[Closed] Student burns £20 in front of homeless man

The KLF burnt a million squid as 'art'.

Good point well made. That money could have been put to damn good use.

dunno, i bet i'm not alone in being glad mobile phones and the associated ability to record & share everything, for ever wasn't around when I was younger and stupider.

indeed, but here's the thing, both my kids have grown up in an era where the ability to record everything is possible and more importantly has always been a part of their lives. As it undoubtedly is for this guy, they live their lives in a public way that most of us would not want particularly. He knows full well that a stunt like this is going to be filmed, it's the point after all, to have evidence...to pass whatever idiotic initiation, or bet or drunken boast...

While I agree that growing up is all about making mistakes, I think most kids know that burning money in front of a homeless person is no way of behaving?

That money could have been put to damn good use.

is Art not a good use then?

"He went out a few nights later around Cambridge with one of his friends to do the homeless run and give out tea, coffee and sandwiches to them.

That's good, at least.

However he does have as much right to do such a thing as you lot do to judge him 😆

Junkyard - lazarus

what did you do beat up the homeless or burn their sleeping bag?

I've took the piss out of jakies begging for money before, I've also hurt people out of pure jealousy, humiliated friends out of silly competitiveness, laughed at things/people I shouldn't have and no doubt numerous other things.

Dickish behavior no doubt, but at least I'm honest about it. I've went on to lead a good life as a fairly decent human being. I can only wonder how it would have turned out if I got caught on camera and it went viral though.

His mum said: "It's been stressful. I'm starting to panic because I can't get a hold of him.

Maybe the guy has gone and done something to himself as a result. No doubt there would be some who would say it'd serve him right.

Zilog has a point, Jimjam, and this...

Speeding would probably have sufficed for what I was trying to say.

..is still tantamount to

a sneering contempt for other people

Think about the danger when someone speeding flies round a corner and hits someone assessing a situation based on the current speed limit of that stretch. It's inconsiderate, regardless. Selfish, too. Sneering is always optional...

is Art not a good use then?

I can think of better. Torching cash as a 'performance' is totally self indulgent. TBH, I'd have a lot more respect if they'd have done all the publicity guff and then given the money to a grassroots charitable cause at the last minute.

Think about the danger when someone speeding flies round a corner and hits someone assessing a situation based on the current speed limit of that stretch. It's inconsiderate, regardless

teasel

Zilog has a point, Jimjam, and this...

No he doesn't. He's moralizing based on something I said which was intended only to speculate as to whether illegal = worse purely from a point of perception. Fine, if you want to be obtuse lets start a thread and debate whether doing 71mph on an empty motorway is morally worse than burning a £20 note in front of a homeless person.

[i]...is the intent.[/i]
nothing

Whilst this guy is patently an utter arse, The KLF burnt a million squid as 'art'. On national TV.

An interesting point actually, and it says a lot about wider society, the media, how we choose to interpret such acts and what place Money/wealth and the perception of "privilege" occupies in our world...

You've got different scales there obviously, but also you need to examine the intent/message behind either act...

Were the KLF pointing and laughing at those less fortunate than themselves?
Apparently they themselves weren't too clear what statement they were making but they buggered off to a Hebridean Island and did it relatively quietly...
If it was a statement about wealth, the excessive importance of money or inequality then that was lost somewhere along the way. If they were simply being a bit "Rock'n'Roll" again it wasn't quite showy enough for that...

There's always the argument that giving the money to a charity in either instance would send an utterly different message, it's relatively easy to show the world your philanthropic deeds and recieve mostly positive vibes in return, its quite another thing to consciously and publicly destroy wealth and put it beyond anyone else's use...

You could argue both are rather self involved acts, and you'd be right, but this Tory student's had a distinctly more malicious feel to it in many people's eyes. The sums involved are (perhaps strangely?) less of a concern than the meaning...

The KLF burnt a million squid as 'art'. On national TV.

It's Ok. Homeless people don't have televisions.

Fine, if you want to be obtuse

Not my intention.

I think what matters and differentiates this persons actions is the intent.

I still think speeding is a poor example. It's invariably deliberate and if done without thought then maybe time to review one's ability to drive safely. Or with due care and attention etc.

I get the difference but both are selfish, stupid acts. I see little point in distinguishing between two scenarios that affect other folk in a negative fashion. Sure, the note burner is a contemptuous arse but so is that ****er speeding because he's late or maybe just because he wants to test his car and take his favourite corner as fast as Moss/Schumy/Current Guy. Many don't see a problem with that until someone gets killed.

I understand the distinction you're trying to make but I simply don't agree.

Edit, cookeaa has made the point eloquently

Years, more like.

Give Jon Ronson something to write about.

Well said [b]cookea[/b].

Sounds like a case of an out of character act incited by the group he seems to hang out with.

Sadly being led astray is part of youths bewildered outlook.

Maybe this act committed has instilled more moral consciousness in him than not having done it.

I hope the lad centres himself and surrounds himself with family, the outfall of this could be very sad for months and years to come.

bodgy - Member

Whilst this guy is patently an utter arse, The KLF burnt a million squid as 'art'. On national TV.

I'm sure I read that it was a hoax. They also nailed £50k to a framed bit of board and advertised it for £50k !

