New Blog Post: Lifestyles of the Rich and the Homeless

[GatorWesley]

Check out the new blog where our CEO Brent goes HOMELESS!

Feel free to digg it or stumbleupon it if you like it!

http://blog.hostgator.com/2007/11/28...omes-homeless/

[Sam]

lol Nice

'My Family was killed by ninjas' <- lmao

[DannyD]

LOL! Funny. Now can you please post some pictures of the paintball thing.

- Prilep

[dvduval]

I read this yesterday. Very interesting and entertaining read.
So what I want know is what is the moral of the story?

[othellobloke]

I was disgusted with the entire thing. A multimillionaire using people down on their luck for his social experiment? That's bogus man!

Offering homeless people two beers or a dollar is wrong. Spending more on beer than what you're giving... and just to try and prove/disprove that all homeless people are drunks or something? As I commented on the blog post, Brent would have done far better with his time and money by donating 1.09% of HG's yearly profit to charity.

I know this much... if I was as rich as Brent, I sure as hell wouldn't be doing cheap stunts like this.

[YukonMaster]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

I was disgusted with the entire thing. A multimillionaire using people down on their luck for his social experiment? That's bogus man!

Offering homeless people two beers or a dollar is wrong. Spending more on beer than what you're giving... and just to try and prove/disprove that all homeless people are drunks or something? As I commented on the blog post, Brent would have done far better with his time and money by donating 1.09% of HG's yearly profit to charity.

I know this much... if I was as rich as Brent, I sure as hell wouldn't be doing cheap stunts like this.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however, I think it was incredibly witty of him to do that. Good on you Brent


Prime entertainment.

[gatorfirstlady]

Once again, you cannot please everyone....

Regardless of what people think of Brent being "rich" or him just buying a helicopter as a "toy", etc., I know that Brent is a truly genuine person. He is continually bashed, and for what? Being successful? Come on now people. He has worked hard for everything that he has, the "homeless" could learn something from him...

Brent is full of great ideas, not cheap stunts, and tries his hardest to include everyone in the events of Hostgator. He came up with this idea thinking that it would be an interesting read, and I am glad that he accomplished that for most. How many people have wondered how much a homeless person makes? I know I have, and I'm sure we are all guilty of criticizing the homeless for not making something of themselves, but ofcourse, there is an excuse for everything, i.e, a family being killed by ninjas. And if the person chooses the beer, it just goes to show maybe thats why the person is homeless in the first place. It is sad that people turn out this way, but I believe it is more than simply being "down on their luck". The homeless make more than I do for goodness sake!

I will post paintball pictures soon!!!

Originally Posted by othellobloke

I was disgusted with the entire thing. A multimillionaire using people down on their luck for his social experiment? That's bogus man!

Offering homeless people two beers or a dollar is wrong. Spending more on beer than what you're giving... and just to try and prove/disprove that all homeless people are drunks or something? As I commented on the blog post, Brent would have done far better with his time and money by donating 1.09% of HG's yearly profit to charity.

I know this much... if I was as rich as Brent, I sure as hell wouldn't be doing cheap stunts like this.

[GatorBrent]

Someone contacted me saying they were about to become homeless and that they were homeless in the past. He contacted me to let me know not all homeless people were lazy.

I asked him if ever stood on the side of the road asking for money, and his answer was that he would never! The reason I asked this because the blog post was about people who choose not to work and hold a sign instead.

Anyways...
I called him up and it turns out he was technical enough to get a job with us. We are sending him relocation money, and he will be starting within the week. We beg people to work for us and we can't fill positions.

Also it's easy for you to comment without having any idea what I donate. I 'm not going to tell you what is donated, but I will tell you it's much much higher then 1% of profit. I believe those who donate to brag and black in their own glory of how great they are do it for the wrong reason.

I'm one of those people who believe you will be rewarded 10x for anything you give. I've been rewarded 10,000's of times on my initial giving with HostGator. Back when it was just me and I couldn't afford to have a car every penny HostGator made went to this kids dad I knew that was laid off and was about to lose everything. Fast forward years later, and that kid now works for me and to this day I've never even told him I kept his family from losing their home.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

I was disgusted with the entire thing. A multimillionaire using people down on their luck for his social experiment? That's bogus man!

