Re:Homeless as Wi-Fi Transmitters Creates a Stir in Austin
by temphn on Tuesday March 13, 2012 @06:58AM
(#3697846)
> you should be extra careful to provide proper support...they could have done it better.
But the thing is that the people criticizing are (a) providing zero direct support to the homeless and (b) not actually going to "do it better". Few of the people offended by this whipped out their own $50 or $500 and said that they'd pay the homeless guy that much to do something else.
That is the point: few of the critics are actually capable of "doing it better" or would be able to withstand the media spotlight that would accompany an attempt.
Re:Homeless as Wi-Fi Transmitters Creates a Stir in Austin
by DanBC on Tuesday March 13, 2012 @07:20AM
(#3697896)
> But the thing is that the people criticizing are (a) providing zero direct support to the homeless
I am.
But I did say that many people are too quick to complain. (I appreciate my wording was not good.)
But make no mistake about it - it's a stunt. These homeless people get a tiny amount of money for a tiny amount of time. There's no real meaningful difference made to their lives. A few people get to meet homeless people and that's great, reduces stigma and promotes social inclusion. But did any of those homeless people go on to get jobs?
In general, when you're dealing with a population with large amounts of mental illness, substance misuse, victims of violence, etc you should be extra careful to provide proper support.
Like I say, this group appears to have done okay, and some of the people complaining are doing it wrong, but they could have done it better.