If you’ve been a visitor to my site for some time, you might remember a post I did last year while trying to find my ‘thing’ where I spoke about a great web site idea for Urban Explorers.
Well, it seems that someone has finally created a site like this called Pimp Thi$ Bum!. I know that many of you thought that my idea was a little crazy, and would never work, but here it is live and well.
“We wanted to insult people’s sensitivities so that they would go to the site and see Tim, and people seem to have fallen in love with him. He’s funny and doesn’t blame the world for his situation,” said Kevin Dolan, 55, a marketing specialist from the Houston suburb of Katy who started the Web site with his 24-year-old son, Sean.
If the site had been called “Help the Homeless,” many Web surfers might just have clicked on past, says Sean.
And that’s exactly what I called for with the ‘Urban Explorer’ name. A bit tongue in cheek as called out by Gary, and rightfully so. There has to be some catchy hook to get people to take notice, otherwise there is a lot more marketing effort involved.
If you take a look at what is happening, this site is getting a ton of visitors now that national news agencies like MSNBC are carrying the story.
This just goes to show that no idea is too far fetched. Sure, it needs to be grounded in reality to some extent, but if you can think of it, it’s going to be built. The question is, are you going to be the one to think about it and put those wheels in motion?
Never stop dreaming!
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Hey Sean, thanks for stopping by! I like your idea and hope it helps bring attention to the rising crisis. I could be there pretty soon for all I know!
Keep up the inventive work!
Thank you so much for all the encouragement on here with the Pimp This Bum project. I’ve uplaoded some new videos I edited tonight at http://www.youtube.com/pimpthisbum – - – one in particular is Tim’s 38th birthday party where me and John get him pretty good with silly string. Wayne – great post, I appreciate it!
David, I try to find some time to daydream. When I do, there are a myriad of sites that could be made, but only a few that would merit a second thought. Also a matter of time, “is it worth the effort?”.
Of course, I’m assuming a certain level of (on-going) involvement with the site too. I think the site is going to get picked up by some organization and they’ll make a pretty penny. Not too shabby I’d say. Where do I sign up?
Vanea, no, you’re not a pain in my ass, come on. I’m actually delighted you comment now. Your grammar throws me off, but I’m getting used to it. I’m not that worldly in written form, only in real life. lol
But, wow man. Revolution? You alright there pal?
I like to think that i’m a friend of yours now and i don’t want to be a pain in the ass… But, i want to say something about this subject, powerty and those who give a hand to help it grow! You know what will really help? Few guerrilleros like CHE ! With machine guns… Sorry, i’m upsead! But i really can’t understand some political leaders from today! Especially from my country… Sorry again, Wayne, i don’t want to cause you troubles, but i can’t stand and watch anymore! I this world from today smells of revolution! God help us…!
Interesting concept on that web site. I can not tell you how many times I thought an idea would not work, only to see someone else do well with it. The lesson should be, as Nike would say “Just DO IT”.
Holte, don’t take that the wrong way, I’m just becoming more and more sensitive to spammers as I’m seeing more and more each day and starting to understand their tactics more.
The barnacle thing was only an amusing simile, hope you took it that way.
Demeur, that’s really nice of you to do.
Not only did they cut funds to homeless shelters, but also to education! We’re already…what? 47th worst state for education and they cut it even more?!?!?!
I just don’t understand, not for the life of me.
It’s sad to think that for every Tim out there 50 more are showing up in homless camps every day in towns all over the country. I’ve done everything I can to help with the problem even while being out of work myself. We’ve had a homeless couple stay for a couple of months until they were able to get on their feet.
What gets my goat so to speak is that our Governor and a couple of mayors in this state are cutting funds to homeless shelters while at the same time give tax breaks and goodies to developers putting up half million dollar condos.
Consider me engaged, I have been blogging since January 2009 and I need all the help I can get and I chose your site to pick up tips, and I have managed to do that, I am pretty sure you can learn nothing from me about technology, so its all one-way traffic. I shall work hard not to be a barnacle. Thanks
Holte, thanks for responding back. To answer your question, yes. A spammer is truly a person that sends unwanted emails, but I’m using it here to denote a person that leaves a comment simply for a link a back to their web site of choice.
