***PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU CONTRIBUTE***

In a perfect world, members of GolfWRX should be able to trust each other in all dealings with each other. Many of the interactions we have with each other are based on these simple premises - "Take the highroad" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". In the vast majority of interactions between GolfWRX members, following these two bedrocks of our community is second nature. Violators are quickly rooted out and the community flexes its collective muscle to make sure those who mean to cheat are dealt with appropriately.

Unfortunately, there are those among us who take advantage of the "better nature" of our membership. They buy things they have no intention of paying for and the sell things they either don't intend to deliver or don't deliver what they promise. Even more tragically, they rely on the wonderful natures of our membership to support causes that are not as described.

The simple solution to the problem of charities that aren't really charities would be to ban all appeals by our members for help in whatever form. To do this would be a terrible outcome. The wonderful things that our members have done in the past and will do again in the future would not be done. In effect, the bad guys would have won. There bad actions would prevent good things from happening. This would be a tragedy.

GolfWRX cannot vet every charitable request that is posted in its forums. We cannot investigate every claim of fraud. We cannot prevent every good deed from being used for purposed other than what the donor intended. We simply do not have those resources.

Instead, what we must do is to remind our wonderful community members to protect themselves. Investigate before you invest your money, time, and/or equipment. Charities exist in every community to do great things with your resources. Appeals for equipment for needy children can be met in any number of ways by groups with the resources to investigate. Support them.

If you do get burned, please let your fellow community members know by doing the same thing you would do when a BST deal goes bad. Report the transaction in Deal/No Deal. We will do what little we can to spread the word. In other words, please be careful. There are people among us so base that they would use the most dishonest means to separate you and your money. They can and they will. Be aware.