Homeless Hotspots During SXSW: Innovative or Abusive?

[AdventureAdams]

I think it is pretty cool.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_1...e-controversy/

(CBS News) The advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty's BHH Labs launched a campaign at the film, music and interactive festival South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas that is raising ire among critics. In what appears to be a case of poor judgment, BBH Labs kicked off a campaign called "Homeless Hotspots." Yep. It is exactly what it sounds like - walking, talking homeless people who provide access to a 4G network in exchange for a donation (BHH Labs suggests $2 per 15 minutes).
The homeless people in question include Clarence from New Orleans, who lost his house to Hurricane Katrina, and Jeffrey from Pittsburgh who was treated for traumatic brain injury. Their short biographies are heart-wrenching, immediately evoking empathy for their situation.
The 13 men who have been chosen to participate in the program are roaming the streets of Austin in T-shirts that say "I am a 4G hotspot." The campaign has drawn ire from some who claim it's dehumanizing.

"The digital divide has never hit us over the head with a more blunt display of unselfconscious gall," said ReadWriteWeb's Jon Mitchell and wonders why their T-shirts say "I am a hotspot." Mitchell cited Content Magazine editor Erin Kissane's tweet, "Last thought before sleeping: the difference between 'I'm running a hotspot' and 'I am a hotspot' is a difference that matters."
"We are not selling anything. There is no brand involved. There is no commercial benefit whatsoever," BHH Labs responded to the criticism in a blog post. The problem is they are selling and branding something: their company. Not to mention, the company's current project "Underheard in NY." BHH Labs used that project to segue to the "Homeless Hotspots" campaign.
In a blog post on March 6, BHH Labs compared "Homeless Hotspots" with street newspapers, like San Francisco's Street Sheet or New York City's Street News. That analogy is troublesome because street newspapers serve to advocate the plight of homeless people by enabling them to work.
Typically, street newspapers are staffed by homeless people and report on topics that are relevant to their struggle. The newspapers are then distributed for free to the homeless, who can sell them on the streets in exchange for a donation. Using a human being as an Internet connection for a festival is not quite the same thing.

[pantsontheground]

Is asking "scuse me suh, gibs me a dolluh?" any better? Whatever liberal wackos are whining about dehumanization can fuck off.

[rockerrick]

Program canceled after four days due to liberal nut jobs claiming its dehumanizing to the homeless. LOL , take away the one job they manage to obtain. Bravo !!!!!

[nuglet]

it just give the hobos another way to hit on tourists.. like every corner in town isn't enough..

[AdventureAdams]

I think that i crazy, because if these homeless were just some college kids walking around as hotspots everyone would be fine with it. It's not like a company is kidnapping homeless folk and forcing them to be hotspots for the companies own beneficial gain.

I knowI would be more apt to donate to someone who can provide a service rather than someone just begging on the street, but then again I am wary of homeless people.

[rockerrick]

Yeah , I would much rather have a hotspot , than a spit smeared windshield !

[BigGerman]

Originally Posted by rockerrick

Program canceled after four days due to liberal nut jobs claiming its dehumanizing to the homeless. LOL , take away the one job they manage to obtain. Bravo !!!!!

+1. I'd like to know who held a gun up to these people's heads and said they had to be hotspots. I bet they'd much rather be paid to stand there rather than have to beg for money.

Maybe they can go get those Occupy Austin people to do it. They are unemployed anyways.

[Guest020916]

Innovative.
I think charging spots should be added too.

When SXSW kicked off, there were people wearing backpacks that would allow people to charge their phones. Those dudes were always busy and it was free too.