Friday, March 29, 2013

Suspended Coffees - A Facebook Trend

This suspended coffee thing is starting to bother me. From a cafe owner's point of view, how many tables are you expected to give up to homeless people drinking free coffee? Is the general population going to go into a place filled with homeless people? Given the unfortunately widespread practice of cafe owners pocketing staff tips, how much suspended coffee money is going to be used for its intended purpose? How do the homeless prove they are in fact homeless and not just someone out for a free coffee? Why coffee and not soup? Or a suspended beer on a hot day would go down a treat. How many people who think this is such a great idea are really going to pay double for their coffee?

How about instead of jumping on this trendy facebook bandwagon we just donate a to a trusted charity? Or simply give a street person a sandwich and cup of soup personally? Or invite them into your home any time and feed them?
 It simply isn't a practical way of helping the homeless. And I am deeply cynical about why this Facebook page is so keen to get their 'likes' numbers up. That's all they keep pushing, rather than promote practical ways of making this thing work. Because it is a flawed scheme that needs discussion and solutions to practical problems with it.
 But hey, like us. Let's get a million likes. Because that's what it's all about, right? 

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are kind of an asshole, arent you?

Lee Bemrose said...

I am actually a kind arsehole, you anonymous gutless nobody. Anything intelligent to offer to the discussion? Apparently not.

Unknown said...

Lee makes valid points ppl just dont want to hear or read the truth of it . Start in your own backyard ..for god sake the coffee idea is a ok concept but whos to say that money is being used for that cause ..thanks for saying it like it is Lee .

Lee Bemrose said...

Thank you for understanding what I am saying, Nola. I'm just saying human nature is human nature. We are wonderful, and we are less than wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I am glad that I read this right after the fb story. As nice as it sounds I think I would rather buy them a sandwich or hand them the coffee myself.

Lee Bemrose said...

Glad to hear it, second anonymous. There's also nothing wrong with giving them money on the odd occasion that you feel they are genuine. Sometimes they are. I believe in being kind, I just think this whole suspended coffee thing is a facebook joke.

But then apparently I'm a kind of arsehole.

Jackson Allan said...

I agree, there is a cafe in Brisbane which has partnered with a local charity to try and solve some of the practical issues. However they are still making a profit on the 'suspended coffee'. I have written a post in my blog as the willingness of people to jump on the bandwagon without considering the practicalities concerns me.