I recently watched Craigslist Joe. It's about a guy named Joe (go figure) who goes out into the world seeing if he can live life for 30 days completely off the generosity of people on craigslist. His purpose in doing so is to prove that America hasn't lost its sense of community. Apparently the reason we've lost it is social networking and technology.
He does it. He loses a ton of weight. Only goes without shelter for one night out of the thirty. But he does it. He meets a ton of interesting people along the way and ends up traveling across the country and back. It's pretty interesting.
But there's two things that poke at me a little bit. The first is the entire concept that we lack a sense of community within our culture. I think people want to do good things for each other. I think people do good things for each other. I think they may even use the internet to facilitate doing those good things. I think if you're apt to sit on your couch and do nothing, you'll probably do that with or without twitter. If you like to socialize with real people, you'll probably use facebook to set up an event and go out somewhere. I'm sure there's nuances and psychoses I'm overlooking, but I think the real problem with travelling across the country with no money and relying on the kindness of strangers off craigslist is this: CREEPERS. I'd never, ever let this guy into my home. Because he's some dude I met off craigslist and that's just not safe. I wouldn't drive him anywhere either. If he needed food or something, I'd help him. But I'm not on craigslist looking for people to give food to, so I'd probably never even know. It's not a lack of community that the internet creates; it's a lack of security.
The other problem I had was that this guy wasn't doing anything brand new to me. I've known people that have traveled extensively on very little money. I know people who make a lot of money by writing about their travels. There's entire websites and communities dedicated to this type of lifestyle. So while it was interesting to watch someone's personal journey for thirty days, it wasn't anything life shattering.
Would you let Craigslist Joe crash on your couch?
I was much, much more of a trusting vagabond during my teens and earlier twenties. Now that I am closing in on the grizzled ol' years of my early thirties ;), I certainly am more leery about inviting strangers into my home, especially because I have a young daughter to care for.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to make the world out to be full of nutsos but I'm much more cautious about wandering strangers. And in the city where we live there are plenty of them! If there were other ways I could help assist a drifting traveler without inviting them directly into my home, (by providing a hot meal or offering city advice, for example), I definitely would do that.
I agree about the different ways to provide! And while the world may not be full of nutsos, there's enough of them out there to not let strangers into my home. I think you may be onto something there with the whole having a family thing killing the generosity. :)
DeleteI'm a little skeptical of this as well, but I think it's an interesting idea. I'm not sure if I'd enjoy this movie or not though.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely an interesting idea and an interesting film. I may be critical of the basis for his original hypothesis, but what an adventure.
DeleteSounds like an interesting story. If I were still single then I would have no problem helping someone out & letting them crash for a night. Having a wife and three little ones now...not so much. I'd look for other ways to help.
ReplyDeleteDitto. Well, even when I was single I don't think I would have invited a stranger in. I'd have to know them somehow. I'm also a woman, though. And as sexist as this is going to sound, that made me a lot more wary of my surroundings.
DeleteI was giving serious consideration to using my place for Air B&B, but after giving it a lot of thought, my security and safety comes first. And although I do believe most people are good human beings, I just couldn't do it. So I don't think I would let this guy in my apt unless he was a friend, or maybe a friend of a friend with good references. And probably only one or two nights. Some people take advantage of people's kindness too, and I hate that. But it makes for a good book I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting concept for a movie! I'm with you on strangers. They have to have references at the least. :)
DeleteToo many people wanting a FREE ride; free food, free Obamaphones, free healthcare, etc. I pay my way and my employees pay theirs. Joe gets a copy of my latest book and starts his own business.
ReplyDeleteThe small business guru, I think you missed the point. He wasn't doing it to get free stuff but to see if America still have a since of love, community and taking care of her fellow man. It is not about if he can get a free hand-out.
DeleteExactly, Frugal Exerciser. I'm sorry if I didn't make that point explicitly clear in my post, Small Business Guru. This was more of a social experiment that lasted a month rather than a lifestyle he was adopting.
DeleteI'd also like to add that while there are people that take advantage of the system, this is not a good place to vent about hating on people that are on welfare systems. Some people take advantage, but others are using it to try to better themselves. And still others are forced to live on it because of circumstances out of their own control. I'm so happy to have you comment here and have open conversation surrounding any and all personal finance topics, but Femme Frugality doesn't look down on people that are in a tough situation.
