DC has been buzzing with tourists. The Smithsonian and Zoo Metro stations are overflowing. I decided to camp outside the Woodley Park/National Zoo Metro station. It wasn’t long before I saw a woman studying the neighborhood map posted outside the station. I walked up to her and asked if she needed help finding something. In a clear British accent she politely declined my help. It would have been nice to include another British recipient in the Year of Giving. You might recall that Joe from Day 62 was also from England.
Barbara, who hails from London, appeared quite confused by what I was doing. She struggled on whether or not to accept the $10. In the end she said that she really didn’t need the added stress of deciding what to do with the money. I thought the response was kind of odd, but I try not to judge.
So there I was…waiting to find someone else. A woman on her cell phone wearing a colorful scarf and orange heels caught my eye. I waited for her to finish her call and approached her. I wish I had my video rolling to capture her disbelief of what I was doing, but you will have to take my word for it. We moved out of the main flow of traffic and I explained to Katy what I was doing. In the end, she agreed to accept the $10.
Katy was one of the most interesting people I’ve met throughout the Year of Giving. She said that she was fascinated by what I was doing. She immediately asked if she could buy me a drink with the money. I explained that I could not receive anything in exchange for my gift of $10, but agreed to sit down and have a drink with her. We crossed the street and sat outside at a small, quaint café.
I ordered a glass of Chardonnay. This was Easter Sunday and she said that she had been with friends drinking wine and feasting on lamb earlier in the day and perhaps a cup of coffee would be best. Our drinks came and the coffee turned out to be lousy. She didn’t complain to the staff or anything, she just pushed it aside and continued with our conversation. I probably would have sent it back.
Katy is a documentary filmmaker who lives in New York City. She is in DC visiting friends. She tells me of a friend who lives in Silver Spring and another that just had a baby boy, Gavin, who she got to meet for the first time.
This experience reminded Katy of an NPR show called Uncommon Economic Indicators hosted by Brian Lehrer. I had not heard of this show which is hosted in NYC on NPR’s WNYC station. I since found it online and have listened to it. Lehrer asks his listeners to call in and share their views on micro-elements of their lives that might give insight into the greater economic situation. For example, do “traffic jams” at the microwave in the office indicate that more people are making their meals at home and bringing them to work to avoid the higher cost of eating at local lunch eateries.
In the middle of our conversation, Katy abruptly changed the subject and said, “I know exactly what I am going to do with the $10.” Nobody has done what she did with the money. You will not believe it! Check it out.
What do you think about her decision? I often say that it is not about the $10…that it in and of itself is almost always meaningless. If I really believe that then her decision only supports that theory. That said, I couldn’t help but think that somebody someplace might have benefited from that money. That’s not really fair of me to think though since I give the money randomly every day. Often times I give the money to individuals who do not need it and who use it on a capricious cup of coffee. I expect that several people will comment on how they are not happy with Katy’s decision and her reasoning, however, perhaps the only real criticism that could be made is that the $10 left the economy and now has no ability to morph into other things to keep the cogwheels of our economy turning. I would love to hear the philosophic and economic views that you have on this.
Katy was a very thoughtful and interesting person. I insisted on paying for the coffee and glass of wine and we went our separate ways. She was actually late to meet a friend but took the time to sit down and speak with me. That meant a lot. As she left, she said I had an open invitation for a drink in NYC anytime!
My first reaction is that she is a pompous young woman. I’m going to have to think more about this.
The most ridiculous thing! Take a minute and buy a homeless person a meal. Completely ignorant, and far from artistic expression.
Katie may be interesting, but she is not thoughtful. You mentioned she took the time to sit with you even though she was late to meet a friend. Her friend probably considered her decision ‘thoughtless’. Perhaps rude. Thoughtfulness would have been using the $10 to help another. Her decision to rip the money up required no thought at all.
Totally selfish. She used the money to buy a place right here. She hopes someone will see this and hire her–but hopes for the attention.
How sad it never occurred to her to pay it forward and give it to someone who could really use it. She is a lucky woman who obviously doesn’t know the value of a dollar to an a person who hasn’t eaten for a week.
She ripped up $10 claiming it went to the more valuable moment in time spent with this guy but why didn’t she give the $10 away to another person. I’m extremely liberal and this women is crazy to me. How could have that “cheapened” the rendezvous with said philanthropist. Liberal thinking gone BAD.
Actually the economic impact of her destroying that money, (which is illegal, btw) is that the value of all remaining money actually increases by a small but negligible amount. Essentially she’s lowering inflation by a little bit.
The fed discontinues tons of money each year when it wears out, and if they kept it in the economy, we would be in trouble. In spite of the videos that scaremongers will shoe you of the printing presses running nonstop, there are also shredders working at the same time, albeit slower…
Yes……obviously no one ever explained the value of the phrase, ‘Waste not ~ Want not,” to this woman. How awful that she could have fed several hungry children with that money! One day, SHE may wish she had that $10 back!
I think perhaps this woman read too much into what this man was doing and wanted to accomplish and thought to herself.. maybe I can impress him enough by ripping up this ten dollars and stirring it into your coffee. Yea, that will teach him I’m no $10 hooker…. I’d go on a date with him for free.
Seems towards the end she realized she was an ass and tried to make up for it with lame excuses (I help people on the Subway, I help people carry things, I give a lot of my time). If you did give your time to other people you would know that that $10 could have saved someone’s life today!
I think that Katy’s ‘symbolic gesture’ was sick. In this horrible economy, why couldn’t she have taken the $10, matched it with $10 of her own and Paid it forward to a needy recipient.
She was trying to call attention to herself when she ripped up the money—and I guess she got lots of attention from this didn’t she? Why not give it to a charitable organization, drop it in the church basket, give to cancer organization, a homeless man on the side of the street and on and on and on. Thousands of things she could have done with that $10 to help someone or brighten someones day. What a shame.
Interesting. While I’m not sure I agree with her decision – that money would have been of great value to other people, so that’s unfortunate – it’s an artistic and emotional gesture that I can appreciate.
selfish? while she may think of money as extraneous and suited for artistic expression, others do not and need it to live. I don’t like this.
I must say that I can see where you get it to say she is selfish but look at it this way: Suppose she decided to not rip the money, but instead save it (in a picture frame, just keep it in her pocket, purse, backpack, etc), as a memento, perhaps. Then it would still no longer be in the economy. Would that be seen as selfish?
I like that she saw that your project is “outside the box” and wanted to reciprocate with something “outside the box” to do with the $10.
She chose a concrete representation of the symbolic idea that the time she spent with you was worth more than the money, and to not cheapen the experience by “being paid” for it.
It’s not what I would (or maybe will) do if I were to meet you, but this project is not about the right or wrong way to respond to a gift, it’s just about giving, and I think you gave Katy a lot.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Perhaps Katy should “pay it foward” now so that even though she made the money incapable of doing any good (which I didn’t agree with, at the very least leave it as a tip or even throw it on the ground for someone to find), she can still continue the giving.
Still love to read about what you do and appreciate you sharing your stories with everyone! :] Hope your job hunt is going well! Good luck!
I’m flabbergasted by her choice. I’m trying not to judge her choice, but seriously her explanation was little over the top for me.
Katy said,
“It was more valuable for me to sit down with you … for an hour at that restaurant than it was for me to purchase something… and I felt that for me to leave the situation and take the $10 that you’d given me and spend it on something else would cheapen the moment that we had.”
Implied here is that Katy was given the $10 to “spend” it, whereas many people have given it to someone else.
Another alternative?
Give the $10 to the waitress as a tip, in gratitude for the experience you were allowed to enjoy in that restaurant (the bad coffee probably wasn’t her fault). Maybe even tell the waitress why (to encourage the “pay it forward” concept).
Or, put the $10 toward another customer’s bill (or perhaps even someone on their way into the restaurant) to help others enjoy a conversation over a meal the way she had and to role model the idea of “paying it forward.”
Katy does have a point — if someone gives you $10, and you then proceed to share and appreciate that person’s company, using that money to buy a trinket a few days later would cheapen the interaction. It’s almost as if it’s quantifying the value of the moment. Getting $10 from a stranger is an exciting event, especially if you connect with that person over a drink. If I ended up using those $10 to buy some sundries at CVS, it would be a painfully pedestrian way to end the entire interaction. Start off with a bang and end with a fizzle? No thanks.
However, Katy ignores the fact that if she had spent those $10 on something that built upon your connection – donating to NPR, buying microwave splatter-reducing lids, etc. — I doubt she would have thought it cheapened the interaction. Same if she had paid it forward to a needy person, or if she had even used the $10 to buy stationery to write back to Reed.
Was it the right decision? If she knew she wasn’t going to use the money in that way, then yes. If she didn’t know how she was going to use it, then her decision was presumptuous…and she ultimately lost out on enhancing the experience even more and having a chance to share it with more people. That’s a bit sad, and also a bit selfish.
I am not only appalled by Katy’s decision to rip-up the money but her explanation, as well. Your good deed should not have stopped there. In my opnion, she cheapened the experience by not letting more people experience generosity from a stranger. Most of us want to believe we matter and few things say “you matter” more than a kind gesture or word from a total stranger.
Very interesting, and a good illustration that money alone does not have power but the power that we give it.
However, it’s too bad she decided to destroy it. She could have given it to a hungry person, or someone in need.
I just discovered your site, Reed; and I must say it’s a fascinating concept. I enjoy your writing style, and I’ll be back 🙂
I’m a big proponent of the “pay it forward” tenet of the Golden Rule, but I completely support Katy’s decision.
What if the gift was a $10 gift card? A small present? Haven’t we all received an inexpensive gift that we have no use for and have let it expire, misplaced it or thrown it out without a second thought? If those who believe Katy was acting pompously or selfishly have NEVER “misused” an inexpensive (or expensive) gift, then I applaud them; however, the likelihood of that being true is small! Once given a gift, the gift is yours to do with it what you will. If the intention of giving the $10 is to have the recipient “pay it forward” or use it because they are needy in some way (even if they need that $5 cup of Starbucks), then the rules should be enumerated as such. Given a $10 bill and told to do whatever they like? Then rip it up, use it as a napkin, share a secret and send it to PostSecret – it’s yours to do what you want with it. Right?
How would the story have changed if the $10 fell into a drain at the curb? Been accidentally torn? It wouldn’t have been of use to anyone, then – is it still selfish? Careless? A “loss” to the economy?
Thank you for continuing to share your story and those to whom you give, Reed.
Jennifer, there may be something to what you say about if it were a $10 gift card that you end up not using BUT if you were given that $10 gift card would you cut it up in front of the person who gave it to you? That would be so rude and hurtful to say the least.
It’s like saying thanks but not thanks.
I believe she would have been a much better person for passing it on to someone who WOULD have appreciated it.
…
Jennifer: “How would the story have changed if the $10 fell into a drain at the curb? Been accidentally torn? It wouldn’t have been of use to anyone, then – is it still selfish? Careless? A “loss” to the economy?”
All those ultimately destinies are unplanned.
Deliberately destroying something of immediate financial liquidity available to benefit any number of ‘good causes’ is dAmn silly.
Her act cheapens the gift and the experience of sharing it rather than enhancing the power or beauty of the shared experience. IMHO anyway.
…tom…
ummm i really believe she lost the spirit of your giving. Why does she feel that she had to spend it on herself? Why could she not have have just bought her friend with the new baby a little gift, or given it to a homeless person. Seem very self-absorbed kept hearing her say I, I, I. Very disappointing behavior.
i agree with you Keisha, her act was very selfish and rude behavior.
Money is like manure; it should be spread around encouraging young things to grow. (Not sure who said this, but I like it.)
She totally should have paid it forward. As pointed out by various commenters, there were plenty of other things she could have done with it, that wouldn’t have cheapened the moment. Ah, well… she will never know.
Her decision totally left me empty and took the joy of out this day’s giving for me.
I heard that line in the play “Here Comes Dolly” I think it was called.
Christine…I love that quote….it is from Hello Dolly!
A banker! that is a capitalistic way of thinking! they want us to spread our money around while they gather it up and keep it..
She could have chosen to make an origami elephant instead, with her bill. Or donated to her favorite charity, elephant form or not.
Initially I was stunned when I realized she was destroying money, a value that could not be recovered. But then I started to appreciate the statement she was making and even wished I could be in her shoes for that one moment.
It seems to me that she was trying to be liberated from the high value we place on money. She wanted to make an artistic gesture would shock, that would provoke discussion (as it has!). I also think that she was making a broad-brush statement that company is worth so much more than money, and that so often, we place exactly the opposite values on the two.
Some people may find it hard that she didn’t think more outside of “the moment,” to what the $10 could have been used for. But I can see where she was coming from.
I understand what she was saying and the possible artistic aspect of tearing it up, but come on! That could have fed somebody and that is way more important than her experience or expression. And I thought it was illegal to destroy money – did that change?
Apparently it is still a crime, but the maximum fine is $100.
Nope. It didn’t. Let’s see if this pretentious little git still appreciates the ‘artistic’ nature of destroying money when she’s faced with a fine and up to six months in jail.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/333.html
Yep. Thanks, by the way, Mr. Sandridge. I admire what you’re doing as it is, and now you’ve helped better society by providing video evidence of blatant [edited] that can be punished by law.
I cannot believe Katy’s actions and her foolish reasoning. So many times we see people in need, and even though she states she did not need it, what about that person that does? It is pure selfishness and contemptible in my eyes to do such a thing. It is also very illegal.
Title 18 United States Code, Section 333
Mutilation of national bank obligations
Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
———————————-
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/333.html
I felt a little regret on her voice while she was trying to justify her actions… I agree that the most important thing is the gesture, the act of giving, and not the money… She didn’t have to expend the money on herself though. She could have just have passed forward the $10, and most important the spirit of giving of Reed’s endeavor.
I completely agree with the previous comment by “Jennifer”, as well as, Katy’s decision. The focus should not be about the money instead the experience. Just because Katy does not have the 10.00 does not mean she will not pay it forward and is selfish. Paying if forward is not just about money, you can pay it forward so many other ways. We place so much value on money as if it’s everything in life when it should be the opposite. Like Reed has said many times it’s not about the money but when we learn and experiences it’s so much more valuable than buying a cup of coffee. I have been unemployed for 6 months and during this time I have learned more life lessons than I have in my career about the power of giving, the TRUE value of money and what life should really be about. Katy’s decision about how to spend her money in my opinion is no different than how people spend their money every day (eating out, buying unnecessary items etc). Many of us live well above our means and could learn valuable life lessons by stepping out of the box. Great job Reed!!!!!
I agree with some things Jennifer said. But I don’t agree with destroying money. You know how many hungry people there are? I came across a young man a while back who’s friend had dropped him in sarasota, he was stranded, couldn’t get home. He held up a sign, ” Help me” I asked, what do you need?
He said 15 $ to take a bus home. I gave it to him. There was a woman in line who had bought two things at a grocery store.
When she got to the register she noticed she could only pay
for one. I handed the rest of the money to her, to get both
items. People who say money is not important are the ones
who have enough & don’t know what it’s like to be without
it. I’ve been there & know how bad it feels to be hungry.
Katy could have bought someone a meal with that money
& still enjoyed her conversation with a stranger. What she did by destroying the $ 10,00 showed she had no consideration for anyone else, it was a selfish & show off act.
Finally someone out there says it! So many people find the burning of this $10 note of (“worthless”) paper abhorent, as if Katy had committed the most cardinal of sins: WASTE!
Katy’s TRUTH is that she preserved the intrinsic value of what was given to her in the most thoughtful way she could conceive of in the short amount of time she had to come up with it.
Reed, Katy…you two are each an inspiration in your own right. What is “money” really anyway; is it even “real”?
Reed, your momma is proud of you. Katy, if Reed doesn’t call you for that drink in NYC, I’ll “sit in” for him. 😉
A
P.S. – The Matrix has us all….
Judging from her reaction, New York must be booming.
Katy is an example of a spoiled rich American. As penance for doing this on Easter she should spend a day as a homeless person. At the very least she could have given the money to NPR.
I find that a bit self-rightteouse, telling someone to do penance.
I doubt penance would apply in the case of Katy since you have to have some remorse of the offense to even get to the point of needing forgiveness. I doubt Katy in her self-absorbed world would understand the meaning behind her own selfish actions.
I applaud Katy’s choice. You GAVE her the $10 and she can do anything she wants with it. As far as I see it, it’s free money. I didnt have it 5 minutes before and it isn’t enough to significantly change my lifestlye. It is more about sharing in the experience. Seems to me Katy has had one of the biggest impacts on your “project” so far.
Your comment, Tom… “Katy is an example of a spoiled rich American.” — Is uncalled for. America is a giving country — always there for those in need. There are rich and spoiled across the globe. Stop slapping America before we start turning off our light to the world.
“Stop slapping America before we start turning off our light to the world.” Really???? Wow, just more evidence of the reason why the opinions formed by other nations about “America” thinking very highly of itself. You are a PART of THE America’s…NOT all of it. Thankfully there are millions more from the U.S. that believe they are part of something bigger than themselves, as evidenced by the generosity of Reed and others like him. Kudo’s to you, Reed. The inspiration you are providing is immeasurable. I truly hope that your kindness and generosity spreads like wildfire, not just in the U.S.A., but around the world!!!
Just standing up for a wonderful part of the world that is always reaching out to help — and always getting thanked with backlash like Tom’s comment of American’s being spoiled rich. Not singling out any one part of the America’s and by no means ‘thinking highly of oneself’ in a selfish way. In a proud way, yes — not selfish. So yes – REALLY — stop slapping and start saying thank you just like millions from the America’s do in turn… always ‘paying it forward’.
As for the ‘turning the lights off’ — just an ambiguity of language — none of us would ever stop helping, no matter how thankless or appreciated it becomes. So please, step down and start appreciating all that is good. These ‘opinions’ you speak of are indeed misinformed.
You forgot the word “negitive” before teh word impact.
At least when she decided to rip up the money she sparked thought and conversation on this website. $10 spent on a burger and a soda would have never done that.
