Supporting "Bum" culture

Quote: rxwine

Of course if there is an alternate entrance, it easy just to aim towards that one.

You actually live like this? http://giphy.com/gifs/hells-kitchen-hells-kitchen-gordon-ramsay-xT9DPJVjlYHwWsZRxm

Quote: rxwine

As bad as a sponsored shelter may be in evaluating a lazy con, or a real need, there's definitely no evaluation going on, on the street as long as they stay there.

Most want cash for , smokes, or H. There are a few people down on their luck end up on the streets, but they find their way off. One in the paper said he had a safe deposit for his ID and other papers so he could avoid really falling off the grid. What kicks me is all these rich, suburban types who will spend a day or a week "being" homeless to see how hard it is. Then they think they are better because of it. Uh, I know it is hard without doing that.

I did work a dinner at a shelter 2 or 3 times. Kind of joint where they got donations of actual food that they cooked up while a guy gave a little half-religious talk. I liked his example the one time I was there, told him so. The woman who ran the kitchen was a trip. Big Jamacian woman who was professional but God help you if you asked a dumb question, the manager said she liked making "white boy stew." I was smart enough not to sound stupid.

But anyways, you could tell some of the people by looking. A woman with her kids, IIRC a couple with a kid too. But others were the ones who liked the homeless life.

As to Wiz, I have a few lines. I wanted to make a video (before YT got big) of homeless put downs for sale. Maybe it could still be done and go viral.

One of my best was to say, "$1? All I have is hundreds." That stumped one, made another scream at me. Lucky here in the east we do not seem to have the same problem at gas stations.

Quote: AZDuffman

Lucky here in the east we do not seem to have the same problem at gas stations.

I've never seen a panhandler in W MI.
I don't even see hitchhikers anymore.
Every couple of years I'll see a guy with
a sign 'Will work for food' but they don't
last long. Homeless aren't tolerated here
so they go where they're liked.

A good line might be: "What is your name?" or "Would you like to talk?" or "Can you tell me your story?" If they are only interested in your money they will often move on. All people though really just want to be treated with dignity and respect. This is worth more than anything. People want to share their story too. Many times you can be surprised by either the pain and loss they underwent when they were young, the broken homes and families or just the broken dreams. How someone with a good education, job, etc. went to being before you asking for a few dollars because of things often times out of his or anyone's control will make you think twice about the homeless.

Quote: FrGamble

because of things often times out of his or anyone's control will make you think twice about the homeless.

Yes, that's fine. My point is how is making the street a place to keep receiving assistance a good thing for anyone?

If you guys want to play guidance counselor on the street, then go out there. But me giving them money so they can be there the next day does little to further their progress in a positive direction.

Quote: Evenbob

I don't even see hitchhikers anymore.

No wonder it takes four days to hitchhike from Saginaw.

Every now and then I read articles about walmart corner panhandlers who go home at the end of a day in a Mercedes Benz or who live in an expensive RV or a mansion. I wonder how many reporters have ever followed such a panhandler to a cardboard box with two kids in it?

In Vegas, I imagine much of it is panhandle then put twenty on the Pass Line. Heck, even some casino operators get fooled and give some money to scammers.

Quote: rxwine

Yes, that's fine. My point is how is making the street a place to keep receiving assistance a good thing for anyone?

If you guys want to play guidance counselor on the street, then go out there. But me giving them money so they can be there the next day does little to further their progress in a positive direction.

I agree. Don't give money on the streets. Give kindness and point towards resources and ministries that can help. Donate the money you would give to the homeless to these groups that are working to truly help and make social changes.

Quote: FrGamble

All people though really just want to be treated with dignity and respect. .

And you're money, or they wouldn't be asking.
To them you're a sucker, a mark. I some of them
did talk to you, the majority would expect something
for it. I know you think you're an expert from your
week visit to LA, I lived around these people for
7 years and dealt with them every day. You would
quit using the 'do you want to talk approach' very
quickly once you learned most of them are just
playing you.

two responses

*the experience that cured me for good was when I was maybe 21 and gave a guy a quarter at a greyhound stop in somewhere like Montana. After I did, his buddy who was a massive 6 foot 6 Indian then came up and said "you better give me a quarter too!" - it was a threat, and he skipped the part where you ask nicely first. Clearly off mentally. Now I am no shrinking violet and can take care of myself, but that guy was scary. I vowed 'never again' and have stuck with it ever since.

*I recognized once a guy panhandling in DC. He had a regular job in a retail store next to where I worked; I think it was a record store. I saw him enough to know he got 40 hours a week there. Clearly, he had no scruples and was able to do this when hardly nobody else in his position would want to; yeah, he wasn't making much at the store and could use extra money, I get it. But it meant panhandling was fairly lucrative by his standards and it was a confirmation not every panhandler is what they seem.