False Kindness/Ulterior Motive

[BarelyLegal]

So I'm sure a good portion of you guys have seen the video on YouTube where a homeless man is given $1,000 from a guy who pretends he's been given a winning lottery ticket. Now one thing I want to get straight, the act itself is very generous indeed; there's no arguing that.

 

The issue I have with the video, is the fact the person who uploaded this is gaining revenue from it. Before the video is played, those without Adblock (an Internet extension that blocks advertisements being displayed from videos like these) will be played an advertisement prior to the video starting. The person the video belongs to, is gaining an income from having said advertisements playing prior to their videos starting.

 

In my eyes, this is a form of false kindness. There was a reason for giving a homeless man $1,000, and that motive was to make money. Think about it, a person has the idea to display a generous act of kindness. He then uploads it to show the world, knowing it'll catch on. It catches on, then an idea forms in his head - "wait a minute, I earn money from the advertisements on my videos, the more views I get, the more income I gain". Who in their right mind, who is comfortable with this, wouldn't jump at that opportunity?

 

Now if the person earning money was funding later acts of kindness with the income he gets from his videos, good on him. But that's likely not the case, and that's why I have a problem with it. Tons of people on YouTube are doing it, the video mentioned above wasn't the first, and it certainly won't be the last. These types of videos aren't catching on because it's 'restoring kindness into the world', it's because money can be made.

 

Now you could argue that we are all earning money in some way. Advertisements are fed to us on a daily basis, why should this guy be any worse for it? Why should we care how he earns his money? Because there is an ulterior motive. Most viewers probably see him as a great, charitable person, this couldn't be any further from the truth. Since when did charity expect something in return? If I give a homeless person some loose change when I'm walking down the street, should I post about it on Facebook? Should I bargain with him, make a trade? Should I ask for his shoes in return?

 

I hate people like this, but hey, perhaps I'm in the minority thinking this way.

 

What do you guys think about it?

[I cucked Alex Jones]

Well I guess both parties benefit in the end, don't they?

[BarelyLegal]

Well I guess both parties benefit in the end, don't they?

Except one party is probably earning ten-times the amount the other is, and is seen as a charitable saint.

[Vanto]

I would never thought of this when watching this type of videos.

[I cucked Alex Jones]

 

Well I guess both parties benefit in the end, don't they?

Except one party is probably earning ten-times the amount the other is, and is seen as a charitable saint.

 

I don't see you giving out money to homeless people.

[MarshalMoo]

Hey guys, watch for my YouTube video on "An ax to grind" that explains all this. The phrase's history is connected to a story about an ax-sharpening boy who gets tricked into grinding a neighbor's ax for free, after the guy charms the boy with kind words. Thanks!

Edited March 7, 2014 by JIMHO

[Gnocchi Flip Flops]

I honestly do not see why I should really care. At least the homeless man got money. If he did it for money, well so?

[BarelyLegal]

 

 

Well I guess both parties benefit in the end, don't they?

Except one party is probably earning ten-times the amount the other is, and is seen as a charitable saint.

 

I don't see you giving out money to homeless people.

 

That's probably because I don't feel the need to record myself every time I give items to a charity shop, or money to a homeless person.

Edited March 7, 2014 by BarelyLegal

[Voodoo]

Regardless of the motivation for the act, a homeless guy got $1000. Some promotion for the guy who made the video is just part of the deal. Nothing is ever truly free.

[Cosmic Gypsy]

Kinda confused as to why my thread, made before this one, about the same topic, got deleted...

[Panz]

I see what you're saying here, but was this man guaranteed that his video would go viral and get him money in the long-run? Sure, he may have had the mindset of, "Hey, let's see if I can get this video to be popular and make a sh*t ton of money off it down the road," but that's never guaranteed. He knew that there was a very large chance that he'd simply be giving up $1,000 to a homeless man, and that that would be it, so I don't think he's basing his deeds off of his monetary interests.

