Not all buskers are created equal. I'm sure we've all had a shopping trip or a ride on the subway made more stressful from time to time by somebody caterwauling into a microphone for tips. That being said, there are also plenty of genuinely talented people who make the world a brighter place by choosing to share their musical gifts with the general public.
Whether the public actually appreciates that is another matter, as one British harpist recently had the misfortune of finding out. While playing a beautiful rendition of George Michael's 'Careless Whisper' on the street, she was harassed by a Karen who accused her of begging and claimed that she was going to report her to the council.
The harpist dealt with this intrusion with enviable calm, and the internet was impressed by her reaction. That crazy lady is doing nothing to dispel the stereotype that many British people are miserable.
