SANBS - Why did I even bother having good expectations.

[bubblebrain8]

This past week, my father donated his 200th pint of blood.
He donated his first pint the day he went to the army. Since then he has gone on to save countless lives through regular blood donations.
To date he has given 114 litres of his blood to the SANBS.
Bloody hell, Cape Town has had daily water restrictions lower than that.

Now, the SANBS hosts a dinner and medal ceremony once a year to honor all the donors, if my Dad goes he will be presented with a medal.
Which is all good and well.
But on the day he reached his 200 milestone, he was given 2 biscuits, a cup of mix-cooldrink and told "well done".
...
Surely he deserved something more?

I get that I write this from a biased perspective, he's my Dad and I think he's literally the best Dad, out of all the dads, who have ever dadded.

Was it wrong of me to expect some effort from the SANBS to show their appreciation and acknowledge what he's achieved.
Less than 1% of South Africans donate blood. And maybe an even smaller percentage of regular donors reach 200 pints.
I bet more South Africans have pomped Charlize Theron than achieved what my Dad has.

So I got ahold of SANBS headoffice privately via social media and email.
My goal was for them to be persuaded into maybe mentioning him in a Facebook post or have his name on their website forum or something along those lines.
They asked for my name and contact details.
They then, proceeded to call my Dad the following morning, and explain to him that they host a dinner annually and that he's invited.
He told them that he knows this, and then they told him that I had contacted head office.

*face palm*

My Dad then calls me and asks why I contacted SANBS and tells me not to do silly things like that.

*face palm...angrily*

The f*cking absolute last thing I wanted is for SANBS to contact him, I contacted them, I wanted them to contact me!
And then do this Facebook post or mention of his milestone as a surprise of some sorts.
My Dad's a humble man and the last thing he's after is fame and approval/credibility from the internet.
I do believe he deserved more of a fuss made over him.

Allas... I'm damn proud of the man and thought more people should know about his milestone.

 

[3WA]

My Dad then calls me and asks why I contacted SANBS and tells me not to do silly things like that.

I like your dad. He's a sensible guy.

 

[6spdmanual]

Your old man seems like a stand up fellow. As you yourself mentioned he’s not after the fame and all that, but you want him to appear on their Facebook page or something similar. That’s not his style clearly.

Apologize, get him a nice Chelsea shirt, take him out somewhere and call it a day.

 

[Foxhound5366]

By recognising a selfless act, you take away something that makes it so special: being unknown.

 

[Dylan_G]

Was it wrong of me to expect some effort from the SANBS to show their appreciation and acknowledge what he's achieved.

Maybe not wrong to expect effort or appreciation or acknowledgement. But wrong to assume a specific level of effort or appreciation or acknowledgement.

My Dad then calls me and asks why I contacted SANBS and tells me not to do silly things like that.

Sensible man.

I wanted them to contact me!

Is this about you?

And then do this Facebook post or mention of his milestone as a surprise of some sorts.

You post it and tag SANBS.

My Dad's a humble man and the last thing he's after is fame and approval/credibility from the internet.

Should take a lesson here.

I do believe he deserved more of a fuss made over him.

Allas... I'm damn proud of the man and thought more people should know about his milestone.

Then you do it. Make the fuss. Tell him you're proud of him. It might mean a hell of a lot more than some random FB post from SANBS.

 

[Snyper564]

By recognising a selfless act, you take away something that makes it so special: being unknown.

I agree with this one.

 

[r4nd0m]

Allas... I'm damn proud of the man and thought more people should know about his milestone.

I think you're trying to live through your father's achievements.

How's about you let the old man be and donate some blood of your own? Then you can bitch at SANBS to make a fuss over you if you wish.

I like your old man. Old school cool. Humble. Not braggy. Doesn't need special attention. So if he's like this, what happened to you?

 

[bwana]

My Dad then calls me and asks why I contacted SANBS and tells me not to do silly things like that.

Listen to your father.

 

[Snyper564]

I think you're trying to live through your father's achievements.

How's about you let the old man be and donate some blood of your own? Then you can bitch at SANBS to make a fuss over you if you wish.

I like your old man. Old school cool. Humble. Not braggy. Doesn't need special attention. So if he's like this, what happened to you?

I agree with all the posts here.

The dinner is the thank you that's the extra mile. It's a thankless thing he does and he knows that too. No one that has donated that much does it because at 200 they get a medal etc they do it cause that's what they do.

The fb posts meens zero. Also I would think something like that is in contravention of the popi act. Not that I care just saying.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

This past week, my father donated his 200th pint of blood.
He donated his first pint the day he went to the army. Since then he has gone on to save countless lives through regular blood donations.
To date he has given 114 litres of his blood to the SANBS.
Bloody hell, Cape Town has had daily water restrictions lower than that.

Now, the SANBS hosts a dinner and medal ceremony once a year to honor all the donors, if my Dad goes he will be presented with a medal.
Which is all good and well.
But on the day he reached his 200 milestone, he was given 2 biscuits, a cup of mix-cooldrink and told "well done".
...
Surely he deserved something more?

I get that I write this from a biased perspective, he's my Dad and I think he's literally the best Dad, out of all the dads, who have ever dadded.

Was it wrong of me to expect some effort from the SANBS to show their appreciation and acknowledge what he's achieved.
Less than 1% of South Africans donate blood. And maybe an even smaller percentage of regular donors reach 200 pints.
I bet more South Africans have pomped Charlize Theron than achieved what my Dad has.