Offering homeless people two beers or a dollar is wrong. Spending more on beer than what you're giving... and just to try and prove/disprove that all homeless people are drunks or something?

I agree with Ryan, for some of the points he mentions and many others. But it's irrelevant how rich or poor any of the organizers is. So are previous and ongoing charitable efforts (no matter how commendable).

It would be pointless to explain all the reasons it was both appalling and proved absolutely nothing, despite the smug proclamations. People either get it or they don't.

It's probably also fruitless to hope that those in whom the venture bestirred feelings of superiority (and any satisfaction in "confirming" stereotypes) express gratitude they have made the correct "choices", avoided "their own faults", and other self-created reasons for homelessness. (Not to mention anything that isn't self-determined.)

[DannyD]

Brent you always like helping out everyone dont you? Every post i see from you , your helping some one. Thats great man keep it up!!

- Prilep

[codesight]

Brent... if you hired for off-site jobs, you'd have a better chance at filling those positions!

I, for one, would be interested in the PHP position, depending on the pay, of course, but I'm not going to relocate to Houston.

I'm not sure it would fit me as I'm not a junior developer, more senior.

Anyway, back ON-topic... I thought it was a good way to see how it really may be on the homeless front.

[mallee]

I find the experiment interesting with no real opinion of it either way.

I have seen professional homeless here in Boston (same street corner for years, everyday like clockwork) 5:00 a.m., or 5:00 p.m., long hours and it looks like hard work. Rain or snow, hot or cold, and blaring sun all day.

It seems it would be easier for most of us to get a regular job but I'm thinking they are making allot of tax free cash and answer to no one. If they get sick us tax payers pay for it.

Solution, don't give out a dime and they MAY have to get a real job, though I do think we should be taking care of our real mentally ill and physically handicapped, oh and elderly.

[othellobloke]

Originally Posted by gatorfirstlady

And if the person chooses the beer, it just goes to show maybe thats why the person is homeless in the first place.

Or maybe they have lost hope in becoming stable because nobody will help them?

Originally Posted by mallee

...If they get sick us tax payers pay for it.

As we should in a supposedly civilised and compassionate society right?

Originally Posted by mallee

Solution, don't give out a dime and they MAY have to get a real job, though I do think we should be taking care of our real mentally ill and physically handicapped, oh and elderly.

Those right-wing republican theories are the ones that make those who aren't mentally or physically handicapped but are down on their luck and without a home suffer.

For a supposedly great and civilised country, there are an awful lot of uncaring and uncompassionate people in America.

Originally Posted by GatorBrent

I 'm not going to tell you what is donated, but I will tell you it's much much higher then 1% of profit. I believe those who donate to brag and black in their own glory of how great they are do it for the wrong reason.

What causes do you donate to then? Do you donate according to your preference or according to need?

[codesight]

The democrat has spoken.

Why do you always have to bring politics into EVERYTHING you talk about!??

I bet there aren't any uncaring or uncompassionate people in Canada.

You really have a knack on wrecking threads!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by codesight

Why do you always have to bring politics into EVERYTHING you talk about!??

http://forums.clubrsx.com/images/smilies/yeahthat.gif Yea i wanna know that aswell



http://www.dontfeedthetroll.de/images/dftt.gif

[othellobloke]

Originally Posted by codesight

The democrat has spoken.

Why do you always have to bring politics into EVERYTHING you talk about!??

I bet there aren't any uncaring or uncompassionate people in Canada.

You really have a knack on wrecking threads!

Wrecking a thread because I don't agree with your majesty? Pssstttt!

I bring politics into a discussion like this because anyone with half a brain realises 90% of social issues out there have a POLITICAL SOLUTION. And if I was a yank, I'd much rather be a Democrat than a Republican. I prefer to care about the less fortunate and not the rich.

The first step in a solution to homelessness is getting POLITICIANS to first have the POLITICAL will to come up with a POLITICAL solution.

In any case... this is the last question or retort I will make to you particularly.

[codesight]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

In any case... this is the last question or retort I will make to you particularly.

