Thursday, October 9, 2014

Look at the picture. How do you feel about this?

 



What kind of social welfare function could lie behind this?







Cardiff University Installs ‘Anti-homeless Cage’ | A Treat For The Eyes

4 comments:

  1. I really dislike the idea of an “anti-homeless cage.” Especially in this scenario, because the homeless people using the vents weren’t creating a nuisance, littering, or damaging the property. Also, they were only residing there temporarily. I understand that the school’s main concern was preventing the negative effects of excessive contact with steam, but I agree with the blogger that the negative health effects of being in cold and wet conditions heavily outweigh the effects of being dry and warm. Moreover, I imagine that this cage was expensive to install. So, I believe the costs here definitely outweigh whatever benefits Cardiff University thinks it’s receiving. Also, it’s kind of an eyesore.

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  2. Wow. When I first looked at the picture I thought it was a fancy bike rack and that this article was going to be about how no one rides bikes anymore or something. The fact that this contraption is actually an anti homeless cage is sickening. Really Cardiff University? You spent money on a cage in order to save the homeless people from the harmful health effects of steam exposure? I didn't even know that such health effects existed. People sit in steam rooms all the time for the health benefits. Here's an idea, instead of spending money on a cage to save the homeless, why don't you spend that money on food or blankets for these guys so they can at least be warm somewhere else instead of spending money to shut these people out from the one place they could stay warm at night. You've made me lose a little faith in humanity Cardiff University, congratulations.

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  3. This is not the first nor the only anti-homeless act done by cities and this may be one of the nicer examples. I have included a link for another article which discusses some other policies including sloped bus stop benches and even pay-per-minute park benches that are designed to decrease their use by the homeless for a makeshift bed. The idea behind the initiatives is that the city and "homed" public will benefit from not having to see or be around the homeless and thus the project would increase social welfare. The cities seem to believe that if the homeless are not within their borders than their health and comfort do not compute into social welfare. As others stated it is easier to push the issue to another city than to take action to solve it.

    http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jun/12/anti-homeless-spikes-latest-defensive-urban-architecture

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  4. It is unbelievable to know that in this century, people can treat other people like this. This also reminds me of "The desperate Hong Kong people are forced to live in 6 feet by 2 feet boxes created out of mesh, bundled on top of each other and divided into rooms with hot, dark, intense and unfriendly atmosphere inside." Hong Kong government has not been trying to fix the problem and to see this happen in Cardiff University, I am shocked. This is against humanity.

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/pictured-desperate-homeless-people-hong-3140666

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