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punky · 11-10-2004, 14:50

Playing devil's advocate here, probably will make me unpopular, but just to show you another view:

These homeless people have come out supporting the Bumfight producers throughout all their legal troubles. A top homeless leader come out and said the same thing. Basically they said: "At least they [Bumfight producers] are doing something, but is better than nothing which is what most people do." Apart from the odd homeless activist, the vast majority just walk past, conditioned not to give them any money.

But these producers are giving them money. Rufus, the biggest star, and has been in several videos, has made phenomenal amounts from it. Not much at first, $5-$10 per act, but there are rumours he is being paid many hundreds now for a act lasting a few minutes, or even seconds. Another person, captured on camera: He did an act and the producers bought him a brand new $200 acoustic guitar. The next day he pawned it. So he did another act for them and the producers got it back out of hock again. The ethos is, there is plenty of money for homeless people but they have to earn it. I was taught long ago you don't something for nothing, and if I want something, I have to earn it. Also, some times watching it is very moving, and I dare say it did motivate some people to help beyond buying the DVD.

And if the Bumfight producers weren't there what would be different? Except the homeless people would have even less. They certainly didn't have much dignity in the first place, so you couldn't really argue that point.

Don't flame me or red rep me if you don't agree, I'm just trying to get the other side of the story out for balance.

11-10-2004, 14:50	#27
punky Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Age: 45 Posts: 14,750	Re: Bum Fights! Playing devil's advocate here, probably will make me unpopular, but just to show you another view: These homeless people have come out supporting the Bumfight producers throughout all their legal troubles. A top homeless leader come out and said the same thing. Basically they said: "At least they [Bumfight producers] are doing something, but is better than nothing which is what most people do." Apart from the odd homeless activist, the vast majority just walk past, conditioned not to give them any money. But these producers are giving them money. Rufus, the biggest star, and has been in several videos, has made phenomenal amounts from it. Not much at first, $5-$10 per act, but there are rumours he is being paid many hundreds now for a act lasting a few minutes, or even seconds. Another person, captured on camera: He did an act and the producers bought him a brand new $200 acoustic guitar. The next day he pawned it. So he did another act for them and the producers got it back out of hock again. The ethos is, there is plenty of money for homeless people but they have to earn it. I was taught long ago you don't something for nothing, and if I want something, I have to earn it. Also, some times watching it is very moving, and I dare say it did motivate some people to help beyond buying the DVD. And if the Bumfight producers weren't there what would be different? Except the homeless people would have even less. They certainly didn't have much dignity in the first place, so you couldn't really argue that point. Don't flame me or red rep me if you don't agree, I'm just trying to get the other side of the story out for balance.