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To the man who threw $1,000 in the Mall of America: just give to charity To the man who threw $1,000 in the Mall of America: just give to charity
(about 3 hours later)
What to do when your estranged wife absconds with your beloved cat? A 29-year-old Minnesota man named Serge Vorobyov faced this very quandary last week. Naturally, he decided the perfect solution was to toss his last $1,000 – in single dollar bills – from a gallery in the Mall of America, Bloomington, reasoning that it would "spread holiday cheer".What to do when your estranged wife absconds with your beloved cat? A 29-year-old Minnesota man named Serge Vorobyov faced this very quandary last week. Naturally, he decided the perfect solution was to toss his last $1,000 – in single dollar bills – from a gallery in the Mall of America, Bloomington, reasoning that it would "spread holiday cheer".
He had invited his absent wife along, perhaps convinced that when she witnessed his impressive act of generosity, which was accompanied by a choir singing "Let it Snow", she would melt and say, "Here, you wonderful man – only you deserve to have custody of our cherished pet!"He had invited his absent wife along, perhaps convinced that when she witnessed his impressive act of generosity, which was accompanied by a choir singing "Let it Snow", she would melt and say, "Here, you wonderful man – only you deserve to have custody of our cherished pet!"
Sadly for Vorobyov, not only did his wife not show up, but he was also cited for disorderly conduct by the cops. Mall of America spokesperson Sarah Schmidt said it was the first incident of its kind in the mall. She chastised the luckless philanthropist, complaining that he had disrupted the choir's performance and that he might have caused a serious situation, what with the stampeding shoppers and all.Sadly for Vorobyov, not only did his wife not show up, but he was also cited for disorderly conduct by the cops. Mall of America spokesperson Sarah Schmidt said it was the first incident of its kind in the mall. She chastised the luckless philanthropist, complaining that he had disrupted the choir's performance and that he might have caused a serious situation, what with the stampeding shoppers and all.
Asked as to his motive, Vorobyov explained that he was going through a rough patch – a looming divorce, losing his car hauling business – and he'd hoped that the positivity of his kindness to strangers would come back around. He admitted also that he'd been hoping to win back his wife's affection.Asked as to his motive, Vorobyov explained that he was going through a rough patch – a looming divorce, losing his car hauling business – and he'd hoped that the positivity of his kindness to strangers would come back around. He admitted also that he'd been hoping to win back his wife's affection.
"I wanted to do some sort of pay-it-forward kind of thing", Vorobyov said Sunday. Clearly, he hadn't bargained on the fact that "paying forward" for the stunt would entail losing his wife, his cat, his last remaining money, and any hope of shopping at the mall again for 12 months after Bloomington police ordered him not to return to the scene for a year."I wanted to do some sort of pay-it-forward kind of thing", Vorobyov said Sunday. Clearly, he hadn't bargained on the fact that "paying forward" for the stunt would entail losing his wife, his cat, his last remaining money, and any hope of shopping at the mall again for 12 months after Bloomington police ordered him not to return to the scene for a year.
Vorobyov didn't say where he had got the idea for his random act of kindness (or, at least, no one asked him). But he probably saw it at the movies: Cash fluttering down like confetti has been a favorite film trope from It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World to Bull Durham. It's also been used as a publicity stunt. In England in 2010, the team behind a particularly lame gangster film you won't have heard of, Dead Man Running, staged an ill-advised PR event that involved dropping £5,000 on shoppers from a balcony of a giant mall in Manchester.Vorobyov didn't say where he had got the idea for his random act of kindness (or, at least, no one asked him). But he probably saw it at the movies: Cash fluttering down like confetti has been a favorite film trope from It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World to Bull Durham. It's also been used as a publicity stunt. In England in 2010, the team behind a particularly lame gangster film you won't have heard of, Dead Man Running, staged an ill-advised PR event that involved dropping £5,000 on shoppers from a balcony of a giant mall in Manchester.
Frenzied bargain-hunters lunged for the cash, only to discover that most of it was fake. (It was a low-budget production.) One member of the public remarked, "It could have been dangerous if more people were there." Not so good for the box office then. A spokesman from film distributor Revolver retorted defensively, "People were respectful and didn't trample on any old ladies." Fittingly, the film featured the rapper 50 Cent.Frenzied bargain-hunters lunged for the cash, only to discover that most of it was fake. (It was a low-budget production.) One member of the public remarked, "It could have been dangerous if more people were there." Not so good for the box office then. A spokesman from film distributor Revolver retorted defensively, "People were respectful and didn't trample on any old ladies." Fittingly, the film featured the rapper 50 Cent.
But perhaps Serge Vorobyov had a more subversive precedent in mind: the money-drop as agitprop or performance art. In 2012, activists from Occupy Seattle threw $5,000 off a downtown building to protest the influence of money in politics. Each bill was printed with the legend "money as speech silences us all". Whether the action's beneficiaries in the streets below appreciated the reference to the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling was not recorded, but in a press release, activists did claim that a woman who had been trying to collect money for a bus ride was able to pay her fare with the free money.But perhaps Serge Vorobyov had a more subversive precedent in mind: the money-drop as agitprop or performance art. In 2012, activists from Occupy Seattle threw $5,000 off a downtown building to protest the influence of money in politics. Each bill was printed with the legend "money as speech silences us all". Whether the action's beneficiaries in the streets below appreciated the reference to the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling was not recorded, but in a press release, activists did claim that a woman who had been trying to collect money for a bus ride was able to pay her fare with the free money.
So at least no one was trampled and one person got home safely. Which is more than can be said for a 1994 art project in which a cult British acid house band, The KLF, filmed the incineration of £1 million in banknotes. Band member Bill Drummond said, with perhaps a hint of burner's remorse: So at least no one was trampled and one person got home safely. Which is more than can be said for a 1994 art project in which a cult British acid house band, the KLF, filmed the incineration of £1 million in banknotes. Band member Bill Drummond said, with perhaps a hint of burner's remorse:
It seemed like the most powerful thing to do. It seemed the most powerful thing to do.
Dadaist tour de force or public perception affirmed that pop stars just have money to burn? You decide.Dadaist tour de force or public perception affirmed that pop stars just have money to burn? You decide.
Next to these fiascos, Serge Vorobyov's misguided – in fact, entirely unguided – generosity has a winning quality. He may be poorer but wiser: research in recent years from both Harvard and the University of British Columbia shows that giving away money to others increases happiness. So Vorobyov may not have his cat or his wife back, but he had the warm glow already.Next to these fiascos, Serge Vorobyov's misguided – in fact, entirely unguided – generosity has a winning quality. He may be poorer but wiser: research in recent years from both Harvard and the University of British Columbia shows that giving away money to others increases happiness. So Vorobyov may not have his cat or his wife back, but he had the warm glow already.
Just a tip for the future, Serge: you can feel the positivity by donating to charity – and it won't get you arrested.Just a tip for the future, Serge: you can feel the positivity by donating to charity – and it won't get you arrested.
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