U2's Bono gets owned

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Comments

  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    Jeanie wrote:
    No I was just curious to hear your thoughts. But if you don't want to talk about it that's cool with me. I was just interested in what you had to say, no biggy. :)
    Phew! I thought I was testifying before Congress.:D
    Jeanie wrote:
    Absolutely but would you have a moral dilemma accepting money from an organization at odds to what you are trying to achieve with your non profit organization?
    The reason I asked was I think it should be done on a case by case basis. It's a grey area for me.
  • JeanieJeanie Posts: 9,446
    cutback wrote:
    Phew! I thought I was testifying before Congress.

    LOL!!!!:D No just a sticky beak!;)

    The reason I asked was I think it should be done on a case by case basis. It's a grey area for me.[/quote]

    Yep, me too. I was asked a similiar question in an Arts Funding class recently and it has proved to be a bit of dilema for me I guess. Let's face facts it's not like arts funding just grows on trees! :D
    NOPE!!!

    *~You're IT Bert!~*

    Hold on to the thread
    The currents will shift
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    Jeanie wrote:
    LOL!!!!:D No just a sticky beak!;)

    The reason I asked was I think it should be done on a case by case basis. It's a grey area for me.

    Yep, me too. I was asked a similiar question in an Arts Funding class recently and it has proved to be a bit of dilema for me I guess. Let's face facts it's not like arts funding just grows on trees! :D
    :Dhehehe:D;)
  • Every time Bono does these charity functions he gets enormous press which raises the bands profile so that they can be the 'biggest band in the world' despite the woeful music they release.To say that it isn't commercially beneficial to U2 is laughable.
    Donating money anyway is just a waste, you need to empower the people so they can help themsleves.
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    i'm on the fence there. should people give because he's a celebrity or because it's helping kids? i know what motivates alice. i'm not sure what motivates bono. i've known people who take money from their companies and donate in their name just so the public thinks they are great people. i've seen others donate directly from the company because the cause is greater than the glory.
    a friend in fla called alice a washed up alcoholic has-been; yet in phoenix he's almost a hero. i do the things i do because they make me feel good. when i first saw (my girl) 7 months ago; i saw an emptiness inside her i thought could never be filled. the social workers wanted to lock her up. now she stands tall with her head held high; gets good grades; participates in sports; and everyone that knew her says shes a different person. when i look into her eyes now; i see more thanks then if the whole world sung my name in unisin.
    First of all, I doubt it matters to the kids WHY people gave, as long as they're getting what they need. Second, I don't think most people give to charities simply because Bono or Ed or Alice Cooper talks about them ... I think that they discover that those charities exist because Bono or Ed or Alice talks about them, and then they give if it's a cause they believe in.

    I understand what you're saying, and I agree that Bono comes off as a pompous ass about 90% of the time, but it's a fact that a lot of money and awareness has been raised because of his involvement. I don't doubt that his career has benefitted somewhat (not that U2 really needed a profile boost, they were huge as it was), but I also think he truly believes in what he does. He's not just some guy who shows up for photo ops. From what I've read, everyone who's dealt with him has been pleasantly surprised at the depth of his knowledge, which tells me he's putting a lot more time into this than he'd need to if all he wanted was publicity. He gets plenty of publicity every time he walks out the door, he doesn't need to study third-world economics to get his face in the papers.

    I give away a fair amount of money, and I don't talk about it, but that's because it wouldn't do any good. I don't have millions of adoring fans. If I did, and I thought that holding a press conference to announce that hippiemom supports The Innocence Project would boost donations, I would do it.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • JeanieJeanie Posts: 9,446
    hippiemom wrote:
    First of all, I doubt it matters to the kids WHY people gave, as long as they're getting what they need. Second, I don't think most people give to charities simply because Bono or Ed or Alice Cooper talks about them ... I think that they discover that those charities exist because Bono or Ed or Alice talks about them, and then they give if it's a cause they believe in.

    I absolutely agree with you hippiemom. Education and awareness is half the battle.
    hippiemom wrote:
    I understand what you're saying, and I agree that Bono comes off as a pompous ass about 90% of the time, but it's a fact that a lot of money and awareness has been raised because of his involvement. I don't doubt that his career has benefitted somewhat (not that U2 really needed a profile boost, they were huge as it was), but I also think he truly believes in what he does. He's not just some guy who shows up for photo ops. From what I've read, everyone who's dealt with him has been pleasantly surprised at the depth of his knowledge, which tells me he's putting a lot more time into this than he'd need to if all he wanted was publicity. He gets plenty of publicity every time he walks out the door, he doesn't need to study third-world economics to get his face in the papers.

