need a bmw

August 22, 2002 8:40 AM

need a bmw looks like karyn, of savekaryn.com fame has a new friend. this guy asks someone to be generous and 'find it in the goodness of your heart to make his dream (of owning a $33,000 car) a reality'.
posted by reb (35 comments total)

is this really worthy of discussion?
posted by gottabefunky at 8:41 AM on August 22, 2002

not just no, but hell no.
posted by grabbingsand at 8:41 AM on August 22, 2002

further proof that there is indeed no god!
posted by mcsweetie at 8:43 AM on August 22, 2002

It would make a worthy comment for Karyn's thread, if the comments are still open...
posted by Shane at 8:44 AM on August 22, 2002

the people here in denver were actually pretty vocal about it on a local radio station this morning, spouting that this was what was wrong with society (meaning that people just expect things for free), etc. etc.
posted by reb at 8:44 AM on August 22, 2002

hey, I'm going to make a stupid geocities website in pagebuilder and have my friend link the sucker here. Cool, huh?
posted by trioperative at 8:45 AM on August 22, 2002

It's a good thing it's a spoof.

Although, on principle, I see no problem with asking nicely for money and people giving it, I just think its as stupid way to handle finances

"A fool and his money are soon parted"
posted by insomnyuk at 8:47 AM on August 22, 2002

i agree, insomnyuk. one of the callers to the radio station offered to give him his 1987 ford bronco 2. :) i liked that.
posted by reb at 8:49 AM on August 22, 2002

Me thinks MeFi was the best thing to happen to young Karyn... her forth post in, what, weeks?
posted by Ms.JaneDoe at 8:59 AM on August 22, 2002

hehe... fortunately, since the cheapskate is hosting at geocities, his site will remain largely unavailable.
posted by clevershark at 9:10 AM on August 22, 2002

Man, I had a 1986 Bronco II, and would love to get another one. I loved that car. First cars are the greatest. Mine was green.
posted by Ufez Jones at 9:20 AM on August 22, 2002

My boss won't give me a raise, so will pay my student loans?
My car is on it's last legs. Will you buy me an Outback Wagon?
My girlfriend has a burgeoning interest in ecology. Will you buy her a hybrid electric car?
Boo hoo hoo hoo.
posted by mikrophon at 9:29 AM on August 22, 2002

I'm glad this subject came up again, now that Karyn Bosnak is rapidly becoming another Mahir.

Karyn appeared on the Today Show last week and revealed her face and last name.

When her site appeared, I thought it was funny because it was such a brazen and shameless plea for money from someone who has no legitimate reason to expect or deserve $20,000 in charity from strangers. Funnier still was the notion, quickly being proven true, that she's going to reach her goal. She's a charming person and has a slick media-friendly way about her; she quickly disclaims any notion that she should receive money because she deserves it.

However, last night I was leaving a restaurant when I spotted a handmade flier. It was promoting an effort to buy a van and wheelchair for the benefit of Christy Corum, a 12-year-old girl who recently broke her neck in a jet-ski accident.

Looking at Christy's picture really put into perspective what Karyn Bosnak is doing: She's taking time, attention, and funds that could have been spent on people who legitimately need help for problems that are not of their own making. There isn't a single link on SaveKaryn.Com to a real charity -- in some ways, her site is mocking real appeals for charity by employing the same technique to such a crass end.

Though on one level I am amused by it, I don't think I would be able to live with myself if I knew that strangers paid as much as $15,000 of my credit-card debt when there are thousands of people like Christy Corum out there in urgent need of that kind of compassion.
posted by rcade at 10:01 AM on August 22, 2002

I could use a tenner until next payday.
posted by briank at 10:35 AM on August 22, 2002

Dontsavekaryn.com
posted by spacewaitress at 10:36 AM on August 22, 2002

Very good points, rcade. I actually sent Karen $5 when I first saw her site. I thought she was funny and clever, and I could identify with her (I wouldn't have minded if people had sent me money when I was paying off my own--now eliminated--credit card debt).

But as nice as that would have been, I didn't need the money...not the same way someone like Christy Corum does. I guess I'll tack $5 on to the next donation I make to my favourite charity (a silly way of making up for it, I suppose, but it will make me feel better).
posted by Badmichelle at 10:39 AM on August 22, 2002

I first saw the savekaryn site on Tuesday when my charming ex sent me a link to it. It enraged me. I spent ten minutes stomping around my apartment and crying. What really bothered me is that I'm thousands of dollars in the hole due to student loans, and my plan for paying it all off is going to involve up to four years of working my butt off. Here's this girl who racked up thousands of dollars on her credit cards buying Prada slingbacks and Gucci sunglasses despite the fact that she had a good-paying job. She's asking the world at large to bail her out, and people are opening up their wallets. Part of my reaction was, "why didn't I think of that?" The thing is, I have considered doing something of the sort, then tossed the idea aside as being beneath my dignity.

Karyn's getting a ton of money because she's cute, confident, and media-savvy. Also because people are suckers. Contrast her site with the site of the biker bar that's holding a benefit for Christy Corum. Christy is far more deserving of help, but, sadly, far less likely to get it. Design-wise, this site has to be one of the tackiest sites I've ever seen. And from a practical point of view, there's no way a random person who comes across this site can easily donate to Christy's cause. There's no PayPal button; I couldn't even find an email address.

If someone does find a way to donate to Christy's family, I think I'd like to send them 10 bucks.