I read each and every comment made on this site, as I should, and when I take the time to read the comments, I’m hoping for something a little more than a one-liner. Something thoughtful, insightful, or simply a ‘hey, how ya doing’ from someone I know and has reached that point where they can do that without being considered a spammer.
I don’t know you well enough to say either way, so I just called it out to see how you would react. My apologies if I have misunderstood your intentions. I’ve been on a kick to weed out those that are just leaving comments to gain links back to their site.
In a way, it’s like scraping barnacles off the side of the ship. They’re going to attach themselves, nothing you can do about that. But every now and then, you need to scrap them down and remove them.
You’ll need to do the same after running your blog for some time. Don’t take it personally, just trying to engage you a little more to understand your motivations for visiting my site.
It’s all part of blog ownership.
Karen, Yurts…lol, forgot about those. I probably shouldn’t tho…may just need one myself eventually. Keep watching and smack me upside the head if you see me falling asleep at the wheel.
I’m trying to get this year organized so I can hopefully make this year better than last. I feel behind, haven’t posted in a few days.
I’ll probably just continue to mush through life heading to my yurt in retirement. However while I’m being amazing lazy, I will watch you come up with really cool new stuff!
Wayne – Spam is unwanted e-mail so a spammer must be a person who leaves unwanted posts? Is that right?
Holte, you’re just a spammer like Rahul aren’t you. Tell me I’m wrong.
Warm Glow Time – Nice when good things happen
Dana, love that idea, in fact when I took my week off in January, I spent some time to build up a little stack of drafts that I’m still pulling from here and there. It works well, especially when life gets in the way, hahaha. Not really, life is first, it’s just most of my life is coding, so here I am.
Link issue? What link issue?
I agree, sometimes you need to make a scene. And I’ll make a scene out of those 7 things. I’m in rare form right now.
Sorry about that link issue in the last comment. I’m too used to doing html coding. :/
~ Kristi
If it drives people to helping the homeless, I’m all for it. Sometimes people need a little bit of a slap to get their attention directed to the right places.
On another note, I’ve tagged you in one of those wonderful 7 things about you memes in my 7 things post: http://kikolani.com/meme-7-things-for-new-dedicated-readers.html
~ Kristi
YOU go and DO and THINK and IMPROVE and I’m still here…..just chugging along but living vicariously through you and your knowledge.
Here’s a little tip that you might want to use on your blog:
During a time of immense brain function I did a lot of blogging and SAVING AS DRAFT. Now that I’m knocked on my butt for three weeks (going on four) with pneumonia, I can upload a post and keep my readers thinking I’m still alive.
Thanks Manz! I was hoping someone would run with those ideas actually. I wouldn’t put something out there if I was going to work it, that would be like shooting myself in the foot. Of course, once it was built everyone would hear bells and whistles and circus music. lol
I got the shirt too! Love it! There will be a post forthcoming!
Adam, I gave them a Thumbs up too. I couldn’t spend much time on the video either, seems rare that I can take time like that now-a-days. Weekends are for videos.
Lindsay, hahaha pretty cool huh!
I sent an email to the operator with a link to this post. Wonder if he’ll comment here. I want him to know that I don’t care where he got the idea, as long as someone is looking out for the homeless like he is. I think it’s incredibly cool what they’re doing.
Just watching the video.. could have done a little better interviewing him on the video.. but i think he’s young..
I think thats AWESOME!!
Groovy post Wayne. I visited the site and gave it a Stumble. I’ll be sure to stop in when I have more time.
Your posts are always a joy to read Wayne!!
Just remember… once you express an idea online, anyone can run with it. I have a concept for a kids book range that I have locked up in my brain until the day I can put it in motion. I don’t dare share the concept for fear the next time I’m in a book store, I’ll come across it! Gotta get onto it soon – before books are an endangered species
I feel a little vindicated and less of whack job after reading that. lol
I can’t wait to see where you go with your blog!
I love this concept and you’re right in saying no idea is too far fetched.
Wow, Wayne, you must feel like jumping up and down! You could have been the one to start this…
Who cares what other people think, naysayers are everywhere. So next time you have an awesome, realistic epiphany, go for it!
Give me a few years and I am going to show the rest of the world what happens when you dream big!