how do we as atheists feel about companies using customers to donate money?

[Simon Moon]

for example i went to taco bell and they said would u like to donate a dollar to "help a local teen graduate highschool" and i hate when businesses do that because apart from all the rumors that very little of that money actually makes it to a charity, i feel like if they want to donate money they shouldn't piggy back on their customers, instead they should donate their own money.

and the thing is i do believe in chairty and i myself donate quite a bit where I can, but when I go out to eat I go for food not to be cheeped out into donating 1$ for a charity that I can't even find a website for. Also it's tough because my parents are from india and my skin is brown so if the people behind me in line see i say no to the donation they will say "oh that cheap indian didn't donate" - so I feel pressured to because my people have a bad enough reputation as it is, aside from all the others who think I am some how linked to al-quida, but have they have no idea that I served in the US military right outside of highschool and how much money i do donate every year.

What is this 'we atheists' thing you mention?

Atheism is a position on a single claim, that at least one god exists.

The only thing that all atheists have in common is our disbelief in the existence of gods.

Anything beyond the disbelief in the existence of gods, is outside the purview of atheism. There are no atheist leaders, dogma or doctrine that 'we atheists' follow. 

It is up to individual atheists to decide what the believe or don't believe on other subjects.

[Minimalist]

Has nothing to do with atheism, Yop, but I agree.  When some of the richest corporations in the history of greedy bastards pull that shit my general reaction is "fuck you."

[Jenny A]

How I feel about donations at the counter depends on the charity, and how insistent the clerk is.

How I feel about being asked about how "we" atheists feel about it nonsensical. So I'll just say a fish.

[CapnAwesome]

What? I don't know, we'll have to bring it up at the next gathering of the secret atheist society.

[Thumpalumpacus]

If you don't like their practices, don't support their business. And keep me out of it -- my atheism is not our crutch.

[Longhorn]

We don't have a social club

But if we did we'd have a rad super secret handshake you wouldn't know about

[Aroura]

Aside form the as an atheist part, I agree. I also encounter it often, at PetCo, and at Safeway. Feed a starving dog, ma'am? Help a crippled child miss? I feel like an ass every time I say no. (Truth is, I often donate at Petco, because I know the money is going to a local no-kill shelter that I know does good work for animals).

But yeah, for most of these places, how much actually get's to wherever it's going? And where is it going anyway? It's not like they give youa chance to research the charity you are being pressured to donate to.

I was just a Costco a few days ago, a place I had never yet been accosted, and they wanted to know if I would donate to something or other. It bought you a little paper tag, they were strung up all over the store. I said "not today, sorry", and the lady said "Our charity drive ends tomorrow". I'm like....um. Sorry, still no.

It really is a crappy thing for businesses to do, I agree.

[Foxaèr]

I don't donate because I am too poor. If I could afford it, I would not donate to any charity that some big corporation supported. Instead, the money would be donated to a secular charity.

[Faith No More]

Who gives a shit what some random dude behind you in line thinks? Trying to make sure every person approves of you is a miserable existence.

But yeah, I'm not a fan of this practice. It's rude to put your customers on the spot like that, so I refuse to donate.

[henryp]

The implications are definitely there "It's just a dollar. You just bought some shit you really don't need for yourself, you don't have a dollar to spare for little joey?" It's definitely trickeries. Studies have been done. I don't know what they are or who's doing them, but I am certain there are a groups of assholes all over just testing different methodologies for getting you to do something you don't want to do. And for one of those assholes, the "Want to donate a dollar" move was the crowning achievement of their life's work.

And maybe 9 of us say "Fuck that noise!" but the 10th guy is OP, and he feels a little guilty, he feels a little judged, and he hands over a dollar to some charity that he doesn't really know or understand the workings of.

The added beauty being you try to talk to the "Fuck that noise!" group, and most of us can't empathize. Because we don't understand how shitty the situation can be for you and the other 1 out of 10's. We aren't the marks. I don't know what it's like to be Indian. I didn't even know cheap was a stereotype. But it isn't about me. The system is designed to prey on the insecurities of you and the 1 in 10's. And they know you 1 out of 10's are feeling shamed and stupid, so you probably will just pony up a buck and not say anything.

Even if you did complain, what's your possible avenue? Tell them to stop raising money for charity. What kind of asshole doesn't like charity? Now you can't spare a dollar, AND you want others to not give dollars. You sir are a Monster!!

Tricky bastards indeed.