Charity runs amok in new “random act of kindness” video
Ripped from the Possibly Well Intentioned But Oh My Gaaaaaaaaawwwwwwd files, three Toronto men have created a fun twist on the popular “Neknominate” viral meme game by performing a random act of kindness (it’s called RAKnominate…like, where RAK equals “Random Act of Kindness”). Hoping that the transparency of their good intentions and the purity of their souls might inspire others, three dudes—Andrew Gronross, John Pitman and Andrew Mason—took it upon themselves to treat a Toronto homeless man named Jeff to a proper day on the town.
According to the Star, the three men chose to bless Jeff with their random act of kindness because of how dignified he was, as a homeless person. “He wasn’t being aggressive in his panhandling,” Mason told the paper. “We just saw him politely say ‘Good morning’ and ‘Hi’ to people, letting them decide if they wanted to help.”
Jeff’s quiet dignity was rewarded with a “random” (read: premeditated, deliberate and video-recorded) act of kindness. After summoning the human being to their car like an animal (“Come over here, man. Come up. It’s alright”), the three saints whisked Jeff around Toronto. The day out included a trip to the second-hand store, a haircut at Terminal Barber Shop, lunch at Burger King, and a warm bath in the tepid self-satisfaction of three self-styled humanitarians. “I can tell you got great hearts,” Jeff says, telling them exactly what they want to hear.
Look: these guys probably meant well. Okay. But the thing about charity is that it becomes disgusting and self-serving when you film yourself doing it, scoring your good deeds to triumphalist music and flashing thumbs up at the camera. The other thing about charity: THERE ARE WHOLE CHARITABLE NETWORKS THAT EXIST TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THE HOMELESS AND DISENFRANCHISED. Here is a list of some. (Tip: these places usually only accept money, not used belts or BK chicken sandwiches.)
Some fast food and new second-hand clothes (that you can wear while you continue to be homeless) are fine, sure. But if you really want to help someone—and not just inspire yourself and anyone watching at home—donating money to these groups is a better avenue than smug charitable vigilantism. At the end of the day, these three guys were probably set back like $60. But they have a story they can impress family and friends with for a lifetime. And isn’t that what really matters?
No.
The video is embedded above.
Way to put a negative spin on a selfless act! If you even bothered to watch the whole video, you’d know that the point of it was to show a good deed and challenge others to do better than what they did, which is exactly what NEKnominations are. These guys put a positive spin on the one upmanship that NEKnominations promoted and are imploring people to one up their act of kindness. The bottom line is that whatever the motives behind the good deed were, they made a guy who was down on his luck happy and made a guy who was cast aside by society feel good. These guys did a heck of a lot more than you guys did which is NOTHING. You missed the point and managed to spread more negativity. Congrats. I nominate YOU to do better next time.
Shame on you. Not everyone has money they can hand over to a charity, and $60 – admin fees through a charitable organization wouldn’t have gotten this guy new cloths, a bath and a haircut. A lot of the homeless people won’t enter a shelter, not even for a good meal. So yes possibly these young men got something out of it as well, but Jeff hit the jackpot!
Filmed or not filmed it is an act of kindness. It is still a lot more than most people would do in their entire life.
Dorothy, I can understand your cynicism about charities because of all the media attention given to the topic of charity administration costs in recent years, but I personally work at one of these organizations and can attest to the fact that $60 can provide a homeless man with these things – and more! I will not name my place of work because my intention isn’t to highlight one organization’s work, when so many serve the needy day in, day out. Many organizations like ours will provide quality used clothing (often free of charge!), shower facilities, and free meals to anyone who comes through our doors.
At the same time though, I don’t know the men in this video and will not pass judgement on their good deed or discourage others from their own acts of kindness. Whatever their motivations – pure or self-serving – good was still done. I just hope that they continue in that spirit of helping those in need long after people stop talking about this video.