Next time you go shopping try to buy something with a “thought and conversation”
this actually upset me! she made her gesture out to be artistic when i took it as flat out stupid and selfish. she didn’t think outside of herself and in my opinion missed the point of the project. she had an opportunity to pay it forward and only saw the $10 as a means to a trinket at some furture moment in time. she could have totally valued the time spent with you over her really really bad coffee and done something meaningful for somebody else.
katy, if you’re out there and reading this…that insiginificant bill could have been a hungry person’s dinner or just the little something extra for somebody who is getting by. sadly, you didn’t think outside yourself or your so called “symbolic” gesture for that matter.
mekallo.. it was TEN DOLLARS! not 1000 not 1000000 just 10… who cares what she did with it. If your so hurt by what she did with 10 dollars, make up for it. donate your time or money to those who need it. Otherwise, you should just keep those fingers of yours off the keyboard and on that cheeseburger where you’ll be less irritating.
I understand her logic completely, and don’t argue with her intent. However, she can’t really DO whatever she wants with it, since money doesn’t really “belong” to the holder, but is the property of the United States. It is illegal to “mutilate” money making it “unfit to be reissued” (Title 18 United States Code, Section 333). She can only USE it as she wishes. I agree with the earlier comments, that it would have been better to leave it as a tip, drop it on the floor, or give it to a homeless person.
I wrote a response to this shortly after seeing it the other day. Then I erased it considering it to be a bit harsh. However, I have had time to rethink and still am disturbed by Katy’s action. This young lady has a difficult time with the concept of “giving” and obviously gracious “receiving” is not in her repertoire either.
So, she didn’t need the money… thank God she didn’t… but there are a great many people who would have loved to have her hand it to them…. No one told her she had to spend it on herself…
What is the least that $10 could provide for someone who has little or nothing.
So not only does she ignore the fact that because she didn’t need to keep it she deprived anyone else of using that same gift for the benefit of ANYONE!
To me it just showed that she is a selfish and ego driven individual, if she doesn’t need it then no one else should have it either.
She accomplished her goal…. she got attention… even her comment regarding “cheapening the moment that you had”, really…. This is a situation that wasn’t “all about her” but she has managed to get a number of us thinking about her actions.
Amen!
I had a friend once who threw away pennies – just took the change from her pocket at the end of the day and tossed the pennies in the trash. I found it abominable and would fish them out. When Katy’s $10 could have paid for half a surgery to fix a child’s cleft palate (don’t those magazine ads haunt you too?!), I find her decision more than irresponsibile – it was disrespectful and hurtful on a global level. That being said, I also wish I wasn’t so paranoid about not having enough money to get through these difficult times, and that I could appreciate the outlandish side of what Katy demonstrated.
yes i find it wastefull my husband an di toss change in aceramic boot and devide it among our 3 kids into tea tins and they are getting very heavy we will open saveings accounts for each child when they are filled up!!
I think it’s a pick-up line that backfired because she’s destroying what you created. It was her choice to sit and talk with you – it was your choice to give her an opportunity. Clearly, the only choice she valued was her own.
There have been a couple of recipients who have returned the money because they didnt want it-that is a better idea then doing what she did.
“It was more valuable for me to sit down with you … for an hour at that restaurant than it was for me to purchase something… and I felt that for me to leave the situation and take the $10 that you’d given me and spend it on something else would cheapen the moment that we had.”-Sounds to me like she has a crush on Reed.!!
Hmmm, tearing up the bill gives her a sense of power and self righteousness for sure… but it shows to the viewer that:
– Everything is about her: “I don’t care about the money”, “I did not like the coffee”, “I …”
Overall, average to low EI!
Katy’s decision to tear up the $10 has already accomplished more than she probably thought it would.
You cannot put a fiscal or economic value on the previous 28 comments or the thought/thinking that her actions made each of use put into understanding her motives.
So really she accomplished the Year of Giving, with a day of thought provoking action.
I’m not surprised in the least that Katy is not a “person of means” – what she did showed total lack of respect for the ENERGY of money and the INTENT of the $10 given. And I also wouldn’t be surprised if – after some sort of follow up a year from now – if she wasn’t in worse financial shape that she was in worse financial shape that she was today.
Personally, she came off very hautey and selfrighteous – Perhaps she was still hung over from being with her friends earlier 😉
I feel sorry for Katy – she had the opportunity to do so much more ‘good’ than just create a bunch of commentary here.
This is the proof that alcohol, really eats up your brain.
Money is potential. Katy destroyed the potential that was given freely to her.
She was given the privilege of sitting down with a nice stranger for an hour to talk mostly about herself. Plus she was given ten dollars to do it, and her coffee was payed for.
Selfish and self involved I think.
I’m all for ‘art’ generating healthy discussion. I generally like controversy. But I don’t feel this was art. No one else would do this, therefore everyone would talk about it, thereby Katy gets more attention. I’m giving her some of mine right now.
One hr + 30 and counting comments = a whole lotta attention for some bad behavior. The year of giving implies positive action. Katy’s action was not positive.
Giving is about growth and life and all the warm fuzzies that go along with. I’m not feelin’ the love here. Yes, it was totally her choice to do whatever she wanted with it. So in that sense, anything I or anyone else has to say about it is beside the point.
Maybe if I was in a different financial situation I’d feel differently about it. I used to make considerably more money than I do now. Ten dollars used to be a few drinks at a bar or lunch with a friend.
But now, my money comes down to time. How much of my time did I have to give to my employers to get that money? And right now, I give a lot of time for very little money.
So, when someone takes what could potentially be almost two hours worth of someone else’s hardworking time and rips it up and stirs it into a coffee they weren’t even gracious enough to drink (I don’t care how bad it is, if someone who doesn’t have a job can fit your coffee into their budget, the polite thing to do would be to drink it), I can’t help but feel offended.
You aren’t supposed to destroy money. It may be torn a little and written on, but not destroyed. I found that little fact in a ‘folding dollars’ origami book.
Katy is quite fascinating. I can relate to the way she puts value on life experience rather than on cash.
Another way to honor the memory, though, would have been to both sign the $10 and then put it in a scrap book.
To some people, money represents the fuel in an evil machine. To others, it represents a reward for hard work. Either viewpoint is acceptable. Congratulations to Katy for being a bold woman and an out-of-the-box thinker.
This woman is genius! – Look past the obvious! In an economy where our politicians can only spend and print money, Imagine the unintentional impact this would have on the value of the dollar if everyone tore up just one Ten dollar bill…….**Ponders** – Lady, I’m not sure if this was your intention, but for what it is … Genius!
-David
That money could have done wonders for someone else! I completely disagree. She could have just as easily gotten up and handed it to the nearest homeless man.
Katy ripped up the bill for you, Reed. Ultimately the only thing that matters is what you thought of it. She basically said “You’re more important than money.” So, how do you feel about that? 🙂 I liked it.
Although I may not have done what Katy did with the $10, I understand why she did it. I liked her reasoning and think she’s pretty cool. I mean really, some things you just can’t put a price on and I guess this was one of those situations for her.
Too often people give money too much power instead of just enjoying life. We spend too much time trying to obtain money and even when we earn it, most of us are too busy thinking about what we don’t have and how more money will help us obtain happiness. So bravo Katy, well done 🙂
I guess when it’s in her hands its her money, and her business what she does with it. But I personally know people who are having a hard time keeping gas in their car to get to work, being able to afford formula or diapers for their baby, or even medication for things like blood pressure, or cholesterol. There are so many good things that could be done with a simple ten dollar bill, yet artistic expression took first dibs. Seems a damn shame she didn’t go buy a wimpy mcdonald’s burger for some poor bum starving to death in D.C. instead. I’m disgusted.
You know what? I came to this site to watch Katy rip up the $10. I would not have came here if not for the link at aolnews. I am sure I am not alone. For that alone, she spent her $10 wisely. As now many more people are here than would have been otherwise.
What came to my mind when I watched this video was the economic principle of supply and demand. Obviously, destroying one ten-dollar-bill does not effect the entire economy, but I think, as most of you have said, that the action was more symbolic than anything else. I don’t know if Katy was thinking about it at the time, but, theoretically, by taking that $10 out of circulation, she made every other $10 gift worth a little more.
She wanted to draw attention to herself more than anything else. I don’t buy that symbolic thing BS that she was talking.
I’ll bet you one day she’ll need 10 bucks for something.
boring…and after watching the video, I think you must be boring to think she is interesting. she had absolutely nothing of substance to say…nothing. That’s the reason why she ripped it up…she had nothing else.
I don’t think she should have destroyed the money. $10 could have bought someone gas for a job interview or 2 subway sandwiches for someone else who hadn’t eaten in a while. Although he did give her the money to do with as she wished, I’m glad that didn’t stop him from continuing to do it. Oftentimes, somebody just needs a little bit to make their day go better, giving the 10 bucks to someone else and sitting down with them to talk just as he had done would have been a better use but to each his own. Please keep up the good you are doing and continue to make your mom proud.
Selfish. Me Me Me…..I..I…I….. pay it forward plain and simple. Artistic expression hmmmm…..more like an egotistical nut. Oh well it takes all kinds to make the world go around. It may not have meant anything to “her” but somewhere -somebody did need it. It’s kind of gross to watch this video.
This is ridiculous. She could easily have given that money to someone whom it would benefit and her pseudointellectual rationalizations don’t make her irrational act any more palatable. On the other hand, she has a really nice rack, so she can do whatever she wants and we will nod along as though it’s ok.
I understand what she was tryig to do . But she should had handed the 10 dollars off to someone else. These people who watched this and felt it was hard to watch ………knew it would have fed some individual even if for just one meal . I did not like this . I am assuming neither did you as there was a WARNING on the beginning of the video .
It was extremely selfish and Narcissistic. How about leaving it for the hard working waiter who brought the coffee? It doesn’t have to be to buy something for yourself or anything for yourself. Think how she would have made that servers day by leaving a great tip. The [edited] even complains about the coffee being bad. I work hard for my money and work hard to give jobs and “tips” to as many people as possible. [Edited] Actions speak louder than words and that was a selfish action.
Does she even realize one of those people might have watched her destroy that money? Forget that it’s a criminal act, (I believe it against the law to destroy money) it was selfish.
I tend to agree with the Jennifer, as well. The gift you gave was hers to do with what she wanted. When you give someone a gift, it should always be with the genuine intent of giving, and not receiving. To expect a certain reaction, reciprocation or “pay it forward” action really is to “cheapen” the gift overall. It was her money. She could have kept that ten dollar bill in a piggy bank for twenty years if she wanted to, and that wouldn’t be doing anyone else any good, either. As Reed pointed out, ten dollars is not a life-changing amount, and while it could have fed a homeless person today, it would not have fed him tomorrow, so criticizing the way someone decides to spend her own money is really just being judgmental and nosy. I probably would have gone to my favorite bar and bought a friend a beer with it. I think that’s just as much of a waste as ripping it up, truly. Because I would have bought that friend a beer anyway.
Katy did not strike me as the type of woman who would hesitate to “pay it forward” after this experience…or even before this happened! She didn’t seem selfish to me. She seemed to genuinely appreciate the humanity of the little moment in time when hers and another’s lives were connected. I completely get it, and while I cannot say that I would have ripped up the cash, I consider it none of my business what she does with her money.
BTW – I like dropping a couple quarters whenever I use a parking meter…you have no idea how many times I have found myself searching under the car seats for just one stinking dime, and I can only hope that someone else was saved that pain in the neck or parking ticket. If one of them falls into the sewer grate, I don’t feel bad, either…and no one’s getting that one!
JEEZ! DRAMA QUEEN! If she didn’t want the $10, she could have easily refused it. No point to be made. It could have been given to someone else who obviously really needed it.
Perhaps she was intoxicated, since it was mentioned that she had been drinking previously, prior to meeting
Reed Sandridge. I noticed that the first thing she wanted to do was buy him a drink. The explanation for her reason to tear up the $10 makes NO SENSE AT ALL!
If she’s attempting to make a name for herself to get publicity as a documentary filmmaker, she certainly did.
And it’s not pretty!
Tearing up currency? Why does this sound wrong? Probably because it is….defacing money is illegal, so I guess ripping it to shreds is frowned upon by those who are trying to keep track of how much money has been printed…doesn’t neccissarly mean there is something there to back the paper, but it still can create more confusion in the big picture. I’m sure there was a person in need somewhere nearby that she could have given the money to. Ten dollars might not seem like alot, but if you are starting a new job and have no $$, you might wait two weeks to go grocery shopping or pay a utility bill that was shut off. Ten Dollars could feed a worker for three or four days if they are creative(I speak from experience).
What would Jesus do? I think he would say: “Follow the laws of the land, and do not tear up something that does not belong to you. Instead, share it with those in need”
Currency in your pocket might be “your money”, but it’s also a Federal Note, might be a good idea to look that up and see who really owns it. “We the people”?
I would have taken your hand and asked you to walk with me for awhile. And after our walk and talk, handed the $10.00 bill along with my own $10.00 bill to someone less fortunate than myself. Then I would faced you and told you that I appreciated the time we spent together.
To some people, a person to talk with and share life experiences with touches one much deeper.
Stupid decision, now she trying to come up with an excuse for it.
She was drinking with friends on that Easter Sunday. Apperantly just a little bit too much….. There are lot of people in this country who do not apprecate what they have. Often we hear “think outside of the box”. How about living outside of the coutry for a while. Not as a tourist, but as a local. Appreciation of running water, sewer system and abiltity to fly to DC to see your friends will come. Do you know whay $10 can do? It could save some little boy’s kidney in India, not push 10 years old Burma’s girl into prostitution (at least not at that age), buy flowers for blown in Moscow subway family, help rapped women in South Africa to pay for mental help or help familyin Kansas city of fallen soldier…. or you can rip it off. Stupid and arrigant act. Nothing artistic about it.
I don’t believe her. This was an act of anger. What would be really interesting would be her psychology. My guess is that it directly relates to her parents attitude towards money.
Wow, I look at her and get this feeling of you and her marrying. She was definitely digging you man. I hope someone gives you a check for $5000 to cover your giving. I would but can’t afford to give ya $5 bucks more or less $5000 bucks. Thank you, you’ve touched my heart and have added to changing my life.
Reg
1. Comfortable enough to throw away money.
2. Would she have thrown away $10 she earned?
3. Someone hungry, like a child, could have been fed.
4. Artist blows up a public building, calling it “art.”
5. Shock value lessens with time.
6. It is against the law to destroy money (Title 18 United States Code, Section 333);
video conviction.
7. Symbolism is worthless; a hungry child’s face, after eating, is priceless.
8. Haiti, Chile, China, Indonesia, India – disaster sites.
9. Selfish act (selfcentered) – pay forward generous.
10. $10 – AIDS vaccine for someone in Africa, etc.
11. Fix a child’s cleft palate.
12. SHE DID DESTROY WHAT YOU CREATED.
13. $10 = wage for one day/month/year in a poor country.
14. Silly rabbit, tricks are for kids.
How irresponsible and immature….while the ten dollars does not mean anything to her it probably means the difference between a warm meal and going hungry to someone, the difference between being stranded without money for cabfare, gas, or bus fare and getting home,even the waitress could possibly have paid a bill if given it as a tip (even if the coffee was bad)….I find her selfish decision to take an “artistic” view of the gift an unfortunate example of society today….so many people place no value on so many things today…..we are a throw away society that demands instant gratification and self serving attention…..next time take the ten dollars…give your little speech and find a shelter, a food bank or a local charity or church to give the money to.
I think I understand her thinking but I also think Katy is immature in that she is still quite egocentric and did not carry her beliefs outside of herself. She does not see that she can be true to her philosophy and help others at the same time with that $10. When she grows up a little more, she will be a more positive influence.
Her motive is awesome! Love people more than what you can get out of them. Her action to prove her point is shocking. I like it. Of course, that’s coming from someone who just released a new book entitled, “SHUT THE HELL UP!” Check out the promo at http://www.terrytripp.com.
I have mixed feelings about her response. I oftentimes feel that it is necessary from my standpoint to memorialize a moment by some kind of symbolic gesture. However, when they are so many people in need, I feel that what she did was very selfish. She could have instead purchased some very special things like a bag of apples, a bag of carrots, a loaf a bread, etc. and passed those out, by really stretching her purchase, or by feeding the birds in the park, etc. There are so many other really creative, artistic choices she could have made. But to try and make an artistic statement, that she didn’t need the money, and that the coffee was bad, and it would have cheapened the moment of the meeting? Ridiculous. It was not HERS to do with what she wanted … it actually is Federal Currency, meaning if there was a Federal Authority nearby she could have been arrested for damaging Federal property. I know this sounds ludicrous, but it is true. She said, that she is someone that doesn’t have much money, and guess what, it will always be that way for her, because of her obvious misplaced attitude about money. Unfortunate as it may be, in our society, money is something that we all need. I appreciate the things that she does do to help others, but she missed another opportunity to help someone with that $10 bill. 😦
I really think she should have continued your tradition of giving $10. She should have gone to another person and handed them the money rather than riped it up. I think that would have been a better choice. But I totally agree with her point of view.
a bit selfish,I think. she could easily declined or donated the money, but it was GIVEN to HER. So,ultimately it was her decision to do with it what she pleases. although I don’t agree with it, I tend to agree about the economic value it would have had, but that’s the way it is. interesting
There are so many ways of looking at this, but what strikes me most is the absolute selfishness of it, the utter pomposity. I’m sure she feels “New York” hip by ripping up the money of the “establishment”, or “whatever”. What I feel, is that she has cheapened the whole idea of your project. If she did not feel compelled to spend the money on herself, great! But why didn’t she practice the generosity and reciprocity with which the gift was offered?? Give it to someone who could use it to eat for a few days, someone who doesn’t have pretty clothes and a posh NY existence? Her act was thoughtless, and done for the benefit of standing out. No doubt she is pleased with herself and gloating with all her uppity friends. One things for sure, when it comes to the idea of the Year of Giving, this woman just doesn’t get it!
When she tore up the $10, what she really did was give $10 to the US government, since currency is an IOU from the government. It’s unfortunate she did that, because I believe the US government already has way too much money and hardly needs more.
I love katy. I love to sit down and have coffee with her. Katy, I live in LongIsland NY and you have an invitation to have coffe with me. You are indeed someone who can think outside the bun. Goodluck to you Reed, let us know when the end is near. I love to contribute.
Destroying the $10 was pointless – espeically putting it into her coffee. That was just being crude. If she wanted to not cheapen the experience then she should have passed the $10 on to another with the same spirit in which it was given to her.
I think one of the posters (Susan) put it well – young and pompous.
