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Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

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Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#31

Post by cyberferret »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #26
cyberferret wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think perhaps it is because many people in 'modern' societies are starting to rediscover their humanitarian side after a long time of being blinded by years of consumerism and trying to find enlightenment via a career or 'keeping up with the Joneses'?!? What a lot of people don't realise is that things like this are actually quite commonplace in so called 'third world' areas like Asia and the sub-continent. Where t…

When I was reading this, the first thing I thought was that it sounded like something from a developing country. I then wondered how long it was gonna be before we're all doing our laundry like this because of housing costs. But I like your more optimistic take.

I think your point is valid too. It seems that a lot more people today, given the current political climate in a lot of countries, plus the widening gap between the upper and lower classes of society, are beginning to realise that quite a sizeable percentage of the population is only one or two paychecks away from being homeless.

Perhaps there is an awakening along the lines of "There but for the grace of [insert deity here] go I..."

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#32

Post by 654869435418647 »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #23

I think it's great that he's doing this, but I can't help but think how these kind of stories follow this weird American pattern of social problems being the hobby of the wealthy and/or an opportunity for cleverness. Why are we so fond of these narratives?

> weird American pattern

To many Americans it's not weird at all. America (according to them) was founded on principles of individualism which differentiated it from other countries of the time.

It's the same reason Socialist policies are resisted. For better or worse, their idea is that individuals followed by close communities should self-govern and be masters of their own destiny.

Put differently, you can call it 'weird' if you want but 'different' is more apt. America is not an underdeveloped Europe... America is America.

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#33

Post by burntrelish1273 »

In the SF Bay Area (Silicon Valley), there was already another a free mobile laundry (with shower) service. [0]

It's good that multiple nonprofits offer overlapping/similar services, especially in an affluent area which can easily afford to provide basic dignity to those in need.

0: http://www.dignityonwheels.org/locations-and-schedule/

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#34

Post by dvt »

averagewall wrote: post #29

While it's a great thing he's doing, it looks like his main purpose is to convert people to his religion. Well, if that's what it takes to motivate someone to help others, then so be it.

He literally says that his goal is not conversions and that he's doing it because he realized he wasn't putting his faith into action. Further, even if he was trying to convert people, what's so bad about that?

"Hi, let me help you and by the way here's what I believe and why I'm doing what I'm doing." -- no idea why that kind of train of thought can rationally be looked down upon. I've always failed to see why atheists view proselytizing as "bad" -- it's the same thing as lobbying for any other kind of position.

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#35

Post by dvt »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #23

I think it's great that he's doing this, but I can't help but think how these kind of stories follow this weird American pattern of social problems being the hobby of the wealthy and/or an opportunity for cleverness. Why are we so fond of these narratives?

> Why are we so fond of these narratives?

Because some people believe in that kind of remedy for these problems. I'm being a bit reductive, but there are basically two ways of solving social problems like homelessness: (a) everyone is forced to chip in (e.g. taxes) or (b) citizens make society better by their own volition (e.g. donations, volunteering).

I see the merit of (a), but I like the idea of (b) a lot more.

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#36

Post by namank »

alphonsegaston wrote: post #23

I think it's great that he's doing this, but I can't help but think how these kind of stories follow this weird American pattern of social problems being the hobby of the wealthy and/or an opportunity for cleverness. Why are we so fond of these narratives?

Because it demonstrates that individual people have the power to affect change and all that remains between you and that is the willingness to take action.

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#37

Post by alphonsegaston »

dvt wrote: post #35
alphonsegaston wrote: post #23

I think it's great that he's doing this, but I can't help but think how these kind of stories follow this weird American pattern of social problems being the hobby of the wealthy and/or an opportunity for cleverness. Why are we so fond of these narratives?

> Why are we so fond of these narratives? Because some people believe in that kind of remedy for these problems. I'm being a bit reductive, but there are basically two ways of solving social problems like homelessness: (a) everyone is forced to chip in (e.g. taxes) or (b) citizens make society better by their own volition (e.g. donations, volunteering). I see the merit of (a), but I like the idea of (b) a lot more.

I think liking the idea of individuals fixing social problems of their own volition when more boring, collective systems are more efficient (as evidenced by Western European societies) is kind of the issue in itself. There's this narrative bias towards enjoying a monkey patch of a social ill (homemade mobile laundromat), when some boring solution might be more effective (e.g. housing first like in Utah). I'm not sure if it's our entertainment-driven culture or a more complex set of biases. But it's odd how often we'll veer around demonstrably workable solutions in favor of something more flashy. It's as if the pursuit of an ongoing spectacle is more important than achieving a good end.

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#38

Post by etjossem »

Acts of charity like this have always struck me as creating an uncomfortable power dynamic. When sticking around to hear a religious presentation is the price of admission, it's not a pure form of generosity; it's transactional. Ron Powers even mentions the captive audience situation outright, near the end of the video.

"If you have something like their clothes, you've got them for an hour, two hours ... we might as well have a conversation."

I don't really see a need to glorify this in the local news. He's just a man who has found a way to buy time to proselytize. To me, the fact that he exists is a symptom that our existing social safety nets are insufficient to set folks up with clean clothes, let alone get them into housing.

Taxes to fund direct cash transfers and housing subsidies do not make for heartwarming stories. They are boring as hell, but they get the job done with no strings attached, and that's the best outcome we as a society could wish for.

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#39

Post by zachrose »

etjossem wrote: post #38

Acts of charity like this have always struck me as creating an uncomfortable power dynamic. When sticking around to hear a religious presentation is the price of admission, it's not a pure form of generosity; it's transactional. Ron Powers even mentions the captive audience situation outright, near the end of the video. "If you have something like their clothes, you've got them for an hour, two hours ... we might as…

> I don't really see a need to glorify this in the local news. He's just a man who can buy time to proselytize very cheaply. To me, the fact that he exists is a signal that our existing social safety nets are insufficient to set folks up with clean clothes, let alone get them into housing.

Ok that's true, but what's the economic return on proselytizing?

I'll take a free mug from a vendor at a software booth, why should laundry from a religious guy be any different?

Taxes to fund direct cash transfers and housing subsidies are being cut by a government run by zero sum pessimists. How is this guy involved in that?

Re: Engineer Converts Van into Laundromat, Offers Free Loads to Homeless

#40

Post by etjossem »

zachrose wrote: post #39
etjossem wrote: post #38

Acts of charity like this have always struck me as creating an uncomfortable power dynamic. When sticking around to hear a religious presentation is the price of admission, it's not a pure form of generosity; it's transactional. Ron Powers even mentions the captive audience situation outright, near the end of the video. "If you have something like their clothes, you've got them for an hour, two hours ... we might as…

> I don't really see a need to glorify this in the local news. He's just a man who can buy time to proselytize very cheaply. To me, the fact that he exists is a signal that our existing social safety nets are insufficient to set folks up with clean clothes, let alone get them into housing. Ok that's true, but what's the economic return on proselytizing? I'll take a free mug from a vendor at a software booth, why shou…

It's not Mr. Powers' fault, but it is our responsibility as sensible voters to fix a situation in which he appears to be the best option for getting your clothes washed. We have come to a point where some folks do not have enough money to regularly go to a laundromat. That outcome was a direct result of the people we voted into office, and the priorities we expressed to them.

I believe it's important for us to distinguish between charitable actors that ask nothing and those that clearly expect something in return. I'm not willing to lionize the latter, nor do I think such an approach is particularly newsworthy.

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