Much better than watching those annoying Pukenominations of idiots video of drinking and stupid stunts. This is great. They show the charity going direct to the recipient without excessive charity admin fees for management. They say they hope others do the same and it spreads. Imagine if 1,000 people in each major city did the same….or more. Just glad it wasn’t the “shaky lady” con artist panhandler that lived in a rich condo.
I disagree that donating money is a better idea. The $60 went directly to the source in need. I actually stopped donating clothes and kitchen items to Value Village / Salvation Army, and I either donate them to soup kitchens that redistribute for free, or I leave marked boxed near housing projects, and they are gone in minutes; the people that need it most can not necessarily afford them even at Value Village. I hope the author realizes that it’s not just the food and clothes that this man got; most important, he got a few minutes where he was treated and seen like a human being, a few minutes of human connection. And no amount of money can replace that. I hope we have not become too cynical to see it only as self-serving.
I like your take on the video. Their heart was in the right place but it did feel a bit demeaning to the homeless guy.
Good job guys! Jeff (the homeless guy) agreed to be video taped. This video should serve a purpose and open up everyone’s eyes – we as a society should help those that need it most. Don’t be selfish or naive and think that you are better. Inside that person is a human and they have feelings and emotions. Also don’t ever think that you are immured from being homeless one day. It could happen to you. I have decided to do my part and help someone in need in the coming days and make a difference in society!
Like I’ll trust any charity with a CEO that makes a six figure salary like the United Way. At least this man sees where the money goes.
i am just wowed to see that what these three guys did. it is quite commendable. but it made me sad to see that there are others who took the positive act and turned it into a negative one. HOW DARE YOU !!! to IMPLY That whatever these guys did was beyond Random Act of Kindness but made them look that they were motive was to gain public fame ! SHAME ON YOU. when you COULD NOT DO anything, but when the other do, you create issues ! I feel sad for ‘LOSERS’ like you MR.Negative person to even have such thinking !
And this is why charities have their work cut out for them.
Yes. It goes to Harvey’s and the barber shop.
Not a bed, job training or a better life.
But yeah, let’s pat these douches on the back some more.
Hopefully you’ll find a better way of doing it.
I’m so sick of the cynicism spewed out by people (like the author of this article) who somehow feel they have the right to criticize three guys trying to help out someone who fell on hard times. Did they do it perfectly? Maybe not. But it’s one heck of a lot more productive and helpful than sitting in an office taking shots at someone doing something decent for a fellow human being. Shame on you for writing it and shame on you Toronto Life for publishing it.
What was wrong with the way they did it?
Apologists for this type of charity ignore the complicated nature of those in need and the vapidity of this act, arguing that it’s just an imperfect effort to help. The problem with this is it will promote the fatuous arguments that donations to real and effective charities don’t end up helping, and that these micro-acts will have any meaningful effect on the state of homelessness at all. The point is not that the intention to help is a bad thing, the point is to put in effort, thought, and research before doing something so self-ingratiating and disgustingly superficial.
No, the $60 went to a fast-food franchise and a barber. The homeless man paid for his meal and his hygiene by allowing three suburban douchbags trott him around in front of a camera. The $60 didn’t go to shelter, education, mental or addictions counselling, job training, you know, things that actually might help the complicated person being shuttled around. But yeah, he smiled for that burger. Good for you.
And I’m told I’m a cynic.
But yeah, he smiled. Who knew the nice homeless guy would be the most gracious?
Screw all those cranky homeless people, they’re cranks!
Headline should have read: “3 suburban tools rip terrified but gracious homeless man off the street and taunt him with the vapid life they live.”
Wow aren’t you a perpetual ray of sunshine. I’m guessing some homeless person tried pissing on your pancakes but got you instead? If that’s true, I’d like to buy that person a meal for doing a good deed.
Orson’s just mad it wasn’t him that got picked up.
You should know.
As someone who has worked in a social service charitable agency for the past 15 years, you’re getting it all wrong Orson, sorry. From your tone, I know you won’t accept that, so I’ll just leave it there.
