Last week mobile phone mogul Masayoshi Son, who has a history of large donations, offered $500,000 through Softbank to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy in North America and then tweeted about it. This act of philanthropy irked a Twitter user by the name of o44o.
Feeling that this was an act of blatant advertising through the use of a good deed, he decided to voice his opinion to Son.
Around midday on Nov 3, Son tweeted: “I would like to express sympathy for all the victims of the Hurricane Sandy disaster in North America. Softbank will donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross.”
About a day later, o44o responded saying: “Donations are usually done with good intentions. Announcing it is stupid as if you’re the only one in the world doing it. This donation is just commercial crap!”
Soon after, Son replied: “I’m just posting the various thoughts I have, but from now on I should probably refrain…”
o44o continued: “Various thoughts eh? LOL I know what’s going on. You’re trying to buy your way into the hearts and markets of America. LOL”
Although his decorum wasn’t firing on all cylinders, o44o struck at a fundamental belief in all of us that a good deed should go unspoken. All cultures seem to share the belief that talking about the money you donate is bad taste.
Especially when a business performs an act of altruism, our collective BS sensors tingle. Because of this, o44o gained support in his campaign with others tweeting remarks like “Your behavior until now has been nothing more than propaganda bullsh**t.”
That being said, it seems a large number of twitterers took a more pragmatic approach, thinking the ends justifies the means, whatever they truly were. Some also mentioned the shades of racism in negative comments due to Son’s Korean heritage.
Putting aside possible prejudices of race, fame and wealth, Son did break the unwritten social rule of not bragging about one’s own generosity, but maybe it’s time that rule gets broken.
Personally I like knowing what companies are donating to charitable causes, and it certainly influences where I spend my own money. Even if these heads of corporations are evil bastards only looking to profit or enter foreign markets, the victims get help and other people get inspired to also donate. Everyone benefits and no one loses.
So while o44o’s sentiments are appreciated there are far worse evils in the world for him to get indignant about, not someone giving away money.
Source: togetter via NicoNico News (Japanese) Masayoshi Son on Twitter (Japanese)
© RocketNews24
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SquidBert
So this is the thanks that he gets?
Self/brand advertising or not. I bet the receivers of the donation are just as happy. Thank you Masayoshi Son, for your selfless acts both in response to hurricane Sandy, and to the 3/11 disaster.
cleo
How much did 0440 donate?
MiuraAnjin
How is a win-win situation a bad thing? Softbank gets some good press: Victims get half a million bucks.
Perhaps o44o would have preferred Son-san to give the money to Saatchi and Saatchi or Dentsu? The complaint only makes sense if o44o is an advertising account executive (the lowest of the low).
Saulo Akazawa
"You’re trying to buy your way into the hearts and markets of America." Isn't it how it always work??? Sure it works as a propaganda for him but it works as a propaganda for donations and or philanthropic work in general. Shouldn't we be in inspired by acts of selflessness even if the act it self would have the benefit of the free propaganda? Every time I donate money or rations or clothing or help out someone in need I always feel so worm inside that I think I am the one profiting the most! Is it ever 100 percent selfless???
Thomas Anderson
The idiot racists/nationalists/right-wingers will bug him no matter what he does just because he is of a Korean descent.
Obviously he won't be saying the same thing to Bill Gates or Warren Buffett.
TheDevilsAssistant
0440 is being too harsh. Regardless if Mr. Son was trying to advertise behind the lines or not, that is $500,000 that will go to good use to the people who need it.
Thank you Mr. Son!!
Thomas Anderson
Unbelievable... only in Japan where this kind of a thing would get any support, lol.
alladin
Whether SoftBank is trying to buy their way into America or not, I sure hope that the money that has been donated will go to good use and not wasted on unnecessary things like what the Japanese government did when they received over 80 billion dollars in donation for the tsunami victims in Fukushima.
Yubaru
There is a simple explanation for o44o's comments; He's jealous that it wasn't him that had the money to donate!
Seriously, why should it matter, Softbank's donating the money for a good cause, maybe instead of critisizing Son for what he tweeted, o44o should be asking corporate America and any other companies doing business in the US why they are not matching Softbank's donations.
hereforever
Alladin, nothing to be concerned about, the public in the states actually have a voice that can be heard.
Elbuda Mexicano
I guess this 0440 is just some bitter, negative warped soul, if Mr.Son broke this so called unwritten rule about mentioning how much $$ one gives to victims of a hurricane, then be it! What is the big deal?? I would much rather KNOW who is giving $$ to whom and for what reasons, than have all of these corrupt politicians etc..doing it secret for BAD reasons, so THANK YOU VERY MUCH Mr.SON and as for 0440 we all know where he can go!