(The family, not the person who finds the info.)
posted by spacewaitress at 10:53 AM on August 22, 2002

Design-wise, this site has to be one of the tackiest sites I've ever seen.

The benefit for Christy is being run bya biker bar in Bayard, Florida (a small town between Jacksonville and Saint Augustine). Your idea about PayPal donations is a good one.
posted by rcade at 11:00 AM on August 22, 2002

it just makes me wonder how many other sites like this are going to pop up. i saw another one a while ago....'give me $xxxxxx to shave my head'. he actually had a place on ebay for you to bid. i was also pretty upset when i saw that karyn had gotten as much money as she had as well. where's the fairness in that?

but this guy just wants some millionaire to give him a car. not because he needs one....not because his car is a piece of crap that isn't reliable and he's got 5 children that he needs to take to school or what have you. he just wants a bmw....it's his 'dream'. pshaw. that's ridiculous.
posted by reb at 11:04 AM on August 22, 2002

For a biker bar website, its so bad its good. More info on the Christy story (the link is a bit hard to find, also, beware of embedded music and cartoon porn animated gifs)
posted by insomnyuk at 11:33 AM on August 22, 2002

Here's a news story about Christy from the Florida Times-Union. If I get permission from the parents, I'm going to set up a Web site for donations to her wheelchair and van fund. I'll post more details on my weblog after this thread closes.
posted by rcade at 11:39 AM on August 22, 2002

Amazing how easy it is to get people's money, if you have no regard for others. Miss Karyn, we all know, will rack up her credit cards again no problem, and when she cries out for help again she'll have a much tougher time.

Yesterday's National Post had an article on those email scams we all get from hapless millionaire Nigerians (http://www.nationalpost.com/search/site/story.asp?id=550B748D-D2BF-4184-8935-6C55B5ACBDA5 - for some reason my link option isn't showing up). People are sending millions over there, when everyone, EVERYONE, tells them it's a scam.

Forget comments about licensing parents, maybe some people need to pass a test in order to spend money....
posted by Salmonberry at 12:06 PM on August 22, 2002

Karyn was *so* not the news a long time ago. And as far as I'm concerned, she still isn't the news.
posted by Kevin Sanders at 4:59 PM on August 22, 2002

Couldn't that guy pick a better car than a BMW? Jeez.

While we're on the topic of people getting help from strangers for free, don't forget Ramon, at LetMeStayForADay.com!
posted by wackybrit at 5:06 PM on August 22, 2002

Maybe some web savvy MeFi-ite could donate the services to build a new slick web interface for Christy Corum? (Sorry, no skills here).
posted by IPLawyer at 6:03 PM on August 22, 2002

I first saw the savekaryn site on Tuesday when my charming ex sent me a link to it. It enraged me. I spent ten minutes stomping around my apartment and crying.

Thanks for drawing my attention to Karyn's plight. I sent her $20.
posted by bingo at 7:28 PM on August 22, 2002

Is this a troll?
posted by spacewaitress at 7:57 PM on August 22, 2002

No, I'm serious. I sent her $20, and I never would have done it if it hadn't been for this thread. I had never heard of her before.
posted by bingo at 7:59 PM on August 22, 2002

Well, in response to that, I would like to offer rcade my money/help in this cause if need be (like paying for server space or the domain name if need be, although you probably have space taken care of). Otherwise I'll just send money via PayPal once that's set up, maybe $20.

this is my last post for a while, so I thought it should be relevant
posted by insomnyuk at 8:13 PM on August 22, 2002

No, I'm serious. I sent her $20, and I never would have done it if it hadn't been for this thread. I had never heard of her before.

You're funny.


It enraged me. What really bothered me is that I'm thousands of dollars in the hole due to student loans, and my plan for paying it all off is going to involve up to four years of working my butt off. Here's this girl who racked up thousands of dollars on her credit cards buying Prada slingbacks and Gucci sunglasses despite the fact that she had a good-paying job.

You're missing the point, I think. It's exactly *because* she spent it all on frivolous things that people want to give her money. It's what makes her more fun than people who are up to their neck in student loans, or who need a wheelchair. That fun factor is her unique selling proposition, that gets her on the Today Show.
posted by NekulturnY at 3:41 AM on August 23, 2002

It's exactly *because* she spent it all on frivolous things that people want to give her money.

It goes both ways. Her frivolity is just as much a reason to loathe her as to help her.
posted by rcade at 8:16 AM on August 23, 2002

You're funny.

I was not kidding in any way. But just so you know there are no hard feelings, I just sent her yet another $20.
posted by bingo at 12:30 PM on August 23, 2002

bingo, before you spend your last dollar on her, I know you weren't kidding :)
posted by NekulturnY at 2:48 AM on August 24, 2002

I heard from Christy Corum's father this morning and got the OK to put up a Web site. I'll post the link here when it's online (probably by Monday evening).
posted by rcade at 7:02 AM on August 24, 2002

the BMWdreams.com guy was on a radio station here in Boston yesterday and although he seems like it's all pretty light hearted, it REALLY hits a nerve with a lot of folks. One guy even said "He's whats wrong with American society today" . even though I can't really see anyone dishing out their hard earned greenback$ for him, I have to give the guy credit for being pro-active...and he did make one good point, wether or not he's worthy of such a gift is a judgement call that can only be made by the guy willing to make his dream come true! "Only in America"...long live free speech and freedom of expression! Oh....in return he's offering "Peace of Mind" on eBay...lol I think it's a riot... more power to him.
posted by platz at 8:37 AM on August 24, 2002