You know what, there's a lot of Mike-bashing going on here, which is no better than Mike bashing Aaron's beliefs. Each is equally entitled to their beliefs and their expression of it. Some people would find a sign that said, "God Bless," as offensive.
For example; A hardcore non-believing hates organized religion Atheist. You know they're out there. That person might not be inclined to give Aaron any money because of his sign. Does that make the Atheist a bad person? No. They're just expressing their faith, just as Aaron is. But the Atheist isn't wearing a sign that says "Good people give money," because as a good person, I would be offended by the implication that by not giving this person money, I'm a bad person. Just as the Atheist might be offended by the sign because they believe God has nothing to do with the Atheist giving money. Or perhaps not even wanting to be patronized to be blessed by some God that doesn't exist. The Atheist would think poor Aaron is misguided and needs to do something other than stand on the street and beg for money. It's not a test from God of Aaron's faith. It's Aaron's laziness or mental illness or belief in a fictitious figure that will provide for him and his family no matter what Aaron does or doesn't do (God or Fate, basically).
So while Mike was expressing his religious views, however patronizing he was, he has every right to his beliefs. That's no different from Aaron's sign say, "God Bless." Aaron believes that God will bless anyone who assists him. He has a sign that proclaims this. (Okay, so it doesn't say "give me money and God will bless you," it just says "God Bless" in general.) A nice sentiment but just as offensive to some as any person too lazy to put in an honest day's work is offensive to some.
I didn't see Mike's offering of $20 to cross out the word God as offensive. He was just trying to express his belief that God, if He/She exists, doesn't have anything to do with Aaron getting money.
I personally find Aaron's sign offensive because I don't believe in his God and wish to have nothing to do with Him but Aaron is forcing it upon me by placing a sign in my face saying that his God blesses me.
Mike's views can be seen as just as extreme as Aaron's and vice versa. But bashing Mike for his beliefs and actions because of them while giving Aaron a free ride is hypocritical. You can't just say, 'Well, Mike's not living on the street so he's taking advantage of the situation.' Well, Aaron is using the invoked power of the name of his God to illicit what? Sympathy? Money?
Both are trying to make a point. Aaron didn't deserve to be Mike's social experiment any more than everyone else being made to feel bad for not giving money because of the invoked name of God and it's mentally internalized power.
Now, Mike did outright attack Aaron's beliefs in a very rude way. Mike could have done the same job but in a different fashion. But Aaron could just as easily have taken God off his sign (and taken the $20 or refused it) and been none the worse for wear. If God's going to bless someone for giving Aaron assistance then no sign is needed. A sign that says, "Thank you," carries just as much of a blessing as Aaron's sign did.
So call Mike out for being an asshole but don't forget about Aaron's sign and the mentally internalized compulsion it makes some people feel the need to give money. They're both doing something wrong in that scenario.
And for the record, I watched the video from start to finish twice. I didn't see either one as being more devout to their beliefs than the other. I don't like how Mike attacked Aaron but Mike's points aren't negated because he was a jerk.
Now, flame away at me. I expect at to at least be told I'm a jerk for siding with Mike. But someone has to stick up for Mike. He's just as right as Aaron.
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For example; A hardcore non-believing hates organized religion Atheist. You know they're out there. That person might not be inclined to give Aaron any money because of his sign. Does that make the Atheist a bad person? No. They're just expressing their faith, just as Aaron is. But the Atheist isn't wearing a sign that says "Good people give money," because as a good person, I would be offended by the implication that by not giving this person money, I'm a bad person. Just as the Atheist might be offended by the sign because they believe God has nothing to do with the Atheist giving money. Or perhaps not even wanting to be patronized to be blessed by some God that doesn't exist. The Atheist would think poor Aaron is misguided and needs to do something other than stand on the street and beg for money. It's not a test from God of Aaron's faith. It's Aaron's laziness or mental illness or belief in a fictitious figure that will provide for him and his family no matter what Aaron does or doesn't do (God or Fate, basically).
So while Mike was expressing his religious views, however patronizing he was, he has every right to his beliefs. That's no different from Aaron's sign say, "God Bless." Aaron believes that God will bless anyone who assists him. He has a sign that proclaims this. (Okay, so it doesn't say "give me money and God will bless you," it just says "God Bless" in general.) A nice sentiment but just as offensive to some as any person too lazy to put in an honest day's work is offensive to some.
I didn't see Mike's offering of $20 to cross out the word God as offensive. He was just trying to express his belief that God, if He/She exists, doesn't have anything to do with Aaron getting money.
I personally find Aaron's sign offensive because I don't believe in his God and wish to have nothing to do with Him but Aaron is forcing it upon me by placing a sign in my face saying that his God blesses me.
Mike's views can be seen as just as extreme as Aaron's and vice versa. But bashing Mike for his beliefs and actions because of them while giving Aaron a free ride is hypocritical. You can't just say, 'Well, Mike's not living on the street so he's taking advantage of the situation.' Well, Aaron is using the invoked power of the name of his God to illicit what? Sympathy? Money?
Both are trying to make a point. Aaron didn't deserve to be Mike's social experiment any more than everyone else being made to feel bad for not giving money because of the invoked name of God and it's mentally internalized power.
Now, Mike did outright attack Aaron's beliefs in a very rude way. Mike could have done the same job but in a different fashion. But Aaron could just as easily have taken God off his sign (and taken the $20 or refused it) and been none the worse for wear. If God's going to bless someone for giving Aaron assistance then no sign is needed. A sign that says, "Thank you," carries just as much of a blessing as Aaron's sign did.
So call Mike out for being an asshole but don't forget about Aaron's sign and the mentally internalized compulsion it makes some people feel the need to give money. They're both doing something wrong in that scenario.
And for the record, I watched the video from start to finish twice. I didn't see either one as being more devout to their beliefs than the other. I don't like how Mike attacked Aaron but Mike's points aren't negated because he was a jerk.
Now, flame away at me. I expect at to at least be told I'm a jerk for siding with Mike. But someone has to stick up for Mike. He's just as right as Aaron.