Tatanka
Thanks Mr Son!!!
gogogo
The guys right, you don't gloat about your donations and with softbank purchasing controlling stake of Sprint o44o makes alot of good points.
Eduardo Gonzalez
That means a coming trial at opposition
nath
Twitter really is not much more than a forum for morons to vent their spleen and for pseudo celebs to voice their "thoughts". Every time a read the news and see the phrase "so and so tweeted blah blah blah" I heave a deep sigh of disappointment.
wtfjapan
yes have to agree while the donation is great, it should have been done anonymously. giving money should be done in good faith without commercial advertising/promotion attached.
wtfjapan
@ cleo, you dont know 0440 may have donated his last $50 Mr Sons 500,000 is just change in his wallet. people keep believing that the bigger the donation/help the more giving a person is. when really its the people who give all there money & time away to charity who are the real givers/carers in this world. I know a guy who gives up 70% of his income every month just so he can sponsor more impoverished children in the world, just kept enough money so he could pay his rent and eat. at last count he was sponsoring over 80 kids.
blackbagger
It may seem like boasting or showing off or trying to ingratiate yourself with new markets, but who cares? Son has donated so much the past two years first after 311 and now to New York. It helps people. That's all that matters. And publicizing donations may seem to be in bad taste but it also raises awareness.
Like in the case of AKB48 giving after 311. Say what you want about the group, but they gave huge donations in comparison to their individual salaries, and their donations could easily help shame bigger stars into being more giving and being more aware that help is needed.
sighclops
Now, if only Mr. Son shared the same enthusiasm with improving his atrocious cell coverage here...
basroil
A much better way to "donate" is to pledge to improve the antenna resilience in the area affected, so "nobody will ever need to be afraid of not being able to contact 911". Basically improves the Sprint buyout angle, would get wildly popular with the nets, and actually be of service.
cleo
Nah, he kept back at least enough to pay his Internet provider.:-)
You're right though, I don't know, which is why I asked.
Seeing people donate can inspire others to do the same, so it's all good. So thank you to Mr. Son.
uchina58
should I change my phone to softbank just to be part of this?
darknuts
Sadly, people always try to write off good deeds as something done for personal gains. I remember someone these boards saying that the US support of Japan during thee tsunami was nothing more than a political move. Really sad indeed...
kcjapan
0440 can stop doing everyone such great favors.
If 0440 has a grudge let 0440 carry his own water against Monsieur Masayoshi Son.
0440 would seem to put their own grudge over the disaster victims of Sandy.
If 0440 has a problem let him go buy a new phone service and stop interfering with the children who have lost pets, friends and loved homes as the storm surge wiped away towns and lives. The victims of Sandy are in urgent need as temperatures from the most recent two days storm have keep at 0C.
0440 can do everyone a great big fking favor, go about his grudge in a professional manner. Frankly, no one need’s 0440's holy than thou and we would all be better for him to shut his bloody trap. Disgusting.
Gods bless Monsieur Masayoshi Son.
Bartholomew Harte
I Thank This Man for the donation,as a N.Y.er from Staten Island ,N.Y. where there is misery aplenty & All Help is Needed- As for this #0440 ,What Have You Done to Help!?!?? You are not only Wrong,You're Wrong Headed!
Oz_Monster
We all have done it from time to time, wrote a message or a Tweet and hit ENTER, only wishing later we had not. Son has said in the past that the purchase of Sprint is a new challenge for Softbank. Along with that challenge comes a social responsibility as well. Using Twitter to communicate his best intentions was not probably the smartest move, but at least the guy wears his heart on his sleeve. Its just a Tweet, its not as if Son is taking out full-page advertorials in the Washington Post proclaiming is new found generosity and bragging about donations. Basroil's suggestion for improving antenna services in devastated regions would have far better help and PR value.
Sound like 0440 has an ax to grind. There are always small minded people out there you feel confronted or under attack when foreign companies buy-in to their countries market. Son makes a small tweet about his wishes to help those people in need and he is criticized. 0440 is probably the type of person who supports Republican's like Romney ! Oh....just google "Romney Donations" and you will see in America it is socially acceptable to brag and publicize about your own personal donations.
nath
try this 0X4X4X0 = the weight of his opinion.