As I watch the video with no sound card attached, all I see is Katy, with her short and perhaps bitten down nails, rip to shreds a “paper” bill, which has no value to her, and dunk and stir it into a cup of non-drinkable coffee. The beauty of no sound card is relying only on visuals and not on the garbarge sometimes one may spew out as a reasonable lecture. It looks like Katy could have used that $10.00 to either get a manicure, get some meds, or pass on to someone else who might be in desperate need of the $10.00 for nutrition or something considered as a wise investment. After reading the other comments, I get the feeling Katy must have given an altruistic reason for her destruction of the $10.00 bill, but I think she missed your point of “giving” and might have felt her “point” was far more superior, thus the need expell her virtures. Though, without a soundcard, Katy looks impetuious and rebellious, without a thought to others. I also thought she might have been a bit on the hungover side, as another viewer commented. She “looks” about a fascinating as a animal bordering on the rabid side. Poor, and now poorer Katy.
I wondered if the waitstaff at the restaurant thought it was left in the cup as a comment on the coffee or the service???
Can’t say I would ever tear up $10 like that, I am wayyyyyy too dependent on $$ to freely do that. It would haunt me. In the back of my mind I would always think of how that ten bucks could have been used/given for a better end.
I find myself musing over the waitress or busboy taping the whole thing back together or taking it to the bank for a replacement.
Maybe, just maybe, if every person who posted on here that they were offended by Katy’s actions went and gave ONE $10 bill to a stranger in need, then Katy’s actions could be turned in to a positive for those who felt she was wrong. Imagine 20 plus people giving out $10 to make up for one destroyed $10 bill.
Although I am on disability living hand to mouth, I would not have kept the $10, instead either returning it to you or buying a couple of Subway sandwiches to give to the homeless.
While Katy placed the value of the event on spending time with you, I felt that destroying the gift that created the possibility of being with you was greatly cheapened by her act. If she truly valued your brief time together, she definitely should have (as others said) used the money to pay it forward.
Even though she didn’t need or want the money, she should have considered those people who even a gift of $1 would make a difference. Obviously she has never experienced a day without funds or she wouldn’t have destroyed the money. Instead she would have RESPECTED your act of kindness and in turn be kind to someone else.
Katy thought outside of the box, but turned it into a big 0.
To me, she is your basic nut case. Waste your money on a pierceing but piss away $10 dollars. Get real
She could have just given it to someone who NEEDED it and not “cheapened” the situation. It was MORE than symbolic, she literally destroyed $10. Obviously she has no true comprehension of how many people, who are in NEED of that $10 to feed a family and make sure their children don’t go hungry and have a place to sleep. She should worry less about her “cool statement” and more about other people’s reality.
She should have given it to someone else. I think she wanted you to remember her above all else so she did it for the drama. Nothing else! It worked! I always bless a $5.00 bill and hide it away in my wallet and when I see someone in the grocery struggling with money I hand it to them and say perhaps you just dropped this and wink then walk away. My favorite was the day I was getting my nails done, a young girl was asking how much everything cost so when i left I also paid for her nails and asked them not to tell her who did it. I bet she was surprised! More people should do this and most of all since you have the stamina to do it and enjoy it, someone should sponser you so you can continue to do it! I would but NOW I am one of those people who live for 2 days on $10–lol God Bless!
“This world offers riches, but riches mean ruins, I don’t take stock in those uncertain things”to quote John Mellencamp.
I have a simple response for this action! She is a very ungrateful and a very selfish person … !!!
She could have passed those $10 bucks to somebody else’s in extreme need, THERE IS LOT’S of those street people in NY and all over the place!
It could have gotten that (other) person the possibility of at least buying 2 instant noodle soups on a cup per dollar at a 99 cent convenience store or 20 instant soups that would have easily made somebody’s day knowing that he/she had ‘something to eat’ for 4 or 5 days!!!!
I’m so sorry!! but this is the classic mind set and mentality of arrogance and wasteful ideas that we have in our society! In a way … ?? she perhaps felt ‘insulted or less than ….’ just because somebody had a noble or intent to help others.
Most people when confronted by somebody whom just want to help in a very small way like you did Reed, their first reaction is of arrogance, rejection and self-pity when they know, deep inside, that they could use that help!!!! Is not the amount what matters!!! is the act of given what we can!
There are countries out there where their people live of 2 dollars a day minimal wages!!!! Her action was nothing more than a slap in the face to you Reed! I bet, deep inside of you, you really felt it!
Shame on her!
?!
She is a pompous idiot. Rationalizing her lack of self worth with a shallow comment about “cheapening the hour she spent talking”. I think her actions were selfish and, if anything, cheapened the spirit of which the money was given to begin with.
she wants you man…its that simple
The other thing, the bad coffee … was not the waiter / waitresse’s fault, and not the fault of the person that would have to clean up her mess … it was probably from the bottom of a pot that had been sitting. All she had to do was tell the waiter / waitress, that the coffee tasted bad, could she have a cup from a new pot. So, not only was she selfish by destroying something that would have help other people, places or things, she also caused some stress annoyance and more work for the innocent people who were too busy working and trying to earn less then $10 an hour, while she was sitting there taking up space and making her artistic statement. Now that is really symbolic ….?! Not! 😦
I love that katie valued the time. It shows me how much we need to connect meaningfully with others. In this fast paced society slowing down to really talk is priceless.
Yes, the money could have, and in my thoughts, should have been put to better use. But her point is well taken and causes me to think more deeply on human kindesses.
She just defaced government property. How come she just give it too someone else, and keep the kindness going. If she didn’t want it, then she really should have done what this guy’s been doing, and GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE!
Read The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
I think she could have done a lot more with the $10. It was sad to see her throw it away.
What she said about the time spent spent with Sandridge and how that meant more to her than the money could was sweet, and it definitely shows a depth of character. Like other people who have commented though, I really believe that she “dishonored” the project by not following suit or thinking of what she can do for other people rather than herself.
I hope to GOD every employer of Katy’s see’s this and decides she should not be paid for what she does…hey, money doesn’t mean anything to her….she should have given that 10 bucks back, so he could have given it to someone who would have appreciated it.
Sorry, in this economy every dollar counts in my house. I think this is a wonderful thing, I do it in the grocery store, buy someone’s groceries for them, the person behind you, and the best part…don’t tell them it was you…do it because you can..and you want to.
I might have misunderstood the purpose of this site [this being the first I’ve heard of it] but it seems to me that she had every right to what she will with the ten dollars. I found a great gesture that showed that she values an hour spent talking to a stranger is more valuable then ten dollars. Not many people feel the same way. I found myself applauding her. As for the loss to the economy, money is destroyed all the time. Fires, accidents, and that type of stuff happens all the time. Also buying something meaningful with it probably wouldn’t have worked, how could she tell that $10 from all the other ones in her wallet?
My first thought was that she could have given the $10 away instead of destroying it, like many commenters also believed. However, your question of economic impact made me think again. While the demand for $10 bills remains the same, Katy reduced the supply by 1, thereby increasing the value of each $10 bill. She slightly strengthened the value of the US dollar and improved the economy for millions… by a nano-fraction of a percent. But good for her anyway.
Isn’t this evidence of a crime? I personally don’t care at all but I don’t think it’s fair to this girl to post this.
Actually I am the one who is guilty of posting it. -Reed
I LOVE HER. THE HOUR OR SO WITH REED WAS WORTH THE $10.00 TO HER. GOD BLESS HER.
I think Kathy didn’t make a very good decision, because by ripping up the money and putting it in the coffee that was bad. Was a insult to the waitress and also to you whom gave her the ten dollars. It didn’t mean anything to her but how did it make you feel? How did the waitress feel when she cleared the table with the torn ten dollars? But Maybe you left a tip anyway.
Hi Tina! I didn’t have a problem with katy’s choice to rip up the money. She probably didn’t come across as genuine on a 60 second video as she was in person for an hour, but I think she really did appreciate the conversation and what I am doing. Of course, the money could have been used for something else…but that was her choice. And yes, of course we left a tip for our waiter. -Reed
“$10 left the economy and now has no ability to morph into other things to keep the cogwheels of our economy turning.”
The Government will just print more… That’s what they’re doing and been doing. A true definition of economic failure.
finally someone who says. yes thank you for giving me the money. but to me. this means nothing. meeting you was the real reward. sitting with you and talking to someone i just met. that meant more to her than giving her money. Not to many people would see that. we are so money grubbing society today. good for her. now i wouldnt have done it. i too am unemployed and would have bought some food for my family. but good that there is someone out there who would do that.
katy is young but not stupid . she wanted areaction and got it. her kind needs and craves attention . your company meant more than the $ to me is crap! she could have given it right back to you or someone else and if would have been same message. why not give it to the mom of the new baby she just met gavin . 10$ of diapers down the coffe drain!! way to go girl. too much wine and little rest.
I don’t generally chime in on the web, but I had to this time regarding Kathy’s decision to destroy the $10.00.
I anxiously click on the play button hoping to find out that she had handed the money to another stranger. When she ripped it into pieces, I thought she was being very insensitive. Insensitive to all the many people who could really have used $10.00. The money “meant nothing” to her, but it’s a couple gallons of gasoline and a means to get work for some others. It’s a meal or two for a hungry person. One who may not have been more than a few feet away from her.
And the comment about not wanting to devalue her time spent with you. It sounded to me like she was trying to impress you? But, I am not impressed with her. And, I suppose it is even more offensive to me because I understand what it means to go lacking.
While i agree that the $10 was a gift and therefore hers to do with as she pleased, i regret what she chose to do with it.
i have trouble buying her grand reason for tearing up the $10. i suspect that she simply wished to stand out at the time. She could both NOT REALLY ACCEPT the money from him and seem to be making a statement about the world at the same time. i wonder what she would have done with $1000?
When one receives something in with a selfless attitude, one thinks about HE who GAVE the gift; one appreciates the VALUE of the gift (however small) as valuable; and if one cannot benefit from the gift oneself, one looks for ways to BENEFIT OTHERS. The focus is outward.
First, lets deal with the legal question. “Specifically, this is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code, which says that “whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.” The law is enforced by the Secret Service.”
However, I don’t think this was Kathy’s intent. Her direct INTENT was to make sure that particular bill wasn’t USED NOT to make sure it wasn’t REISSUED.
Now for her indirect intent which she explained, she had a right to do whatever she wanted with it if not it would not REALLY be a GIFT. Whether we think it was right or wrong is irrelevant. Keep in mind that one of those people who got $10 could have used it to buy illegal drugs, or something else that could harm themselves or others, but we may never know. The difference is that Kathy CHOSE to show us what she did…which brings me to the VALUE of that.
You see Kathy has made us think about the value of money. The next time you want to use $10 on something relatively meaningless, you AND the other people who wrote comments saying she could have given it to someone else who needed it, paid it forward, left it for someone else to find, donated it, etc. WOULD think about doing just that. I can bet you that almost all the people who have said she could have done this and that with it, have “wasted” $10 on other things, but NOW they, and I included would think twice. And that my friends is PRICELESS!
Kathy’s explanation shows this was not her intent, but her act was well worth the consequences.
When working in China as a teacher, at the end of each day I would empty my pocket of all small change accumulated. One day in class the subject of corruption came up. I asked the class if their father had just received the top position in an
American company in China and he offered a vice presidency to them would they accept. All except one girl said said “yes”.
When I asked her ‘why not?she said she was not qualified.
No matter how twisted the question and the facts she remained adamant.
During the lunch break to we walked out together and continued the discussion since I was curious why she was the only holdout in the class.
As such she was the only person who saw where I was going in attempting to show that corruption is not just the mere taking of money.
The morning I was leaving the university to return to the U.S,
I looked from my window to the waiting van and about 200 of my students gathered to say goodbye. I had been wondering what to do with this bag of small change. I saw this girl in the crowd and decided what I would do.
I walked over to her and said, “this is not for you but it is your last lesson. Give it to the first beggar you see. Even though you do not like the way he/she looks. In fact that is even better. Then walk away and observe the reaction when the beggar opens the bag and sees it is money.
Try to remember the expression and also your reaction and feeling in your heart.”
Several months later I received a letter from her which read,
“Now I understand what you were trying to teach us”.
Who knows that that bag of small change has accomplished. Aside making me feel good.
That’s beautiful Vincent. It sounds like you really made an impact there. -Reed
All she had to do was leave the $10 for the waitress or in a tip jar. Her defacing the money was her “trying to be unique and different”. Doesn’t work for me.
I pretty much agree with the majority here. It was not a good use of the $10. She did seem self centered. I respect wanting to make some symbolic gesture to show that it wasn’t about the money… but many others here have enumerated alternatives that would have accomplished that goal while not throwing someone’s gift into the trash.
And she did also spark the most conversation yet on this blog… so perhaps it wasn’t a complete waste.
Finally, some other observations. (1) I think she was still buzzed from her earlier wine drinking, (2) she was feeling flirty with Reed, and wanted to impress him in some way and what she came up with was a bit over-dramatic and unnecessary, (3) all of her sentences end in the tone of a question, even when she is making a statement, which I believe to be an indication of low self-esteem (but I’m not a psychologist or otherwise qualified to say that with any authority).
She received $10.00 and for whatever reason she didn’t want it could have been “re-gifted” to someone who would have been in need. Ungrateful, would be a more accurate description of this woman! as well, especially on the comment of the coffee being terrible? There are those who would like to have that bad tasting cup of “Joe” as well, for they have to settle for some type of liquid remains in a bottle or can picked from trash. I’m wondering what she would be doing in the umemployed world, but then again, she may be joining us all soon. Very, very, very bad decision!
[This post was edited]
Asa follow up to the above….It makes us think not just about the value of money specifically but the value of giving in general, whether it be in monetary form or giving of ourselves.
Isn’t it illegal to destroy U.S. currency? With that being said, although the $10 COULD have ended up with someone who could have used it, ie. cab ride home, milk and cookies for the kids, gas, it was given to her to do with it as she saw fit. I don’t feel negative towards it.
Personally, instead of ripping it up and putting it in the coffee, I would have just paid it forward and given it to someone else.
The only thing that saddens me about what you are doing, is that I’ve thought of doing something similar, but never followed through on the idea myself. Keep it up. I believe that at least one person’s life, of the 365 you will deal with, will be touched one way or another. A catalyst of good things to come if you will.
Peace.
Thanks for the comment Eric…I encourage you to go ahead with your instinct to do this. It is amazing. You will meet the most interesting people who you would never otherwise meet. You will see so many smiles and make so many new friends. Although I didn’t start this for those reasons, these type of things are priceless. -Reed
Good thing it wasn’t a $100 bill!
I can’t believe that woman would do such an idiotic thing! I know 10$ is nothing, but there are so many people out there that are hungry and homeless why didnt she give it to them. Just cause her righteous butt wants to make herself look cool… ohh look at me ripping a 10 dollar bill
Superficial young girl…
She just had to do something over what you were trying to do…
Nothing but an absolute non sequitur. See her struggle to come up with a reason …
She did it for shock value alone, then tried to dignify her selfish action
Sad
Her ripping up the money and then soaking it in the coffee that she remarked was ‘really, really, bad’, put my stomach in knots. Simply put, it stopped the flow. I agree with some of the others comments, that she could have passed it on to someone in need, pass on the good will, but she not only ripped the good will apart, she soaked in coffee she didn’t like – talk about adding insult to injury. Her perspective is indeed different, and we are all entitled to our own perspective, but her action did not leave me with a good feeling. It made me feel sad.
I don’t know how to delete my earlier comment; so I will kind of go over it a little bit and add.
First of all; what she did is against the law.
Not only that but it was totally emoral.
I hope that charges will be filed on her; because if our military personal who defend our country can get charged for destroying government property for injuring themselves.
Then how can this lady get away with distroying government property?
At least the waiter got a tip, not is very good taste, comensurate with the bad coffee
Looks like she could have used it for a manicure.
But seriously, she should have given it to someone else and kept the money circulating to benefit others.
Fantastic concept, Reed! You are obviously the kind of person who is wealthy no matter what.
Katy, however, is another story. She cautions us that she is not a person of means — and her brief relationship to the gift you gave her says volumes about that. It’s interesting that she enumerates the ways in which she “gives” to others, yet she could only see the $10 you “gave” her as “cheapening” the experience. In reality, only her perspective added the “cheapened” aspect to it. If you hadn’t given it to her, there would be no experience at all to speak of, which, to my way of thinking, gives the $10 bill added meaning and value, not less.
Some people are generous of spirit; Katy does not seem to be. She had to “take something back” from the experience, which was the false sense of power she experienced while destroying the money (she even says it was fun). It seems like a misguided cry for attention, which in itself is cheap.
I hope Katy is the one to learn something from this experience. If she changes her relationship to money, she may find her “means” begin to change as well.
Thank you, Reed, for holding life up for all of us to see and contemplate!
She wanted to stand out. She did.
She wanted to do something different. She did.
She wanted to make a point. Sadly, she missed the point.
She dismissed the option to pass on a simple gesture of kindness.
“The buck stops here.”
Well, yes, yes it did Katy.
Although i can understand why she did it ,i think it was a sudden impulse and think she should have asked him to keep the $10 and offer the oppurtunity for that day to someone else maybe then the $10 might have change a person day . In other words look at what $10 has done to all the other cases and if she relised that then maybe she would have thought differently rather than taking that moment away from someone else.
If she really wanted to honor their time together she should passed the money on and have it benefit someone else.
She could have passed along the money to someone who could have used it. What a waste!
she’s a moron. if she didn’t want to “cheapen” her experience, it doesn’t mean she has to take it away from someone else. for heaven’s sake give it to someone else! that was ridiculous and a cry for attention.
When you watch the scene where she decides to tear up the money i think she has drawn the conclusion that the money is not real; she asked were you recording the sound as well, she is trying to see just how serious you are as if she is waiting for your punch line. You were very com so that proably thru her off. I draw this conclusion because she said she was from N.Y.C. and she has no doubt seen it all. As you watch the interview she still seems to be in disbelieve but she was smart enough to have a good reason for her actions. So the question i have is, if she had found the money lying in the street would she have reacted the same way i dont think so. I think she went along just to be a good sport but still with disbelieve, if given another chance she proably would do it different!
I understand her not wanting to spend the money on herself. But it’s unfortunate that she didn’t pass the $10 along to someone else who truly may have been in need of it. She could have keep “the giving” going, and thus touched another person in the same way in which she was touched. Too bad she missed that opportunity. Not a wise decision.
