The Art of Asking- Barney Williams

Amanda Palmer's depiction of "asking" strikes a major interest in me. The way that she uses the art of asking connects with a bunch of different aspects whether it be politics, the economy, or simply a personal level. In today's world she could not have been more correct about the fear of asking, more specifically the feeling of shame when brought to ask for something. It is stereotypically seen as wrong to not hold a typical job, to ask for help, etc. The way that she addresses it however puts a whole new spin on the subject that I overlook everyday. While I may see a homeless man and think to myself why doesn't he simply get up and find a job, I could be asking myself is this man asking for help that can get him to this job or whatever it may be. On a larger scale her perspective has seen positive results. The money that she asked for to fund her music after dropping her label serves as an example of this success. Personally I think that her perspective is a well thought out idea that should be implemented all over, especially in America. Often times pride rules our lives and ultimately brings more shame on a person's life than the stereotypical "shame" of asking for help would have resulted in. So yes, absolutely it is a good idea to ask for help rather than expect it. Nothing goes as planned in life especially when you expect it. However, when asking for something it is a whole lot more likely to go as planned. Some people will criticize this and stereotype her example but the fact of the matter is that the idea she promotes simply scares many people. The thought of walking around and asking for money after a concert scares me to just think about it so one can only think about how many others perceive this idea.