Sounds like a prick

[url=

Drummond talks about burning one million pounds Jan 2014[/url]

"People ask me [i]why[/i], but it's for other people to decide why two blokes would burn a million quid."

Less than helpful, in fact a bit of a cop-out.

EDIT: Apologies OP, didn't mean to hijack the thread.

The KLF thing has no relevance whatsoever. Apart from the involvement of fire, there is no connection. You might as well start bringing up other ways people publicly waste money. Hey, what if a homeless guy goes into an internet cafe and reads the thread about how much we spend on bikes?! All totally irrelevant to a crap story about some kid showing off and being a dick.

I think what matters and differentiates this persons actions is the intent.

Sorry officer/m'lud, I didn't intend to lose control of my car and indavertently kill someone, so I'll be right to drive next week yeah? Hardship etc etc

I'd be interested to know if the reaction would be the same if it was some chav from a crappy northern town burning the £20.....

He made a mistake then attempted to make up for it.

How many others can say the same?

I'd be interested to know if the reaction would be the same if it was some chav from a crappy northern town burning the £20.....

Or a premiership footballer, or a London banker, or a coal miner, or a rail worker etc, etc... It's just whataboutery.

I assume in every one of these "what if" scenarios they're still waving that burning note in a homeless persons face?

If so their background and status are pretty irrelevant, it's still a symbolic taunting of those at the absolute bottom of the pile... Anyone can pick on them if they want...

Whether you live in a mansion or a council flat you at least have [i]something[/i], some sort of home...

If you need to express your status by belittling those at the very bottom of the pile, who have no voice or means, what are you telling the world about yourself?

cookeaa - Member

I assume in every one of these "what if" scenarios they're still waving that burning note in a homeless persons face?

If so their background and status are pretty irrelevant, it's still a symbolic taunting of those at the absolute bottom of the pile... Anyone can pick on them if they want...

Yup. And pretty feeble whatabooutery, since the odds of "some chav from a crapp northern town" burning a £20 note in front of a homeless person are pretty bloody slim.

"If you need to express your status by belittling those at the very bottom of the pile, who have no voice or means, what are you telling the world about yourself?"

...and if you do two years of voluntary work for the homeless what are you telling the world about yourself?

I don't buy, it would have been a complete non story.

Its only deemed news worthy because hes at a top university and has some / comes from money.

As other have said the over the top trial by media is way out out proportion. I'm by no means condoning his behaviour, its very very wrong. But he a young person who made a very poor choice.

that your mum will say anything about you , in order to defend you, to the press?????
Is there any proof to this ?anyone know the shelter so we can check ?

100% d.ckhead - should have a life ban from The Conservatives (I bet that's what happens informally). Personally I think is less slightly disrespectful than the guy climbing onto the Cenotaph but bad enough, his college / Cambridge should give him a suspension and a warning - no further nonsense.

What's all this talk of Bullingdon?
Wrong shade of blue!

@Stoner 🙂

some chav from a crappy northern town

He's from Livingston, is that far enough north for you?...

[i]anyone know the shelter so we can check ?[/i]

Ask his mum. I'm sure she'll be happy to answer questions at the mo.

I laughed at this bit:

Somewhere along the line his dad is the brother of the ex-husband of the sister of the First Minster's husband.

He might go around saying he is her nephew but he's not.

should have a life ban from The Conservatives

I'd have thought it'd be more appropriate to give him a punishment.

🙂

mudshark - Member
He made a mistake then attempted to make up for it.

How many others can say the same?

That was not a mistake. It shows his true character.

It was a good example of what to expect from him if he is ever in a position where his power to act is unfettered.

I wonder if he will be safe back in Edinburgh...

So what's everyone else's 6 Degrees Of Nicola Sturgeon?

That was not a mistake. It shows his true character.

It takes a normal person about a nanosecond to realise that it's a really offensive thing to do, even under the influence of alcohol. It takes a particular attitude to money and the plight of the homeless to carry on with this sort of behaviour

The bloke was drunk, impressionable and stupid.
I went to Oxford and I thought the young conservatives attracted the really socially awkward people. But this will be searchable for the rest of his life so I think it's just regrettable all round.

If his mum isn't lying he's done more good stuff for homeless people before and after this than I ever have.

He's been an utter twunt precisely once that we know of. He's young and been punished, and will continue to be so.

Some prime judgemental pitchfork waving here on STW by some who might just have done one bad thing in their own lives, and perhaps are jealous of or hate what he stands for rather than who he actually is.

plyphon - Member
haha who is called Ronald in the year 2017

My dad

I'd be interested to know if the reaction would be the same if it was some chav from a crappy northern town burning the £20.....

I thought they just set the homeless person on fire instead...

It takes a particular attitude to money and the plight of the homeless to carry on with this sort of behaviour

A (Northern) friend of mine moved to London to work, and his peers were wholly "who's got the biggest wallet." Not excusing his behaviour, but I can totally see how richness can become a pissing contest. It's understandable how that "attitude to money" can be nurtured and encouraged.

If ever end up homeless I hope the worst thing that happens to me is that some gormless prick toff burns £20 in front of me.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/30/cctv-image-homeless-assault-kings-road-chelsea

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/11/two-jailed-for-of-salford-homeless-man-found-in-burning-tent