Though I found her Idealism to be intersting, I feel she could have done more then just let it “end” there. If she did not need/want that $10, she could have paid it forward to someone. Each person that we touch in our daily lives with a smile, kind word, cash, whatever it may be that is positive…will in turn create an ongoing affect in everyone that they touch during the day. Sure you will come across that grumpapotomus somewhere, but at the same time, maybe deeper inside them u did touch them though they do not let you see. Maybe to someone that $10 is a pack of diapers, or a way to buy needed medication. But all the same it was her’s to do with as she would. We can hash this a million times over with “what if’s” instead it is what it is.
really?! at least buy a soldier a calling card so she/he may enjoy their family’s company as well! so sad……& extremely wasteful.
I think the people who are commenting that Katy “could have given the money to someone else” are forgetting that she can still always give another $10 of her own to someone else. She was given the $10, and it was hers to decide what to do with. I don’t think I’d do what she did in the situation, but I liked her explanation, and it made sense to me. But then I’m not someone who worries about money a lot, although I certainly don’t have a lot of it.
I’m glad I became aware of Reed’s project – I think it’s a great ides. I’m going to start reading his journals now.
The lady is whacked!!!
May be Katy has a point. I just think it was expressed rather poorly.
Although the author of this website praises Katy’s other virtues, I doubt Katy understands how much need exists around her in other people’s lives. I think she missed a rare opportunity to enrich her perspective by thoughtfully considering the author’s project.
I would not go as far as calling Katy proud — because she may not be — but I would say that she could have learned a lot from the author. Sadly she appeared to have learned little.
Just thinking what would she do if you would give her one hundred or something more. Maybe there is a limit over it her decision would be changed. Anyway it was her choice and this situation can only happen in countries, places and where people have extra money, so that in average you can share with others that also have extra money.
Congratulations for this site, I just see it and like it.
Sometimes we all throw money away on useless stuff anyway. So what’s the difference…You can’t put a price tag on making a new friend and the moment they shared. She proved that. It’s just a piece of paper, and it was hers to do whatever she wanted.
How pompous can you possibly be? “I give of my time”? Lady, I don’t want your time, you obviously do not have any idea of what that $10 could have meant to a person who truly was in need, a meal, a pair of shoes, medicene, etc.
Also, isn’t it against the law to destroy money? I hope somebody in authority sees this and she gets what is coming to her. Let her enjoy the time of the police, that is what she deserves.
Completely selfish. $10.00 is money that could help someone — she could have ‘paid it forward’ — who knows who it may have done good for. The idea that it would ‘cheapen’ her visit was not thought out well, in the least. Her coffee was bad, she didn’t allow the restaurant to correct it by informing them and left a ripped up $10.00 bill floating in it — which is a slap in the face to her server. Not only selfish in her decision, but rude as well. I just don’t see it as bold or independent in thought… or even a ‘statement’. Seems to me there is more of a self absorbed mind set in her actions and expressions camouflaging her reasoning.
Lovely concept Reed!
As far as Katy…
She really tried to build the case later that she did it for some great reason. To express the simple rights we have to rip currency and show how her conversation with you meant more than 10 dollars says to me, that she didn’t really appreciate why you were giving it to her in the first place.
Unfortunately the good she should have done with that in someone Else’s life far out weights her motives for destroying it.
All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.
Dear Reed,
What a great project! Not the $10/day (although it is a nice idea), but the website–stories, comments, videos, etc. I’m going to drum up “business” for 15 June!
About Katy S. I just can’t “wrap my mind around” her response. In the end, I guess I’d just write it up as performance art–including her explanation.
And, I can’t say what I would have done in the same situation! Perhaps others really do know what they would have done; but it would be in hindsight. I know only two things for sure–I would not have torn up the money, and I probably would have been suspicious of what was going on. Suspicious of what? I can’t tell you, because I haven’t a clue. But, how many time has someone just walked up and offered you money?
Enough stream of consciousness… Just one question: You are planning to write a book, aren’t you?!! I’ll be looking out for it. Late 2011; early 2012?
Thanks Reed,
Jan
P.S. Yes, I’m a Niners’ fan. We’re coming baaack! [About the time that your book is published! 🙂 ]
I understand her feeling that the money might have cheapened the fleeting relationship she had with the giver of it, that she wanted the experience to be devoid of monetary exchanges that exist in so many other facets of life.
I amsurprised that this has not been pointed out. What she did, in destroying the ten dollar, was in fact a crime.
From the U.S. Treasury:
“..Whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
Defacement of currency in such a way that it is made unfit for circulation comes under the jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service….”
So what we have here is basically an ungrateful criminal.
senseless
Sadly, her action was extremely symbolic of the self-entitled mentality of many of us Americans. It was fun?! There are many people who would consider it to have a far greater value than “fun!” It appears to me to be more a pathetic bid for attention. What a waste.
AWESOME
I believe that what Katy did was simply right for her at the moment. So good for her. Its the experience and the thought of what has been gained not lost.
By destroying the $10, Katy made a statement about giving that is making its way around the world. She was determined to do something meaningful and to not cheapen the experience of talking with you. How many times do we just throw away money — In the past it might have been $1, today $10, tomorrow $100 and what will we have to show for it? More than likely—nothing. Katy, on the other hand has a priceless memory and we need to thank you both for sharing your time together with us.
it may have been meaningless to her (her words) but she’s totally an @ss if she thinks she had to BUY something with it-he never said that you had to do that……after all, you were in DC, there are tons of homeless people that you pass as you walk down any street there-she could’ve paid it forward and given it away as her own random act of kindness….$ 10 could’ve fed someone their only meal of the that night. She came across as just pompous and I’m not sure if she really gives anything (she says she’s charitable-yeah right!) other than lip service. She actually laughed and said it was fun! Just plain old stupid. But then again….many folks are just plain weird.
Although Katy could do whatever she wanted with the $10, she should think about somebody in need who can use $10. May be she does not know how it feels being in need. I think she was selfish thinking only about herself but not others. She enjoyed meeting you and talking to you but she did not think about others. In any case continue on giving but give to those who are really in need. There are thousands of them may down the street from you. If you cannot find the people in need let me know I will send you a couple hundreds. Write to Haitian Ministry of San Diego, 3295 Meade Ave, San Diego, CA 92116. You may also call 619/564-7203. Do you understand? I hope so.
The reasoning she gave was the most pretentious that I have ever heard. She could have just returned the money back to the guy or given it to some needy person. Her feelings about giving to others made her very action of destroying the $10.00 pretty stupid. She could have kept it and sent it to NPR! I’m sorry, but her reasoning on tearing up the ten dollar bill sounded pretty nonsensical to me. The exchange of money is what the economy is based on, so did she fell self-important by saying that that $10.00 stopped with her?Why doesn’t she just destroy all of her money while she’s at it?
Katy obviously wanted attention for doing what she did. She wanted to be consider “one who thinks out of the box” well she had sucess in but 1 of those things in that she gained much attention.
She tries to come off as some artsy, free thinker…but Katy, you are FAKE! There was nothing heart warming about what you did. No giving gesture!
Katy, would you take $10 of your hard earned money and rip it up???? If not then why would you take this mans money and rip it up??? Given the choice, he may have chosen to give it to someone else rather than someone who is selfish and doesn’t care.
You need to really grow up and stop living within yourself and connect in a deeper form with people. There are opportunities you missed out on by this action –that is sad.
My impression is Katy ripped up the money before she was able to articulate why she was doing so. Maybe she subconsciously destroyed the money with noble intentions….but it seemed to me the act was more spontaneous (the first words she uttered were “that was fun.”
Later she mentions she thought using the money on something else would have cheapened the time spent over drinks…..well. There are other ways to ‘not spend money,’ such as putting it in a bank, or giving it to someone who has a use for it other than empty symbolism.
There are families who could eat for a week on that money.
Hahahaha, for one i think she was drunk, and two thats illegal to rip up or burn money, its federal property.
Just curious, but how many people who disagree with her decision are being slightly hypocritical?
How many of us waste $10 on a regular basis?
We buy useless crap that just sits around and accumluates dust when in many aspects we could have refrained, saved the money and then paid it forward (thereby allowing someone else to waste the money instead). Kudos for showing that there are some things more valuable than little green pieces of paper.
That all said, I still would have bought somebody a beer.
It’s more about being rude and then making excuses for it.
She could have said, I don’t want your ten dollars but
let’s have coffee and you tell me about why you are doing such a thing.
That wouldn’t have been that hard.
And that criticism is my last one.
I am all too flawed to keep casting stones.
I definitely live in a glass house.
It seems to me that Katy has a hard time receiving from people and that receiving Reed’s unconditional gift could have torn down some walls in her thinking. (She also has some problem in the dept. of giving 🙂 But, Reed’s gift will, no doubt, enlarge her thinking. The bigger issue to me is how did this affect Reed? There is a proverb the wise man Solomon wrote, “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.” Reed will not be jobless for long!
I love that she destroyed the money! She was making the point that there are more important things than money, you can’t buy happiness, happiness is morelikely to be created from coffee with a lovely stranger.
I agree that someone else could have benefited from the money. Someone in a ‘jam’! A homeless person or someone else on low income. That’s it really =P.
She seems like fun. Good choice.
Love what you are doing, I think it’s wicked!
xo
perhaps you can’t buy happiness but when
you haven’t eaten
or don’t have gasoline to get to work
ten dollars is ten dollars.
money does buy a certain amount of freedom and comfort
and only those who HAVE it
have the luxury of this type of talk.
think about it.
I think your idea is great!!!!
Small things turn into big things down the road.
If people know what you are doing, they will do
better actions in the future themselves.
Keep up the good work!!!
I think she should have done anything else with the money, dropped it on the ground, left it as a tip, paid for someone elses meal, etc. Just tearing it up destroyed the idea of giving, its like destroying a gift so nobody else could recieve it. It was a very selfish act.
Thinking outside the “box” must include random acts of dumbness, poor self centred lass.
Katy’s explanation was worse than her actions. Hopefully she will mature and learn to see beyond “I” and to recognize the needs of others. Anyone with needs different from her own. I can’t think of one day in the last 10 years that I have not crossed paths with someone that would have gratefully accepted $10. People that would have eaten for 2 weeks off of that amount. How shallow that she equates giving up a seat with giving.
I see what she did in another way, based on her body language. She was insulted that a man would give her money. Maybe it made her feel like a prostitute. Maybe she felt that he wasn’t attracted to her and there would have been no way he would have spent time with her without his project. Maybe she hates all men and maybe has a good reason. Her actions spoke “to hell with you” very loudly and clearly. Her facial jewelry says she is in emotional pain, and that she’ll get in your face to tell you. Why are they saying that they had a good time?
There was nothing nice or good about it. She wanted to spit in his face. She wanted to do more than that. She wanted to take away something from him permanently, to cause pain, rejection, and the opportunity for him to meet another woman. “The buck stops here.” It is a shame that she is getting so much press over this. He wasted his “precious” time, and his money. I don’t think her time was “precious” at all. It wasn’t pleasant, that’s for sure.
If I had been there, I might have fished out the remnants of the ten dollars, washed them, taped them together,and tried to get them exchanged at a bank. And then I’d choose people more wisely. Cast not your pearls before swine. There’s also another scripture about giving in secret, not letting your right hand know what you’re left hand is doing. But the bible also says to let your good deeds shine before men so that they may may give thanks to their Heavenly Father because of you.
I could have done without the ripping of the $10. Everything else she said was perfect. It is just a shame that someone off frame probably NEEDED the $10. I also find it disrespectful to our country to rip up our currency.
First I have seen of this site; I like it! Neat idea!
Have done some much less impressive “favors”; then, when people say, “Thanks”, I say “Remember you can’t ‘return’ this favor; you have to pass it on”.
This young lady may have had some concern that she was being “hit on”, and that was her way to relieve that pressure. I think she did pretty well under pressure, but I liked better the “pass it forward” concept; either as a great tip if the waitress was good, or as a “find” on the floor, or as a surprise contribution to someone else’s bill.
Tearing up this particular money seems a lot like planting a seed, then rooting it up just after it sprouts; it could have gone on to do more good.
Keep up the good attitude and the good work, Reed; I’ve been around more than 70 years, and there DOES seem to be such a thing as Karma.
Bill Frank
I like Katy and what she did. I’m sure she had a greater effect with her ten dollars than most recipients. Furthermore, we still do not know the long term effect of that human interaction on katy or anyone else. Human behavior is always in flux and seemingly insignifiacnt acts can have a profound effect on any or all of us, think of Rosa Parks. We might all ultimately benefit from the transaction between Reed and Katy. I’ll bet ten dollars we haven’t heard the end of this story, but you’ll have to loan me the ten dollars.
Not sure how the energy of karma plays into the action Katy chose to perform by destroying money. In this universe, money represents an exchange of our time, our energy. I appreciate her agenda to honor the quality of the experience – I personally would have passed along “that energy”, as I am a firm believer in the quantum physics of energy. Reciprocity is real. Thank you for sharing your project, it is significant and we can all benefit from tithing – it is based on the principles/theory of attraction.
Karma is not manifested as money??? Karma is a product of Love, compassion, and good deeds done from these emotions. Very interested in what Dharma this would fall in to? Bad Karma is the result of the opposite. very interesting point of view
She put herself on video committing a federal crime.
The part of me that acknowledges money as a thing and therefore of no true value…and that bills may have been over printed in the last few years applauds.
The part of me that doesn’t enjoy random destruction of something useful and knows how much food $10 can buy the hungry is rather appalled.
Im sorry people really need money right now. Many people on the streets could have used her money. she should have given it to someone else on the street and still sat down and talked to this guy.. I think it was very selfish and rude. Maybe 10 people could have ate on that. Ten dollars is ten cheeseburgers.
I am unemployed as well, and with 4 children, I can think of several different was that money could have been used. Her only stipulation with recieving that money was to do as she wished. She did and I agree.
No one and I mean no one gives of them selves and expects nothing in return. The whole purpose of that “pay-it-forward” is so that the giver gets that warm and fuzzy felling for helping some one else. Her decision was a lot more meaning full and thought worthy, than to do what everyone else is doing. She felt like the conversation that she had was worth much more that $10. Some things you cant put a price tag on (or atleast not a $10 one). I also like the thought process of the “buck stops here.” Though it can not help anyone else, it can’t harm anyone either.
well we need more warm fuzzies in this world.
i do agree there is benefit in quiet giving but
geez, do we always have to find something to find fault with in the giver.
if you don’t like taking a gift because others will know
you’ve received the gift, don’t accept it in the first place.
there is something to be said for
manners and kindness and gratitude.
money certainly can’t buy that.
and neither can intelligence.
Being the recipient of something for nothing, especially from a stranger, is not a position independent people are use to. There’s always a slight power shift involved, even if the size of the gift is small. The money possibly felt more like a gravel on the playing field than ten bucks in the pocket.
I think on several levels that while she was intrigued, she was not completely comfortable with the experience. I’d bet when the money was gone, she felt immediately better in ways she could not explain.
I don’t know how anybody can congratulate Katy for destroying money. And I also thought it was illegal. Would she have done the same if it had been $100, $1,000, $100,000 or more? Would you think that she was being a bold woman for destroying it then? Would you applaud her actions? I think NOT!
I also think it was disrespectful and hurtful. As I watched the video I felt as though it was a slap in the face. She was receiving a ‘gift’. How would you feel if you gave someone a gift and they threw it away in front of you?
Maybe the $10 didn’t seem that much money to her.
But, what I do think is that she had/or has a crush on you, Reed!!! She should have been more honest and politely declined the money and then asked you out for a date. 😉
Yes, I agree with Bridget.. I also think it was all a pick up line. As was her open invitation for a drink in NYC.
Yes, she is a lonely, plain woman in need of a date, but what a lack of imagination!
It’s actually illegal to destroy or create US currency. I’m sure if Katy had more time to think about what she was doing, she would have some up with something “better” to do with the money- she was probably intimidated by the task- having been the lucky recipient of someone else’s genius game, and couldn’t quickly come up with an appropriately self-less response.
“couldn’t quickly come up with an appropriately self-less response.”
agreed.
Getting her answers for the question- “How do you give?”… was about as smooth as pulling a piano from a pond.
I agree. She struck me as a B- student trying to be “creative” but it just didn’t work.
money only has the value we place on it.. its only paper. I’m glad somebody finally got to the root of society’s ilks.. ITS ONLY DAMN PAPER PEOPLE!! this is how the controllers of our society working thru the federal reserve control the masses. Shes dead on that its WHERE you place the value.
What? Does any one care about what you think? People like you are the instigators of intolerance, hate, etc. etc.
if “ITS ONLY DAMN PAPER PEOPLE!!”, let’s see you try to survive WITHOUT ANY (including electronic and plastic types too – becasue they are only an extension of it).
I don’t claim to be any expert on the economy, but, with the way that the FED has been capriciously printing money for the last year or so. I think our friend Katy here, may have just made the US dollar $10 stronger than it was on Day 110 of the Year of Giving.
So, right-on Katy, you just made the US dollar stronger!
Now, everyone else’s $10 will be more valuable, albeit, in a very, very, very small way.
B
Very interesting!!! The young lady has a very good point. To use the money for anything else cheapens the moment. Why???? Cuz it was a gift, not of her own to give to some one, some group, etc.. as a donation. To use the money would be only a fallowing of the innecial moment of giving. And not of her own accord. What I am reading is mostly college educated individuals freaking out that this young women didnt use the money to give to some charity/homeless/NPR (national public Radio)…. It was her expeirance, not yours. Its meaning meant something to her wether we learned from it or not. wether the money went forth or not. Most homeless are that way by choice!!! Do I feel for them, yes i do. but to put down another person for inriching her moment over monitary reasons shows that your tooooo concerned about the money than the experiance of the moment.
Just like if you go on a date and instead of enjoying the moment with that person, your busy trying to find out if your date is going to be makeing 200k a year before you get married.. It just goes to show that people from all over care more for the finacial wealth of their peers than that of their company. Know people for who they are and not what they can do for you!!!! Helping, giving, and valunteering come from the heart. Not cuz its voug. If not then you’ve missed the point. (sorry if I mis-spelled im not college edumacated 🙂
Most homeless people ARE NOT homeless by choice.
They are often afflicted with untreated MENTAL ILLNESS.
Why would a person of good mental health want to live a cold lonely scary life on the street exposed to the elements and violence. You are mistaken.
It’s the easy way out for people who aren’t homeless
to BLAME them instead of work to help them.
