Bumvertising

A friend yesterday was talking about a funny story he had heard about a company that advertises on bums. According to them, it's a mutually beneficial operation. Money in exchange for advertising. Check it out for yourself at www.bumvertising.com

I'm wondering if, as a bum, this wouldn't mess with your credibility just a little bit. Holding a sign that says, "Will work for food, brought to you by Nike", just doesn't seem all that believable, and too many of us have heard the legends of the bums who are bringing in six figures just from handouts, so they are already fighting a negative image.

I would think that this would work better in reverse. Companies that wanted to push some sort of smear campaign could pay bums to hold up signs that say, "I lost my house because of Penzoil Oil Filters, can you please help me." That way, you are still indirectly getting more business without adversely affecting the bum's and at the same time hosing your competition.

Of course, I can't really see this as an upstanding thing to do no matter which way you go, but that doesn't prevent me from poking fun at the idea.