Microsoft i'm initiative

So I have found an amazing new thing from Microsoft called the i'm initiative. Basically, if you put a tag in your MSN messenger name, they will put some money towards the charity of your choice. Wow! This sounds exactly like a common chain letter, except that it's coming off of the Microsoft site! You can find out more about it here:



Myself, I have chosen to help out refugees around the world. Evelyn has chosen to help stop global warming. Now, the requirements for this are basically for you to have MSN Messenger 8.1 (free) and to put the tag in your name (also free).
Reasons to NOT do this:
1. You feel like this isn't going to matter.
2. You don't know how much Microsoft is really going to donate anyway.
3. You think charities are all corrupt.
4. You feel the people that the charities help don't deserve it.


Counter arguments:
1. and 2. Perhaps it doesn't matter, or hardly any money is really going to come from Microsoft. I can, however, guarantee that Microsoft will give at LEAST as much money to charity if you do this compared to if you don't. You aren't losing anything if you do this. The charities aren't LOSING if you do this. And Microsoft...well, they aren't losing either since it's more of an advertising and increasing user base return on investment sort of thing for them. If I gave you a free lottery ticket, I can guarantee that your chances of winning have gone up a lot (from never to remotely possible) at no cost of your own.
3. Hopefully you can find one charity in there that you feel isn't corrupt. While once in a while this can happen, I don't think people in general go into non-profit organizations to make lots of money.
4. Ok, well, I don't think I can do anything for you. If the idea of helping people makes a bad taste in your mouth, this isn't for you.