9.08.10 - 5:00PM
- by
Eliot Glazer

The Money Tree - How Much Free Money Would You Take?

topic:
Videos
Art / Design

money tree Amy Krouse Rosenthal attached one hundred dollar bills (that's one hundred singles) to a tree on a Chicago street, each bill stamped with a message like "Don't ask, just enjoy!" and "Some things just can't be explained."

In a sort of precious, optimistic social experiment that isn't an ABC News fluff piece hosted by a guy who might be a demon, Rosenthal (with the help of her friends Brian and Ben) kept a camera focused on The Money Tree, curious to see just how Chicagoans would react to the very literal sight of money growing on trees.

The results may surprise you and make you happy that we're not all greedy, money-hungry beasts lugging around sacks of coins and bills marked with a "$" sign. At least, that's how it works in the Windy City, it seems.

link:// Amy Krouse Rosenthal
via:// One Thing To See

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Comments

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9.11.10

By Debi

Neutral

What people aren't commenting on is the number of people who took just one or two dollars and didn't try grabbing them all.

9.11.10

By Cherylgafner

Neutral

I would have been ALL over it!
I have rent to pay!!!

9.11.10

By CouldUseSomeMoney

Neutral

I think the second Money Tree should be put
on my street in Fremont, Ohio (in front of
my apartment). $ $ $ :) $ $ $

9.11.10

By LARGEHUMAN

Neutral

Look deeper and you will see the true meaning of the money tree Grasshopper......

9.11.10

By meek

Neutral

Maybe it should also be done in other places or do it in higher denominations.

9.11.10

By Draconian

Neutral

This might be inspirational to Obama, 'growing the wealth.' Wonder what the money tree 'seeds' look like? Marijuana rakes in tons of cash out here in CA.

9.11.10

By cadreams3

Neutral

Ridiculous for people to mention stealing. Something that is hanging out in public is free game. This video actual makes me shake my head even more about how self-involved people are these days that they don't pay attention to anything or anyone around them. It's all about their own small, insignificant lives that they think are so important. Most of the people didn't even notice anything. Heaven forbid they should stop for one moment and take a look at the world around them. I feel very sorry for all of you out there that pass up so many of the worlds great gifts because of your selfish, me attitude. You don't deserve a gift like the money tree.

9.11.10

By EGOBURENWANYI

Neutral

You are absolutely right. In other for them to come to the conclusion they did, it is important that they replicate their experiment to poor neighborhoods or "hood". Till this experiment is replicated and same result obtained, their conclusion is flawed and so they cannot generalize. At best their claim can only apply to average to rich people. Hopefully, part two of the experiment is on its way

9.11.10

By Buff

Neutral

If you can get the nerve,and extra cash...Try that same experiment with denominations of $50. and $100.bills.....See what the result of your experiment would be then....lol...:)

9.11.10

By EGOBURENWANYI

Highest Rank

9.11.10

By Steve A

Neutral

People probably thought one or two things. That it is either a sales gimmick or that the money was fake in some way at first glance.So in the way people think they did not want someone to stop them and say "excuse me but we noticed that you took some money off the tree". And then the salesman goes into their sales pitch. Believe me people know you don't get something for nothing and that there must be some prank or gimmick involved. If you put a large sign in front of the tree that said free money for the taking, not a gimmick or a prank, just take it. The result would be different.

9.11.10

By Nikki

Neutral

I live in Dayton, Ohio, and I would be real surprised if the money on that tree would last as long if it were here. I think this was an amazing video, and very interesting to watch! Nice experiement!

9.11.10

By rocky

Neutral

I can all but guarantee you that if even ONE Wall Street type (CEO, Hedge Fund manager, etc) had walked by that tree, they would have stripped it clean in less than 2 minutes...down to and including the leaves and even the bark. All of which goes to prove, of course, that while most average Americans live by one set of morals, those who control everything live by a radically different set of morals. What a surprise, eh?

9.11.10

By kendahrah

Neutral

I was surprised how this video made me feel sad for the tree.

9.11.10

By michafreeway

Neutral

I don't know why there is so much negativity about this video. I thought it was a very interesting social experiment. So what if it was a very white part of town? Greed is greed, and I thought this video gave a really good example of the goodness (or obliviousness) of people. What's wrong with highlighting that lack of greed? I really liked watching this.