THE ROAD SO FAR

So you wanna know how we got here? Well I’m Mike and am happy to tell you. My wife suffers from chronic pain and migraine. Days at a time she’s laid low by one or both conditions and unable to do much more than lie in a dark room with a fan running. After quickly becoming bored with television, movies, video games, and streaming services, I needed a hobby. With my amazing wife down, and my desire to be close helping her however possible, it needed to be something I could do within our home.

Many of my co-workers at the time had 3D printers. They would bring in prints of all types and sizes, the fidget cubes, table-top figures, dragons, and so much more. It drew my interest and the first printer was purchased. Starting by printing all the normal newbie things and others designs was fun but I wanted to do more and in the stack of files a friend had given me was the first FTG token. Its form was pretty basic and had a cheesy phrase in the same theme as “I POOPED TODAY!” I started printing a few, not sure what I would do with them.

One day while out hitting errands and stopping for lunch it hit me. Now I’ve worked in service related jobs for my entire life and know the looks I had seen on many that day. Many have never waited a table for shitheads, run a register for the duke of douche bags, helped an ungrateful snide guest, or picked up a phone with what I’m sure was a 20ft tall monster with an Igor limp, acid for blood, and a super power for saying the most hurtful nasty things. Those in service jobs get trampled regularly by the nasty entitled bastards out there who think they are above us, or feel inconvenienced by us taking out all their frustrations on us after having to wait even a few seconds.

I can’t tell you where along the path of shops and restaurants it happened that day, but the first FTG token was given. The response was immediate, thanks, and even stating I made her day was the bolt of lightening to my core bringing the whole mission of bringing FTGs to life. The token was redesigned and became the Original FTG Token now sold.

More than just a piece of plastic with a worty dird on it, these tokens became a way for my extremely introverted self to thank those I come across in my life for the flavor they bring to the world. Even if it’s just being a friend, ringing a register, or waiting a table these are my people. I try to let the hundreds I’ve passed them to know they are appreciated, and don’t deserve to be mistreated or abused by malcontents who feel better by tearing them down.

One was a 16 year old kid probably in her first job waiting tables. The kitchen had messed up food or was taking too long and these nasty, I don’t want to call them humans so, fuckers at the next table cussed out this kid, dismantled her with personal attacks on her competency and intelligence, and then stormed off moments before she was going to bring their food. I watched this kid leave towards the bathrooms wiping tears from her eyes. We finished out meal but never saw her come back in. We went to the register to pay when I asked another waitress about what happened. She told the story and after making sure this kid who was likely making pennies didn’t have to pay for their walking out, I gave both of them tokens. Their entire demeanor changed with our thanks and appreciation and a piece of plastic with a word they didn’t expect. That is what We Got FTG is all about.

I hope you join me by purchasing some and handing them to those you see running low on fucks to give. Together I’m damned sure we can turn this thing around and make the world a little better by just showing people we give a fuck!

When handing them out please tag us or have those you give them to tag us @WEGOTFTG on Facebook or Instagram. We, those working with me behind the scenes as we grow this thing, would love to hear your stories and see how they impact people.