The Award for "Worst Idea of 2008" Goes To...

The envelope, please.

The Award for the "Worst Idea of 2008" goes to (drumroll)... Bumvertising!

There's nothing like blatantly profiting off other peoples' misfortune. That's why Bumvertising is the 2008 recipient of this dubious honor.

Perhaps you've heard of this company before. They've been around for several years, paying homeless people small sums of money to display signs from sponsoring companies. For those of you unenlightened to the business wonder that is Bumvertising, here's how they describe themselves on their website:

Bumvertising is the use of sign-holding vagrants to advertise. Homeless men and women are able to provide a valuable and tangible service to a company, while receiving an additional revenue stream in combination with their normal donations from begging.

Brilliant! Why bother helping homeless people when you can profit off of them? Why use a boring telephone pole for advertising when you can exploit a needy homeless veterans or a disabled single mother?

[And extra kudos for super usage of the thesaurus throughout the website!]

Yes, the idea is so disturbing- er, unique that even Comedy Central's The Daily Show took notice:

Regardless of any attempts to defend their business model, it's hard to take a company seriously which, on one part of its website, claims to be helping out the homeless, but on another part features “The Bum Game.” The object is to “hold a steady job and find a real home.” Players “start out as a bum on the street,” beg for change and search for food. What fun!

In 2008 we experienced an economic crisis of historic proportions, causing the number of homeless people to increase significantly. But it's been a boon for the chaps over at Bumvertising! Here's their take on our country's economic woes:

Something has changed in the last couple weeks. There are new faces on the corners. Bum encampments have more people, and we are having a much easier time finding corners to advertise on. Our advertising beggars are coming in to the sign holding business with less and less experience. Sadly, it looks like more people are becoming homeless by the day.

As any American, I'm concerned about the current economic state in this country. Even though this means more advertising resources for us and our sponsor, Strategic DominationTM, it's sad to see the American economic system fail, and push people out on the other end.

Half hour rules are becoming more enforced, and good corners are almost always occupied by beggars. We have taken the design of our old signs, and started ordering them in bulk from a new source to meet demand on the streets. Good luck, America.

Indeed.

Congratulations, Bumvertising. I feel no reservations whatsoever in deeming your business the "Worst Idea of 2008." In fact, I might even feel so obliged to extend this honor to cover the past decade.

Oh, and feel free to send the folks over at Bumvertising a congratulatory message. I'm sure they'd appreciate it.