Ugh. Why is Heifer International always the default charity to donate to? They lack organizational transparency, waste donations, and export environmental degradation and Western hegemony to third world countries. Yep, I'm rushing to support them.

Gizmodo reported that some schmuck actually bought this app, then in his email to Apple to get the charges reversed he blames his wife. Classic moron.

http://gizmodo.com/5034122/guy-buys-999-im-rich-app-discovers-hes-just-dumb

Wait, what? This poor college student is confused. What does this app even DO?

Just a quick fyi on donating to PPRM (Planned Parenthood of the Rockies). They may not be the most effective donation you can make for reproductive freedom for low income/uninsured women in that area. PPRM opted out of a significant amount of federal funding so that they wouldn't have to adhere to federal pricing guidelines for birth control. This means that they offer very little, if any, room to slide their fees for low income women. Additionally, their clinic directors are under a tremendous amount of pressure to bring in "fee paying" clients as opposed to the low income and uninsured.

While I was in college in Boulder I went there to get an HIV test which would have cost me $108!

Other more effective charities might be the Boulder Valley Women's Health Center, Stout Street Clinic, Colorado AIDS Project, Boulder County AIDS Project or any other like-minded clinic or organization in the Rocky Mountain Area.

Would you concede that it is possible the person who posted this "application" to the App Store did so as an artistic endeavor, similar to performance art (we might call it "ecommerce art")? That perhaps, it was never imagined that anyone would actually be stupid enough to pay $1000 for an application that does nothing? That instead, the artist's intent was to comment on our overly-consumerist and status-conscious society, stimulate discussion, and maybe coax some knee-jerk reactions like your own?

Maybe?

Oops, sorry to post twice but I forgot to add - the application has already been removed from the app store. It's not apparent whether Apple took it down, or the developer him or herself voluntarily removed it.

Courtney, here's a blurb I wrote a few months back summarizing why Heifer is flawed. I just think their solution creates more problems.

First, the organization has an extremely high overhead (28 percent) compared to other similar organizations (around 11 percent overhead). Second, the organization imposes Western values of animal farming and animal protein on non-Western cultures that cannot physically support those values. One cow requires three times as much food and water as one person. In addition to straining scarce resources and contributing to global poverty, animal farming degrades land, pollutes water with run-off manure, and contributes to global warming. Finally, two-thirds of non-Caucasians cannot digest lactose compared to
only five to 15 percent of Caucasians who cannot digest lactose.

A google search on Heifer turns up these stats and some alternatives.

But I don't mean to be just an anti-Heifer person. I do think that iPhone application is ridiculous!

I would guess that this application was made as a joke to make fun of those who have obsessions with status symbols. I don't see the need to get outraged over something that's obviously playing on the ridiculousness of that mentality. And if someone was ridiculous enough to throw $1000 at a program that was MAKING FUN OF THEM, then the person that made it can laugh all the way to the bank.

It's like the 1000 gold piece title you can buy in World of Warcraft after you get your Shattered Sun rep up.

Except in theory, that 1000 gold pieces goes to help virtual orphaned Draenei and Bloodelf kids.

Anyway, my boyfriend refers to that as the "I used to have 1000 gold pieces" title.

*Yes, it's a ludicrous comparison. But the app is ludicrous too.

This is a clear cut example of an asshole tax.

This seems less shady to me than Pear Cables or Monster Cables, or all the wang pills they sell on TV.

PixelFish, tell your boyfriend how lucky he is that you understand that joke. Then have him make you dinner.

Also, although the app is clearly meant to be a joke and no one* would ever buy it, it does seem sort of crass.

*No one, excepting Lee5279xx, who is probably about to get a divorce.

theminutepast - I'm totally with you on Heifer International, thanks!

That money would be better spent in opening (or making an additional contribution to) a 401(k), IRA or other worthwhile investment (such as starting your own business). These are much better paths to female empowerment than some brainless "status symbol" (in quotes because it's not even a particularly effective status symbol).

While Courtney has apparently never spent frivolously or for the sake of status, most of us do - often without even admitting it to ourselves.

The simple fact is that we can all do better towards feminism and our favorite charities. Judging the value of others' purchases (or time) isn't going to get you anywhere because chances are good that, well.. you're no Courtney.

This story is silly for Feministing anyway: it's not like this $1,000 iPhone app is particularly anti-feminist. Even supposing people buy it, compare those "assholes" to the magnitudes more men out there blowing $1,000 at a strip club or donating to one of the many anti-abortion organizations. Eccentricity doesn't even compare.

I'm kind of mad I didn't think of this first. Exploiting rich idiots is never the wrong car to hitch your trailer to. If he packaged it with some sort of cash register ring tone I think he would have been on to something.

Alex- Yeah, PPH definitely spends most of its money on legal advocacy rather than on its facilities or direct action help of women. They are always understaffed and understocked of supplies. The waits are unbearable and some of the staff are down-right rude (which is understandable, considering how much work they have to do for so little money). I can't make an appointment on the phone, because I only have a cell and the 45-90 minute hold times kind of kill my air time. And e-mail appointments often take weeks to get.

