Mike, although I'm on the completely opposite side of the spectrum as you are when it comes to politics and related beliefs, I've always tried to avoid engaging you directly because your technical knowledge is considerable and is welcome in the forums and I respect that. You're different from the other gladiators in the off topic forums because you at least contribute in the other sections and I respect that as well; you're not a troll. With that being said, one of my pet peeves is a person's sincerity and integrity or lack thereof; whether they're a genuine person or not. To me, if someone broadcasts and publishes to the public the good deeds they've done, I immediately question the motive behind those good deeds. Why should anyone, other than the recipient of the charity, have to know about the deed? Public approval and acknowledgement? Typically, someone only makes the effort to publish their actions if they're seeking acknowledgement from their peers. I tell my direct friends about good and charitable deeds I've done, but that's it; I don't tell anonymous strangers, like on a message board, what I've done. If I did so, then the charity COULD have an ulterior motive, other than helping someone in need.
When you mentioned the matter of a reimbursement it also questions the motive of your charity, because charity equates to you giving up something at a loss, and without prompting or receiving or expecting a reimbursement, period. For example, when a bank gives a customer a loan, is it a charitable deed? No, because the bank will see that money return in the long run. You see, maybe I'm just too cynical these days, but I think most people do good, charitable deeds because it makes them feel good and it's something they can dangle in front of their acquaintances; helping those in need is just a convenient side effect for the trophy of being able to call yourself a charitable person.
I'm definitely glad someone will benefit from your donation, but true charity doesn't require public acknowledgement, and a reimbursement shouldn't matter; that would negate the spirit of the donation. In any case, I sincerely wish happy holidays to you and yours.