Most of us struggle to not be greedy…the greedy
part of us doesn’t want to share with others.
The kind spirit within knows that the blessings of life are meant to be shared.
While I appreciate Katy’s attempt at making a meaningful statement, I feel the act came up wanting. If spending the $10 on something trite would diminish or demean Katy’s hour of conversation (which was, after all, brought about by the initial exchange of the money) then doesn’t tearing up the gift (and the gift is more than the $10) also take away from the experience? There are any number of ways in which to pass on the money which would have been meaningful and not trite. Hopefully the $10 will teach us all a lesson.
I just found out about your wonderful giving. I will definately be keeping an eye on your website through the rest of your project.
As for this young woman. I can not in good conscience endorse or condone her actions. Regardless of her motives, her actions were illegal.
United States Code TITLE 18 – CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. PART I – CRIMES. CHAPTER 17 – COINS AND CURRENCY
Section 333. Mutilation of national bank obligations
Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
Additionally, if she was so concerned with cheapening the moment, she could have easily given the money back to you, so you could have found another person. She also could have given the money to someone else; left it as a tip, added to it and given to a charity, paid a nearby table’s bill, or dropped it on the ground for someone to pick up. There was so much more she could have done, than break a law.
All she did was prove that she doesn’t really think before she acts.
I noticed another remark by one responder that “destroying” the paper made the money incapable of doing any good, and commentary by many that maybe Katy assumed only purchases for herself was all she considered, ignoring the potential for philanthropy. My reaction is, first, that money is incapable of doing any good; money is a tool and how it is used by people determines its moral utility(which, judging by the variety of reactions is clearly a very individual and subjective matter–certainly reading these reactions establishes definitively to me that morality is, never was, and never will be absolute, objective or a matter of science, rather than art). And, second, since philanthropy is in the subjective eye of the beholder, if her favorite cause were something more widely unpopular than NPR
and she had opted to donate(rather than “destroy” it) to a cause such as Al-Quaeda, or the U.S. Communist Party, or a pro-choice group if you are anti-abortion, or an anti-abortion group if you are pro-choice, would donating the money be considered more useful than rendering it impotent in regards to fueling a purpose that others would object to(even handing money to the poor individually would be objected to by many). One person’s philanthropic cause is another’s potential armageddon. Instead, her action has fired deep thought by many, and that is clear from all the response to her action. I certainly would pay $10 to see a movie if it provoked as much thought in me on such a profound moral issue as the value of money and consider it to have been money wisely spent. She did anything but “destroy” that money. Her motive was to compliment the giver, and I take her at her word, have no reason not to. But even if she acted impulsively, with no thought involved, her action clearly provoked many to consider their own morality, morals and the issue of materialism itself–what a buy for $10. She’s a great young woman. My first time at the site(saw it on AOL homepage today) and am psyched to have found it! Great work! I am very grateful to you and to Katy S.
I noticed a remark that “destroying” the paper made the money incapable of doing any good + comments that maybe Katy S assumed that only purchases for herself was all she considered, ignoring the potential for philanthropy. My reaction is, first, that money is incapable of doing any good, money is a tool + how it is used by people determines its moral utility(which, judging by the variety of reactions, is clearly a very individual and subjective matter–certainly reading these comments establishes definitively to me that morality is not absolute, objective or a matter of science so much as an art). And, second, since philanthropy is in the objective eye of the beholder, if she chose to donate(rather than “destroy”) the $10 and it was donated to a cause more controversial than NPR(the John Birch Society, Al-Quaeda, or a pro-choice group if you happen to be pro-life or vice-versa), would donating the money be considered more useful than rendering it impotent to fueling a purpose others might object to? One person’s philanthropic cause is another person’s potential armageddon. Instead, her action has fired deep thought in many. I certainly would pay $10 for a book or movie that provoked such thought in myself about morality, the value of money and materialism itself and consider the $10 well spent. Her action obviously provoked more than $10 worth of deep thought about morality in a whole bunch of people. For myself, I say thanks Katy S.
It was an artistic and symbolic gesture but the message really wasnt anything new. She demonstrated through her actions and explaining afterwards that a persons time is much more valuable than money, any amount of money. Its unfortunate that even after she explained that some people were still worried about the money. Go home and spend time with your family or even a complete stranger, you might find that you make a difference in their life, or better yet, they might make a difference in your life.
It is a federal offense to deface, mutilate, impair, diminish, counterfeit, etc. U.S. currency, (18 U.S.C. 33).
So… here’s the thing.
While she may have been an interesting person, she is obviously a selfish person.
I do not mean this to be disrespectful, I mean this in a very literal sense.
Clearly, from her own statements, her thoughts ran along the lines of a “Me” perspective. He’s giving this money to ‘me’, money doesn’t mean anything to ‘me’, spending the money on buying some trinket would cheapen the experience for ‘me’.
In my opinion, Katy is not an out-of-the-box thinker, rather a very cliche “artistic” type who joins the 1000s of people in this modern generation who are preoccupied with themselves, rather than the bigger picture. My guess would be that Katy would be one of those individuals who would jump on the bandwagon of a cause were she asked to donate money to a civil rights organization, disaster relief or other such situation.
But asked to think of that on her own, she fails.
Katy, why did you not donate the money?
Or start your own movement, given your profession as a documentarian you just passed up a truly inspiring opportunity.
As you stated, money doesn’t mean anything to you, which I actually understand as I share the sentiment, but I respect the fact that that $10.00 represents so many options to hundreds of thousands of people.
– Gaia
Katy is obnoxious. Her display is selfish and another example of the liberal “me” generation.
I can only pray for you Katy. You could have given that same $10 to someone else in need. Yea, your little story was touching but did not sensibly support your decision to RIP UP a $10 Bill!!! You need prayer. People are homeless, hungry, in need of help (not by choice)…and you do that and try to justify it with your little Speach….
i honestly think she should have given it away to someone. and i think if she were going to tear it up she should not have tore it up in front of you. it really was a slap in the face of what you were trying to do. i think she was shallow in her thinking. i would have put ten more with it an gave it to someone else.
Wonder what she would have done had it been $20 or $50!
I love all the comments you have shared on this “Year of Giving” campaign. As I see it, money has the power to give people their personality and values. It’s like leaving a $50 bill on a chair or bench or floor, waiting to be found. It’s a test for us. Of what kind of character we have. Wheather it be giving or using it for any reasons. Kathy is entitled to her own opinion and absolutely she can decide whatever she wants with the money. It is hers. But destroying the bill is disgusting and without regard to the person who gave it. I like to pay it forward.
I was brought up in a family of 8 girls and we didn’t have much growing up. Food and clothing were scarce and I remember my mother waiting until all of us were full and gone from the dinner table before she would eat herself. There were many times that there was nothing left after we had our share as kids and it wasn’t until I was older that I finally realized that she went to bed hungry many times so that her kids didn’t. I remember her crying in her room at night…. Probably from being hungry and overwhelmed I would guess. So what she did with that $10.00 was just wrong to me!! There are people out there that would clean toilets for that 10 bucks… I give money and food out whenever I can to people that need it so she should have not been so selfish is my opinion.
I’ve wasted plenty of money in my life but this one bothers me because it’s outright purposeful waste and offends the spirit of generosity. She had the freedom to do whatever she wanted with it. Many people who see the great disparity between the rich and the poor in this country would find something better to do with ten dollars than to tear it up. Food, gas, medicine, flowers, a million and one charities. There were thousands of other options. It’s not artistic to me, it’s about mental development, some of us get stuck in the earliest of years. It’s also clearly about POWER. Not accepting a gift keeps the power within you. You don’t want to “owe” someone so you are ok with giving but not receiving. I know I am being judgemental, but I call it arrested development, an inability to be the receipient of a gift is a sad state of affairs. I don’t believe it was well thought out because that would make her act even more arrogant. It looked more impulsive than well thought out. I hope she’ll have another opportunity to see and accept gifts without strings as the universe reaching out to her in love instead of because it’s money there is something inherently bad in it, or it somehow cheapened the gift. My gut reaction is this action was that of how an acting out bratty, ungrateful child might act on a bad day.
Then I am reminded that those who are the most difficult to love are usually those that need even more love and kindness. I love the idea and intention of the giver. Ignore this blip on the screen and keep on doing what you are doing, making the world a better, kinder place bit by bit.
Kindness, generosity, and gratitude like this all leave the planet a more loving place. The dogs bark but the caravan moves on.
Give it to the homeless and dont rip it up, people are starving in the streets and she ripped it up.
[Comment Edited]
Money has no identity. Money does represent the power to spend it by the person possessing it. It disturbs me that the woman chose to burn it rather than throw it to the wind where it may have done someone finding it a bit of good. I would have rather given it to some homeless bum to use as that person chose to use it. The act of burning the money was the selfish act of an insensitive person.
Walt
she should have given it back to you and you should have given it to someone else…as for giving to those whom you think may not need the money, i say, that is not really “giving” .. give to the needy…or to a church or to a charity…to those who don’t need it, you gained your reward , store your treasures in heaven, give to those who do need it…and don’t boast about it on the internet…for you are receiving your reward here as well.
Destroying Federal Currency is illegal, it throws off the money supply, tho ever so slightly. This is just an ill educated journalist (intrinsic i guess) wanting to have a video of her appear online.
Money is a generic means of trade to avoid the barter system, money is necessary. People say they hate money but they dont, they hate their own greed and the greed of others. Money itself is nothing more than an idea or a medium of exchange and a storage place for value.. most money nowadays i not even physical, it exists in the digital world. (90%+)
I appreciate what she’s saying about the value of time and personal interactions. All I can say is…. Pay it forward!!!
I am not sure what to make of Katy’s decision, however with so many people going hungry, I think it would have been best for her to give it to a needy person.
Gee, defending her actions by saying that that there are more important things than money, you can’t buy happiness, and we would probably waste the money on something foolish is pretty lame. One couldn’t exist in this world without money so stop making it sound like money is bad. Second of all, the person you’re paying for whatever item you are purchasing is the recipient of that money that his business needs. It’s up to you to make a wise choice. Money in itself is not bad, it’s what you do with it that counts – and she make a hypocritical jerk of herself by destroying it.
I think she could have given it to someone else to make the moment even more meaningful! Your random act of kindness could have inspired her to create a random act of kindness in someone else’s life. What a shame.
After watching the video at first I was upset when I saw her stirring the ten dollars into the cup of coffee and my first thought was “HOW RUDE” after watching her explanation about how your company being worth more then the ten bucks, I tried buying it yet something within told me “it was still rude”, She could have just given it to someone else, yet I can’t be judgmental about it because the main focus here is on you and your intentions, whatever happens with others intentions doesn’t reflect on you. Now all I can do is pray to God to bring you lots and lots and lots of blessings and hope that your year of giving opens up hearts around the world and may everybody chip in a little to those people in need that you have listed on this website. Please email me if there is anyway I can help, monetary wise, clothes, food, books, comfort, whatever, I would like to help you help others.
I think she wanted a relationship with Reed. Felt
betrayed by him giving her money.
I am a great advocate of “paying it forward”. Katy could have atleast re-gifted your $10 to some less fortunate person… And it would have been nice if she had done it in your presence.
Maybe you don’t make judgements, but I’ll share mine with you…Katy came off as arrogant, elitist and a psuedo-intellectual.
I think that both of you have too much time on your hands. If you don’t have a job, and ten dollars a day doesn’t mean too much to you, then you can’t be hurting much. If she can think of nothing more original to do than to tear the money up, she obviously isn’t hurting either.
I think you’d both do better to take that money somewhere and use it to good purpose, like building a well or donating it to Doctors Without Borders. Money is nothing–we all know that–it only represents the values we assign it. But when it represents health and well-being for someone, then why not put it there instead.
I think Katy could have enriched her experience by purchasing something that would keep the experience alive. Something that would be seen often every day. Paying it forward would have also enriched the experience. This is not in judgement only a suggestion.
Why didn’t she just give it to someone she thought may have needed it? I’m sure there is someone who would have benefitted from that $10. I know I would have.
To all of you who applaud Katy’s actions as if she is some kind of illuminated soul — please explain how the destruction of one part of Reed’s gift to her (the $10) made the other part of his gift (spending an hour of his time with her) worth any more? Why did anything have to be destroyed in order to give more meaning to their interaction?
If Katy had honored Reed’s intention by acting in kind, she would have given their time together MUCH more meaning. And that’s meaning that it did not gain by the simple destruction of a $10 bill.
And how is she teaching us anything? Those of us who value money and the work, potential and possibility it represents will not see her act as anything but sad. Those of you who think it “says” something to destroy money and teaches us something important, why don’t you go to your wallet right now and tear up all of yours?
WOW! What an ass! I think what she did was insulting, tasteless, totally uncalled for and most importantly, she prevented someone else from benefiting from that money, small amount as it is, for someone else may mean a meal they haven’t had in a week. Shame on you Kathy. No matter how you want to disguise it, you are really sick. See your psychologist to address issues about your feelings that someone is trying to buy your attention or your love. (UHHHMMM!)
RE money not kept in circulation to help others: What about all the money that sits in banks? Or under your mattress?
Why did she do that? That is the stupidest thing ever!
I don’t see anything deep or thought-provoking about this woman ripping up a $10 bill. It was thoughtless and an extremely self-absorbed act. If she didn’t want to ‘cheapen the experience’ of sitting and talking, she could have given that money to someone else who might have appreciated it. It could have meant a meal or two to a person who goes to bed hungry, or for a meal for that person’s children.
Ugh, I hate it when someone does something like this and tries to pass it off as a significant act. It is not.
I would agree with her that time spent with another individual is more what we should be concerned about. I do believe in paying it forward, as she could have handed it off to another less fortunate and thus, would have contacted with yet another stranger.
To be real through, we give our money to banks, politicians, and the government and it seems to me that we are less worried about what they do with it then what Katy did with it.
Like she stated “the buck stops with me” which is a bold statement in it’s self and I support her decision.
I think it would have made more sense if she had given it to someone in need! What was the logic in tearing it up in lieu of spending an hour talking with the benefactor?? She could have used it for some other altruism purpose and still had the conversation with Sandridge. Destroying the money doesn’t make much sense to me.
$10 will buy a bunch of thrift store kitchen utensils (not ever used, but new) or some low cost food items for families. It hurt me to see Katy throw away money that could have been used for someone else who was desperate and broke. It was a gutsy activist decision on camera, but one Katy could have made better with her heart in private.
I choose to ignore the acts of Katy. I would like to thank you for the lesson you must have taught many who read about what you do. What a great way to extend yourself. If more people had the opportunity to go through what you are going through with a reaction such as yours, this would be a more beautiful world to live in. Continue your good work and your mother is smiling on you.
I think she should have given it to the server of the bad coffee as a tip. I don’t agree with what she did or her reasoning. It was selfish of her.
Whose to say that the waiter in that restaurant might have been smarter than Kate. A dollar bill does not lose value just because it is mutilated and it can survive coffee and even a washer and dryer. So maybe he dried it out and taped it together and took it to a bank and exchanged it for a “good” one.
The money was given to kathy unconditionaly.It was hers to do with as she pleases.I would have done differently.Her reason for ripping the money made the ten dollars have great intangable value.
I don’t condone katy for what she did. Yeah it could have been dropped or left as a tip or she could have herself went and found a homeless person who needed it and offered to buy his dinner and sit with him for an hour, and then that would have been totally worth it.
But with that being said how many of us waste money all the time, instead of cooking at home heres 50 for our family to go and eat, here’s another 30 to go do this week. Heres twenty to this ridiculous thing that looks like a hairbrush and I know I will never use but need it anyway?
We have all done it. So I don’t think anyone should be criticizing this woman.
I think it is interesting how many commenters act so offended about her tearing up her ten dollars (once it was given, it was hers to do with as she wished). How many of you have thrown out a toaster because it was old or broken, rather than cleaning it up and selling it and doing something useful with the $10? Have you ever thrown out a piece of furniture that was still worth $10 to someone? Thrown out food that was a little old, but someone hungry could have eaten? Have you ever wasted an hour of your time? How much was that worth?
If you have ever discarded something that someone else could have used, you are destroying value. You are no better than this woman; she is at least doing it in a way that makes a point and makes the topic discussable. You are all self-righteous hypocrites.
Try your own experiment at home. Just walk around with love in your heart, and the willingness to receive love back. That is what Reed is doing and that is what he is getting in response. When your heart (chakra) is open, everyone falls in love with you and you fall in love with everyone else! Reed is giving something in return…money…it’s symbolic. The lady who ripped it up recognized the symbolism in the gesture and returned the favor by visually demonstrating that his gesture of love is more important than money. In this case, the importance/lesson is not in what was done with the money. The lesson lies in what can happen when you give something truly valuable…your heart-which is an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, non-judgement. He got a friend, whose heart was opened a little bit more…that right there makes the difference (not $10).
Most insightful comment on the page, Liz Ann. Amen and kudos!
I disagree with the decision to destroy the money, but spending time talking to someone is valuable so i see her point. However, I believe she should have kept the money or given it to someone else (like paying it forward).
Aside from the fact that it IS illegal to destroy US currency (and that it was documented online for all to see), I found it incredibly selfish that she would do that. I’m sure any struggling, unemployed person would have gladly accepted it and put it to good use.
i guess katy has never heard of the expreession to pay it forward. yikes, the naivete of people!!
In my opinion, what she did with the $10.00 was disrespectful, she could have left it on the table as a tip for the server, perhaps the server could have realy needed the $10.00 and put it to good use. To me what I saw in her actions, was an act of stupidity and selfeishness, as well as arrogance!!!I hope she never findes herself in need, but if she ever does I hope she remembers what she did with the $10.00. As for what you have been doing, I think it’s a wonderful thing, more people should do it, even if it’s just $1.00 a week. Keep up the great work.
With so many people needing $10 these days, this show-off of a young woman should get off her high horse and think of others. If she didn’t want the money, she could have given it to some poor person on the street, sent it to a charity like The Smile Train, and just dropped it in the Poor Box in a church. Boasting about what lovely things she does daily (“I give up my seat on the subway…”) does nothing to help those who are (probably MUCH) less fortunate than she, and who could have used the money for more than to ‘flavor’ bad coffee.
Katy and her action sums up what is wrong with young people in our society today. She can tell us that she regularly does nice acts for others and donates to NPR, but her lack of respect and basic lack of understanding about how the real world works is astonishing to me. If she is so enlightened and caring, would she not have immediately thought how that $10, which in her own words means “nothing” to her, could mean everything so someone less fortunate. I encounter many homeless on the streets of LA and $10 could make a big difference in their lives for over a week. Her parents likely taught her better than that. I am embarassed for them.
