>donate money to artist on Patreon because am convinced they need it >find out they're using that money to buy crap for their geek collections as well as funding other Patreon members The latter especially pisses me off. They're begging money from Peter to turn around and give it to Paul, while giving the impression the money will go to their own needs. That's when I cut my support. If I wanted Paul to have my money I'd give it to Paul. And what if I don't care for Paul's content, attitude or views in the first place? Am dealing with this now, someone I thought needed it for medical expenses is turning around to give it to Youtubers I refuse to watch for any reason. What a load of bullshit. If you're so well off you do not require a Patreon, then don't beg for it. If I find out the money is going into your toy collection instead of expenses, then you aren't getting a dime. Needless to say I'm no longer funding a lot of people because they treat it as a luxury and are often straight up dishonest about their reasons for needing the money. If you aren't pissed over that, you lack brains. Shit, the more I learn why Patreon was founded as well as about the people who run it, the less interested I am in supporting the platform at all. They get a cut of whatever payments I donate, maybe I don't feel like financially supporting them in the process.