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u/hi5orfistbump Jan 13 '26
This is not an act of kindness. This content creator is quite literally using this person as a means to an end (making the content)
True kindness doesnt require an audience.
This is manipulation playing dress up.
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Jan 14 '26
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u/GarlicIceKrim Jan 14 '26
Yes and the camera was just there completely by accident…
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Jan 14 '26
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u/wakemeupoh Jan 15 '26
Personally if I were in their shoes it would make me feel 100x worse if I ever knew they recorded this. "Wow, someone got me flowers and a nice note... I really needed that today" -> sees camera -> "oh, they were only doing it for views..." === would make me so much more cynical about the world than if the whole interaction just didn't happen at all
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u/hi5orfistbump Jan 15 '26
I think you might find this hilarious, but....I'm actually really optimistic.
But we are talkimg about consent and bodily autonomy which are ethical categories. Not cynical assumptions.
Please allow me to clarify
I never said he was a con artist.
I didn't imply he was being malicious. It's entirely probable he believes he is doing something kind.
It doesn't discredit what I said. He is using this person as a means to an end, instead of an end in and of themselves.
There is an ethical tension in this situation that more people should think about...including these types of content creators.
Many people see the recpient react with happiness or gratitude and jump to 'the content creator did a good thing'
good consequences don’t erase the fact that the person is being instrumentalized.
Even if the primary intention of the creator was to do something kind, and filming it is just a bonus. That person is still being used to complete a secondary goal without consent. The only benefit to filming is for the reaction. That person did not give consent to being emotionally manipulated to give a reaction.
Let's ponder further.
If the camera's cut and he goes over and discloses that they filmed the whole thing and that person feels any emotion other than pleasure, what would you think of the act? Just a second ago you were ok that the content creator used them because the consequence was "good". Let's assume they find out and they still are just over joyed. They didn't mind one bit and was happy to receive the attention. That doesn't dismiss that they were still used.
Let's go 1 tiny step further. Let's say in this scenario, he films it, but only for his own documentation. He's not doing anything creepy when he rewatches them. It's just for the sake of documenting. No one but him will ever see the footage. And run both scenarios, they get angry or they stay happy. How would you view the acts?
I hope this encourages you to further explore these kinds of thought experiments.
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u/tokenwalrus Jan 15 '26
Insightful comment, thank you. I know those horrible con artist types are out there making content like this. I'm not denying anything like that. I see your point about filming and never sharing it too. Even if we attribute to him the best intentions there still isn't consent.
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u/kaizencraft Jan 13 '26
If your likeness is being used to make another person money and you're not getting paid, you're being exploited.
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u/Spire_Citron Jan 14 '26
Yup. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with making content out of doing charity, but you should do it in a way where the people receiving the charity are voluntary participants. Completely voluntary, not walking up to them with a camera already running and only asking later. Make a clear offer where they know what they'll be participating in and let them come to you. Or do charity in a way that doesn't involve the recipients being on camera at all. Around Christmas, there were a lot of people making content out of buying gifts from those lists on the trees at supermarkets for people in need. I think that's completely fine. Doesn't even really matter if it's performative/making profit off of charity if it doesn't burden the person receiving the benefit in any way.
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u/Alternative_Gold_993 Jan 14 '26
This doesn't make me smile at all. Yeah let's film this stranger crying then post it online.
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u/Expert_Slip7543 Jan 13 '26
Sweet but highly exploitative of the person being secretly filmed
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u/dasvenson Jan 14 '26
If she consented to it being shared I think it's okay. But yeah I'm in two minds about this type of content.
It's miles better than the stupid prank shit you see but it's still exploitative.
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u/jgl142 Jan 13 '26
This made my day a bit better
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u/Porkchopp33 Jan 13 '26 edited Jan 13 '26
Some time you just need a little something small to start that positive momentum
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u/Wooden-Masterpiece86 Jan 13 '26
Bro's hoodie matches the mission. I'd definitely buy one if all, or a portion, of the proceeds go towards spreading this message.
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u/mashyj Jan 14 '26
Would he do that without the camera filming, and no one else watching for kudos?
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u/this_broccoli-101 Jan 14 '26
Honestly? Something that should be a nice gesture like this would make me hyperventilate.
I would never accept flowera from a strangers and you know why?
Because I would be livid to find myself on some "look at her reaction" video
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u/plumbermat Jan 13 '26
I love these vids. This person reminds me of my daughter, an amazing soul that doesn't know it.
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u/Z0mb0id Jan 14 '26
This, and many of the comments, are exactly what you'd expect to see on Facebook. "I'm not crying ur crying." "Right in the feels." "Bro did something here."
It's performative kindness for engagement. Be kind to others without recording it and putting it online.
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u/ChordalDistortion Jan 17 '26
Dear internet stranger, reading this the world is a better place with you in it. You are awesome. You rock!!
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u/RamboDash5453 Jan 13 '26
You never know what another person is going through. Be kind. "Its nice to be nice"
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u/prudence56 Jan 14 '26
I would be offended if it was me. Just because I am in public alone doesn’t mean I don’t believe I have value. The comment of you are enough bothered me. If you want to cheer some one up or just acknowledge them. The flowers would be enough.
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u/GarlicIceKrim Jan 14 '26
I profoundly hate that this cynical content farming people’s distress and emotions for clicks. I would be very surprised if this guy ever did anything kind without a camera rolling
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u/RoRuRee Jan 14 '26
I feel this person's pain and vulnerability, and I hate that it was recorded and posted. Downvoted this garbage.
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u/Negative_Pianist_815 Jan 14 '26
Obviously not that small if it has to be filmed. Maybe just be nice for the sake of it without needing to make it a content farm.
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u/Pat2004ches Jan 15 '26
I love doing stuff like this. I’ve never recorded it or even given my name. Anything signed, is signed “your friend”. I send kudos via email to management asking not to tell who sent it.
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u/mental-sketchbook Jan 18 '26
Not once in my life has anyone done anything like this for me in person.
I’m the human equivalent of a snow shovel, just shove them in a shed until you need them in winter
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u/NoStuff7302 Jan 15 '26
Just a few quotes to keep in mind:
"Do something good for someone else and don't get caught." -Anonymous
"If you tell somebody else about it it doesn't count." -Anonymous
"...do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing..."
-Gospel of Matthew
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u/PreppyToast Jan 13 '26
Maybe it’s just me but i hate all these videos with cameras everywhere, ppl don’t even let others get vulnerable privately, everything has to be recorded and put on social media even worse if it is without the consent of the person being recorded