Hi Reed…great use of your time.
I think that the money was Katy’s to do with what she wanted. My opinion about what she did does not matter. It was her money…end of story.
What she did with the money — destroying it — was not all that shocking. It wasn’t all that unique. It wasn’t art. It was no big deal. Whoop-dee-freakin-doo.
A more creative person could have found a thousand better things to do with the $10, and so, to me, this was a wonderful opportunity lost. If the value to her was the conversation she had with Reed, then she could have used the money for a further investment along those lines.
If she was looking for a rich experience, she could have:
1. Used the money to buy coffee for someone else and had a great conversation with THEM.
2. Paid for someone’s coffee anonymously and felt good about it.
3. Given the money to a small child and seen the look on the child’s face (a child still appreciates money).
4. Donated it to support Radio Lab on NPR.
5. Marked the bill and followed it’s path through the world as a documentary.
6. Bought “Atlas Shrugged” or “Into Thin Air” in paperback.
7. “Let it ride” the next time she was in Vegas.
…and so on…
I would have been touched by Katy’s gesture if I were you. Her explanation was fresh and meaningful. She REALLY respected you 🙂
I think what she did with the ten dollars was stupit. If only she actully though about the money, and how that she could give it to someone else would have made more sence. she do claims to live in new york and travel on the subway. then she would know that in new york we have an abunance of people who could use the ten bucks even if she don’t want it. Then when she tried to make it seem like she’s being more of a big person of how talking with you was more important than the money, she just came off as an stupit woman with no value in giving and receiving. For to accept something then destroy it. Gave no value to the person who gave in the first place. I’m sorry that with all that you are doing went almost to pot with her sorry excuse for the person she is. yes they do walk this earth.
and miss katy if you read this here’s a piece of advise, don’t take something that could be given to someone else who would know what to do with it, even if it is to give to another. It was not about the money it was about how we receive as well as give. Da!
We all have to learn to receive. God gave His son to us as a gift. We receive it freely. He paid the full price for our gift
with His life.
Again, Thank you Lord
Instead of tearing up the $10, I would rather she had given the money back, and then explained herself using the same logic. But I’m not sure it would have had the same impact.
Reed did not take up this venture to gain the approval of others. He wrote on his website that the act of giving will hopefully inspire others to pursue the ideals of altruism.
Reed’s generosity is the real gift here, not the $10. And that was not lost on Katy. The act of giving is still the same, whether he offered her $1 or $100. The money was irrelevant to Katy. She was far richer from the experience than any monetary gain.
While I appreciate that she valued the time spent with the giver more than the money, she still could have given it away–hell, she was at the Zoo metro stop. Feed a bear or two. That said, being that she is in the “creative” world, and as a person that makes documentaries for a living, I feel like she truly did it to get attention and to stimulate discussion–and isn’t that just what a documentarian does???
“Feed a bear or two” – that made me laugh. -Reed
Since there is not financial education to understand the value of money circulating, Katy was following the education that places a definitive value on a dollar (in this case a ten dollar) bill. She was placing the highest value on time spent in human contact, a truly lost art and skill. Money is an exchange median for our time completing assigned tasks. And as such she was giving the time spent together an infinite value. True the economic cycle of cashflow was not continued, but in one small way she improved human contact flow. (as are you!) Would it not be wonderful if there was greater “human flow”.
First of all, she is an obnoxious twit (but for one vowel in that word, I would have expressed my TRUE feelings about her. You mention she had been drinking with friends earlier that Easter Sunday, so perhaps her judgment was impaired.
I can not, in any way, understand why she did what she did. As has been noted here, quite often, she might have taken the $10 to pay it forward to someone else. She would have built karma points and helped someone else out in need.
I love NPR and I have listened to the Brian Lehrer segments you’ve mentioned, but there seems not a scintilla of genuine altruism in this young woman. Seems to me that she is very self-serving – if she is a documentarian, maybe she did was as provocative as it was just to get her name out there in some way.
In any event, it was an empty, foolish, meaningless gesture, devoid of any compassion for others and the height of ingratitude. My sense is she may have been looking for something more from the gentleman and when she saw that’s not what it was about, she decided to scuttle whatever his objective was.
I don’t even think she’s reflected upon what she’s done and, I dare say, would do it all over again. Just a very shallow, vapid young person, so much a product of the current zeitgeist.
It’s a shame.
I think this was a very selfish act on her part. I realize the value is different to every person, and she may not need it… after all it’s only $10, but there are a lot of people who don’t know from where or when there next meal will come. I think she should have paid it forward.
And to mike…. money is NOT paper. It’s made of linen and cotton. That’s why when you wash it in the washing machine it doesn’t break up.
I was disturbed by Katy’s actions to rip the $10, and then dump it in a bad cup of coffee. I think that she should Not have accepted it at all. To me I believe that she didn’t want the responsibility of paying it forward. I’m glad that you enjoyed your conversation with her and spent the time to find out what Katy was all about. I want to personally Thank You for what your doing, I’m sure that your Mom would be proud. I’m sure she was an amazing woman.
Bless You for what your doing, I was inspired.
Good Luck & God Bless
Money Is not every thing,and giving is very good,when you give you will receive,and she value his friendship more than the money,her friendship truly comes from the hart and not the pocket,as his giving,he is realy a man to be admired we need more people in the world like him,if you have not find a job yet, buz me, you will have a job at my place.
Thanks Ivan! I am hopeful for a job soon, but will keep you in mind! All the best, Reed
She could have purchased some little trinket that wouldn’t have cheapened her experience. Everytime she would look at that trinkey she purchased, it would be a little reminder of the experience. To rip it up, that was just a waste and thoughtless thing to do. Gees, she could have had you autograph the $10, then had it framed. She just wasn’t thinking!!
I concur with a number of other comments that Katie implies that the only thing she would do with the $10 is spend it. How about re-gifting it to someone who could have used it to real value.
What she actually did was make a really bad cup of coffee suddenly worth $10! Pretty lame from my perspective.
It’s too bad… it’s only paper….. but someone who is hungry could have used that.
That $10 was ten hamburgers for 10 hungry people.
She’s full of herself. Completely self absorbed.
She may have preferred spending time with you and all that, but she’s clearly oblivious to the embarrassment of riches she has by way of just living here.
Not only does she acknowledge that the bill has no meaning to her, but by rendering that bill useless, she acknowledges that she cannot conceptualize it having any meaning for anyone else.
Her thinking stops at the sense of “I.”
It doesn’t extend to a sense of “us” or “others.”
Sad.
I hope she learns that this is one key reason why people at other stations in life and other parts of the world despise us.
It’s these little things that have a profound negative cumulative effect. just as your small gift of $10 has a profound positive cumulative effect.
Good luck to you.
I will look forward to your book.
“Money means nothing…” Well, as my folks would say, “Whoop-de-do!”
Let’s look at what a TEN dollar bill can do. Let’s consider a single mom with a newborn who has no car, no family, too little in foodstamps, no prospects, and worse…little hope left in her heart. She could have bought: 1. possibly 1-2 cans of dry or pre-mixed formula; OR–2 several new baby bottles and a pacifier; OR 3. a new baby blanket or two used ones OR 4. a bottle of shampoo and conditioner (NOT covered by welfare!); OR 5.she could have washed and dried at least 2 loads at the laundromat…OR 6. the luxury of a cab ride rather than pushing a baby in rain or snow.
Ten dollars can buy…. (at least)….
2.5 gallons of milk ( Ohio prices).
2 pairs of women’s “canvas flats” at K-Mart
1 bottle shampoo and 1 bottle conditoner
a loaf of white bread and peanut butter (get plastic knife from a fast food place)
a pack of bottled water for someone who is on the streets
And, so on……….
When I was 20 with a new baby, and poor, I would have cried if someone gave me $10. Does Katy-the-brat realize what it costs to wash and dry at a laundromat a kid’s urine soaked pajamas, sheets, and blankets after one week of nighttime accidents?
Does Katy-the-brat get it that many waitresses must share their total tips with the business owner? Does she realize waitresses live on tips, not wages?
Has Katy-the-brat been in a grocery store behind a poor person who has to put products back for lack of money?
Does Katy-the-brat know that moms (with kids) who enter college often must forego their own lunch just to pay for their kids’ school lunches that week? Does Katy-dearest have a clue what it is like to “eat” only a can of soda pop to get through a day because student loans don’t cover everything, and the first item students forego is EATING?
Has Katy-the-brat ever looked in a child’s eyes when told he or she can’t go on the school field trip because mom and dad can’t afford the extra cost?
Has Katy-the-brat ever had to skip buying her child’s packet of school pictures that year because of no money?
Has Katy-the-brat ever met a young adult who is on his/her own because the parents died, leaving the person an “orphan”– yet, society rarely recognizes how hard it is to be “orphaned” if the child is between 12 to 20 years old. No one “gives” an older orphan anything.
Has Katy-the-brat ever had to fold a rag to place between her legs because she couldn’t afford to buy pads or tampons? Has SHE ever pulled out the blood-soaked rag and replaced it with paper towels from a public restroom because she couldn’t even buy one pad from the bathroom dispenser?
Has Katy-the-brat ever wiped her rear with newspaper, as many of our unseen senior citizens do when money runs out and they can’t buy even cheap toilet paper?
Katy-the-brat asked on camera if the sound of her ripping the money was being captured. I hope she hears that sound in nightmares. She is an immature woman, who believes a “mere $10.00” cannot help anyone. Lady, it CAN help someone else who NEEDS it. And we certainly have enough people who do need the money.
Katy-the-brat should have to feed herself on $27.00 a month in foodstamps, THEN see how fast she’d rip up that ten dollars!
Lifesnadir
what an obnoxious, unnattractive SELFISH SELFISH SELFISH thoughtless act. There was no better person to give that money to? what a b!t@h!! im infuriated watching a spoiled brat like that justify that tearing up 10 dollars was symbolic of the deeper meaning of some nanosecond courtship of a man who has nothing better to do with his time and money than give 10 dollars to either people who dont need it, or people who do need it but are probably homeless for a reason. this woman and this self proclamed do good spreader are everything wrong about the world. all that time and money really could make a difference….buy a homeless person a sandwhich…send the 10 bucks to chile or haite….donate it to a local sdchool. s hit
Me and my husband are 1 paycheck away from being homeless, so just exactly why are some people homeless?? Could it be because so many people got laid off, could it be because someone got sick?? I don’t think you are thinking about that, I think that you think they did something wrong to be homeless.
Having been homeless and jobless myself it pains me to see her throw money away. Obviously she has never had to struggle through life and ever have to find food out of a dumpster.
It’s illegal, the woman’s an idiot.
i wonder what she would have done if an officer saw it and arrested her for mutilating money? $10 probably wouldnt have even covered the fine – that would have been ironic … to have to spend MORE for the little act than it was worth !
since the $10 wasnt really thrown all over the place but left in one spot … i wonder if the people working there discovered it and took it, taped it together, and took it to the bank and got it replaced.
if you have enough of a bill, a bank will replace it (putting the mutilated original in the many to be destroyed – i once found a used shredder that had most of a dollar was shredded to see if the used shredder would work (it did obviously) – and bank replaced the dollar).
Katy is what’s wrong with America. Irresponsible, childish, and doing what ever she likes without regard for other people. She has mental problems. Has problems with authority, and does not want to fit into society. Needs to be taught a lesson of how to act in public. Respect etc… This makes me so angry that people get away with these king of actions. I hope they throw her in jail for a few years for her illegal action. And make her earn her own food. Might make her think a while before doing something so stupid. You can be artistic without being stupid!!!
I feel sorry for Katy and all the others that think her “artistic expression” is worth more than the currency she destroyed. The whole point of philanthrophy is to help others. By destroying Reed’s gift, she negates his generosity and loses the opportunity to help others in need. Perhaps if she spent some time in a soup kitchen or a food shelf, she would realize that what she had done was “artistically sensational” but selfish and insulting to the altruistic gift giver. She obviously has never felt the joy of helping others less fortunate than herself. If she had, she would have made mankind a better place. Reed is an extraordinary individual -as is his mother – what they practice is the fundamental of good within Mankind. What Katy did indicates an emptiness in her soul and a lack of sincere compassion.
I’ve read all the intellectual commentary on Katy’s action, but the bottom line is that she is a selfish, selfcentered ditz and probably has similar vacuous excuses for not helping others.
I can think of no other word to describe what Katy did other than “stupid”. Do you know what $10 could mean to MY family? (While she’s making her artistic ‘point’.)
1) Gas for my car for a week (provided I don’t drive any more than I have to.)
2) Groceries. I’m the sole supporter of a family of 5, and I’m laid off. This could be dinner for several days.
3) Diapers for my grandson.
4) $10 in lottery tickets with the possibility of turning into beaucoup bucks. I wouldn’t waste it on that, but it’s a nice thought.
5) A trip to the local ice cream shop, then to the park with my kids and grandbabies to enjoy a beautiful day.
6) A partial payment on one of a myriad of bills I have that I’m having trouble paying.
And the list goes on…..
My point is…although she may have felt like she was doing it to prove something, she could have done it in a much less destructive way. A way that could have benefited someone else. Too many people are hurting to see someone that callous with cash.
I admire what you’re doing, by the way, and wish I were as altruistic. I have no idea where my bill money will be coming from next to be able to safely donate. I’ve always wanted to do more to help other people, but there’s where it stops. In my head. I always say “if I were rich…”, but then it seems to me the most giving and generous people are those who don’t have much. You’ve given me a lot to think about, and I’m glad to have read about you. Peace. Oh, and by the way, here’s my email address if Katy wants to tear up more money. AdrianaGramma@aol. com. I’ll be glad to relieve her of any hated cash. LOL. (It’s a joke…no hate mail, pleeze.) ( I get enough of that already, it’s called bills.)
Selfish girl. Me, me, me. I, I, I. Look at me tearing up this money. Obviously never heard of pay it forward. The server would have loved a $10 tip. Maybe could have bought her kid a new toy. Shame on you Katy.
What an idiot! She could have enjoyed her time with Reed and not cheapened the moment while still putting the money to good use. No one said she had to spend it – she didn’t even have to give it to another person. I’m sure NPR would have appreciated the additional $10 in her next donation to them!
I think that the destruction of currency by Katy is unforgivable for two simple reasons. First and foremost it completely goes against the American traditional value that we as Americans should stand up for. It represents all of US. By doing so she trashes all of US. Forget her simbolic gesture, thats crap. Second, the gesture was to help someone in need or to accept a gift from a total stranger, so that one could feel good about the act of giving. She again showed how little class she obviously has by tearing up currency. If it was a check that she tore up that would be simbolic. She should have left the money as a tip for the waiter or given it to charity so that someone could have made good use it. (Perfect example Haiti victims.) Nothing good was achieved from this, what a huge waste of resources. Kind of reminds me of the way our government officials use our tax money. SHAME ON YOU!!!
It was her prerogative to use the money as she saw fit since you didn’t put any qualifiers on it when you gave her the money. However, in general I just find her actions offensive for several reasons:
1. She didn’t need to keep the money she could have turned right around, then and there, and given it someone else. As someone else said, just “paid it forward”. The only statement I see she made was to show how selfish and disrespectful she is, so if that was the goal? Accomplished.
2. It’s illegal to intentionally destroy US currency. Not likely to be prosecuted for it but still. Under Title 18 United States Code, Section 333 – “Whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note…with intent to render such bank bill, draft, note…unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.”
3. Although Katy stated the money didn’t mean anything to her, it could have meant a lot to someone else but by destroying the $10 she destroyed that possibility.
4. What she did was tantamount to slapping you in the face and you had to pay for it 😉
Bottom line, it’s just a disrespectful act by a selfish individual.
We as motals have only limited time on this planet. During that time, we work,our time is measured in the money we make. If you earn $10 per hr. and work for 8 hrs. you have earned $80. If you walk out in the street and give $10 to a stranger and he/she tears it up then they have destroyed 1/24th of your limited time on earth. I am not an “artist”. I work away from where I would rather be and consider my “time” to be a value to me, because it is limited, to be of great value. Could she have made another choice????? I think so….just me
The value of money is the time and effort it requires for a person to earn it or the things they sacrifice doing with it in order to use it for a single purpose. If someone unemployed gave me $10 of their money, it would have much value. Maybe the most generous thing she could have done with it without cheapening her experience would be to gift it right back to Reed. But she made the decision on the spot and without the benefit of reading this blog and thinking for a long while about all of her options. It was her money and she made it mean something to her. I can’t fault her for that.
It’s an insult and a slap in the face to the person who gave her the $10
DESTROYING MONEY IS ILLEGAL
Once you gave her the money it became hers–she owed nothing to anyone, or anything else. She obviously valued your company and conversation so much that she didn’t feel right benefiting monetarily from it. Destroying the money was her way of showing that friendship is more meaningful than money–and she’s right! You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have a friend you are very poor indeed.
Have you thought about teaming up with her to make a documentary of what you are doing? I think it would be very interesting if you could get people to participate.
Yes!!! That’s exactly what’s wrong with America!! That and INTOLERANCE!! Sheesh!
Hey Katie,
Where’s the ten bucks you owe me?
I think that if she truly wanted to show that she was not going to spend the money or cheapen her experience with you she would have taken your example and given the money to someone else, maybe someone she knew would need it. It is illegal to destroy Untied States currency so it seems like her actions were more irresponsible and unnecessary than well intentioned. I also agree with Norma that her actions seemed to be something that could be considered rude given the fact that she was given the money as a gift and that she might not have had the same reaction if the gift consisted of more than $10.
I agree with everyone who was dissapointed with her actions and attitude. It annoys me that her negative action is getting so much more time and attention than it deserves. There are far more positive stories than this one.
Since everyone else has already just about covered it all, and I agree with it, I wont repeat it. I will just sum up what I think and feel. I think she shows a lack of maturity and it seems her focus is a self centered and selfish one. She came across as flipant and irresposable.
My 13 year old is more mature than her. I’ve taught him to think about others and not just about himself -a life lesson she could benefit from. Her attitude seems to show she thinks its “all about her”.