I don't have a car, so when I lived in a town where a car was needed, I had to enlist my friend's help. She didn't have ID to get in the building and had to wait in the car. For 2 hours! This was just for me to get a yearly exam, pap and BC prescription filled. And they didn't even have my brand and wondered why it would be a big deal for me to get a ride to another location to pick it up in a week!!

I'm on their e-mail list, along with Naral. They only ask me for money, seldom action alerts and give me guilt trips if I don't, as if I'm a bad feminist for being poor. Meanwhile, it's hard for me to pony up the dough if I don't believe it will be used well.

jnmiller: "the magnitudes more men out there blowing $1,000"

Don't forget all the stupid guys who have thousands of dollars worth of shoes and handbags.

Groovymarlin & Lisa- I would really like to think that you're right.

jnmiller- I can safely say that I have never spent money as a show of status or bragging rights or what have you (and I know few, if any, who have). I frankly don't understand the point of designer handbags or designer jeans that cost more than a whole outfit (or my wardrobe, for that matter!). I think it's sad to be able to assume that it's true for most people, though that's probably why people in other countries think that Americans are so shallow.

Maybe its because I grew up poor (and am pretty poor still) and couldn't have the luxury items because wouldn't could afford them, so I grew up knowing I didn't need that stuff to be happy. The items that I own that are expensive I bought because I know that they're quality, not because of a flashy label (and these are mostly electronics that I research first). These are things I planned out and saved for- not spur-of-the-moment impulses. Most of my clothes and furniture are second-hand. There are just too many more important things that status. I mean, what is this, high school? I'd much rather pay off my student loan debt...maybe buy a house. Not that I need to prove myself via my home. I just don't want to rent from someone else for the rest of my life.

And I think it's relevant to feminism because the "spendspendspend" is something drilled into women since girlhood. The stereotype of the woman shopper, who only wants glamor and isn't bogged down with "silly things" like numbers & prices. The cartoon-ish woman who steals her hubby's charge card and blows his whole salary on hat & shoes...

Sorry if you feel that I'm getting on your case, but your comment to Courtney seemed like some sort of weird judgmental statement.

PixelFish - I was thinking the same thing. Nerds unite!

I also don't really see how this relates to feminism at all, but while we're on the subject of charities, check out changingthepresent.org! It's my new favorite gift site!

Hi Danyell--Different branches of PPH around the country are run slightly differently. PPRM has not particularly impressed me and I'm not sure where you might live, but you could try finding other health resources around your community that offer the sorts of resources that Margaret Sanger WOULD have appreciated :) That's how I got involved with Women's Health (www.bvwhc.org)--they can slide their services all the way to $0! I know they're not alone in their fight for reproductive healthcare access for all women and because of this these types of clinics often shoulder a heavier load of these patients than might be fair due to practices like PPRM's.

I'm aware that this has nothing to do with $1000 iPhone applications and the like, but I thought it was worth mentioning (as causes that could use $1000 :) ).

It's a stupid purchase, yes, but... oh my gosh! The person that thought that up? BRILLIANT.

i stopped buying christmas gifts two years ago for all family in favor of my new favorite thing: MICROLOANS! then i update my family members all year about what's going on with the money and the people it helps. can't think of a better thing to do with a discretionary grand.

I think this is a great idea. If only all shallow a-holes would let you know in advance that they are.

Actually, I think it's a pretty funny exercise in artistic satire.

"I think this is a great idea. If only all shallow a-holes would let you know in advance that they are."

It already is simple to judge people by e.g., their jobs, their personal wealth, the home they live in, the car they own, or the clothing and accessories on their person.

What makes this person more of an asshole than a person with a $100 bag instead of something from the thrift store, or driving a new Honda instead of a 1993 4-cyl. Accord?

"What makes this person more of an asshole than a person with a $100 bag instead of something from the thrift store, or driving a new Honda instead of a 1993 4-cyl. Accord?"

I feel like the application was a commentary on the exact same thing. It's unlikely that anyone buying the iPhone didn't already have a cell phone, and at least a few people are buying it just because it's THE cell phone.
At the same time, buying a designer bag or new car doesn't necessarily mean you're an asshole or more wasteful than someone driving to Goodwill in their clunker. People sometimes need new things. New, expensive products promise quality and craftsmanship, whether or not they actually have it. Someone might be flaunting their new phone/car/purse or they might geniunely feel like it's a good use of their money compared to less expensive versions.

Animals are not commodities. I clicked on the Heifer website and you get a tiny picture of an animal with "choose your gift!" written above it. It makes me sick-animals are not collateral or an easy solution so we can sleep better at night by thinking we gave an animal's life away. That is not our right. We are stewards of the earth, animals, children, eachother. There are ways to take care of eachother without exploiting a group's vulnerability.