I just saw the question "How to get donations anonymously in a room" pop up, and I really have no idea if it's on topic or not. On the one hand, I don't really understand what this question has to do with the workplace. On the other, we could probably answer the question and I don't know that there's another SE that is a better fit than us.
Should this be closed?
Here's a thought experiment: imagine the OP had asked about how to set up a donation box at his workplace for some other worthy cause than his own expenses in giving a free course, and how to do so without guilt-shaming anyone into contributing.
My reaction would be that this scenario would definitely be on-topic.
By extension, since the difference to the actual question is not really germane, I'd say the original question is on-topic, too.
(BTW: "there is no better SE site for this question" does not make an off-topic question on-topic.)
No, it's not on-topic. The dynamics in a workplace environment versus those in a volunteer course are too different. There are no employees. There is no management. There is no real accountability. You could call the students clients but they don't (shouldn't) have any expectation of service. People aren't forced to work together and interact amicably or risk their livelihood. This is more of a social question than a workplace one and general social question are simply not on topic.
I agree that it's an interesting question but it's a step too far from the workplace for it to find a home here. Where would we draw the line?
I think its on-topic. Because OP is working there, while instead the students are "attending" Therefore it is OP's workplace.
I spent 8 years working as IT-everything in a high school with 200 staff and 1800 students, and schools/educational sites are most definitely workplaces as far as the staff are concerned. There are all the petty politics, he-said-she-said, cliques, social events and very occasional romantic interludes of any other workplace.
Therefore a school/classroom is a workplace and this is on topic.
What bugs me in this question is that the context is not a workplace per se. Sure, this question could be at least partially transposed to a more "fitting" context for this SE, but that doesn't make it on-topic. However, trying to adapt the question might make it too broad.
Plus, transposing the question would probably cause it to make little sense. A donation box in an office would most likely have another goal than in a room where a free course is dispensed, as, well, a lot of things are different, starting with the relationship between OP and the potential donators.
The question is interesting, but ultimately, it still feels off-topic.
I feel like the question might be too broad rather than off-topic. He's asking for business ideas. "How can I collect money from people anonymously to fit my business strategy". There are so many ways to approach this question that I wouldn't know where to begin.
anonymous letters? Donation box? online donation paypal account? tip jar? etc etc?
I feel like all of these answers could work, which is why I don't think an answer is really easy to get.
It all boils down to two related questions, one following on from the other.
Is begging a profession or not?
Is the place where the mendicant does his begging a workplace?
If we can decide on that, then we have our answer to this post. We can always say those kids running around at Halloween are temporarily self employed, Salvation army people are actually workers and the punters at the pub getting a tin shaken under their noses are potential clients? Stuff like that.