I haven’t had a chance to read all of the responses so maybe someone prior to me has written this but I just scrolled down to the bottom to give my very first response, which is this: instead of ripping it up and wasting a ten dollar bill that someone (who actually could use it, but is giving to others) gave you, why don’t you just say the exact same thing regarding the time spent together, but give him the $10 back, and say please give someone $20 tomorrow.
Anyways, I am going to have to think about this and see what else comes to mind. That was just my first impression.
I need to say something else about giving and about “giving back”. As I said, I was once very poor and had a fluctuating income–some weeks I lived on only $30.00 with a child under 6 yrs of age.
When I completed professional schooling and got a job, I ended up getting hurt because I “gave” so much in hands-on physical work with people who needed lifted, turned, washed, dressed, fed, etc. I became one of America’s disabled.
Although my income is still not much, it doesn’t fluctuate each month; it gives me a stability to pay my bills. Then, every month, I give back. I can only afford $5.00 a month, but I set up a fund with a hospital who have many people in need. Every month, my little and seemingly insignificant $5.00 helps one person with something they need.
I also have severely disabled nephews who I fear will get “lost” as they become young adults. They have no parents. So, I set up bank accounts for each one. I can only afford to split another $5.00 (a month) into 3 accounts for the 3 kids. But my tiny monthly “gift” will grow until they each turn 18 years old. Maybe by then I will have saved enough that they can buy new shoes for their graduations… or for each to buy a new winter coat….
Every 3-6 months, I take any “leftover” change and turn it into a $25.00 savings bond (bought on paper it doubles in value, unlike ones bought electronically). I send the bond to a church who only has old (and poor) people left in the congregation. Every 3 yrs they can cash in one bond. My little money might only be enough to pay toward one utility bill… or fix a broken window… or buy light bulbs… or buy cleaners to clean the church. But the money will help.
My insignificant money is doing something good, even if the amounts are small. If we each thought creatively, a small amount CAN help other people!
Lifes
I believe that because Katy was a filmmaker, she was doing it for the “dramatics” of it. I would have much rathered see her give it to the waitress or “pay it forward” to another person. Ripping up the money was sort of pointless. She was right, the buck did stop there and wasn’t able to move on into another persons hands. Although she said that she enjoyed your company; she obviously didn’t respect your gift. I wonder what she does when someone gives her a birthday or holiday gift? Does she smash it into pieces or rip it apart? I don’t get it.
For those of you using legality as an argument against Katy, answer me this: Do you decide what your own morals are, or does the government do it for you? Just because something is illegal, does that make it wrong? If so, does that mean that everything that isn’t illegal is okay?
As for the rest of you: Do any of you really know anything about Katy, or who she is as a person? Do you know anything about the charities that she gives to or the people she looks after? Have you considered the possibility that you are the one who is ignorant? Don’t you find it a bit shallow and naive to pass judgement on someone you don’t know, whose actions you don’t understand?
Does unearned money really help anyone? If you feed someone today, are they not going to be hungry again tomorrow? Will $10 (or even $100 or $1,000) really improve anyone’s quality of life, or will it simply extend their misery? Are you the same type of person who thinks it cruel to declaw cats, but okay to spay and neuter them? Are your political opinions based on the founding principles of this country and the rights of its citizens, or on your own convenience and personal gain? Are you being honest with yourself?
Isn’t it illegal to destroy money? $10 could mean $200 to someone else. With so many people in need. I’m trying to not judge her.
Her actions were ignorant and her argument over intellectualized. She can do what she wants with the money but she insulted the idea behind what you are doing.
The idea was great, our money is now worth more. Not only did it say “our time was worth more than the money” but also “money doesn’t matter”
There may be people out there that might “need” the money, but really those are probably the people that really know the real meaning of life; they realize that the best things aren’t bought.
Typical, self-important, deluded New Yorker that I encounter everyday up here. Even though it was only $10, and even though she didn’t want to cheapen the encounter she could have “recycled” it by giving it to someone else, or otherwise putting it to some constructive use. I thought any good self-important,pompous, NPR listening New Yorker loves to recycle. No?
First, bravo to Mr. Sandridge for all your philanthropy. As a student, I have also embarked on a similar journey under a rocky financial situation, and I know it is not easy in the beginning to sacrifice yourself. But in the end, you gain so much more by giving away then you do by holding on to your resources.
To the filmmaker Katy – here’s a thought: many people live a whole day on US $10 in other countries:
Even though it’s nice to see her feeling so empowered by not giving into the monetary value and rather in the dialogue and community, and yes, it may have been used for a negative rather than a positive context (e.g. in the extreme, buying illegal drugs). But its destruction means there’s no potential for the money to do good as well, e.g. feed a person for a meal or two.
Not judging the woman, don’t know who she is, but she didn’t look like she was in financial need. So perhaps she felt it was mere surplus wealth and its acceptance meant she would have to accept the responsibility of being labeled as “greedy” or “buying into the money-driven monster” our society is often labeled with. But to me, that was just a selfish act to fulfill an egotistical need to feel justified or noble.
I’d challenge her to destroy a $10 bill in front of a hungry or homeless person and see how empowered she feels then. Or I challenge her to destroy a $10 bill when she herself is starving in the streets, or even to give away $10 to someone else when she herself has only $12 left in her pocket. It’s easy to turn something away when you have a lot of it, but what I’m saddened by is that her act of destroying the money was motivated by arrogance. Moreover, if she just had the foresight to then pass on the $10 to someone else in need, she may have stumbled upon the gift of giving and the spiritual satisfaction accompanying her generosity.
We do get lost in our love of money, sometimes at the lost of valuing other people and how that love of money interferes with our relationships with them. However, the way Katy went about things was really ugly and self centered. I maybe would have thought a little more of her jester had she not threw the bill in the coffee that she commented was bad.
I thought about the feelings of the server who would have the extra step of cleaning the added mess and how insulted or demeaned that person might of felt as they cleaned the torn money out of the cup.
I thought of how she immediately focused on her meaning an ignored the fact that she could have reached out and given to someone else. But your giving was apparently just about her and her immediate gratification. As I watched I just picked up something really foul about how she handled this situation.
I completely understood her point. It was symbolism and was a huge compliment to the philanthropist.
There will be many here who don’t get it.
I suggest that those people go out and give something away themselves so they can experience the greatness of this act.
To be rich/wealthy has nothing to do with money. It’s about what you do with your money.
And then of course the best things in life free 😉
Sincerely,
Oregon Santa
How ignorant!! That’s what I feel toward Katy. Instead of ripping it, she could have given the $10 to someone who really needed it. Nowadays, so many people would appreciate $10. I for one would be so grateful. Speaking from experience, I didn’t realize the real value of $10 until I lost my job and am now having such a difficult time finding one. Without my income and now having to make sacrafices for my family, being behind with bills, puts it all in perspective. Even $10 can go a long way. Someday I hope Katy will need $10 and regret what she did. I never expected to value $10 as much as I do now. No one thinks it can happen to them, but when it does, your whole perspective changes. Reed is an angel for what he is doing. I wish he lived near me. I can only hope that others will pay-it-forward from hearing comments from people who appreciate the little things.
Reed’s idea is FANTASTIC! However, I believe this young lady has never been in serious need or she would not have so cavalierly torn up the $10. I agree that our “consumer” culture places too much emphasis on money, expecting it to fill the empty spots on our lives. I strongly feel though, that Katy should have given that money to someone else, rather than tear it up. I realize she was trying to make a statement, but with so many people in desperate straits right now, her actions, to me, were outrageous and not in a good way. Hollow actions, Katy. That $10 could have filled someone’s hungry belly for a few days, or paid for a handful of bus rides to work and back, or done some laundry. I have been recently meditating on the power of giving even tiny sums, under $5, to people. There is power in tiny things. Like myself, recently I had only enough for one gallon of gas for my car ($3.09), to get me the next step in the link of the chain (church, and then to work). Do not denigrate the power of tiny things! I pray that Katy learns from her negative actions. Reed, keep up the good works! May God bless your actions!
I agree fully with what Katy did.
She understood the fact that its truly not about the money, the way many people posting here seem to think it is. She understood that it was about the experience, its about the people. Even the ones who take the $10 and use it to help others, its not about the money. Sure, she could have donated it but she wouldn’t have donated it because that was really forefront on her mind, she would have donated it because the idea was planted. That’s almost the same as your parents forcing you to go to church when you were five. Sure, she could have gone and spent it on some trinket, but then the $10 would have seemed to be wasted.
We should be helping people without needing someone to randomly walk up to us and give us $10 for no apparent reason. We shouldn’t need someone to do that to be able to go and donate money to someone in need. But the reality is, we do, and its good to see someone helping people to help others like Reed is doing.
You don’t need money to be happy. You don’t need things to be happy. Money is linen and cotton. Money is a hollow possession that does have an impact on your life but not as much as interaction with others does.
Yes, there are many families out there that could have used that $10, but the fact of the matter is: It wasn’t given to them, and its not their choice to decide what Katy should have done with that money as its not anyone else’s choice to make.
Accepting the $10, then mirroring his intent would have hightened the experience, not cheapened it. Sadly, Katy missed an opportunity. If I were the CEO of a company, I would leep at the opportunity to have Reed on my staff. I do hope some one sees his value and I will certainly post on his site June 15th, his “Worldwide Day of Giving”, about the experience of my giving $10 to a stranger. Very moved!
The bottom line is that by destroying the $10, she has actually marketed Reed’s actions quite effectively. Quite a return in the “non-investment”
I think she was trying to be oh-so-very-unconventional, but it really just comes off as lame.
I’m especially loving all of the comments about how Katy only thought about herself with the whole “I want, I don’t, I, etc…” But, if you think about it, the people that are writing these comments are doing exactly that “I think she’s wrong, I would’ve done this or I wouldn’t have done that”. And that’s just it, we each have our own thoughts, opinions, practices and beliefs. This is what makes us Americans. The problem is, people are taking their thoughts and opinions too far. Just because you believe one way or another doesn’t mean that you can force these beliefs on everyone else. Yes, you can definitely voice your opinions but if you try to force this on me and/or critisize me, then you’re taking away my rights to choose. Let me give you an example. I’m not a smoker. There are plenty of people that are and that’s ok. That’s their CHOICE. But why is it that now we are having entire cities and counties requiring that ALL businesses go “smoke-free”. I think as a business owner, I should have the right to choose whether or not to allow smoking in business. And as a consumer, I should have the right to choose to go to a business that allows smoking or doesn’t. But no, “we” are forcing people who smoke to do so uncomfortably.
So as for the Katy situation, do I agree? No, she could have done a million other things with that money. But is it my business? No. It was her choice to do what she wanted with that money. And who’s to say that she didn’t go off and give someone else $10 out of her own money? We don’t know therefore we can’t speculate as to what kind of person Katy really is. Look through history, many of the greatest moments in history started as a single, unprecidented act (and yes, some of them were quite illegal at the time).
I think some of you are giving her supposedly avant-garde act more meaning than she even gave it.
Reed gave her the option to explain her actions. She did not say anything about shocking people into seeing money differently, nor that she had some high falutin’ reason for doing what she did. You are all placing that meaning on her actions. She didn’t.
Reed, you may be loathe to say too much or anything too judgmental about any of your subjects, but how did it make you feel to see her destroy (part of) your gift like that?
Well I like the giving $10:00 a day concept . But if I were to recieve the $10:00 I would match it ,, Then give it to someone else. Perhaps we can start somthing with this and see how far it goes before someone keeps it. However its more what we do as human beings and giving persons that matters most. Great story hope all goes well for you .Feel free to write back if you like .
Katy is a fool. Just another example of a spoiled liberal dummy who has probably never had to want for anything in her life. As a person who works for my money, I resent her action. Her bizarre fascination with NPR illustrates her liberal mindset and her unwillingness to have a thought of her own. If this twit had any brain cells she would have given the money to someone who would have actually appreciated it. Reed should be insulted.
I understand what she is saying but would have left it for the waiter who gave her the lousy coffee! That would have been poetic…..
I had to reactions from this! First yes she could have paid it forward and givien it to someone else. Which was my immediate reaction being the way the state ofour economy is in.
But on the flipside our economy is in dire straits b/c of greed and the importance we put on money in our society as a # 1 priority.. Money is not the important priority in life, sure it helps but it does not buy your health, happiness etc.
It’s nice Katy enjoyed your time together but that money also
represented your labor – I agree she could have blessed
someone else with the money. What a waste when so many
would appreciate the gift!
I have loved reading about your encounters with so many people. Love the fact that you actually take the time to converse with all these people! That in itself must be
such a treasure!
Thanks for sharing –
She should have paid it forward. She would still have benefited from your company, the experience and helped someone else without “cheapening” the moment.
Congratulations on your journey. What a great story you are sharing.
Well If I was the waitor on that table I would have taped the $10 back together send it off to the Federal Mint they would replace it with a brand New $10 bill and sent it back too me then I would have gave it away too someone in need The Buck will not stop at me 😀
I think what she did is cool.
She is not a greedy person. She realizes that real generosity is not handing out ten dollar bills, and comes from the way you live your life. I wish more people cared about that than getting their hands on some money.
My opinion is that if she did not need, or appreciate the $10.00, she could have given it to a beggar or anyone who really needs it. There are a lot of people on the streets needing food, shelter,etc. I think what this gentleman is doing gives him satisfaction, makes him feel good and ripping the money in front of him is disrespectful.
Jesus was chastized by His desciples for allowing a woman pour perfume, the equivalent of $300.00 in todays value, on Him instead of selling it then spending it on the poor. He knew her true intent and admonished them for they’re lack of understanding.
I guess I’m no better than His desciples too because at first I thought her actions were selfish…… or high minded or, or, or ……………
Her way was not the my way but it was still a good way I believe.
I certainly can’t fault her.
My first reaction in watching this was that of liberation. I was laughing right along with Katy, and to that end, I benefitted greatly as a result of witnessing her action! From the amount of comments I see here–good, bad or indifferent–we all benefitted.
To judge another by their action, serves to reflect upon the person making the comment more so than the person to whom the comment is directed toward. Considering the discourse it’s opened up, it’s perhaps the best ten-dollar coffee ever spent!
So, what does my reaction say about me? Perhaps, much like yourself Reed, I am breaking free of the “burdens” of money and becoming liberated and free of the restrictions it represents.
The true act of giving is unconditional. What one does with a gift is by the power of their choosing. While Katy’s action would probably not have been my own, the lightness I felt in watching her stir the coffee was perfect; with no further explanation needed! 🙂
She was drunk.
There have been lots of suggestions that she was drunk, but she wasn’t. Yes, she had wine earlier in the day according to her own account, but she certainly wasn’t drunk…not even close. -Reed
When I watched the video, my first, and actually only, thought was “Isn’t that Illegal.” Referring to ripping up the bill.
In a way i agree with Katy’s decision to rip up the $10. I can understand her feeling of spending the money cheapening the experience. At the same time I can see how using the money to purchase an item, a knick knack to sit on a shelf in her home or a picture to hang or a coffee mug to drink better tasting coffee out of could serve as a reminder of the experience she shared with a complete stranger that meant so much to her. I’m not sure if she considered that possibility but I, in no way, condemn her for the choice she made. I applaud her making her own decision despite what others would think of it.
I spent one day just saying “Hi, how are you today” to strangers and the joy i felt that day was extraordinary. One woman said “it started out bad but you just made it better thank you”. I love what you are doing and when she ripped up that bill and then tried to justify it I thought THAT cheapened her time with you.
What did she really rip up? I look at it as a worthless piece of paper. Because that’s what american money has become!
I think Katy should have given the money to someone who could have used it more than she did in that moment. pay it forward!! The buck should not have stopped there, with her. If she she so valued the time she got to spend with you, then she should have been inspired by what you were doing and given it to a mother living at a shelter who needed to feed her children or given it to any one of the numerous causes out there!!
That being said, and I feel that way whole-heartedly, it was her $10 dollars and she was free to do with it as she pleased. I understand her motive behind doing what she did but think she could have given the money to where it really would have made a difference.
Thanks to an aol headline with pic, I found out about your Philanthropy Project. Very cool ! Doing good for others leaves a great feeling in your heart and is just plain obviously “the right thing to do”. Thankfully the way I was raised instilled this realization.
It is great to see what you are doing!!!
I love seeing the diversity in the people you are meeting, their stories and faces. After many interesting people, controversy finally sparked when Katy ripped the Ten Bucks! My opinion is that the decision to be made with the $$$ was completely up to the holder. You decided to give it, the next person hopefully keeps the momentum of the ball rolling, BUT people don’t always act as WE think they should. Many mentioned that she was “selfish”, “a brat”, etc.
My proposition is this . . .
in this Mega-Stressful Global Life and Global Economy, it is important to “EMBRACE” our differences. Perhaps seeing both the “Artistic Expression” and “Deeper Meaning” on Katy’s side, while searching for ways to enhance or build upon the experience by “paying it forward” is the way to go. Katy’s action caused spark and ignited fire in many. Spark and controversy lead to great opportunities for us ALL to learn more about ourselves, including Katy. Also, if one were to read through a hundred posts they could gain more personal reflection and knowledge then they could from reading a mere fifty . . . and more after ten responses from others than zero (leaning solely on their own beliefs and reactions). I also propose than NONE of us would perfectly react to the $$$ and do the PERFECT thing with it. Their are too many options that would be perceived by too many different types of people. So, on that notion, we can ALL learn from others. Taking this into account, a pleasant email to Katy or post on the website, might have led to increased reflection on Katy’s end and quite possibly helped her see ways she could have “not cheapened the moment” and “still helped someone out with the $$$ who needed it”. Bashing Katy from behind ones computer screen isn’t really going to “help” ones personal growth or “lend a hand” to Katy towards insight”. Controlling our own judgements and emotions is a tough task, yet the fruits of calm communication between people can be quite impressive!!!
(****As a side note, I think it was mentioned that she had been drinking prior – this could have played a part. Also, for those worried about the economic effect of taking the $$$ out of circulation, realize that less money in circulation leads to a stronger dollar – not saying its a good move, especially since destroying/defacing our currency is technically illegal.
One big factor that Katy mentioned that I agree with is that whether it’s inviting someone to something they can’t afford at the time (dinner, movie, coffee, etc – these things go beyond the food, ent, beverage, as they are a chance to bond together)!!!
And don’t forget, there are many, many ways of giving . . . buying them something, helping with a bill (one of my favorites is paying for the car behind you when crossing a toll bridge), or just plain helping them with compliment, a helping hand, an ear to listen, etc etc etc . . . there are sooooo many ways we can help each other!!!