 

I do think that there's a different conflict going on here, however. His goal may have been to inspire others to become more spontaneously giving and caring people, but how does he spread that word to a large number of people? Well, he has to show them all what he did. Otherwise, he wouldn't accomplish his goal. These days, the best way to do that is through the Internet and through video because it's quick and accessible to many. So, to get such a message across, a lot of people need to know about it, or else the message wouldn't spread. Unfortunately, fame often comes hand in hand with this because a lot of people are going to know about your message and thus, a lot of people are going to know about you. But, that's not where good-person vs. bad-person weighs in. This starts to become important when we see how the donator handles his newfound fame. He might have to decide whether to give in and cash in on the benefits of fame (not so good-person) or to simply keep committing good acts and spreading the word about them because that's what he's passionate about (moreso good-person).

 

You really have to weigh what matters more in this case. Fame, or inspiring the community to become better people? They tend to come as a pair, so I don't think it necessarily alludes to "false kindness", but it's always tough to tell why people are actually doing this. The guy may have had good intentions, but a lot of other people don't, and they would start cashing into this idea because of the "fame" aspect of it rather than the "making society more generous" aspect, so that's why it sucks.

 

He gave up $1000, though, and he made a homeless man's entire year. I think that's definitely something worth applauding.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Panz

[Mr. House]

Of course it's a false charity thing, but people fall for that crap all the time. Who cares really, the homeless guy will spend that grand on alcohol and heroin anyway, if anything this guy made that man's life worse.

 

 

 

 

Well I guess both parties benefit in the end, don't they?

Except one party is probably earning ten-times the amount the other is, and is seen as a charitable saint.

 

I don't see you giving out money to homeless people.

 

Probably because he doesn't spend his time bragging about it and posting it on youtube, which is sort of the crux of his point here. I also assume that he isn't loaded and can't afford to piss away $1000 for a much larger profit at the end of it.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Myron

[Black & White]

I would never thought of this when watching this type of videos.

 

Just shows you.

[Clem Fandango]

We can only determine whether or not it was genuine kindness if we know how he saw the act. If he viewed it as an investment it was "false kindness", as you put it. Otherwise it's genuine kindness, and it's possible to be motivated by kindness and self-interest at the same time. For instance, if someone asks me to go to the store for milk, I respond that I'm busy sitting on my arse, then realise I'm out of cigarettes and leave immediately. I wouldn't have gone if the cigarettes weren't involved, but wouldn't have left immediately if the milk wasn't.

[kipakolonyasi]

completely agree with you. and i'm even more extreme on this. you shouldn't even tell anyone. THEN it's a real charity.

[na89340qv0n34b09q340]

 

The issue I have with the video, is the fact the person who uploaded this is gaining revenue from it. Before the video is played, those without Adblock (an Internet extension that blocks advertisements being displayed from videos like these) will be played an advertisement prior to the video starting. The person the video belongs to, is gaining an income from having said advertisements playing prior to their videos starting.

 

In my eyes, this is a form of false kindness. There was a reason for giving a homeless man $1,000, and that motive was to make money. Think about it, a person has the idea to display a generous act of kindness. He then uploads it to show the world, knowing it'll catch on. It catches on, then an idea forms in his head - "wait a minute, I earn money from the advertisements on my videos, the more views I get, the more income I gain". Who in their right mind, who is comfortable with this, wouldn't jump at that opportunity?

 

Now if the person earning money was funding later acts of kindness with the income he gets from his videos, good on him. But that's likely not the case, and that's why I have a problem with it. Tons of people on YouTube are doing it, the video mentioned above wasn't the first, and it certainly won't be the last. These types of videos aren't catching on because it's 'restoring kindness into the world', it's because money can be made.

 

I don't know very much about how youtube pays their content creators, but from what I've heard the only ones making a lot are the ones that constantly churn out videos, and get like 1,000,000+ views on each. Most of the people I've heard about revenue are getting a lot less than $1,000 a video. The guy's probably coming out of this with less than he started with, unless he's already pretty popular on da toobz.

 

If he is making money from this then he should turn it around and use his video revenue to donate to homeless people to make more videos and more profit, and just keep going with that.

