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Pastimes : I NEED To Sell a KIDNEY -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Annette who wrote (220)	6/3/1999 11:19:00 AM
From: V.	Read Replies (6) \| Respond to of 600

To the board, not to anyone in particular: I am flabbergasted by the total lack of empathy and caring on the part of many individuals on this board. IF this is not a prank, it is a very serious cry for help. I would rather err on the side of offering assistance to someone in need than to make light of what could be a desperate cry for help. On the internet, where anonymity reigns, people OFTENTIMES vent their feelings and problems and seek assistance from strangers. That s/he chose this mode of outreach is not that unusual, IMO. Making comments about the sincerity of the thread does not attempt to solve the problems and I believe has exacerbated the issues of someone who very well might be close to the edge at this time. Surely some of you have faced situations that were devastating to you or loved ones? People react differently to varying circumstances and it is not up to us to judge what is deserving of 'desperate measures' and what is not. If you are lucky enough to never have been faced with a tremendous obstacle, then perhaps finding kindness in your hearts for another in need would be an appropriate way to show your gratitude for all that you have? I'm not saying that anyone should offer financial assistance as everyone needs to be responsible for his/her own decisions in the market but what I am saying is that it appears to me that some of you have no idea that ridiculing someone in need of help could be the straw to break the camel's back. Are you prepared to have this on your conscience? Are you so immune from stress and problems in your own lives that you are not affected by someone's call for help? Do you want to further add to someone's distress with posts which you feel are witty and show how clever you are? This poster needs counseling - financial and supportive - not to be made the butt of a cruel joke. Again, I'm shocked and dismayed by some of your comments, and frankly have changed my opinion of several people based on your callousness and lack of concern. I have had more than my share of jokes and flame wars on SI, but would never kick a person who is obviously down and reaching out for help. This is quite another matter. I urge those who have any resources to post links which might offer assistance and take the joking elsewhere. I would also like to add that if there is a huge margin call of ~$500,000, then there has to be some assets upon which that margin was extended. Typically, half of the market value of an equity account can be margined, so I am assuming that at some point, there were assets here of around one million. If that is the case, and they have plummeted in value, there still remains a substantial value in the account which I would think ought to be immediately sold to cover the margin call. If this is not the case, and the debt has arisen due to other causes, then there will still be alternatives to consider besides selling a kidney. I don't know the specific circumstances so I cannot comment further. However, I am sure that there are other alternatives which might not be obvious to someone in such deep, emotional straights. People do not often think clearly when confronted with enormous problems and great stress. If we can glean more of the particular circumstance, if s/he will post more specifically the details of the situation, I am confident that the SI family can offer suggestions and options and links to assist in resolving this dilemma without having to go to such desperate means. Thanks to those who showed kindness to this individual. You will be rewarded in your own lives. V.