So I got ahold of SANBS headoffice privately via social media and email.
My goal was for them to be persuaded into maybe mentioning him in a Facebook post or have his name on their website forum or something along those lines.
They asked for my name and contact details.
They then, proceeded to call my Dad the following morning, and explain to him that they host a dinner annually and that he's invited.
He told them that he knows this, and then they told him that I had contacted head office.

*face palm*

My Dad then calls me and asks why I contacted SANBS and tells me not to do silly things like that.

*face palm...angrily*

The f*cking absolute last thing I wanted is for SANBS to contact him, I contacted them, I wanted them to contact me!
And then do this Facebook post or mention of his milestone as a surprise of some sorts.
My Dad's a humble man and the last thing he's after is fame and approval/credibility from the internet.
I do believe he deserved more of a fuss made over him.

Allas... I'm damn proud of the man and thought more people should know about his milestone.

My father got the William Harvey Medal for donating his 50th pint of blood:

 

[Lupus]

At the dinner they give out medals, I went to one for my 50th donation 10 years ago, was a slap up meal and got the medal.

 

[shaggy_beef_on_a_tricycle]

Don't think people who donate their blood do it so they get a reward or recognised. That's the problem with giving away something that is precious, for free. Sooner or later you going to feel screwed over, specially if they make money from it.

This is one of those situations where you wanted to do something good and with good intentions, but it gets thrown back into your face.

A bit embarrassing, but sure your old man will know you meant well.

 

[Stokstert]

Blood donation is in the same boat as paying tax, the non-donating crowd are the overwhelming recipients of donated blood for free, the donating group has to pay for it if they need it and are capable of paying.

 

[bubblebrain8]

Thanks for the replies.

Having thought about it and through conversations with my Dad I'll admit my mistake.

He achieved something I see as incredible and I'm proud of him. But me expecting others to know about it and or it being celebrated to a level I imagined sufficient takes away from the very nature of it being a selfless act.
My expectation and subsequent frustration was not valid or useful in this case.

I've heard that's something you'd call "silly"

I enjoy MyBB, because I don't know who any of you are in real life. I know you from the of the words you use. And how you use them.
I enjoy that I get the sense that alot of you are older and wiser than me. Many of you are very intelligent peeps.

To the other half:

Hats off to your beloved father. I am pissed off with corruption/tax/vat and he is on top giving his blood.

Why you creating karmic baggage for yourself by having expectations for what your father is doing? The lighter the luggage, the better the journey. Enjoy the moments with him. Take him out somewhere

I agree with the later half of what you said.
But don't have expectations of what he's doing. I expected his doings to be appreciated more.
As others have been before him.

Apologize, get him a nice Chelsea shirt, take him out somewhere and call it a day.

I will not apologize for my frustration, because it stems from the general sense of things these days.
People in general do incredible ****. But they are hardly talked about. Meanwhile a chick puts on yoga pants, bends over, snaps a pic and gets admired and famous.
Incredible **** is muted while the absolute idiotic madness shown on platforms like tiktok is put on blast.

Maybe not wrong to expect effort or appreciation or acknowledgement. But wrong to assume a specific level of effort or appreciation or


Is this about you?

No...it's not about me (besides that your reply/argument doesn't really make sence) It was me trying to give my Dad a bigger props than he got. Which I now see was in fact silly being that he was doing a selfless act.

I think you're trying to live through your father's achievements.

How's about you let the old man be and donate some blood of your own? Then you can bitch at SANBS to make a fuss over you if you wish.

I like your old man. Old school cool. Humble. Not braggy. Doesn't need special attention. So if he's like this, what happened to you?

You my friend, need a hug.
I'm not your enemy, why you coming at me with such hostility. This is not how you talk to people in person... unless you're 10 and haven't been shown that this behavior isn't appropriate or accepted.
I do donate, and hope when(if) I'm his age I'll be reaching the same milestone.

I agree with all the posts here.

The dinner is the thank you that's the extra mile. It's a thankless thing he does and he knows that too. No one that has donated that much does it because at 200 they get a medal etc they do it cause that's what they do.

The fb posts meens zero. Also I would think something like that is in contravention of the popi act. Not that I care just saying.

I didn't tell SANBS to specifically do a FB post. This was a general idea I threw into the ring.

Worth a Google... I've read many articles posted online giving props to people donating their 200th pint. Also note that these articles are mostly written out of countries that have the top living conditions and population happiness.

And to clarify, I wasn't a **** when I spoke to SANBS. I came at them from the angle that this would surely benefit an organisation that's always asking for more members.... if potential
sign ups see that the organisation gives a **** about their members.

Again, my bad.

 

[r4nd0m]

You my friend, need a hug.
I'm not your enemy, why you coming at me with such hostility. This is not how you talk to people in person... unless you're 10 and haven't been shown that this behavior isn't appropriate or accepted.
I do donate, and hope when(if) I'm his age I'll be reaching the same milestone.

I'm not being hostile. I've given my opinion on what you posted.

I'm just saying you should take a page (possibly multiple?) from your old man's book.

 

[bwana]

My father got the William Harvey Medal for donating his 50th pint of blood:

Pfft - my great great great something-or-other was William Harvey.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Pfft - my great great great something-or-other was William Harvey.

You and I then both have the same E1b1b1 Genetic Haplogroup with the mutated M-35 Y marker that originated in the Levant 12 000 years ago and the same distant relatives of Napoleon, Hitler, Obama, The Wright Brothers and an ancient Ashkenazi Jewish influence.

Hope I didn't tell you stuff you didn't want to know.