 

And you know, he could be donating a big chunk of his income to charity off camera too...

[TEoS]

This seems like a victim-less crime here, guys. If anything, it's a self-perpetuating homeless feeding machine..

[trip]

I'm always weary of people who display "Look at me - I'm a good person". Can't trust 'em.

 

I don't know the story you are referring too, but it sounds along the lines of the ass trend of restaurant managers comping meals for a pregnant couples(or something like that)...naturally they have to write a cute note on the receipt in hopes of someone taking a pic of it and putting it on the internet...thus increasing business to their restaurant. Assbags.

[Danz.]

That's why I use Addblocker +.

 

Btw, when you help a homeless man by giving him money you are just making his situation worse, either by feeding his addictions, such as alchool and other drugs; or giving him more reasons to be a lazy ass and just wait for small helps like that to "fall from the sky", instead of actually working his way out of such deprorable situation. However, just the fact that someone is gaining money over a false kindness act makes him a much worse person.

 

IRL, all you can do is avoid people whose intentions aren't clear enough for you.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Danz.

[Jimmy_Leppard]

 

 

 

Well I guess both parties benefit in the end, don't they?

Except one party is probably earning ten-times the amount the other is, and is seen as a charitable saint.

 

I don't see you giving out money to homeless people.

 

That's probably because I don't feel the need to record myself every time I give items to a charity shop, or money to a homeless person.

 

So, one time became ''every time'' nowdays. Wow, someone is dumb as sh*t.

 

Rahat is a genuine and nice person. You think that one video of him giving a 1000 dollars to a homeless man is the only time he gave away money to charity or someone in need? Is that seriously what you believe? He also made the video because of other people who told him the homeless dude was a very nice man. I mean, bottom line is that Rahat obviously doesn't need more money. He already has plenty and plenty is coming to him out of every video he makes. He gave a 1000 dollars to a homeless guy, I don't see every business man giving a 1000 dollars to a homeless man. I don't think getting money was what he was aiming for with his video of giving money to a homeless man. You are just being a dumbass, dude.

[mr quick]

This was a surprisingly good post, but I do not think he made the video with the sole intention of making dough. If he did, he's a business genius, and not only that, but he did IN FACT just give 1k do someone of whom he knows nothing.

[EphemeralStar]

That's why I use Addblocker +.

 

Btw, when you help a homeless man by giving him money you are just making his situation worse, either by feeding his addictions, such as alchool and other drugs; or giving him more reasons to be a lazy ass and just wait for small heps like that to "fall from the sky", instead of actually working his way out of such deprorable situation. However, just the fact that someone is gaining money over a false kindness act makes him a much worse person.

 

IRL, all you can do is avoid people whose intetions aren't clear enough for you.

Why do most people assume all poor people are drug addicts or something. T^T

[Mr. House]

 

That's why I use Addblocker +.

 

Btw, when you help a homeless man by giving him money you are just making his situation worse, either by feeding his addictions, such as alchool and other drugs; or giving him more reasons to be a lazy ass and just wait for small heps like that to "fall from the sky", instead of actually working his way out of such deprorable situation. However, just the fact that someone is gaining money over a false kindness act makes him a much worse person.

 

IRL, all you can do is avoid people whose intetions aren't clear enough for you.

Why do most people assume all poor people are drug addicts or something. T^T

 

The majority of homeless people are mentally ill addicts and/or alcoholics.

[EphemeralStar]

 

 

That's why I use Addblocker +.

 

Btw, when you help a homeless man by giving him money you are just making his situation worse, either by feeding his addictions, such as alchool and other drugs; or giving him more reasons to be a lazy ass and just wait for small heps like that to "fall from the sky", instead of actually working his way out of such deprorable situation. However, just the fact that someone is gaining money over a false kindness act makes him a much worse person.

 

IRL, all you can do is avoid people whose intetions aren't clear enough for you.

Why do most people assume all poor people are drug addicts or something. T^T

 

The majority of homeless people are mentally ill addicts and/or alcoholics.