All the "pray for Japan" merchandise and labeling that was sold is surely the same thing as a tweet. Every corporation jumped on that bandwagon without being slagged for it. Good on you Mr Son!
nath
blackbagger
Like in the case of AKB48 giving after 311. Say what you want about the group, but they gave huge donations in comparison to their individual salaries, and their donations could easily help shame bigger stars into being more giving and being more aware that help is needed.
This is because AKB are the best and sweetest girls in the world.
flipper2
The donation is nice, I just want to see that it gets there and who will truly benefit from it. As far as Tweeter is concerned, why is a guys freedom of speech exposed all over the news? He has the right to express his feelings without being named. This is a violation of freedom of speech.
Thomas Anderson
flipper2
Uh, that has nothing to do with freedom of speech. He has expressed his views and that's his freedom of speech. "Without being named", lol.
KnowBetter
As they say... "haters gonna hate". Maybe "0440" is not doing so well so envy rears its ugly head as hate. So sad. $500,000 came at no cost to those who needed the help. I'm sure those that do receive help might want to thank those donating in their own way what ever that may be so how is it wrong for someone to say "I" or "we" are donating this? Sorry "0440" but you come off as a bitter person in need of help.
2020hindsights
No, people think that a bigger donation will help more people...
My thoughts exactly.
Betraythetrust!
This needs to be put into context. Is this donation coming from his personal fortune? Is it donated from the company which will be tax deductable and the fact he has advertised the donation means he may be looking to gain from this financially.
Also the rich often give and though the amounts seem huge this must be also looked into in context, the large sums they donate mean nothing to them and do not have any effect on their living standards. I do think all donations are good to those that need it, however a true giver will not advertise this fact.
codomo
i just tried to read o44o dude posts on his twitter its too insane who might be opposition to racist and considered about this consequence then i just felt maybe every events had been planned. Son achieved to maximize his donation effectively and of course he could aid many victims.
TheDevilsAssistant
Does that really matter? It may not have any affect on them, but it sure does have an affect on those in need. Isn't that what really counts?
Betraythetrust!
@TheDevilsAssistant
Yes is does matter when people make these people seem so generous. They are also usually tax deductable and if made under the Softbank name would have zero effect on personal income. I did state "all donations are good" in my post, yet it is best not to take things at face value and look deeper to see the real intent of peoples actions.
tmarie
Agree with Cleo. This is the thanks he gets. Indeed, donation and tweeting about it is classless but money doesn't buy class. It does however buy power and good for this guy in donating. Where are all the Japanese companies donating and stepping up? I don't know of others and after what the US did for Japan 3/11 it seems a shame.
Personally I like knowing what companies donate and to whom, I'll either take my business there or away from them depending on the causes they donate to. Nothing wrong with letting folks know you donate but twitter is rather brash for it.
Plus, don't people get tax write offs in most countries? Isn't Japan one of the only ones you don't?
alliswellinjapan
Personally have questions about the recent trend among some media actively covering twitter debates involving celebs and other public figures. Noone knows who this o44o individual actually is and yet the individual is being covered for the mere fact that Son has responded. Ironically Son's donation thereby receives continued and even wider attention thanks to o44o. Probably not in this particular case but there may be future attempts to disguise a false twitter debate as a PR tactic involving virtual tweeters. Good on Son for giving away a huge amount of money for a great cause, but the media should stick to real journalism in my view.
TheDevilsAssistant
Betraythetrust!
Still don't see your point. Half a million dollars to help this damaged region. Why worry about if its a tax right off or not? If "all donations are good," then why not take it for face value and not worry about looking deeper to see the "real" intent.
Betraythetrust!
TheDevilsAssistant;
I am a happier person than most because i was brought up to question peoples actions and to know how to get on in life that way, The problem with modern life is many take things at face value as it is the easy option, i will not fall into this trap and nor will my children i hope.
Nessie
Even if it is just advertising, would you rather see that money going to Dentsu?
wontond
0440 is nothing but an internet troll, who unlike MS contributes nothing to society.
combinibento
Really? One troll makes a comment and that's a Twitter war? By that standard so is every public figure.
ubikwit
While philanthropy is always welcome, even from corporate behemoths, Son is a tool, and this is just a cheap attempt to boost the corporate image of Softbank in the USA.
The concept is known as "representative publicness" (Habermas).
In this case, the people calling him out for publicizing his donation as if it were a purely altruistic gesture are absolutely right.
@Tomas Anderson
The people responding to Son on twitter are Americans, not Japanese. Perhaps Americans are not as easily taken in by this type of "wolves in sheep's clothing" ruse as Japanese.
