theregister.com— Inspiration struck, however, when he was looking at a cardboard sign commonly held by bums hoping for a hand-out beside the city's freeway exits.
Sep 21, 2005View in Crawl 4
Responding to questions posed....1. So because they're homeless it's ok to exploit them?It's ok to "harmlessly exploit" anyone who is willing to be "harmlessly exploited". There is nothing criminal about paying a homeless person to hold a sign, and if they don't like it, the can choose not to do it.2. Does being homeless, mean you don't have rights?No.3. So if they were to try and get a normal job, (lets say at McDonald's) it would then be OK for MC'D's to pay him $3/hour or $3/day? Just because "the bum" doesn't have a "house".No, it wouldn't be acceptable. However holding a sign and working at McDonalds are 2 different things, just as paying a kid to mow your lawn once a week is different from working at Walmart. I pay a group of guys $40 to seal my asphalt driveway once every 2 years. They just drive around asking folks if in my neighborhood if they want it done, and if you say yes, they pull tools and supplies from the back of their pickup and get to work. You might say I am exploiting them for a service. You might also say they are exploiting me for money.4. Did any of you care to think... What if that was someone you loved or knew, would it then be OK, to be treated like a P.O.S?Paying someone for work they are willing to do is fine by me. If it was someone I loved or knew, I'd take them into my home and/or get them help - if they wanted it. I wouldn't presume to tell them what to do.5. We have laws for a reason, Yes, some may be completely f**king stupid, but others are there for reasons like this.There's no law preventing paying less than minimum wage for holding a sign a few hours a day. There's no law preventing a person for paying in trade - food or water, say - for services rendered.A lot of you people are seriously confused.
How in the hell is this "exploitation"? They agreed on the price, he pays them the price, they hold the sign.Folks, this isn't a "job". They're holding a sign on a street corner. He pays them to attach his sign to their existing sign. That's it. He's not an employer here, by any stretch of the imagination.
rubyroseSep 21, 2005
Harsh!! but kinda cool
onimusha115Sep 22, 2005
I dont see it as mean, hes paying them to do a service just like you would pay anyone else, dont knock them just because they are homeless.
ottoSep 22, 2005
hipnerd: Bunk. Is he forcing them to hold his signs? If you have a problem with it, pay them more to not hold his signs up. It's a free market, baby.
blurtheimageSep 22, 2005
I think I'll start submitting everything I see on the Daily Show too!
konkushnSep 22, 2005
Genius.. Pure Genius. He is doing nothing wrong. These folks choose to sit out there. They are providing a service, and he is paying for it.
grampajoeSep 23, 2005
Ripped from the Daily Show. Undigg.
squidlySep 23, 2005
Responding to questions posed....1. So because they're homeless it's ok to exploit them?It's ok to "harmlessly exploit" anyone who is willing to be "harmlessly exploited". There is nothing criminal about paying a homeless person to hold a sign, and if they don't like it, the can choose not to do it.2. Does being homeless, mean you don't have rights?No.3. So if they were to try and get a normal job, (lets say at McDonald's) it would then be OK for MC'D's to pay him $3/hour or $3/day? Just because "the bum" doesn't have a "house".No, it wouldn't be acceptable. However holding a sign and working at McDonalds are 2 different things, just as paying a kid to mow your lawn once a week is different from working at Walmart. I pay a group of guys $40 to seal my asphalt driveway once every 2 years. They just drive around asking folks if in my neighborhood if they want it done, and if you say yes, they pull tools and supplies from the back of their pickup and get to work. You might say I am exploiting them for a service. You might also say they are exploiting me for money.4. Did any of you care to think... What if that was someone you loved or knew, would it then be OK, to be treated like a P.O.S?Paying someone for work they are willing to do is fine by me. If it was someone I loved or knew, I'd take them into my home and/or get them help - if they wanted it. I wouldn't presume to tell them what to do.5. We have laws for a reason, Yes, some may be completely f**king stupid, but others are there for reasons like this.There's no law preventing paying less than minimum wage for holding a sign a few hours a day. There's no law preventing a person for paying in trade - food or water, say - for services rendered.A lot of you people are seriously confused.
ottoSep 23, 2005
How in the hell is this "exploitation"? They agreed on the price, he pays them the price, they hold the sign.Folks, this isn't a "job". They're holding a sign on a street corner. He pays them to attach his sign to their existing sign. That's it. He's not an employer here, by any stretch of the imagination.