 

Are their studies or statistics that prove that? I've met plenty of kind and wonderful homeless people who did not seem like addicts, but I have also met just as many who "seemed" to be addicts. I just think a lot of times people automatically assume the worst for these people and it's sad..

[Mr. House]

 

 

 

That's why I use Addblocker +.

 

Btw, when you help a homeless man by giving him money you are just making his situation worse, either by feeding his addictions, such as alchool and other drugs; or giving him more reasons to be a lazy ass and just wait for small heps like that to "fall from the sky", instead of actually working his way out of such deprorable situation. However, just the fact that someone is gaining money over a false kindness act makes him a much worse person.

 

IRL, all you can do is avoid people whose intetions aren't clear enough for you.

Why do most people assume all poor people are drug addicts or something. T^T

 

The majority of homeless people are mentally ill addicts and/or alcoholics.

 

Are their studies or statistics that prove that? I've met plenty of kind and wonderful homeless people who did not seem like addicts, but I have also met just as many who "seemed" to be addicts. I just think a lot of times people automatically assume the worst for these people and it's sad..

 

Mainly speaking from personal experience, but the NLCHP (US homeless charity) have

 

 

Percent of homeless that have problems with alcohol, drug abuse, or mental illness 66 %

 

http://www.statisticbrain.com/homelessness-stats/

The statistics are similar in the UK:

Nationally, the prevalence of co-morbid substance misuse dependency among the homeless mentally ill can be as high as 50-60 per cent and is up to 5 times higher than that for the general population (Melvin P, 2004).

 

qni.org.uk/docs/mental_gealth_guidance_print.pdf‎

[Fireman]

Please note that every YouTube video ever made has advertisements in front of it.

 

Or else I'm being ripped off, cause my videos have those as well and I haven't gotten a dime.

[Mr. House]

Please note that every YouTube video ever made has advertisements in front of it.

 

Or else I'm being ripped off, cause my videos have those as well and I haven't gotten a dime.

If your stuff has copyrighted content then yes, you will have ads on and will have no money. If however, you haven't monetised your videos and you have no copyrighted content then something is messed up.

[MarshalMoo]

 

Please note that every YouTube video ever made has advertisements in front of it.

 

Or else I'm being ripped off, cause my videos have those as well and I haven't gotten a dime.

If your stuff has copyrighted content then yes, you will have ads on and will have no money. If however, you haven't monetised your videos and you have no copyrighted content then something is messed up.

 

People have to actually click on the ads for you to get any money; some dollar amount per 1,000 clicks?

[Danz.]

 

 

 

That's why I use Addblocker +.

 

Btw, when you help a homeless man by giving him money you are just making his situation worse, either by feeding his addictions, such as alchool and other drugs; or giving him more reasons to be a lazy ass and just wait for small heps like that to "fall from the sky", instead of actually working his way out of such deprorable situation. However, just the fact that someone is gaining money over a false kindness act makes him a much worse person.

 

IRL, all you can do is avoid people whose intetions aren't clear enough for you.

Why do most people assume all poor people are drug addicts or something. T^T

 

The majority of homeless people are mentally ill addicts and/or alcoholics.

 

Are their studies or statistics that prove that? I've met plenty of kind and wonderful homeless people who did not seem like addicts, but I have also met just as many who "seemed" to be addicts. I just think a lot of times people automatically assume the worst for these people and it's sad..

 

It depends on where you live.

 

Here in Brazil, more often than not, homeless people are directly linked to drug business or are simply addicted to alchool. Would you seriously give money to someone who is holding a bottle with some translucent liquid inside? It could be water, but unfortunately the smell that comes from it tells otherwise, either vodka or the popular cachaça.

 

It's a better action of yours if, instead, you give them food just to make sure they won't feed themselves with something else using your precious C-class money.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Danz.

[Meekail]

I'm a man. I'm a human being. That's obvious. But I don't approve kindness. Kindness, to me, is just deception. It's a good way to hide your true self. I'm not good nor bad. I don't need to make stupid advertisements on YouTube to achieve fame.