dear david,

thanks for pointing out the value of constructive criticism, i was starting to feel like "the bad guy". i think the reason why so many people avoid constructive criticism is that they lack the skills to execute it properly.

its amazing to me how someone can post a simple question and the responses that people give are so off-topic or self centered. its a basic lack of communication issue.

i am slightly guilty by posting my suggestion for a new thread within my response. (would someone please PM me so it can be moved somewhere else?)

dear harry lime,

well done! this part of the ebay/omidyar social experiment (ONET)seems to have become a chat board for those who would already do good works anyway.

please correct me if i am wrong, i believe the original intent was a direct connection to omidyar funds and resources. a project would be conceived on ONET and endorsed and executed through omidyar.net

if you are looking for return on investment info, i believe these are the projects founded and funded by omidyar.net: http://www.omidyar.net/portfolio .php

at one time the dollar amounts devoted to each project were also disclosed.

i am no longer an "active member" because although all the above are worthy causes, in the interest of self preservation, i am most concerned with poverty in america.

my son and i have lived below the poverty level for the last five years, using mainly credit cards to survive and because i am disabled - at this point in time none of the projects founded/funded by omidyar would be of any "trickle" down help to us.

survival is such a daily struggle that i can not even use ebay to subsidize our income. at this point in time my son and i are completely dependant on the federal governments concept of social welfare - and unfortunately this system is failing americans.

good luck, but i think this chat room has been abandonded by the powers that be. small chance for a real response to your point - there is no one out there to answer but the other 196 actual users.

thanks,

dafna