How cool is this (as in impressive effort from these people AND great fun for fans)? I'd love to talk to Joss, but I have a feeling the bidding's gonna go higher than I'd wanna spend. =)

jam2 | September 28, 23:09 CET

Well as they say here in Northern Ireland and probably elsewhere "You have to be in it to win". I say go for it :) (though obviously set a maximum spending level).

Simon | September 28, 23:12 CET

Thank you for posting about this for me, Simon. We are working to come up with a one of a kind way to show are support for the people whose lives have been altered by a hopefully once in a lifetime event for them. We wanted to create something that would help create new memories for those affected and at the same time bring unique memories to some of the fans in the verse. I want to personally thank all those who are involved in helping me get this off the ground and send it out into all the verses. From the artist, their contacts, Allyson, Simon, and becharitable.org, with all my heart thank you for your support.

RavenU | September 28, 23:15 CET

Very, very cool effort -- what fun! So impressed by the ever-vigilant fans of this community and their ever-creative efforts to do good. Hope that at least one of the auctions is won by a W-esquer, so we can get a first-hand account of the call.

As for me, I could never do it. While I'm by no means shy, I often avoid opportunities to interact with well-known figures I admire. When offered the chance to meet my godking Elvis Costello, I cringed, and demurred, saying I'd much rather just find myself in an elevator with him whilst he was speaking to someone else. I mean, what in heaven's name does one say to Elvis Frikkin' Costello? To Joss Flippin' Whedon? So glad there are those more confident in their abilities to engage such giants, whose shoulders I may peer over here. Go. Bid. Talk. Tell.

barest_smidgen | September 28, 23:35 CET

I'd love to pick the brain of Whedon, Fury or Minear!

killinj | September 28, 23:40 CET

I'd toss in some coin towards a group purse if Whedonesquers want to use our collective power to bid en masse and put forth one of our esteemed Mods to take the call on our behalf. How fun would it be to have a thread some day in early November recounting Caroline's, Simon's, or SNT's fifteen minute WheTalk with the man Himself? And if we didn't win, we could donate the money anyway...

[ edited by barest_smidgen on 2005-09-28 21:57 ]

barest_smidgen | September 28, 23:48 CET

Wow this is cool. A phone call with Joss would be amazing.

eddy | September 28, 23:48 CET

"I'd toss in some coin towards a group purse if Whedonesquers want to to use our collective power to bid en masse and put forth one of our esteemed Mods to take the call on our behalf. How fun would it be to have a thread some day in early November recounting Caroline's, Simon's, or SNT's fifteen minute WheTalk with the man Himself? And if we didn't win, we could donate the money anyway..."


Great idea mate

Andy Dufresne | September 28, 23:52 CET

Gah! If only I wasn't broke...

Aurra | September 29, 00:43 CET

Yeah. Me too. Grr.Arrg.

How awesome that would be.

k8cre8 | September 29, 00:48 CET

I think that barest_smidgen's idea is a great one, as it would serve the dual purpose of (potentially) raising even more money, and allowing all of us (rather than the one with the deepest pockets) to share in the Jossy goodness. How can we move this forward?

bobothebrave | September 29, 00:53 CET

One of you trustworthy souls with a Paypal account can start collecting money, but then remember that you can't use it as a tax deduction, ethically.

It gets sticky when raising charity funds as a group. The way I've done it in the past, for Buffistas.org projects for example, is to assign each donor an ID number, keep a log of the name, email address, amount (less Paypal fees), so that I always have a clear record of donations in case the IRS calls and wonders why I've brought in like 10,000 extra dollars in the last few years but havent reported it as income.

Also, Simon and Caroline aren't here in the US, so I'm not so sure about the international calling card.

Then again, I just remembered i don't know everything so I'll just shut up.

Allyson | September 29, 01:12 CET

We have heard so much from Joss in the last month that I am not sure what I would ask him, that wasn't old, tired or lame, or too personal. Yet I would love to talk with him. A conundrum.

Lioness | September 29, 01:25 CET

I have the calling cards that will cover international calls as well and still have time left over for the families to talk to their families.

RavenU | September 29, 01:52 CET

This is such a great idea. I am glad to be a Whedonite!

Here's to hoping I can scrounge up the dough to chat with Joss...

UnpluggedCrazy | September 29, 02:12 CET

What a great idea. I get so tongue tied when I've met everyone at conventions though .. I'd imagine my call would go something like this.

"Ummm SOOO how is your day?"

Desilu | September 29, 02:43 CET

That is an incredible idea - is it open to people anywhere is the world?

Has anyone done this sort of thing before - is this a recognised way of raising money for charity? It sounds so cool to me - imagine being able to chat on the phone to Joss, or David Fury or Tim Minear, for that matter!

Kiddo | September 29, 03:50 CET

Kiddo - Yes it has been done before, by Tony Head back in Feb, actually that's where I got the idea from and thought I'd just try taking it to the next level. Tony did 2 calls for Valentines Day to raise money for a local hospital, one 30 min and one 15 min call and raised 1650 GBP. So it's not an original idea for an auction, it's just a unique one.

RavenU | September 29, 04:13 CET