I've just sat here and read this entire thread.
It was a long read
but even through the drama it was an interesting and pertinent read. Even though I've been on YT for about a year I am not yet a donating member, and therefore have never done a GE. (GE seem like a TON of fun and I'm always a little saddened when one passes, and we aren't able to participate, and I see how excited people are.) I've struggled with wanting to sign up, only for financial reasons. (Though GE or not I want to eventually donate since I really appreciate YT as the AMAZING resource that it is).
As a grad student living solely off of student loans (and about to move, so I need to find the money for moving costs and things) adding the numbers up is daunting. $25 to donate, $20 (min) of gifts, and then shipping the box (probably $15+), for some one in a tough financial position like myself $60+ (especially all at once) is A LOT OF MONEY!
That said, I completely understand both sides of the spectrum on this.
There is a min. spending amount and the GE is done on good faith, without the assumption that your GE buddy will spend as much as you. But I'm sure it would be really difficult to get a box and see that it is clear your GE SB only spent the minimum, while you spent way beyond that. It's not technically part of the GE but I would imagine it would be disappointing if you put in a lot of time and money to your SB and in return your SB was unable to do the same for you.
I know that if I were able to find the money to donate and then sign up for the GE I would automatically feel bad because all my gifts would HAVE to total under $25! And no matter how you swing it there are far more people that spend WAY beyond the limit than those that spend right around the limit. And I'd hate to be the one SB that did my best but that my package would be lackluster!
So it is daunting to read the "do's" and "don'ts" in the sign-up thread. Sometimes I contemplate being able to make this GE work, and then I read the specific requests (beyond just health limitations) and I fear that for a lot of these potential SB I wouldn't really be able to give them a package they would be happy with, as it just couldn't be overflowing and/or super amazing (I would try my best though). And yet even as I say this I desperately want to donate and sign-up, as this GE falls right around Zoe's first birthday, so while I can't get her that much, whatever her SB would get her would be birthday presents. (But then I think, $60+ to donate and participate or $60 towards a washer/dryer that we'll need in the new place, etc....)
In the end, it is important to get both sides of a story/issue. I too had been overwhelmed and a bit upset at some of the specifics in the sign-up thread but reading through
why people have listed what they have sheds new light on things!
I hope all those that are signed-up have an amazing experience! (If I'm lucky enough Zoe will in this GE, I just don't know if I can make it happen this time.)
-Vicky