Embracing our differences,
Jason
Her guesture and thought process was good, she meant what she did in a good way, although it was illegal and silly to not just pass the money onto someone else and keep what you had started going, instead she inadvertently broke the law, and stopped the circle of giving at least in the aspect of that 10 bucks going. Hopefully she will give back and keep the circle of giving going another guesture with an even greater impact!
So interesting– Katy and her decision to the people scrutinizing it here. I probably would have chosen differently, but I’ve gotten say I’m a little in awe of her actions. I hope a. her sitting down to talk to you really DID mean that much to her, sincerely, and b. she pays the kindness forward in her own way.
that 10 dollars could have a got a hungry person a hot meal or got a homeless person a couple of nice thinks at good will she has issue that need to be adress
She could have purchased a nail clipper, nail file and a nail scrub brush. Yeah, that would have worked.
Thanks to an aol headline with pic, I found out about your Philanthropy Project. Very cool ! Doing good for others leaves a great feeling in your heart and is just plain obviously “the right thing to do”. Thankfully the way I was raised instilled this realization.
It is great to see what you are doing!!!
I love seeing the diversity in the people you are meeting, their stories and faces. After many interesting people, controversy finally sparked when Katy ripped the Ten Bucks! My opinion is that the decision to be made with the $$$ was completely up to the holder. You decided to give it, the next person hopefully keeps the momentum of the ball rolling, BUT people don’t always act as WE think they should. Many mentioned that she was “selfish”, “a brat”, etc.
My proposition is this . . .
in this Mega-Stressful Global Life and Global Economy, it is important to “EMBRACE” our differences. Perhaps seeing both the “Artistic Expression” and “Deeper Meaning” on Katy’s side, while searching for ways to enhance or build upon the experience by “paying it forward” is the way to go. Katy’s action caused spark and ignited fire in many. Spark and controversy lead to great opportunities for us ALL to learn more about ourselves, including Katy. Also, if one were to read through a hundred posts they could gain more personal reflection and knowledge then they could from reading a mere fifty . . . and more after ten responses from others than zero (leaning solely on their own beliefs and reactions). I also propose than NONE of us would perfectly react to the $$$ and do the PERFECT thing with it. Their are too many options that would be perceived by too many different types of people. So, on that notion, we can ALL learn from others. Taking this into account, a pleasant email to Katy or post on the website, might have led to increased reflection on Katy’s end and quite possibly helped her see ways she could have “not cheapened the moment” and “still helped someone out with the $$$ who needed it”. Bashing Katy from behind ones computer screen isn’t really going to “help” ones personal growth or “lend a hand” to Katy towards insight”. Controlling our own judgements and emotions is a tough task, yet the fruits of calm communication between people can be quite impressive!!!
(****As a side note, I think it was mentioned that she had been drinking prior – this could have played a part. Also, for those worried about the economic effect of taking the $$$ out of circulation, realize that less money in circulation leads to a stronger dollar – not saying its a good move, especially since destroying/defacing our currency is technically illegal.
One big factor that Katy mentioned that I agree with is that whether it’s inviting someone to something they can’t afford at the time (dinner, movie, coffee, etc – these things go beyond the food, ent, beverage, as they are a chance to bond together)!!!
And don’t forget, there are many, many ways of giving . . . buying them something, helping with a bill (one of my favorites is paying for the car behind you when crossing a toll bridge), or just plain helping them with compliment, a helping hand, an ear to listen, etc etc etc . . . there are sooooo many ways we can help each other!!!
Embracing our differences,
Jason
Just because this woman did not spend or give of the exact $10 she was presented with does not mean she plans on STOPPING giving, or will not “pay it forward.” I believe it presumptuous to assume that is her only redeeming, defining moment and she “blew it.”
I am interested in and understand her idea that the $10 she was given had served its purpose and needed to be frozen in time so as to properly mark the moment when you touched her life.
I can’t for a moment believe that a woman such as that, with an inventive and imaginative view of the world that leads to an act like that (when she KNEW the possible consequenses of her actions) would simply end the ripple you have started by approaching her in the first place.
I think we should all stop worrying so much about her REaction and get out and take our OWN action to give to the world in our own way.
Namaste, Reed.
Stay bright 🙂
I think she was wrong to tear it up, she should have payed it forward. Sometimes since I have been layed off work, $10 would make the difference of my electricity check bouncing or not. It takes some real juggling to keep a roof over our head and the utilities from not being turned off and they have been. There are a lot of us out here who just want to go back to work!!
I find it VERY interesting…. I find it selfish of her. I realize she thought the conversation meant more than the money but she could and SHOULD have either given the money to someone else or not accepted the money.
Just sayin.
Everyday I buy a cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts (drive thru)that costs $2.13. I always (or almost always) pay $3.00 for this coffee, leaving my change for the last dollar as my tip. I work hard for my money, and I am not well off. I should be better off than I am, but I give a lot of what I earn to help my children or grandchildren or to the good folks at Dunkin Donuts every day. The people who take my $3 every day at Dunkin Donuts are so thankful for the “generous” tip I leave, that I am always a little embarrassed. Am I being profligate? I don’t really have so much that I should be paying $3 for a $2.13 cup of coffee…is this why I still don’t own my own home, and still have debt? because I pay for coffee I could make at home for much less??? Then I tell myself that I am helping the whole economy..the system works because I contribute…$1 here…a $1 there..it all helps someone somewhere make what they need to make to keep going. I feel better to be part of keeping the system working….I think Kate insults us all with destroying the chain….tearing up $10 that would buy several cups of coffee, represent a decent tip to the service worker who, when combining with other tips of the day, can say s/he had a “good day”…it’s just a shame.
I think Katy did “spend” the ten dollars to receive much self attention in return. Think about it. Her act with the money was not one many of us would have played out. This made her stand out from the crowd to be noticed. In addition she could also have been telling this guy that she would not be paid for her time in this way. Quick thinking girl and excellent with words. I would say run, run, run away from this one!
Katy had symbolic, clear and menaingful reasons..good for her–I’m with her–“Oorah!”..Love the blog Reed–keep up the great work, thank you..
Carlos
I see her point but ” pay it forward”… that would have made a bigger impact…
Katy didn’t want the $10, she said it has no meaning to her.
That’s her opinion. But $10 is $10 no matter how you cut, tear, stomp,or crush it, the value does not diminish, it is still $10. I hope the waiter or busboy, who cleared Katy’s table saw the pieces of the $10 mixed with the coffee in the mug. The shredded pieces of the $10 could still be pasted or taped together and exchanged it in a bank for a new crisp $10 bill and be used for a better purpose, like buy a meal for someone who is really hungry.
Okay, obviously. Katy is a suburban idiot chick raised on ideals forced upon her by a) her radical, hippie parents and b) her radical hippie friends. I’m not impressed. Cheapen the moment, please. Katy, stop mooching off your parents and definitely stop thinking about your own artistic moments. Lame.
Why is Reed handing out $10 a day? Why is Reed recording people’s responses? Is he doing it as an experiment? Is he doing it for recognition? Is he trying to sell a future book? If he was doing it out of pure Christian charity, wouldn’t he remain nameless? How are his actions purer than Katy’s? Katy was simply making a gesture. She was trying to demonstrate that human interaction is more valuable than a scrap of paper. We “waste” money every time we purchase something we want but don’t need. Ice cream for the grandchildren isn’t something kids need to survive, it just makes life a bit more enjoyable. Stuffing coins in a slot machine is enjoyable, but is it necessary? All our excess cash is spent bringing joy into our lives or the lives of others. If Katy found a little joy “spending” the $10 in such a manner how much worse is it than putting $10 worth of gas in the tank, and driving to the park? If her action is a sin, what a petty sin it is. Nothing “unforgivable” as one person commented. He who is without sin….cast the first stone. How is poor Katy going to feel when she reads all the unkind reviews of her action? Does she deserve such harsh judgment? How are the people leaving cruel comments any better than Katy? Aren’t they much more interested in that $10, than the pain they might cause her? Think about it.
While I don’t agree with Katy’s gesture, I think we have all done something implusive, at least once, so lets give her a break while we all learn more about ourselves and each other through this very interesting dialog.
I so applaud the girl who mentioned putting the ten dollars towards fixing a cleft plate on a child. While not true, that ten dollars will pay for half of an operation, (it is $250. in cost and many volunteered hours), it is true that a donation of ten dollars combined with other ten dollar donations adds up into the literal changing of someone’s life. The more ten dollar donations, the more children being helped.
I do not work for the organization that I would like to recommend, if you have an extra $5.00 or $10.00 to give.
It is called Smile Train.
Look at the website and read everything else about them.
I agree that giving up your seat, helping with packages and doing what you can to ease or change someone’s day is so valuable. Lets all keep on. But here,if you have a few extra dollars you can change someone’s life.
Tearing up the $10 was negative energy. So much more could have been accomplished by generating positive energy by moving the $10 forward. Positive energy out, positive energy in…negative energy out, negative energy in. She put out negative energy and that seems to be the majority of what she is receiving back from your readers. POPI!!
i think its quite funny that people are upset because they think the money should have been given to the homeless or as a tip at the restaurant or something. how often do we do that with the money in our possession?
if katy’s example makes us mad and makes us think of giving, then maybe that’s the value in the gesture: causing more people to think of giving and hopefully to do so in our own lives, to live in harmony with the judgements we cast.
I’ve given money away for a while now. I personally don’t require a lot of money, yet I make way more than I need. I occasionally come across someone who is either a waitress, service industry worker or some random person and tell them to keep the change. This past week end I ordered a drink from a bar and talked with the young girl and found she reluctantly worked at the bar as a bartender to provide for her young daughter. The bill was 5 bucks and I handed her 65 bucks and told her to keep the change. I will never forget the disbelief in peoples faces when they “count” the money and almost never do they say anything in response. She took the money and walked away and told the other girl working there. To me 60 bucks isn’t anything….and to her it might’ve been just a crazy guy, or a drunk or whatever. I always wonder how people take me as I just give them money, without even talking with them or asking them about themselves. I just give them money and usually just walk away! It’s very interesting. I do think though that most people become accustomed to just adapting to their lifestyle, so if you hand them money, it really doesn’t mean as much to them as it does to me.
I find it interesting that, although she didn’t like the idea of spending the money on herself, the idea of passing along the money to someone who needed it more (and possibly having another great conversation) never seemed to cross her mind. I wonder why she didn’t think that would be a good use of the money.
I did enjoy the fact that Katy acknowedged the fact that she would have rather enjoyed the experience with you instead of receiving the $10, that was a noble gesture.
However, the gesture of ripping UP the $10 rather then giving it as a TIP to the hard working waitress (as someone e;se suggested) whom I’m sure would have enjoyed and probably needed that $10 OR paying $10 toward’s someone else’s bill (also suggested) would have much more made her day and the person who rec’d it. I GUARANTEE that Katy, after thinking of what she had done by ripping UP the $10 had second thought’s about what she had done and wished that she could have gone back in time and rethought her moment of SELFISHNESS. Tearing Up that $10 was totally a SELFISH act. For those that wrote that we are PRISONER’s of the ALMIGHTY dollar may have a different opinion IF they actually needed that $10 to eat or pay their rent or to put food on the table for their 4 kid’s that night.
Yes, we ARE prisoner’s of the almighty dollar. However, we WILL NEVER be FREE. B/c no matter what we feel toward’s the GREED in this world, it will ALWAY’S EXIST. Therefore, SOMEONE will ALWAY’S need that dollar or in this case $10 that would have made their DAY so MUCH better.
The best example of that is the person that stated the person ahead of them in the checkout line had two item’s and could ONLY afford one, I BET that she wished she had that $10. Thank God the person behind her recognized her need and paid for her.
I was recently in a store to pick up a few thing’s. For whatever reason, I started a conversation w/ the lady behind me. She was buying a couple of Crossword puzzle book’s to use while her daughter was having surgery. At first, I did not give her any money. However, I walked out the door of the store and their was a 20 y/o young man that asked me for money so that he could get back home from Jacksonville, Florida. I went back into the store to break a $10 bill so that I could give the young man $5 toward’s his journey. As I reenter the store, the lady w/ the crossword puzzle’s was counting out pennies to pay for the $1.07 book’s she had. I paid her bill, got my change and handed her $5, walked out and gave the young man the other $5. The lady w/ croosword puzzle’s ran out of the store and put the book’s in the car that I had purchased and went back in and bought food that she could eat while at the hospital w/ her daughter.
Imagine the $10 that Katy tore up, could have helped two people that day that I was in line. It amaze’s me, how many people are in NEED or could use that $10 and how much it would change their day or even for that moment, their life.
Young stupid girl who just drank too much that day. Maybe trying to impress someone. Pass the $10.00 on to someone who does care.
If she didn’t want to cheapen the experience, she shouldn’t have slapped you in the face for your generosity. You: I’m giving you a gift with no strings attached. Katie: I accept your gift, and now I will crap on it right in front of you.
I guess it takes all kinds of people to make up this world. I just wish there were fewer like her, who choose shock value over philanthropy. Lame.
I think she likes you and was flirting. She didn’t want to feel like just another subject of your project. Maybe she felt like she was on a date with you (she had been drinking beforehand, per your description) and felt some intimacy with you (albeit one-sided, or maybe not?!) If she had kept the money, it would have made her feel cheap (she uses that word at some pt.), like you paid her for her time, like she was a hooker or something and she didn’t want to feel that way.
This has given me a lot to think about, but my initial visceral reaction is negative. I heard what she said, but I don’t buy it. MY perception is that she was attention seeking. Bottom line….there is so much she could have done with the $10 that never would have cheapened her experience with you. I’m disappointed, but need to think more about it.
I think what you are doing is amazing. I don’t give money, but I listen to people talk every day and I certainly understand the amazing experience that is.
i was a bit disgusted at first with the $10 note being torn but it’s just a natural instinct for people who have sold their soul/time for materialistic needs. who doesnt?
Reasoning and assumpting thoughts are so varied in billions in humans that in reality, it’s best not to make an opinion of a person until u meet and know her truly without prejudice. from her reactions, i think she’s a nice and honest person experimenting on self-discovery.
As for the cost of the disappeared $10, the lost is only a piece of paper together with the production cost. The value or purchasing power of the $10 was simply distributed into all the dollar notes in the world when she torn the money into uselessness. if there are $1 trillion in the world, the purchasing power of every $1 u r holding would be increased to = ‘$1 + $(10/1trillion)’
I really don’t like this. I just don’t. I think it was not nice. I think it was one of those attempts to be profound and interesting but sadly, for me, it fell flat.
$10 may be chump change to some, but for others it can change their life – even for just one day. One day that a struggling mom can feed her kids… One day that someone doesn’t have to worry about their bus fare while on their way to work at an AIDS clinic… One day that an animal shelter can feed many strays…
Wow…so many opportunities missed.
Wow. I don’t know how I missed this one Reed. I thought I had read all of you archives.
I know that you put no restrictions on what the recipients can do with the money. I find that fair and understandable.
What I see in this video [without trying to be cheeky] is that Katy was empowered by her drinking earlier in the day and made quite a few missteps in her reasoning behind ripping up the money.
I don’t find her altruistic or raising the value of the ten dollar bill [no matter how infintisemal that is] as others have stated.
She was tipsy and wanted to be cute and make a point that would get her noticed. That to me makes her just another of the selfish, over entitled brats [for lack of a better word] running around these days that make the world a less beautiful place to live in. The “buck stops here” comment really made me grind my teeth. Does she even know what it means, the context or who said it? Sure it is a cutesy statement, but it sounded silly in regards to her point.
She goes on to say that she isn’t a person of means but she gives in other ways “I give up my seat on the subway for someone who needs it more than me. I carry things for people….” HELLO! That isn’t giving in the sense that she is trying to make it – that is simple, DECENT, human behavior that one would hope everyone would practice everyday. She is supposed to be rewarded, noticed for simply being kind? – No. Those things are nice, but they aren’t the “above and beyond” type actions that she seems to be implying. If everyone did it perhaps people like Katy would understand that it isn’t quite the AMAZING gift she seems to think it is.
As for living in NYC [self important much?] and being in an urban environment, where exactly did this child think she was – DC may not be NYC but it isn’t Sterling VA.
This was the saddest of all the encounters you have had, in my opinion. I hope you don’t run into another Katy in your final days. Self centered isn’t what your project is all about.
I appreciate the variety of points of view on this, however, as I have said in previous posts, I support Katy’s decision. Maybe her on-camera explanation lacked the sincerity that she demonstrated to me in person, however, I feel that I have the best insight into her thinking (with the exception of Katy herself) and she was very genuine and sincere. I also get the idea of showing that the money truly wasn’t the most valuable part of the experience. -Reed
I did read all the comments – that would only be fair, and I do understand that you were actually there…but – it is all such a waste to me.
I am not trying to get the last word here Reed, I hope you know that. I just wanted you to know that I did read the whole post, watched the video and read all the comments.
I was truly surprised at how divisive everyone is. I was very sad when I finished reading it and that isn’t an experience I have here very often.
Thanks again.
The world can use a whole lot more like Katy who think and act “outside the box” by doing the surprising opposite of what everyone else would have done.
I suspect this young lady will go far in life if she continues to not do what everyone else would do and to not think the way everyone else thinks.
Well done Katy… and thanks for giving me a good laugh!
Because of you I’ve decided sponsor one of the kindness investors with a hundred dollars to continue this work. (and no, I won’t say who but the money will be mailed in about an hour)
bill (Washington, DC)
Very selfish woman… she obviously only thinks about herself. She thinks it’s a compliment that she was late to meet someone else, but spent an hour with you instead, but what about her friend who was waiting for her? She’d rather do what she feels like doing on the spur of the moment than keep her meeting with her friend. You guys were sitting at a restaurant and she rips up the $10 which would have been an exceptionally nice tip to the waiter or waitress who waited on you and probably makes terrible money. I’ve been a waitress in my life, and once had someone leave a dime in the bottom of a water glass, which was full of water.. the ultimate insult. And so was tearing up athe $10 bill and stirring it into the coffee..an insult to the wait person who was not at fault for the quality of the coffee, a waste of the money which could not be used, and something that would really get to the wait staff who would see the now useless $10 bill stirred into the coffee, indicating the coffee and the service were poor and the patron would rather tear up ten dollars than give it to the staff. A rude, nasty, insulting act on so many levels. This was not a nice person.