Money? Can't give it away!
Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:29 pm
Even with warnings of impending financial oblivion, it seems money just can't be given away.
The offer of free money was turned down by hundreds of people in Queen Street Mall yesterday.
Andrew Wilford spent the afternoon trying to incrementally give away $100, but found it a much tougher task than expected.
As part of Free Money Day, he stood in the mall trying to convince people to take the money, $1 at a time, but rather than having people jump at the opportunity it took him 45 minutes to give away just $20.
"Most people are in a trance, they are too busy to get to work to make money to accept an interruption by me to give them some free money," he said.
"It's hard to give it away, it's really hard.
"I had no idea (how hard it would be). I'm not surprised though, we've got very busy people."
Mr Wilford said he was trying to give the money away to get people to think more about their "economic relations".
"We're wanting people to think deeply about money," he said.
"I'm not saying money is not a good thing. I'm saying there are alternatives on how we can choose to meet our needs at different scales."
Mr Wilford and his accomplice Oscar were dressed in T-shirts and holding signs that simply said "Free Money".
About 1.30pm, they were moved on from Queen Street Mall by council officers and threatened with a $200 fine for holding the signs.
But Mr Wilford said he was not bothered and moved to an Albert Street bus stop to continue his giveaway.
While most people rushed past without looking at him or muttering under their breath "what's the catch?", the few who stopped were grateful.
"Wow, thanks dude," a young teenager said as Oscar handed him and his friend $1 each.
Free Money Day was a global event held on September 15 on the anniversary of Lehmann Brothers filing for bankruptcy in 2008, which helped trigger the Global Financial Crisis
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/money/c ... z1Y4CpkqZ7