Yeah that’s it, it’s the homeless I’m not happy with.
You’re an idiot
And how am I getting it wrong. Please tell me as someone who has worked in a social service charitable agency for the past 15 years.
Only credulous idiots don’t understand sarcasm.
Oh I’m sorry, would you like for me to explain it to you then?
Is that the best you can come up with?
I’m not feeling charitable right now.
It’s the most you’d understand
You’re not even trying – lazy and ignorant is all you are skippy…
That’s the understatement of a lifetime.
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong
Jeff appeared to be one of the smarter homeless out there. He knows how and where to panhandle and many of these guys do make more money than you would think, some upwards of two three hundred a day. The problem is the addictions eat it all up for most of them. I’d bet living outside is a choice between proper shelter and a few hundred more a month to supply a habit. This particular guy was not hurting for warm clothes before these do gooder’s met him. It also looked like he was prepared for cold nights as well.
Wanna make your money count? Don’t give it to a con on the street. It only encourages more of them and some of them are pesky. To most of them it’s a fun game for suckers to give them drug money. Think of something else. I tip the girl working 50 60 hours a week at the self serve gas station up the street. She is pounding out the hours at min wage to pay rent and feed herself. Some of these people, usually the ones that look like they may be illegals, actually get their pay docked if someone drives away without paying for the gas. (usually another drug addict on his way to the next con spot) Next time you fill up ask the guy behind the counter if this is the policy at his station. If it is shoot him a five dollar tip to help cover his losses from some other addict, con, thief who has stolen from this hard working guy.
Probably self serving as they are street cons as well trying to open up the floodgates for more drug money for all the beggars and cons out there. The guys on the off ramp make 2- 300 in a day with all the suckers that fork over the change. They are laughing all the way to the drug dealers, most of them
Ignorant? LOL
Orson your a fool. You have way too much time on your hands. Theres nothing wrong with showing the world how easy it is to brighten someones day. The world needs less people like you in it.
Orson you need a swift smack. You could have done 100’s of random acts of kindness in the time you spent chirpin like a bird on social media. Just give it up. HELPING PEOPLE IS NOT WRONG!
Go right ahead bud, see what happens. I lend my time and money to ethical, responsible and secular charities who do the real work of changing people lives. Helping isn’t wrong, going about it a transparently self-serving and stupid manner is.
Actually I have very few moments to spare, but when I do I enjoy showing idiots like you what they’re doing wrong. Call it charity. I hope it brightens your day. The world needs more discerning people in it, unlike you. :)
I’d rather brighten their lives then their day, unlike the superfluous idiots, and apparently yourself. You’re the fool.
I sincerely debated replying because, given your many, and vitriolic posts on this matter, it will only serve to fall on deaf ears. Even in your response to me, you’re dripping with condescension. You can choose to believe it or not, but I have worked in the field for that long.
Of course dollars are important, without them we can’t provide the programs we do. And you are correct that in the right hands, a few dollars will go a lot further than by people taking it upon themselves to do something on their own. But, contrary to you, I don’t believe the two are mutually exclusive. I don’t believe that people who want to perform charitable acts will automatically en masse, assume they can do it better and stop giving to reputable charities.
But for us, we want people’s mindsets to change. We don’t simply want people to think writing a cheque is the only way
Sorry, I mistakenly hit enter too soon on the previous attempt to reply, but will repeat here.
I sincerely debated replying because, given your many, and vitriolic posts on this matter, it will only serve to fall on deaf ears. Even in your response to me, you’re dripping with condescension and suspicion. You can choose to believe it or not, but I have worked in the field for that long.
Of course dollars are important, without them we can’t provide the programs we do. And you are correct that in the right hands, a few dollars will go a lot further than by people taking it upon themselves to do something on their own. But, contrary to you, I don’t believe the two are mutually exclusive. I don’t believe that people who want to perform charitable acts will automatically en masse, assume they can do it better and stop giving to reputable charities.
