This morning, I was standing outside Apple on Rennweg texting when a man came up to me. As I usually do, I ignored him at first. He stood there for maybe five seconds before I turned and realised he was simply trying to sell a Surprise magazine. I quickly said, “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything.”
He crossed the street and started approaching others — all dressed in suits, rushing to work, caught up in their own worlds. One by one, they ignored him. I stood there, outside Apple, in warm clothes, with an apartment, a job in an office, and about to buy a pair of headphones… yet I’d just told a man standing out in the cold, wearing basic clothes, that I couldn’t afford to give him 8 francs — of which he only keeps 4.
And I thought to myself, what have I become? He has it so much harder, and most of us take so much for granted.
So I want to appeal to others: next time someone like that approaches you, please don’t just ignore them. Remember — you probably spend more on a coffee than on that magazine. Even if you can’t buy one, look them in the eye, say hello, and apologise kindly. They’re people too, just trying to get by.
(And yes — they also accept Twint.)
https://i.redd.it/h7i402tclutf1.jpeg
Posted by willisandwillis
26 Comments
Bro lmao
[deleted]
Had the same situation at IKEA recently. A very friendly looking woman was selling Surprise at the exit and I almost walked by her with over 400.– of new furniture and decorations. I had to turn around and buy a magazine from her.
Apart from that, I never ignore anyone (except maybe the Romanian gang beggars), it’s basic human decency to at least look someone in the eyes (because we are all humans and deserve a minimum of respect, and if it’s nothing but eye contact) and kindly inform them that I do not currently have cash on me (which I never do).
Great introspection! Thank you.
Cool thank you.
Surprise sellers are usually very friendly and not pushy.
First of all, don’t give money. There are institutions to help. If you want to help, buy them food if they really need. Mostly also not. Most of the times, being homeless is a choice. Check on documentaries, check on psychologists and stop overthinking. Homelessness was a common thing in my country of origin. This is their choice most of the times. People in a real need act in a different way.
Edit: this is what I assume at least, maybe that’s another case. Still, lmao as someone previously said. I have another opinion on this magazine. I will happily get all your downvotes. What a coincidence none of you want to discuss the case.
Good for you (not sarcasm) for recognising how you initially were. Kindness actually does cost nothing. I see every day the same man selling surprise outside my local supermarket. We say hello/goodbye every time.
You never know how or why people fall on harder times. It could happen to any of us. There is no need for rudeness, just treat people nicely
You are the problem
This is what the world needs. Compassion, empathy. Thank you for this post!
Are you serious, or just kinda joking 😳
I don’t understand how this is even a thing. Does anybody actually care what the magazine writes? Does anybody read it’ I have and will never buy it, just because I want to support the people selling it. I think the “Job” is outdated and should be abolished. There are more efficient ways to help people with the feeling of a real job than to let them stand outside a public place and try to sell a magazine, which people only buy out of pity.
I don’t want a magazine that I will just throw away. I also don’t want to give money to people on the streets, because it just attracts more people asking for it. Happy to pay my taxes so that the country can help these people though. I don’t think it has to do with being rude. They are selling something I don’t want and didn’t ask for, and put it in my face. I’m not supporting that.
But why? Like why do I even need to poison my mind with this “magazine”? I get your empathy, next time just give him those 4 francs and keep your mind clean.
Oftentimes there are some pretty interesting articles in there
I actually gave him 16 because he gets to keep the difference
If i Have cash I always give it to them, mostly ten bucks but I dont what the magazine
A friend of mine works at the Surprise headquarters and he can tell stories, you wouldn’t believe: The stuff these sellers went through in life is crazy and I find it very impressive that they try to get back in life by doing something (selling magazines) instead of just begging.
If you want to read more, please go here: https://surprise.ngo/verkaeuferin-werden/
I came from country where a lot of homeless, many of them because of alcohol part of them in homeless/gypsy mafia.
Here situation is really different, near our local coop sits guy who sell this magazine he usually very friendly and we always great esch other. Till this moment I always declined to buy that – I didn’t knew what is that magazine about and I don’t need more paper waste, as we have already a lot of.
Google provided such answer:
Surprise magazine most commonly refers to a Swiss street magazine published by the Surprise association to provide employment and social support for people marginalized by poverty. Vendors purchase copies of the magazine at a low cost and sell them at full price on the street, with the profit going directly to them. Surprise also runs other social programs, including social city tours and a café.
But still question arises, what is the benefit in trying selling something people don’t need? Maybe instead of wasting money on printing magazine, that money could directly help?
Many of us contribute to such organisations like red cross, the Salvation Army, …, they try to help them?
What about local law, are homeless protected somehow? And is it possible to be homeless being swiss and not a foreigner?
Since I‘m using mostly card or TWINT, I‘ve never bought a suprise again…
Thank you for respecting your fellow humans. That is too much to ask for some people these days.
Better give him the money, instead of buying a magazine. So he can keep the 8 CHF.
Same haooened at HB winti to me. Guy selling books about meditation trying to improve the world. I felt bad because he rly wasnt pushy or anything but i have no desire whatsoever for this kinda thing and dont have a ton of money rn neither.
Virtue signaling. Act, don’t make posts about it.
Nobody deserves to be ignored when they approach you. Not even the scamiest scammer. Decline nicely if they then push on they can be ignored cuz now they are rude.
Also nobody has to buy anything even if you have the money. If you dont need the thing they sell dont buy it.
That said Surprise is a very good magazin that is very worth the money and 8.- is even very fair tbh.
While I really agree with your basic reaction I also want to add that it’s more complex than that.
First, it’s not your fault that the other person is in such a bad situation.
Second, it doesn’t help anyone if you feel bad because you have a good life and can afford a pair of headphones. Enjoy it while you have it, nobody knows if it is all over for you tomorrow.
And last but not least: there are people on this planet who could singlehandedly end the misery of all homeless people in Switzerland and Europe and they’d still be filthy rich. Elon decided to spend what? 45 billion USD just to own and shipwreck Twitter? Bezos finds it a fun pastime to also have some rockets because Elon has them too. I blame those dudes and the thousands of other nameless selfish a**holes who don’t care about the misery on this planet. They don’t give a sh*t about the rest of us.
I know some people will call whataboutism but yeah…