Plan B Forum

Count me in!

So the owners of the place have generously donated a keg of beer for 25 people who meet some philanthropist's unspecified criteria for a free meal, but is unwilling to provide for the needs of people with mobility problems on this one holiday or any other day.

Is this typical Aussie commercial hospitality?

snailgate

Some people will find any reason to bitch about something.

Burning Petard wrote:So the owners of the place have generously donated a keg of beer for 25 people who meet some philanthropist's unspecified criteria for a free meal, but is unwilling to provide for the needs of people with mobility problems on this one holiday or any other day.

Is this typical Aussie commercial hospitality?

snailgate

a) It's not the owners who are providing the beer, it's the brewery.
b) The criteria are specified "people nominated by carers or neighbours, who may have to spend Xmas alone".
c) It's a fucking sight easier to give a lunch than it is to adapt a 17th century pub for mobility access.
d) It's not in Australia.

Apart from that, do you approve of this charitable act Ebeneezer?

Nomination is not selection.

I guess ramps and railings are still locally unknown in the 21st century. But I concede they get credit for easy.

These meals are provided to people who will be alone on Christmas. After the meal on Wednesday, they will still be alone on Christmas.

snailgate.

Wow SG...

Has rubato hacked your account?

I think SG is right on here.

Lunch on Wednesday isn't the same as lunch with company on Christmas. Instead of a fancy lunch on 12/21, why doesn't each employee bring a nominated person home with them for actual Christmas lunch. Beer and pressies doesn't make up for being alone on a holiday.

Sure, but lunch on the 21st can bring a little holiday cheer to otherwise lonely people, and I applaud it. I occasionally work at a local soup kitchen, and it brings people together, even for short time; I will also being playing Santa again this year at my church's annual holiday dinner for mentally challenged people living in group and nursing homes, and I see this gives them a welcome break from their routine.

Employees can always do what they want (and many will not or cannot bring a person home), but I applaud the gesture of the pub and the spirit of the employees--it's more than many of us do.

Guinevere wrote:I think SG is right on here.

Lunch on Wednesday isn't the same as lunch with company on Christmas. Instead of a fancy lunch on 12/21, why doesn't each employee bring a nominated person home with them for actual Christmas lunch. Beer and pressies doesn't make up for being alone on a holiday.

Agreed, but it's better than nothing.  Not to mention that some of these employees may not be home themselves for Christmas but may be traveling/spending time with family or relatives elsewhere.

-"BB"-

Sure, but lunch on the 21st can bring a little holiday cheer to otherwise lonely people

Exactly...

I would never have thought that such a concept would be so uh, controversial....

"So they're providing a free meal, spirits, transportation and gifts for a group of lonely people at Christmas time? Gee, what a bunch of thoughtless assholes... "


Sorry, but I'm completely bewildered at that kind of take on this...

"Better than nothing" is why Donald Trump is the President-elect. Can't we strive for Best?
#riseup

And "the best or nothing" is why people live on the streets in the cold and don't have enough to eat. A small step is better than no step at all, so long as it is a step in the right direction. People shouldn't hesitate to help because they cannot solve everything; even a small gesture is a step in the right direction IMHO and can brighten someone's day.

Scrooge refused to donate to help the needy at Christmas because he chose not to make "idle people" happy, but also because he thought the institutions of the society cared for them enough; when he viewed the party at Fezziwig's he was struck as to how even a small gesture could make so big a difference to so many; and his redemption revealed to him he had a responsibility to help as best he could (note: he didn't offer to bring street people into his home or to his nephew's house, but made a donation to help). He did what he could, just as the pub owner here did. We could all do far more, but many of us do nothing; imagine how great it would be if we all did even a little.

As for blaming this thinking for the election of Trump--I don't think so. Trump is not "better than nothing"; voting for Hillary when you were a Bernie supporter is (just as it is a vote against the other party and step in the wrong direction) and it's a choice we make in most elections.

Remind me not to mention that I just cleaned out my closet and brought coats, shoes and a lot of shirts and pants to the local homeless shelter.

I feel bad now because I should have gone to the shelter beforehand and measured everyone and then bought them new clothes.

Please note the Headline at the top is about those who will be alone on Christmas. The rest of the information is a consolation award that does not change the headline condition.

Please note this all is happening not because 'they' are full of charity and holiday spirit. "They" are responding to a nudge from Anne Thorne and friends who agreed to fund it. That is the person who earns my kudos.

As for the difficulties for adapting to the needs of those with mobility limitations, I hope Gob found this somewhere in the Northern hemisphere where the colder weather will reduce the aroma from the 17th century Jakes.

snailgate

True, but events of this type are rarely sponsored at full price--the restaurant usually kicks in something by way of a discount (often a significant one), not to mention the brewery, taxi company, and customers and staff donating gifts. It takes a village.

As for it being on the 21st instead of christmas, so what? It's still a nice gesture to some who may otherwise have no joy in the holiday season.

Big RR wins the



award in the Voice Of Reason Category for this thread...

Lord Jim wrote:Big RR wins the



award in the Voice Of Reason Category for this thread...

And the rest of you misanthropic gloomy Guses will get a heaping helping of coal this Xmas!

I never thought that people who pride themselves on their compassion for others would sh-t all over this fella's generosity and kindness.

Guinevere wrote:"Better than nothing" is why Donald Trump is the President-elect. Can't we strive for Best?
#riseup

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of good."

Obama said that. He was elected president.

Hillary wasn't.

Wonder why.


yrs,
rubato