She made the story
People swallow it
They gave her money
She took her money
Dont blame her, blame people that were dump enough to buy that crap
Suck it up.
Wait. So it's the people's fault for being charitable? That's ridiculous. People should be charitable by default, and she is the problem for playing on others like that. Not the reporter, not the people. Since when is good will a negative thing?
Also, donating things, even blood, is deeper than A) You want to help people or B) You want a badge of honor. You try and black and white things that are more complex than credit given. Granted, you're right, those people make up the majority, but do no make a blanket statement like that. I give blood pretty often, I did yesterday at my school, in fact. Did I do it in hopes it helps someone? No. Did I do it to brag? No, aside from the people I spoke to while there, this is the first time I've mentioned this to anymore. I did because I figured why the fuck not, I'm here and no one else is doing it. I could care less about the people it goes to, because I simply don't know, nor care about them. Same goes for what other people think.
You're not charitable, noted, but don't for a second think this makes anything "outside" the box, new, or in any way justifiable. She's scum for taking advantage of people like that, full stop.
CHANGING SEATS
I agree, publishers should be more careful, and I agree, if you choose between charities you should think about the greater good. However, if I was approached by someone asking for a donation for someone is going to die soon in order to fund their wedding before they die, I'd absolutely give them a few coins or dollars. Does that mean I don't see the larger picture? No, it means I can empathize with the situation this woman must be going through and want to ease her suffering. Completely reasonable.
Saying wasting money on a one day wish is like saying "Fuck the guys who have it right now and are gonna die before we get the cure, let's just focus on the cure!". If someone close to you had cancer, would you cut them off because you can't cure them? Chances are that most people would help them, and I can only hope you're one of the people who would still try to help them.