Operation Smile: Making children cry, and possible photoshop? (pizzagate)

submitted ago by bumbleberries

So I was looking at Operation Smile, the organisation which child-trafficker Laura Silsby previously ran a fundraiser for. One of the directors is Cindy McCain, who is also a director of ICMEC launched by Hillary Clinton. ICMEC is also connected to Laura Silsby through AlertSense.

Operation Smile provides cleft lip surgeries to children for free worldwide. According to Wikipedia, it occurs in 1 to 2 per 1000 births in the developed world. I don't know how common it is in third world countries, but watching a video of Operation Smile seemed really unnatural to me. Here are some of the strange points:

So it was clear to me that somebody with a sick sense of humor made the video. Clearly not a legitimate company. They're asking for $250 donations to make a child smile, while making children cry in their own promotional videos.

Then I was looking at an article on its website to find a photo of a family with 3 kids with cleft lip. Three with cleft lip? Strange. Apparently cleft lip is an epidemic in third world countries. Then I spotted what looks like an incomplete photoshop job:

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ConcernedParent2 ago

I do think there may be something shady going on with these operations, especially if it links to Silsby.

That being said, when it comes to spreading awareness campaigns and trying to get donations, you have to appeal to people by playing with their emotions. If they just showed a happy child with a cleft lip, people aren't going to see it as a urgent matter. If you show a sad child and show the difficulties they go through due to their cleft lip, people will be much more likely to donate because they see it as an actual hindrance for those poor children.

This practice is not unique to this organization, all charities and organizations do this. Think about those sappy animal shelter commercials; they could have found some happy animals or found a shelter that takes better care of their animals, but they didn't. Why? Because all those pitiful looking animals compels you to donate.

carmencita ago

You make a very good point, but the fact that Silsby is connected is a reason to keep researching. It may lead to a dead end except for stupid ideas to get donations. I still don't think it is " kosher" to use those tactics. I usually turn away those ads. If I want to help an org. I send them money but not through tv ads.

ConcernedParent2 ago

I agree, that's why I also said that I believe there may be something shady with that organization if it is linked with Silsby. I just wanted to point out that these advertising tactics are nothing new or unique when it comes to charities. I posted in another comment showing how studies show that you will get more money by appealing to negative emotions. It's shitty, but it's not the charities fault that people are more willing to donate when you show a crying child.

carmencita ago

Yes. If you have to pinch a child to get money then how can you call yourself charitable? Hah. We donate to the Salvation Army and a Private Animal Org. a couple more. One for the elderly that supplies meals and Christmas presents for children. I never give to anything on tv. I am now seeing many of these children's charities being suspect. Ugh.

ConcernedParent2 ago

I'm suspicious of most charities, even before pizzagate came along. Lots of charities use donations as their own slush fund. Even charities with good intentions can be prone to wasting their donations due to not knowing how to manage their finances correctly. I stick with small local charities that I know have good intentions and they provide proof that the donations they receive are being put to good use.

carmencita ago

:)