cubeta, author of Gift Hub, writes that the short-lived effort brought some badly needed laughs to philanthropy.
“Another fine satiric site goes dark,” he writes.
What do you think? Do we need some blogs poking fun at philanthropy?
— Ian Wilhelm
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I’d like to think that the blog shutting down was in itself a joke and that any day now it’ll pop up again.
— Bruce S. Trachtenberg Mar 31, 12:28 PM #
Insulting, stupid, and ….satirical! No one NEEDS satire, however when it is well-done it can be an antidote to conditions we didn’t even know we had.
— Tom Welsh Mar 31, 03:20 PM #
I’ll expand on my earlier critique. The Men in Philanthropy blog was stupid insofar as it consisted of a series of unoriginal cheap shots at wealthy men. I note this only because there seems to be some pretense here that it was satire about philanthropy. Would that it were. Rather, it reeked of the usual drivel of entitlement mentality that oozes from many in the philanthropy industry. It was also needlessly insulting. If I were a benefactor and read that blog, I would think twice before I ever give another dime. Who needs to be stereotyped in such a manner? How about a little gratitude? The philanthropy community is indeed ripe for satire. Try taking a look inward.
— Patrick Mar 31, 07:13 PM #
Patrick,
If you think those “unoriginal cheap shots” are ever heard by the people they are aimed at, you are overestimating the number of us willing to tell truth to power. Although half the time I can’t understand what he’s saying, I have to give Phil Cubeta credit for being a “fool.” He’s one of the very, very few who do this. The nonprofits and “have-nots” may whisper among themselves but there’s nothing like a sharp, funny satire to get the right people to pay attention. I was sorry to see Men in Philanthropy taken down. Even if it didn’t solve any major social problems, it made me laugh.
— Sharon Schneider Apr 1, 11:12 AM #
More laughs is better.
— Chris Casquilho Apr 4, 01:50 PM #