    I was a huge U2 fan when I was a teenager but they lost me somewhere after Rattle & Hum when they seemed to be attempting world domination and they were everywhere you looked or listened. Sadly I mostly can't stand to look at Bono now. But I have to say that anyone that can get our Deputy PM to consider raising Australia's contribution to eliminating world poverty has got to be a pretty switched on and passionate guy! The fact that Peter Costello was prepared to meet with him to discuss world poverty is nothing short of amazing. And I think that's the important thing about what Bono and U2 are doing. They are speaking to world leaders (in language they understand) about eliminating poverty. Bono seems to have tapped into the fact that simply holding a protest rally achieves nothing in this day and age. He has learned the lingo and is taking this fight directly where it needs to go. To the policy makers! I think using your celebrity to bring about world change is a sad idictment of the world we live in but certainly a very effective one!
    hippiemom wrote:
    I give away a fair amount of money, and I don't talk about it, but that's because it wouldn't do any good. I don't have millions of adoring fans. If I did, and I thought that holding a press conference to announce that hippiemom supports The Innocence Project would boost donations, I would do it.

    Again with the agreeing with you!;)
    You're right, great minds do think alike!;)

    oh and just in case you'd managed to reprogramme your subconcious............. every sperm is sacred, every sperm is great................

    HAHAHAHAHA!!! (evil cackle) :D
    NOPE!!!

    *~You're IT Bert!~*

    Hold on to the thread
    The currents will shift
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    hippiemom wrote:
    First of all, I doubt it matters to the kids WHY people gave, as long as they're getting what they need. Second, I don't think most people give to charities simply because Bono or Ed or Alice Cooper talks about them ... I think that they discover that those charities exist because Bono or Ed or Alice talks about them, and then they give if it's a cause they believe in.

    I understand what you're saying, and I agree that Bono comes off as a pompous ass about 90% of the time, but it's a fact that a lot of money and awareness has been raised because of his involvement. I don't doubt that his career has benefitted somewhat (not that U2 really needed a profile boost, they were huge as it was), but I also think he truly believes in what he does. He's not just some guy who shows up for photo ops. From what I've read, everyone who's dealt with him has been pleasantly surprised at the depth of his knowledge, which tells me he's putting a lot more time into this than he'd need to if all he wanted was publicity. He gets plenty of publicity every time he walks out the door, he doesn't need to study third-world economics to get his face in the papers.

    I give away a fair amount of money, and I don't talk about it, but that's because it wouldn't do any good. I don't have millions of adoring fans. If I did, and I thought that holding a press conference to announce that hippiemom supports The Innocence Project would boost donations, I would do it.
    From now on I'm gonna let my mom voice my opinions. She does such a better job at it than I do.:):)
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    so what band were you in?


    for the love of fucking god almighty, please tell me and Soulsinging what freakin band you were in?????
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • JeanieJeanie Posts: 9,446
    for the love of fucking god almighty, please tell me and Soulsinging what freakin band you were in?????

    I think this is it dunkman & soulsinging from back around page 3. :)

    A LIGHT IN A SEA OF DARKNESS. most of the money goes to big ofices; new computers; advertising for more donations;................

    Know it?
    NOPE!!!

    *~You're IT Bert!~*

    Hold on to the thread
    The currents will shift
  • cornnifercornnifer Posts: 2,130
    Jeanie wrote:
    I think this is it dunkman & soulsinging from back around page 3. :)




    Know it?

