‘Craigslist Joe’: Documentary Shows Man Living at Mercy of Craigslist for 31 Days
- Posted on July 4, 2012 at 11:14pm by
Liz Klimas
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"Craigslist Joe" in theaters August 2. (Image: Conception Studios LLC)
If you had to live solely off the mercy of others with no money or contacts and only your computer, cellphone, toothbrush and clothing, where would you turn given today’s technological age? Craigslist?
A new documentary produced by actor Zach Galifianakis, shows the journey of one man trying to do just that for 31 days. Joe Garner has to rely on the digital classifieds site for food, shelter, companionship, a mode of personal hygiene and other basic human needs. With no money, he would have to barter services or simply be gifted the items he needed.
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
As the “Craigslist Joe” website puts it, Garner “lived for a month looking for alms in America’s new town square” in 2009. The documentary will answer your questions like “Would America help Joe? Could he survive with nothing, apart from the goodwill of others?”
Here‘s more of a description from the documentary’s website:
Through his explorations, Joe gained insights into our collective psyche, and took the pulse of an anxious nation teetering on a knife’s edge of hope and uncertainty. Joe encountered a diversity of unique stories that reveal the layered mosaic of our national identity. He observes some of the most challenging issues facing our country today – from new economic realities to the continued reconstruction of New Orleans to the effect of America’s presence in Iraq. His experiences raise profound questions about who we are as a society and where we are headed, leaving you to draw your own conclusions.
Check out the trailer for the film that will be released to theaters August 2:
The documentary will be available for download through iTunes in August as well.
(H/T: Wired)
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AirAssault
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:32amI ALWAYS got work off of craigslist. It was the most free I ever felt. Chose my own jobs, and then got more work from referrals for close to three years starting off broke and living in a tent in a campground. My earnings weren‘t the best they’ve ever been, but they weren’t the worst either. I eventually found permanent, full time work, which was shocker after having all the freedom of employing myself. You can make a living in America, you just have to get up and go to work. All this guy did is get up and scrounge a vacation. Craigslist is where you can find it……gigs…lower right hand corner of the page…
Report Post »MrKnowItAll
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:01pmBe Interesting only if Jeffrey was still Free and Alive. And this Joe was of another race. Jeffery’s favorite Chocolate. Not leaving OUT that you should never think you can be Safe from your Victims relatives while Locked Up.
Report Post »newsmike
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:20pmWhy didn’t this loser use the “Help Wanted” section of Craig’s List? OWS mentality of the Obama Zombie generation.
Report Post »Twinspeedr
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:26amLame gimmicky crap! What’s your angle, son?!
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:37amUnemployment benefits finally run out???????????????
Report Post »Selfreliance
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:24amI can’t say that this experiment answers any burning questions. I see a difference between someone who needs help, and someone who chooses to rely on help to create a story they can tell. Among other things, those who actually need help are unlikely to rely on finding it through an impersonal medium like Craigslist, but through personal contacts around themselves… and they’re much more likely to find it there.
It’s probably an interesting story. It’s just one purpose-made for the telling.
Report Post »geography2012
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 5:56amCOMPLAINERS>>EVERYBODY living on the plastic card called wear now and pay later..but later is too late in a 28 day cycle..late charge..February has 28 days..but payday is every two weeks..14 + 14=28 or electronic withdrawls preauthorized..Late days,sic days, vacation days,emergency days unauthorized..grace period..some months actually has five weeks – but every moth has another holiday.
Report Post »ShadowPlacebo
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:29amKind of reminds me of the amazing movie, Into The Wild. Love stories like these
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:01amYou mean people who put themselves in jeopardy when it isn’t necessary?
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:04amThere are lots of peple living off the grid! And whether anyone elieves it or not..when everything comes crashing down.. we will see a lots of these sort of things happening world wide!
Report Post »goengo
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:14pmIf everything comes crashing down, why do you assume that there will be electricity to power our computers or ipads?
Report Post »vivrobbins
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:27amThere are a gazillion people out there that will help, I’m looking forward to seeing the whole bit.
