At the risk of being seen as not sympathetic...

[Thunderbeast]

Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman are victims of slander and liable. What Trump's mob did to them was unconcionable. They deserve compensation that will make them financially whole, and levy punitive compensation for the trauma inflicted.

What is NOT widely known is that they HAVE sued and collected from OANN. They have other libel suits pending...and I wish them success in those efforts. Those that CAUSED the pain should pay. This includes Trump, himself.

Following this forum, I see that they have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars via GOFUNDME. I find this to be exploitative...little different from Trump raising millions for his bogus legal fund. I am particularly troubled by posts here that indicate that folk of limited means are going to send cash from their next Social Security check, because they don't have the means to help now.

Moss and Freeman were hurt...not by circumstance, but by individuals with criminal motivations. Those criminals should be held accountable through the courts.

While they need to be "made whole", I for one, don't see that translating into windfall wealth due to their notoriety. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, much as many GOFUNDME campaigns levy sympathetic stories into cash based on how well the story is crafted, or how cute a child is. Many people are hurting who don't have the ability to craft a "St.Jude's" type of informercial to support their needs.

[LakeArenal]

1. The whole world knows this story. Not like others on GoFundMe.

If people want to send money, send money.

How much are destroyed lives worth to you?

[oldtime dfl_er]

2. Respectfully disagree

First of all, just regular folks feel compassion for these two women and want to do something to show their sympathy. Sending five bucks to a gofundme is just as theraputic for the sender as it is useful for the sendee.

Second, lawsuits are expensive and time consuming. And payouts can take YEARS if they ever come.

Third, we live in a country where more often than not, white privileged people are NOT held accountable through the courts.

So I say GIVE if you want!

[catbyte]

3. But how can they be "made whole?" How would you measure that?

If money helps ease the least little bit of the pain, suffering, humiliation, and surviving the threats they've had to endure, I say more power to them. Miss Ruby had a small business that is now in tatters. She and her family couldn't go home for months. Miss Ruby has had to disown her name, one of the very things that makes you "you." I don't see it as exploitation at all.

Personally, I don't begrudge them a penny but YMMV and that's okay.

[LakeArenal]

6. Plus I'm sure the threats have not subsided.

[irisblue]

14. I'm sure after yesterdays' testimony, it's amped up.

[iemanja]

4. They deserve the money

It's not exploitive or comparable to Trump. They went through hell and deserve to be compensated. Unlike Trump, they did not deceive people into giving money through GoFundMe.

[MLAA]

5. Hopefully they got a healthy sum from OAN. I doubt they will get a penny

from morally and soon to be financially bankrupt Rudy. I’d like to see them get $5m or so one way or another. Their lives were irrevocably changed and they will live in danger the rest of their lives. I’d like to see them be able to afford a nice, safe life. I’m heading over to look up their go fund me for a small donation of appreciation.

I do underhand that no one (except maga maggots) like to be scammed. But I think these women and the majority of hard luck cases on go fund me deserve a helping hand. ❤️

[moonscape]

7. "... little different from Trump raising

millions for his bogus legal fund.”

Galaxies of different. A major difference is, of course, bogus vs not bogus.

[markie]

8. ...

GOFUNDME has always left a "bad taste in my mouth" I long to live in a world free from the need or want

this is another gray area issue and so many want to see everything in "black and white" (poor wording, I know)

no easy answers... I wish the best for Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman and am grateful they testified.

[mcar]

9. They were driven from their homes and livelihoods

I hope they can retire as millionaires.

[haele]

10. Lawyers in cases against deep pocket entities are expensive

So is constant security and rebuilding one's livelihood due to malicious targeting.
Just because they won a suit against OANN means they actually got the money yet, or the award may have ended up being capped.
There are always appeals and other legal shenanigans OANN can pull that can keep those ladies from seeing any award for years.

Haele

[rsdsharp]

11. They didn't win a suit against OANN.

They settled with OANN, which was subsequently dismissed from the suit. They got the settlement money from OANN.

[cbabe]

12. Almost lynched. Price on that? Hope they get gadzillions$.

[inthewind21]

13. Well

It's not your business what anyone else does or doesn't do. But if high horse preaching online makes you feel better. Knock yourself out.

[onenote]

20. If what anyone does or doesn't do is not anyones busineds

There will be a lot fewer posts on social media— and on sites like DU

[Novara]

15. Newsflash: it's not a perfect world.

And people are compassionate and kind. If someone wants to help, who are you or anyone else to throw shade on that compassionate gesture?

Now, I've seen money grabs and gofundme accounts set up for really stupid stuff. This is not that. Shaye Moss had to quit her job, and by all accounts it was a job she really loved. She can't "be made whole." She will always be looking over her shoulder. Being free from money worries is only small comfort in her new reality.

I find your original post pretty damn uncompassionate.

[ZonkerHarris]

16. I'm going to need to you to put a dollar figure on your definition of "windfall wealth"

[Midnight Writer]

17. Lost their job, their home, and their personal security. Lawyers and security don't come cheap.

They are still under threat, and will need even more security in the future.

We don't know what they got from OAN, but whatever it was, it was not enough to compensate for a lifetime of looking over your shoulder.

[LuckyCharms]

18. They need to be made more than "whole".

Their lives are fucked in ways we can't even imagine.

Financially speaking, they deserve whatever they can get. But even that isn't going to make things that much better for them. All the money in the world can't do that.

Understand what they are up against as long as MAGA is still here.

[applegrove]

19. They were brave again to speak to the Committee. They are heroes.

Assholes make money, why not heroes?

[LakeArenal]

21. Yes. There's financial generosity but apparently not everyone has generosity of spirit.

[applegrove]

23. Seeing what these ladies went through and the risk they are taking by

voluntarily speaking publicly, I'm not surprised Americans want to share a tiny bit with them. I could never be that public. They've done the right thing again and again.

[LakeArenal]

25. Thank goodness. Their goodness.

[48656c6c6f20]

22. Holy shit! Black people getting too much money!

I think I'll protest by sending sone funds to the godundme.

[Torchlight]

24. Sounds serious.

Good luck!