    Ahhhhhh, yes..., i think they're a U2 cover band. Don't quite remember, but i think i saw them a couple years back at the state fair. To be honest, i was a little to busy with my funnel cake to really notice.
    "When all your friends and sedatives mean well but make it worse... better find yourself a place to level out."
  • onelongsongonelongsong Posts: 3,517
    for the love of fucking god almighty, please tell me and Soulsinging what freakin band you were in?????

    my years with the band were great years. i enjoyed them and look back with fond memories. then i had a brain aneurysm and the surgery put an end to it. i can still belt out a tune or two but the pressure in my head is too much to handle. i look back at it as a different life time. i'm not the person i was then. self centered i think would be the word. i wouldn't do anything unless there was a profit in it for me. i don't want that person to be confused with who i am now. many on this board know the band and have cds; but they respect that privacy. perhaps if everyone here posted their true identity i'd feel obligated to reviel personal information. the other band members may feel i have tainted the band because of my opinions i state here. it's not fair to them. with a little research at the copyright office; my identity could be found out and my location found also.
    on a personal note; i'm embarrassed by the scar on my head. this is a big reason i stay out of the public eye. i hope you can understand this.
  • maybe if we answered all those phoney nigerian emails theyd have money

    i wonder what they do with it

    i dont like the idea of suffering people but i think u2 and bono suck and theyre music sucks lately

    no, rather give to mercy corp but dont give to red cross

    maybe later ill find link for it

    http://www.mercycorps.org/
  • miller8966miller8966 Posts: 1,450
    my years with the band were great years. i enjoyed them and look back with fond memories. then i had a brain aneurysm and the surgery put an end to it. i can still belt out a tune or two but the pressure in my head is too much to handle. i look back at it as a different life time. i'm not the person i was then. self centered i think would be the word. i wouldn't do anything unless there was a profit in it for me. i don't want that person to be confused with who i am now. many on this board know the band and have cds; but they respect that privacy. perhaps if everyone here posted their true identity i'd feel obligated to reviel personal information. the other band members may feel i have tainted the band because of my opinions i state here. it's not fair to them. with a little research at the copyright office; my identity could be found out and my location found also.
    on a personal note; i'm embarrassed by the scar on my head. this is a big reason i stay out of the public eye. i hope you can understand this.

    creed?
    America...the greatest Country in the world.
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    my years with the band were great years. i enjoyed them and look back with fond memories. then i had a brain aneurysm and the surgery put an end to it. i can still belt out a tune or two but the pressure in my head is too much to handle. i look back at it as a different life time. i'm not the person i was then. self centered i think would be the word. i wouldn't do anything unless there was a profit in it for me. i don't want that person to be confused with who i am now. many on this board know the band and have cds; but they respect that privacy. perhaps if everyone here posted their true identity i'd feel obligated to reviel personal information. the other band members may feel i have tainted the band because of my opinions i state here. it's not fair to them. with a little research at the copyright office; my identity could be found out and my location found also.
    on a personal note; i'm embarrassed by the scar on my head. this is a big reason i stay out of the public eye. i hope you can understand this.
    Bill Berry, is that you?
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    my years with the band were great years. i enjoyed them and look back with fond memories. then i had a brain aneurysm and the surgery put an end to it. i can still belt out a tune or two but the pressure in my head is too much to handle. i look back at it as a different life time. i'm not the person i was then. self centered i think would be the word. i wouldn't do anything unless there was a profit in it for me. i don't want that person to be confused with who i am now. many on this board know the band and have cds; but they respect that privacy. perhaps if everyone here posted their true identity i'd feel obligated to reviel personal information. the other band members may feel i have tainted the band because of my opinions i state here. it's not fair to them. with a little research at the copyright office; my identity could be found out and my location found also.
    on a personal note; i'm embarrassed by the scar on my head. this is a big reason i stay out of the public eye. i hope you can understand this.

    bill...?
  • chopitdownchopitdown Posts: 2,222
    hippiemom wrote:
    Bill Berry, is that you?

    that was my thought.
    make sure the fortune that you seek...is the fortune that you need
  • DCGARDENDCGARDEN Posts: 515
    I"m certainly no fan of Celebrity liberals, but as far as they go, I've never had a problem with Bono because he seems to be trying to service the better of the world rather than his own stature. What is the harm of somone this famous trying to save the lives of children? None , as far as I can see, at least
    I'll keep taking punches
    Untill their will grows tired
  • jeffbrjeffbr Posts: 7,177
    chopitdown wrote:
    that was my thought.

    It was my first thought when I heard aneurysm, too, but Bill never fronted the band and doesn't belt out the tunes, so I don't think so.
    "I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
  • chopitdownchopitdown Posts: 2,222
    jeffbr wrote:
    It was my first thought when I heard aneurysm, too, but Bill never fronted the band and doesn't belt out the tunes, so I don't think so.

    good point.
    make sure the fortune that you seek...is the fortune that you need
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    From snopes.com

    http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/bono.asp

    Claim: When Bono announced that every time he clapped a child in Africa died, someone from the audience told him to stop doing that.

