Homeless people

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ecupidelta

While I may not agree with everything that Kevin has said I can empathize with him. I have had some negative experiences with very agressive panhandlers myself so I can see how he can have the feelings that he has.

I think we all can. I imagine all of us have run across the scammer-bumm who really doesn't want to work, and that can color our perspectives.

For me, this is perhaps the area of life where my instinctual reactions and my religious/spiritual values have the hardest time sorting each other out. I would rather not be faced with the begger -- although I don't think I've actually gone out of my way to avoid one. Sometimes I've given money, sometimes I haven't. Sometimes I have given or bought food to a homeless person, more often I probably haven't. Often, I refer or take them to a church or an agency equipped to help. I can rationalize my refusal to give money by telling myself that they'll only spend the money on drugs and alcohol 'til the cows come home, but then the religious side butts in: "Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or naked . . . ?"

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Like I said, there are programs which help poor and homeless find jobs, even provide job training. Those programs are not being utilized. Apparently, the "poor" prefer to scam the system.

I suppose you believe us "poor" folks sit at home watching TV collecting welfare checks too right? Because all of the volunteer work you do gives you such great exposure and all.

Originally Posted by kddani

And the job you're working, last I remember, is for your daddy's law firm.

ok... first the 6 bedroom house, now this? don't EVER come at me with some "me? priveledged? no way..." bullshit in your life. ever. you've given me everything i needed to stereotype you and everyone like you. and no i dont feel any way about it because you're doing it too.

Originally Posted by Kevin

Your point?

well, you went to law school - you're not stupid. you tell me.

Originally Posted by Kevin

What that has to do with what I do for a living (so long as I do something for a living) seems pretty irrelevant.

you wish. i suppose if you were working at the local Wal-mart stocking shelves for $6/hr (or something equally lower-income), knowing full well the city, state and gov't is taking half that... maybe you'd still feel the same in that the homeless annoy you. but i guarantee that your empathy would TOTALLY shift because your status would be eons closer to their reality than yours is right now.. it is SO obvious that your feelings are attached to your status.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by tld221

I suppose you believe us "poor" folks sit at home watching TV collecting welfare checks too right? Because all of the volunteer work you do gives you such great exposure and all.

Welfare fraud is out there. Do you disagree?

ok... first the 6 bedroom house, now this? don't EVER come at me with some "me? priveledged? no way..." bullshit in your life. ever. you've given me everything i needed to stereotype you and everyone like you. and no i dont feel any way about it because you're doing it too.

Okay, so let's say I'm 'privileged,' why is that even relevant? Do I need to experience something in order to comprehend it? I don't think your argument carries a whole lot of water. I never have implied anything other than the fact that I work hard for what I have and would do so regardless of what I don't have to work for. How that has anything to do with the homeless is beyond me.

well, you went to law school - you're not stupid. you tell me.

You didn't even make the comment. I'm sure kddani can answer the question herself.

you wish. i suppose if you were working at the local Wal-mart stocking shelves for $6/hr (or something equally lower-income), knowing full well the city, state and gov't is taking half that...

Half? Now you're really stretching.

maybe you'd still feel the same in that the homeless annoy you. but i guarantee that your empathy would TOTALLY shift because your status would be eons closer to their reality than yours is right now.. it is SO obvious that your feelings are attached to your status.

My feelings are attached to my status? I've explained to you several times that at least with the services offerred in this immediate area, anyone with a working mind and body can get off the streets if they'll invest a little in themselves. Knowing that has nothing to do with my status or privilege level -- it's just a fact. That someone fails to avail themselves of services they have to walk by every day in order to get to the prime panhandling locations communicates their intention not to want to work for a living.

Your "pride" arguments, etc. are completely bunk for reasons explained before. Being homeless is a choice. Sure, people do end up on the streets through no fault of their own -- but to remain there is a choice.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I think we all can. I imagine all of us have run across the scammer-bumm who really doesn't want to work, and that can color our perspectives.

For me, this is perhaps the area of life where my instinctual reactions and my religious/spiritual values have the hardest time sorting each other out. I would rather not be faced with the begger -- although I don't think I've actually gone out of my way to avoid one. Sometimes I've given money, sometimes I haven't. Sometimes I have given or bought food to a homeless person, more often I probably haven't. Often, I refer or take them to a church or an agency equipped to help. I can rationalize my refusal to give money by telling myself that they'll only spend the money on drugs and alcohol 'til the cows come home, but then the religious side butts in: "Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or naked . . . ?"

Amen

[WVU alpha phi]

While I feel sympathy towards the homeless, I still am irritated with them. I live on the street with all the bars/restaurants in Morgantown, and there are 2 or 3 homeless people who are consistently around. One of them keeps to himself, never asks for money, and he doesn't bother me at all. The other one sits outside all day asking "Have any change?" with a damn box of oranges, a sombrero on his head, and shaking maracas. I never give him money because I constantly see peope giving him A LOT of money, plus I really don't appreciate being asked for money when I'm walking to class. I'm much more likely to buy a homeless person a sandwich or give them my leftovers from a restaurant than give them a 5 dollar bill - especially when I've done this in the past to some bum who gave me a lame story about needing a bus ticket to Pittsburgh, then harassed my friend with the same story a week later. I feel bad for people who are trying to get on their feet, and I realize it must be horrible for them to see priveleged college students blowing money at the bar, but I'm not about to hand out my parents' hard earned money to them.