Homeless Hotspots: ethical or offensive?

Another SXSW has come and gone, and in the aftermath, its time for people to critique its many shows, films and...labor practices?

Yes. In case you've been living under a rock, or just have been mentally checked-out over spring break, SXSW's use of homeless hotspots is creating some extreme debate over ethical labor issues.

Thirteen volunteers from a local homeless shelter worked for the marketing agency BBH throughout the week. Each carried around a wi-fi device and donned t-shirts with, "I'm ____, a 4G hotspot", then further instructions on how to connect to the device.

ReadWriteWeb called this a "blunt display of unselfconcious gall". While a Wired blogger described it as “something out of a darkly satirical science-fiction dystopia.”


However, those working at the shelter, marketers at BBH and the actual volunteers all disagreed with the backlash of negativity.


Mitchell Gibbs, director of development at the shelter where volunteers stayed, said he was surprised by the criticism of the project. Gibbs said the project inspired "entrepreneurial spirit" among participants. He even advised BBH on the best ways to set up the pilot program.


One volunteer, Clarence Jones, 54, told The New York Times that, “I love talking to people and it’s ...an honest day of work and pay.” And, while he knows others think that he's getting "the rough end of the stick" he doesn't feel that way. 


Personally, I don't see what all the uproar is about. While I think this could have been carried out a bit more tactfully (e.i., ensuring minimum wage is met), I think the idea is legitimately good and heres why:

• The work isn't demeaning in anyway. I think everyone would have been on-board if there were unpaid interns walking around as wireless hotspots.
• Volunteers, volunteers, volunteers: It's not like BBH picked up someone off the street corner, slapped a shirt on them, and glued a wireless device to their hand. BBH collaborated with the shelter and paid the volunteers wanting to earn money during SX.

However, that being said, I do think opponents to this have a point. From what I've read the volunteers only got paid $20-$50 dollars a day, which depending on the hours worked isn't even minimum wage. 


I think it boils down to an underlying factor of guilt. People don't want to necessarily pause from their carefree SXSW experience to talk to someone who may not have such a carefree life. Though it sounds harsh, people are attending the festival to network, relax and party; not to have to think about real-world problems facing others.