Beggars - Page 9

monster · 11-23-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianR

I once gave a Sunday paper to a bum in Philly, told him to read it to refresh himself on the world and then turn to the Help Wanted section and get a job..

Perhaps he couldn't read? Was severly dyslexic or had cataracts?

richlevy · 11-23-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

I know them. I know their stories. Not a noble mother of four struggling to find her children a better life among them.

I'm not sure that the ones you encounter in your line of work are a true sampling.

Many of the 'mothers of four' can usually find something other than street begging. There are still a lot of organizations, Govmt and NGO, who can help the determined. Still, shelters are full, low-income housing is getting scarcer, and an already overstretched system just took a big hit.

It would be interesting if someone would buy up all of the foreclosed homes and turn them into multi-family shelters. I'm not sure how the suburban communities would feel, but it would probably be better than an abandoned firetrap.

IMO, kids should never be homeless. In some cases it might be the parents fault. In other cases, everyone is one job loss or serious under/uninsured injury away from losing everything. It is possible to do everything right and still end up homeless.

Trilby · 11-23-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

Perhaps he couldn't read? Was severly dyslexic or had cataracts?

Or drunk. Don't forget drunk.

monster · 11-23-2008, 12:45 PM

I can read when I'm drunk. It's the typing thing I have difficulty with....

Aliantha · 11-23-2008, 03:46 PM

According to studies done on homeless people in Australia, a large percentage of them suffer from mental illnesses including anything from severe schizophrenia to mild depression, and of course anyone who's ever suffered even mildly from depression knows how hard it can be to drag yourself out of the black hole you're in even if you have a support network around you.

How hard would it be if you had no one to help you?

BrianR · 11-23-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

Perhaps he couldn't read? Was severly dyslexic or had cataracts?

Doubt it. Eyes worked fine, and though I don't know if he could read, it's a good bet. And he wasn't drunk or in need of one, either. He had a nervous tic of rubbing his left forearm with his right hand and he gave the impression of needing a fix more. I felt a lot of anxiety from him, and some anger (before me). Probably a mental patient released from one of several institutions when they were closed in the Philadelphia area. Off meds, likely. Or a junkie not too far gone for me to spot easily.

Either way, not worthy of my money.

DanaC · 11-23-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Probably a mental patient released from one of several institutions when they were closed in the Philadelphia area. Off meds, likely. Or a junkie not too far gone for me to spot easily.

Either way, not worthy of my money.

?

Aliantha · 11-23-2008, 06:08 PM

Actually, speaking of mental patients. Dazza is in Canada atm. He was in Vancouver first, and the thing that struck him the most was the number of homeless people. Now he's in Calgary and he said there's no where near the number of homeless people. He suggested that's because there's better mental health facilities there. I suggest that it's too fucking cold to have no home in Calgary.

Cicero · 11-23-2008, 06:12 PM

lol!!! Yea. I hope they closed down the good personality he had, while they were at it!! Asshole handicap.

You should have pinched him Brian, and let him know that it isn't merely just a nightmare, he's having.

*I never roll my eyes but this is the exception*

For the record, I said "Brian" in my head, all shitty just now.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-23-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Now he's in Calgary and he said there's no where near the number of homeless people. He suggested that's because there's better mental health facilities there. I suggest that it's too fucking cold to have no home in Calgary.

Calgary is a boom town. People there tell me there is no unemployment for anyone willing to work. They have a chronic shortage of help, though that may change in the future.

Aliantha · 11-23-2008, 06:19 PM

Hmmm...maybe that's why they're thinking of starting up a new department in Dazza's company there.

W.HI.P · 11-23-2008, 06:31 PM

its all about crack cocaine here, so no, i never give.
anyone who gives a crackhead money is an idiot.
a heroin addict is a different story, i would consider giving, although you don't see them on the streets i pass.

ZenGum · 11-23-2008, 08:42 PM

Crack, smack ... what's the difference? I mean in terms of giving them money.

W.HI.P · 11-23-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Crack, smack ... what's the difference? I mean in terms of giving them money.

hell would be the difference.
with heroin, there's not much of a choice but to use.
its not something that you can cut cold turkey.
goverments around the world have responsibly taken that into consideration and provide alternatives for heroin addicts.
free-basing cocaine is not quite the same thing.

ZenGum · 11-23-2008, 10:26 PM

Okay, then. I've never done either, but I thought crack was also highly addictive.

View Poll Results: waht do you do when confronted by a beggar?
Ignore them. Never give to them. fuck em. get a job	7	14.58%
I give pocket change if I'm feeling weak, and regret it.	3	6.25%
It depends on the beggar, mainly	17	35.42%
I follow my whims	16	33.33%
I try to give enough to make them smile	3	6.25%
I give non cash items like food, clothing or beer	8	16.67%
I dig deep	0	0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

11-23-2008, 12:45 PM	#124
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I can read when I'm drunk. It's the typing thing I have difficulty with.... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

11-23-2008, 03:46 PM	#125
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	According to studies done on homeless people in Australia, a large percentage of them suffer from mental illnesses including anything from severe schizophrenia to mild depression, and of course anyone who's ever suffered even mildly from depression knows how hard it can be to drag yourself out of the black hole you're in even if you have a support network around you. How hard would it be if you had no one to help you? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-23-2008, 06:08 PM	#128
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Actually, speaking of mental patients. Dazza is in Canada atm. He was in Vancouver first, and the thing that struck him the most was the number of homeless people. Now he's in Calgary and he said there's no where near the number of homeless people. He suggested that's because there's better mental health facilities there. I suggest that it's too fucking cold to have no home in Calgary. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-23-2008, 06:12 PM	#129
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	lol!!! Yea. I hope they closed down the good personality he had, while they were at it!! Asshole handicap. You should have pinched him Brian, and let him know that it isn't merely just a nightmare, he's having. I never roll my eyes but this is the exception For the record, I said "Brian" in my head, all shitty just now. __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

11-23-2008, 06:19 PM	#131
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Hmmm...maybe that's why they're thinking of starting up a new department in Dazza's company there. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-23-2008, 06:31 PM	#132
W.HI.P Free Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,513	its all about crack cocaine here, so no, i never give. anyone who gives a crackhead money is an idiot. a heroin addict is a different story, i would consider giving, although you don't see them on the streets i pass. __________________ pls stfu k thx

11-23-2008, 08:42 PM	#133
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Crack, smack ... what's the difference? I mean in terms of giving them money. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

11-23-2008, 10:26 PM	#135
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Okay, then. I've never done either, but I thought crack was also highly addictive. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

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