I saw this on Netflix and moved it to my instant queue. I am definitely going to watch it now! I'll let you know what I think. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteBe sure to let me know!
Deletehaving just watched the clip, I think I'd be more afraid for him than of him. :)
ReplyDeleteIt does seem a silly premise but still I have to applaud the folks that come up with these creative notions and act on them.
Over the summer I met a young German guy doing much the same thing: Traveling thru South America with no money and relying on the kindness of strangers. He was also filming it.
It occurs to me the act of filming likely makes you less threatening and makes people more interested and more interested in helping you. Perhaps that diminishes the 'reality' of what he's doing?
I completely agree...he was putting himself in risky situations moreso than others!
DeleteI think it was a cool concept, although I might not agree with the reason he set out on his journey. And definitely interesting to watch.
Let me know if you ever find out the name of the German guy's movie if it goes into full production! Would love to see it. I agree that it probably cuts down on the reality aspect. People will want to be in your film. But maybe we're just giving creepers new ideas....I'd still be wary!
I see what he did with his experiment but no I would not let him into my home. Did people on Craiglist have an offer of free room and board?
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think that's where he found a lot of them, but the ones he showed in the movie (definitely not all 30,) were mostly people he ran into from finding free classes and the like on craigslist. So he met them via craigslist, but depended on their generosity when he met them for purposes other than housing.
DeleteI'm with you: online interaction makes communities where none could have existed before. I wouldn't have all my online friends if it weren't for blogging, social media and internet communities.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Thanks for that tweet, by the way. Haven't logged in to twitter yet but I got an email and I was so flattered to be QUOTED! :)
DeleteNo, no, and no again. Just no. I am sure he is a nice dude, and I am sure the other people who couch-surf are well meaning, but it only takes one nut job. Just one.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Snark. Amen.
DeleteInteresting I"ll have to check that out. As for would I let a couchsurfer into my home the answer is no. If I don't know someone there is no way I would risk our lives good person or not. There are plenty of shelters and it doesn't mean we aren't good people it just means we are looking out for our own best interests mainly our life as stuff can always be replaced.
ReplyDeleteI know people who have used the couchsurfer website to travel. They haven't all been bums....a lot of them work, but are still using the couchsurfing thing bc lodging isn't cheap....anywhere, really. But I have yet to meet a couch host. (I'm sure that's not what they're called.) It's gotta take a special kind of person I guess. Because my feelings towards the whole thing are exactly like yours.
DeleteNope! I'm too cautious a person and am always in my head. I'd be no good for my nerves. I'd give someone a night at a hotel though. I fell upon a website a few months ago where a couple met because she let him couchsurf for a night as he was traveling cross country. When his trip was over, he moved to her city, they got married and she's now blogging about their journey. Can't remember the blog name though. Dern.
ReplyDeleteAh! That sounds crazy sweet! Let me know if you come across it again; I'd love to check it out! Putting someone up at a hotel is a good idea if you've got the funds. Karma.
DeleteI think it's nice that he didn't have to spend time sleeping on the streets because people were nice enough to give him a place to sleep, but it's a little odd.. I mean, there are other ways to prove that people haven't lost their sense of community, I would be far too cautious to let him sleep on my couch.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely not. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I work with the mentally ill population and I've seen all kinds of weird things. I'd definitely give him food, but there's no way I'd let someone I don't know into my home. I wouldn't even give someone I don't know a ride in my car. A swipe onto the metro, a bus pass yes, but I'm too skeptical for anything else.
ReplyDeleteIm planning to tour by bicycle this year for the first time and I know other normal/adventurous/non-creepers who have successfully toured this country by bicycle without relying on the generosity of others. Sure, being offered a couch to crash on is bound to happen at least once (considering you carry yourself cordially/respectfully) but bicycle tourists dont rely on those offers. We made a choice travel this way. Im pretty nervous about having to camp out alone but also nervous about what kind of people will invite me to their home. Psychos exist as drifters AND homeowners so it comes down to the ability to read people as best as you possibly can. I personally want to trust people but there are obvious reasons why that's not safe. I think I carry myself with warmth so I expect to be invited to the homes of people I meet while touring but Im not sure I will take them up on all the offers. Its really tricky but to answer your question, no I probably wouldn't let someone I find on Craigslist stay at my home. Im not on Craigslist looking for people to sleep on my couch. Its all circumstance. Craigslist isn't really the most trustworthy channel to find trustworthy people. Then again, what channel truly is?
ReplyDelete