The problem with the so-called "good deed" is that he seems to think that Americans are going to take his words at face value and ignore the blatant attempt to garner favorable public opinion by portraying his corporation as a good Samaritan.
He would seem to think that people are subject to being manipulated and deceived by such a tactic.
presto345
Donations for projects in Japan are tax deductible.
jinjapan
i know if i donated half a mill , i'd be doing more than tweeting . i'd be screaming it from the rooftops . good on ya son san .
nath
Actually, when I hear about companies donating, it serves as a reminder for me to at least do my part to help. Even if it's one of the ways companies do "commercial crap", it still helps people. And whether or not the company announces it is beside the point.
Isn't good publicity from donating a positive reinforcement for people to keep on doing it? Not a lot of people can afford to be altruistic I don't think
tinky1
Is this story for real? Some Internet loser sitting in his bedroom on twitter.......
Lazy and poor news.
Thomas Anderson
Just looked up o44o on Twitter and yes, he is a Japanese or at least he writes in Japanese. He has a derogatory icon of Masayoshi Son and he writes in a highly racist, derogatory, anti-Korean manner. He frequently uses the word "chon" (a derogatory word for Korean).
Basically only the racists are ticked off by Son's gracious deeds. They are obviously insane. Nothing to worry about.
Balefire
Regardless of advertising benefit, the money is going to a worthy cause, and it's not the first time that Son has donated to worthy causes. His donation may well be a good example for other corporations and/or wealthy executives to emulate him and donate, too.
Pretty much everything I've seen/read about Son indicates that he's both an aggressive, decisive businessman and a philanthropist. More power to him, despite any racist or envious cretins' nonsense.
Dennis Bauer
Thanks to o44o softbank gets a lot of publicity!
southsakai
That looser is a troll baiting Son san.
Look some folks make public when they donate, and some do it in private. Who cares how one does it.
Personally me, I rather make it heard if I or my company were donating a fairly large amount to any organization.
Most trolls like this guy are good for nothing. They should look at themselves first and see what they do before opening their big mouth.
How many people does Son's companies Softbank and others employ ? How much tax does the Government collect because of his accomplishments in business ? How much money did Son donate in the Tohoku disaster ? These numbers are HUGE!
People on twitter can't step up. Shut up!
southsakai
Yes exactly zichi, well said bro!
Thomas Anderson
ubikwit
Uhhhhhh, no American has ever responded to Son on Twitter. Do you not see any of the real AMERICAN comments on here?
Yubaru
He would seem to think that people are subject to being manipulated and deceived by such a tactic.
And what is wrong with taking what he wrote at face value? He is donating the cash and he is from what it seems from all the news I have read and heard about him, is a good guy. I guess you are one of the jealous one's?
also your comment coming from the land of granma's and granpa's getting ripped off in "ore ore" schemes and you think American's are gullible?
ubikwit
Thomas Anderson
If so, I stand corrected. I don't have a twitter account, and it sounded like Americans, not Japanese.
Though I don't approve of bigoted attacks against him, I still look askance at the attempt to drum up business by publicizing the donation.
Thomas Anderson
You don't even need a Twitter account to look up accounts.
lostrune2
When companies advertise their donations, eventually they try to "out-donate" each other, in a bid to make their brands look better than their competitors. In the end, that helps the charities receiving the donations.
ubikwit
Thomas Anderson
I see, but this doesn't merit the time and effort to do so.
Are you aware of the fact that Son studied at UN Berkeley and speaks English?
His success stems primarily from connections with American companies and access to overseas financing.
I don't buy into one iota of the Softbank hype, and it will be interesting to see if the American venture in Sprint succeeds.
Yubaru
Can you tell me how the following "sounds" American and not Japanese? Are you generalizing or something more?
Thomas Anderson
ubiqwit: That has nothing to do with anything.
issa1
There is of course that this is an propaganda! If he really wanted to donate the money to do,so anonymously. Only an idiot would not see that this is a opportunist promotion. You are right o44o!
m6bob
Thank you for the donation, Mr Son. If the money had gone to o44o, we would not have heard about his pathetic tweet.
ubikwit
@Yubaru
What's do you mean the following?
The article is in English, Son was educated at an American university and speaks English, and just bought a controlling share in Sprint. Does that somehow preclude the possibility of the comments being made by an American?
Are you trying to tell me that the English translation of the sentence you quoted from the article doesn't sound like American English?
