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Before you downvote, I'm all for providing employment for people who are unfortunate enough to be homeless, however I think the language chosen to describe the

Before you downvote, I'm all for providing employment for people who are unfortunate enough to be homeless, however I think the language chosen to describe the project (i.e. using the phrase "I'm Clarence, a 4G hotspot" on the shirts) is really what is causing the problem, as it seems to be what is seen as objectifying and depersonalising the vendor in a way that (as the article suggests) does the opposite of drawing attention to the person and their plight and ignores the wealth divide between the vendors and the customers. I can't help thinking that the negative PR this is going to inevitably generate could have been completely avoided (and possibly paved the way for more permanent/better/similar experiments on a bigger scale in the future) if a different set of branding/wording had been used from the outset. For what it's worth, I think that giving people an "honest day of work and pay" is an amazingly positive thing to do. You can't argue with Clarence!

kanamekun 15y ago
Totally agree with your analysis! The concept was powerful and even empowering... this was a classic error with packaging. The people designing this program chose language which suggested the participants were nothing more than a 4g hotspot. That sort of commoditizing/dehumanizing language was bound to attract negative press.
- draggnar 15y ago
  I would say this job is humanizing. Something that is so intuitively automated such as getting access to a wireless network has gotten a human touch. The idea in general is an interesting type of promotion that does not necessarily have to focus on homeless people. Nobody wants a handout, whether you are homeless or working for a startup. People want to be rewarded for the work that they do to feel accepted in society.
mundizzle 15y ago
exactly. clarence is not a 4G hotspot. he's a human being who has a 4G hotspot. therein lies the rub. i have no doubt that this was done with the best intentions and that the whole idea is a win/win for everyone involved. but the wording IS literally dehumanizing.

kanamekun 15y ago

Totally agree with your analysis! The concept was powerful and even empowering... this was a classic error with packaging. The people designing this program chose language which suggested the participants were nothing more than a 4g hotspot. That sort of commoditizing/dehumanizing language was bound to attract negative press.

draggnar 15y ago
I would say this job is humanizing. Something that is so intuitively automated such as getting access to a wireless network has gotten a human touch. The idea in general is an interesting type of promotion that does not necessarily have to focus on homeless people. Nobody wants a handout, whether you are homeless or working for a startup. People want to be rewarded for the work that they do to feel accepted in society.

mundizzle 15y ago

exactly. clarence is not a 4G hotspot. he's a human being who has a 4G hotspot. therein lies the rub. i have no doubt that this was done with the best intentions and that the whole idea is a win/win for everyone involved. but the wording IS literally dehumanizing.