    Status: False.

    Examples:

    Bono, whilst playing a gig in Glasgow, got the whole crowd to be silent and then began slowly clapping his hands. He got the crowd to clap along for a while, the stadium quiet except for the rhythmic clapping...

    After a short period Bono spoke, saying that everytime he clapped his hands a child in Africa died...

    Suddenly, from the front row of the venue a voice broke out in thick Scottish brogue, ending the silence as it echoed across the crowd, the voice cried out to Bono "Well stop f***ing doing it then!!"

    ***

    IRISH supergroup U2, due to play in Adelaide next month, recently held a concert in Glasgow, Scotland.

    Halfway through the concert, lead singer Bono stood in a spotlight on stage and asked the audience of 30,000 for complete silence.

    Gradually the auditorium fell quiet.

    Then Bono began slowly clapping.

    The audience was spellbound. Was this the beginning of a song? Did he want everyone to clap with him?

    He took the microphone and said: "Everytime I clap my hands a child dies in Africa."

    The spell of silence was broken when a wag in the front row shouted: "Well, stop clapping."




    Born Paul Hewson on 10 May1960 in Ireland, Bono has been with the rock group U2 since 1976. His success as a musician and songwriter has enabled him to become a humanitarian of international note widely known for his efforts with regard to third-world debt relief and the plight of Africa.

    As a social activist, Bono has performed at numerous events intended to raise consciousness about world poverty (such as Band Aid and Live Aid), consorted with world leaders (including George W. Bush and Tony Blair), been named (along with Bill and Melinda Gates) Time's 2005 "Person of the Year," and been nominated (in 2003, 2005, and 2006) for the Nobel Peace Prize.

    According to the lore of the moment, the concert where the superstar supposedly tells the crowd every time he claps his hands another child in Africa dies takes place in Glasgow. Or New York. Or somewhere in Ireland. Typical of such anecdotes, the "where" changes from telling to telling, and the "when" is not specified.

    But it's not a true account of an actual occurrence. It is, rather, an updating of a joke by way of attaching it to a particular performer.

    This tall tale's origins lie in a commercial made as part of 2005's "Make Poverty History"campaign. In that ad, a bevy of celebrities (including Bono) are shown wordlessly snapping their fingers every three seconds, with a voiceover stating "A child dies completely unnecessarily as a result of extreme poverty every three seconds."

    As so many things do, the ad provided fodder for stand-up comedians who earn their laughs through their commentary on the pop culture of the day. UK comedian Jimmy Carr said of the commercial on his 2005 Jimmy Carr Live Stand Up DVD: "Has anyone else seen those incredibly powerful advertisements in cinemas where each time a famous person clicked their fingers, an African child dies? I watched those, and couldn't help thinking, 'Well stop clicking your fingers!'"

    As to why the joke has attached to Bono, unflattering or dismissive stories about the famous are often a way of giving voice to negative opinions about those who star in such tales. This September 2006 yarn (about the singer's having been heckled by someone in the crowd when he attempted to make the audience more conscious of harsh realities in less fortunate regions) surfaced at around the same time as news reports that Bono was calling upon the Irish government to send more aid to Africa. Some have viewed the singer's request as akin to asking others to fund what he himself will not, in light of U2's having moved its music publishing company from Ireland to the Netherlands in early 2006 after Ireland said it would scrap a tax break that let musicians avoid paying taxes on royalties. While tax-avoidance among the super-rich is the common way of things, this particular very wealthy person's seemingly acting to keep his own money out of the tax pool that would fund the increase in aid he was calling for left a bad taste in the mouths of many.

    Bono and his U2 bandmates continue to pay personal income taxes in Ireland, but their music publishing corporation is now being taxed in the Netherlands and so does not contribute to the coffers that fund Ireland's humanitarian efforts in Africa.
  • JeanieJeanie Posts: 9,446
    Thanks Kenny Olav, that was really interesting. :) But regardless of where it originated or who claims it as their own I still think it's pretty funny.;) (Even if in poor taste to some.)
    NOPE!!!

    *~You're IT Bert!~*

    Hold on to the thread
    The currents will shift
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