I suppose you think that comment sounds Japanese, too? How do you spell "LOL" in Japanese?
mrkobayashi
LOL is (笑)
Thomas Anderson
I can't imagine any American actually talking like that...
cleo
A quick glance at the photo at the top of the page makes it clear that he tweets in Japanese. What the article says he said is a translation.
presto345
Agreed. You can respect and love them for their shows or their donations for causes or both. And I just read Lady Gaga donated 1 million dollars to the US Red Cross for the victims of Sandy. But it was not she who announced it.
yasukuni
The funniest thing is someone pointed out that 0440san sounds like a Korean hating rightwinger Japanese, and the only people commenting here who agree with him are ...
rightwinger Japanese..
Look there are many good reasons why he should announce what he (or soft bank) donated. It showed the people of NY that people on the other side of the world are thinking of them. Maybe Son wants to show that Japanese were grateful for American donations after the tsunami. and this is a way of one good deed deserves another. It shows other people what kind of company Softbank is, and it also makes other people think that maybe they can donate too.
For all the terrible things people do in this world, it's sad that others get attacked for wishing people well in their time of need and showing that it's not only sweet words.
yasukuni
I meant of course, the only people on here who agree with 0440san...
Thomas Anderson
It's also ironic that most Americans would probably disagree with o44o...
Yubaru
Japanese use and understand lol!
cleo
She actually announced it on her blog - Today I pledge 1 million dollars to New York & The American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief. If it wasn't for NYC: the Lower Eastside, Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn, I would not be the woman or artist that I am today. Not that it matters a jot who or where.
ubikwit
@cleo
I didn't bother to read through the entire article, frankly, and didn't see the link at the bottom of the page or realize that it wasn't a JT written article--I don't believe I've seen an example such as this before on JT.
@yasukuni
Wrong again.
You are probably one of the people that supported the publicity whores Pussy Riot.
Son has tried to fashion himself as a pop icon, using the television commercial series, etc., He is skilled at vacuous marketing, but he reminds me more of Horie than anyone else. I don't consider him to be a pioneer in IT by any stretch of the imagination. That is one of the reasons he craves publicity.
It seems that he has a contingency of sycophantic supporters.
cleo
No need to read any of the article to see that the tweet is in japanese.
ubikwit
@cleo
You have to read through the entire JT article to get to the link to the Website of the original article that JT seems to have reprinted in full, which makes it seem like they have a relationship with that organization that encompasses copyrights.
It's all a little unusual, as is your response. Maybe we're not looking at the same material shown at the bottom of the JT article?
cleo
ubikwit - No, I'm not looking at the material shown at the bottom of the JT article. I'm looking at the photo of the original tweet shown to the left of the first paragraph of the JT article.
But if you want to look at the stuff at the bottom of the JT article, there are further hints as to what language Son tweets in, as in Masayoshi Son on Twitter (Japanese); and the article at the external link also starts with a photo of the original Japanese tweet. I don't see how anyone could see a tweet written in Japanese and imagine that the main intention behind it was to impress Americans. If that were the purpose, I'm pretty sure he would tweet in English - and he chose not to.
ubikwit
cleo
You seem again to be presuming that I saw the photo, this time that I took the time to click on that photo.
Some people have more time on their hands than I do, perhaps, but obviously I neither clicked on the photo or read through the entire piece to see the unusual sourcing information.
zichi
I take it you agree this is rather unusual composition for an article on the JT site.
globalwatcher
But when you give to the needs, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing: Matt. 6-3
If you want to do a good deed, do not let others know what you are doing. Stay anonymous.
cleo
It's right there at the top of the page, how could you not see it? And there's no need to click on it to see that it's in Japanese. Unless your eyesight is really, really bad or the resolution on your screen really, really low.
LOL You don't have time to read an article to find out what it's about, but you have the time to comment on it and then recomment to defend the false assumptions you make in those comments?
ubikwit
False assumptions aside, I stand by the gist of my statements.
It is not that case that only a right wing Japanese would find his self-promotion offensively in bad taste, not unlike like the gauche pastiche of gangnam style, for example.
I can do without either of them, not to mention the sycophant foreign cheerleaders.
Thomas Anderson
I've never heard of any other CEOs in Japan getting badmouthed as much as Son in Japan. In fact most of the CEOs in Japan are pretty much invisible.
ubikwit
What about Horie?
Kobuta Chan
Unfortunate one. I don't think Masayoshi Son was selling his Company Softbank name via donation to Hurricane Sandy relief in US. He is good man anyway.