(Pardon the formatting, wordpress is having some fun with me)
Got this email about a month back:
I saw your site and was filled with wonder. Do you need an event planner and fundraiser? As I am both I also have experience with volunteers. I currently work with homeless families as well as homeless individuals suffering with the HIV virus.
I would love to work with you as your are doing amazing things with small ones!
Sincerely,
Ed Snowden
Although I felt like somebody might be sadistically playing with me, sending exactly the kind of email I’ve been waiting for, signed with a famous and controversial name, I wrote:
Thanks for your kind words. We could certainly use an event planner and fundraiser. Where are you located, Ed?
Then these two:
On Sun, Aug 4, 2013 at 1:59 PM, Ed Snowden wrote:
Hi I am in NYC.
Thanks for getting back to me.
All the best,
Ed Snowden
On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 2:06 PM, Ed Snowden wrote:
Hi I am in NYC.
Thanks for getting back to me.
All the best,
Ed Snowden
A few days later I took another step into the troll’s trap:
The coincidence of your name being the same as the young man’s who revealed the NSA data-harvesting and surveillance program has given some at our organization pause. I’ve been told this coincidence has to be some kind of prank by a friend, a misguided attempt to poke a little fun at an organization with a successful program that is currently hanging on by a thread.
I prefer to think that you are experienced in event planning and fundraising and have some kind of links you can send showing some of your work. If you send me some samples of your work I will be glad to have a look at them.
Troll:
Never mind. This has been my name for eons I am named for my dad and grand dad and the fact that it bothers you means I should keep looking for work, I am an excellent fund raiser and event planner but I have no time for what my grandmum would call “foolishness” I wish you well.
Still acting with characteristic (and foolish) good faith, I wrote:
No offense intended, Ed, though clearly it seems to have been taken. I didn’t say the coincidence of your name bothered me, in fact, I think the other ES did a brave and important thing. I merely passed on a concern and asked you for some examples of your work. If you read the second paragraph you will see my hope, and good faith, expressed quite clearly.
To which the troll replied:
Thank you for your response. I am not offended merely annoyed.
I think your program sounds amazing but I think I should keep looking for an organization that will allow me to make a difference as that is what is most important to me!
NYC is a big town with oodles of places that need skilled volunteer and event managers so I shall keep looking. Again thank you for your kind reply.
NYC is a big town with oodles of places that need skilled volunteer and event managers so I shall keep looking. Again thank you for your kind reply.
(Ms.) Ed Snowden
As I am out of kind replies, and the (Ms.) before its name would make me hesitate to offer a well-intended bitch slap, I leave this up here, for whatever grotesque value it may have to someone.
gratuitousblahg 