The reason I haven’t said anything before is because of past posts on here about the GFM where, be honest, some of you’ve absolutely ripped the piss out of those who have donated!
I suppose I just want to point out that I’m not brain dead or deluded, I just wanted to do a good thing and I think that, along with a little bit of well-timed pressure (we all want to belong) was the reason for many who donated. I feel really angry that people may have been duped. But, they may not have been and it could be all above board.
I set up a GFM a couple of years ago (won’t go into reasons but it involved animals!) and I was paranoid about providing updates to people who gave money and I documented every fart and cough of the process, even though the vast majority knew and trusted me. I felt a huge responsibility and it was very important for me to be totally transparent and if anyone had any questions at all (they didn’t) I would have given a belt and braces reply. I think that’s the main reason I started to have doubts early on but didn’t voice them and, IMO, it became taboo to do so. That and the aggressive responses to any dissenters. It’s all so sad and disappointing.