For us, we want people’s mindsets to change. We don’t simply want people to think writing a cheque is the only way to help. We want people to think of their fellow human beings. We don’t just want them to throw money at an issue but rather think differently about the issues, and if possible, act to change it.
Now, you seem to be 100% certain these young men acted only in self-interest. Me, I’m not so sure. But the fact is, whether that’s true or not, they are reaching thousands of people with the message, “help someone”. Far more than you or I can ever do by simply donating money privately.
As you noted, the vast majority of people viewing this video think it’s a genuine act of kindness and applaud the young men. I don’t see that as being a bad thing, regardless if their intentions were honourable or not. Though it does seem to me to be an awful lot of trouble to go though for a few moments of (very) moderate and limited-scope internet fame.
Anyway Orson, I’m sure you’ll take this reply in the same vein you’ve taken all those with an opinion differing from yours; with derision and condescension, so this will be all I’ll have to say on it. Even if you firmly believe you’re right, and clearly you allow no room for wavering on that notion, your main goal should be to convince people of your way of thinking. To get them to help others, but in a manner different from that depicted in the video. Instead, your main mission in commenting here , is to degrade not only the participants in the video, but anyone who dare view it differently than you do. You say you want people to support reputable charities rather than do-it-yourself goodwill, well in order to do that, you might want to stop telling people they’re stupid and vapid for not agreeing with you.
I wish you a good life, and one filled with less anger and hostility than the one you clearly live right now.
“And you are correct that in the right hands, a few dollars will
go a lot further than by people taking it upon themselves to do something on their own. But, contrary to you, I don’t believe the two are mutually exclusive. I don’t believe that people who want to perform charitable acts will automatically en masse, assume they can do it better and stop giving to
reputable charities.”
“Now, you seem to be 100% certain these young men acted only in self-interest.”
It’s not just that they are doing this ‘on their own’ (it’s not
actually on their own, as the point of this meme is to extort others to repeat the act, which doesn’t exactly make it voluntary at all, and least of all spontaneous altruism). It’s not even that they’re acting ‘in self-interest’; although I’d say they’re mostly acting out of an ostentatious vapidity and a need to lugubriously self-ingratiate that is its own unique kind of disgusting in of itself.
No, I would say that it’s the foul glorification of this insipid
act that gets my goat the most. It’s the fact that all these rubes will really be impressed with this fecundity. They’ll applaud it and re-post it! The video prescribes this not only as a good means of philanthropy (it’s not), but as a more-effective means than other forms of benefaction (it most definitely is not).
I’m not advocating that writing cheques to large charities with
established bureaucracies is the most effective form of philanthropy (no, that would only give the more paranoid among us fuel for their conspiracy motors). I’m simply saying, with admittedly some vitriol, that uneducated boorish charity is
wasteful and ineffective. Inspirational? Perhaps to rubes, but I’d wager it’s more of a shaming out of inactivity, masked as ‘it’s sooo inspirational’ statements.
As for that last bit, I’m pretty content with my hostility-to-stupidity ratio exhibited toward this terrible idea and the idiots who parrot it. Here’s the thing about people who ‘absolutely love’ this fad: they will probably not understand the nuanced problems facing the homeless or those seriously interested in combating homelessness. Homelessness, vagrancy, addiction, mental illnesses, abuse, neglect; these are complex societal issues whose study is ongoing, incomplete and serious in nature. No, these people would rather have it simplified into an idiotic internet meme; quick and easy self-gratification. Simple blunt actions, throwing money at a problem without thought, is bad enough, but to glorify it as well?
This has to be met with shaming and ridicule, so that the people who can see past the meme-ing aren’t tempted by it.
I can appreciate that you would rather me not approach this with such vigour, but there are times when you have to counter credulity with a firm slap to the face.
Omg!!!
Yes?