Thank you!

[mallee]

There are caring & uncaring people everywhere. I don't know what the solution is?

Most times on the street corners, I hand out at least a few bucks each though that can get costly since the same people are there everyday (and 5 people working street corners within my path of travel).

One time while sitting in my car a drug addict/prostitute came to my drivers door, the window was down a few inches because I was smoking a cigarette, she saw the smoke. So she asked for a cigarette, I gave it to her, a light, I gave that too.

Then she hit me up for money.

I lied and told her I had none, because I did not want to open my purse in front of her and allow her to see what I had... so she said 'oh I see some change there' center console in a cup, and probably at least $10., so I gave it all to her.
-----
I donate $300 per year to the Jewish Hospital in Kentucky (they do hand transplants) because my only sibling, a brother, is a fairly recent quadruple amputee, who lost both legs at the knees and both arms near the elbows in a freak incident. Also had both ears reconstructed and allot of teeth damage.

Want to be depressed, try living like that. He has ultra cutting edge prosthetics, can drive (had to be retrained) and goes everywhere with his teenage kids, hockey games etc... but it's still very depressing mentally.

I also donate $200 per year to Fresh Start for handicap people, and another $200 a year to some other handicap group who's name escapes me right now.

It makes me feel good to know I can do a little.
----------------
If I were rich, filthy rich I could help allot of people, I think that would bring me a good feeling, a high.

Let's face it when your 50 years old the highs that use to work don't quite do the trick anymore and you need some new highs.

[othellobloke]

It's good that you donate to charity.

Out of curiousity... why do you donate to a 'Jewish' hospital, as opposed to a non-jewish hospital?

[slapshotw]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

why do you donate to a 'Jewish' hospital, as opposed to a non-jewish hospital?

Othello, there are groups of people you like to support. Mallee chooses to support a group of people as well (and, by the way, Jewish hospitals are just like Christian ones in that they treat everybody regardless of faith; it's just an affiliation).

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

Out of curiousity... why do you donate to a 'Jewish' hospital, as opposed to a non-jewish hospital?

That's its name, not an adjective, and it has pioneered incredible surgical techniques.

Without a national health system (i.e., UK NHS) or universal coverage scheme (i.e., Canadian by-province system) donations are a necessary, albeit perhaps unfortunate, fact of life for many non-profit healthcare institutions in the U.S.

[mallee]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

It's good that you donate to charity.

Out of curiousity... why do you donate to a 'Jewish' hospital, as opposed to a non-Jewish hospital?

I'm not Jewish and know nothing about the heritage, but (that's the name of the hospital) Jewish Hospital is the only one in the US that does hand transplants and attempts to do other types of body part transplants. None life saving ones.

Hospitals that do life saving transplants like kidney's, heart, lungs are the one that get the federal money, grants and donations.

A hand transplant for someone who's lost both hands can mean allot. It's all very costly (17 hour operation with a team of 20 doctors and full staff) and they were very kind to me and returned my call to discuss a transplant for my brother.

[mallee]

Yes all faiths or not, no matter what color, or faith, heritage a person if, just like gwyneth said.

I wish I could give more to the needy but I just don't have it to give.

Incidentally my brother turned down a chance at a hand transplant attempt.

[calum]

Originally Posted by othellobloke

It's good that you donate to charity.

Out of curiousity... why do you donate to a 'Jewish' hospital, as opposed to a non-jewish hospital?

Why not? It is mellee's money and it is up to he/she what they do with it. What is wrong with donating to a Jewish Hospital??

If anything it is an incredbidly kind and caring thing to do and $300 is a lot of money going to a good cause so what is wrong with it

[othellobloke]

Originally Posted by calum

Why not? It is mellee's money and it is up to he/she what they do with it. What is wrong with donating to a Jewish Hospital??

If anything it is an incredbidly kind and caring thing to do and $300 is a lot of money going to a good cause so what is wrong with it

I wasn't saying there was anything wrong with it. I wasn't saying there's anything right with it. I was asking why a Jewish hospital.

In England we don't have jewish or christian hospitals. We don't feel the need to name our hospitals after religious faiths.