Report Post »StayAtHomeDad
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:27am@Psychosis
Why is he a loser? I think it’s a noble idea, depending on his intentions, reasons, and motivation. Was he out of work and unable to find a real job somewhere, for example? (a likely scenario in what we still call the United States.). I define a loser as someone posting insults about a fellow American who has attempted something somewhat outside of the box. Then again, from what limited information I am able to gather, the kid is no better than someone begging on the street corner, he is merely using a more sophisticated means of communication. Instead of a hand written sign he has a USB keyboard with Craigslist on it. Where do they get the Sharpies from? Around here, I often see the street corner beggars park their car and hop out to the corner, some decent looking vehicles at that.
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:12amHE‘S A LOSER BECAUSE HE’S EXPLOITING THE KINDNESS OF OTHER FOR PROFIT. The fact is we all get down on our luck at some point and for every ******* in the world there are couple of good people. But what you don’t do is exploit those who are kind as they might bthink twice about the next person that needs help.
Report Post »robertsgal
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:00pmTo Stay At Home Dad
Report Post »Bravo for your blog. I’m not from Texas, am from Pennsylvania. I believe as you do. The politicians are mostly corrupt. Dem or Rep they make me sick. Few have any backbone. They look out for themselves and to hell with Americans. Throw them all out.
tharpdevenport
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:20am“to the effect of America’s presence in Iraq. His experiences raise profound questions about who we are as a society and where we are headed, leaving you to draw your own conclusions”
Zach Galifianakis was at that May Clooney Obamanator fundraiser, so that tells you all you need to know about where this film is heading: Hollywood propaganda.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:59amThis is a basic belief that I hold in my heart. I believe that most humans on Earth actually want to help other humans, whenever they can. This is also why I hate the Democrat Party. “That” Party always puts qualifiers on the humans that are deserving of help. In the Democrat Party, a human has to be a “victim” first, to “deserve” help. Also, in “that” Party, the victim pays a price for help received – they MUST keep the Democrats in power.
Report Post »StayAtHomeDad
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:22amOh God. Get over the party lines. If you give a crap at ALL about party lines you’re lost and might as well just step aside. This countries issues lie much, much, much deeper than political party lines. What an ignorant statement. I‘m glad you’re obviously right-leaning and from Texas, as am I – but give it up. Do you even have the slightest clue as to how corrupt our politicians are, particularly those who are anything but utterly embarrassed and ashamed to label themselves on either side of the aisle?!
I can’t get over how naive you could be. Realize the problems facing this country have nothing to do with whether or not one is a Republican or Democrat.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:52am@ StayAtHomeDad
Ah no, I’m not naive. I just see the Democrats as the Party of entitlements, and the Party that believes that they have superior knowledge of what “life as an American” should be. I disagree with all the tenets of their Party. For example, I don’t believe that health insurance is a human right. I also believe that Social Security was a horrible infringement on the rights of Americans. I, personally, was forced to pay into something that I disagreed with – over four decades. I didn’t have a choice. Monies were taken from me, against my will. The USA is a Republic, not a Democracy. All of the Democrats are Socialists at best, Communists at worst.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:39amThe last couple sentences stated what I was going to say (in your answer to the other post). The Democratic party now is not the Democratic party of my father. My dad still believes (though it’s fading) that Democrats are like they used to be when Kennedy was President. They’ve moved MUCH further to the left. And you’re spot on. The difference used to be small in the Democrats vs the Republicans. But the Democrats worked hard to get everyone to believe they’re for the little guy, when in reality they only want the power and control over everyone. I used to think all the KKK were Republicans, because that’s what I was taught. But Democrats project a lot…what they are themselves that’s bad, they accuse their enemies of being. I don’t think the two parties should be enemies, just have a different way of reaching the same goal. The Democrats want a totally different path and goal than we do.
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:28amParty line votes gave us Obama Care.
Report Post »The party that forced it on us – Democrat.
The parties that want to repeal it – Republican, and Libertarian.
The Republicans need vast majorities to to ensure repeal of Obama Care, and other bad stuff.
A president who will not veto those repeals is also critical.
Voting Democrat this year would be, literally, like voting for death panels – check the regs.
samurai2112
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:57amYou are so correct Diane. The Democrats seem to forget this and they are so out of tough they do not believe that if there was no Welfare, SS or Medicare we would not take care of those who truely need it.
Report Post »Fulksie
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:47amIt can be done!! People actually living their lives without government intervention or assistance.
Report Post »MRMANN
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:04amAnd without any other Big Brother intrusion.
Report Post »Fulksie
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:45amIt can be done! People actually living their lives with out government intervention.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:41amwhat a loser
Report Post »