Hobos

[JHDK]

On Disney trips I always feel bad that I have it so good.

Whenever I see a hobo I grab a handful of change from the cigarette ash collector and give it to them. (then I hand sanitize after.)

It's probably only like $1 or $2. I tell them "sorry, not sure how much this is" when I give it to them.

IDK, shit makes me sad. Being sad sucks.



If life has gotten so bad that a person is begging on the street I don't care what they use the money for.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

There are several type of people on the street. There are the people who are mentally ill and therefore can't hold down a home or job and wind up on the street. There are those that are down on their luck. There are those that are riddled with drugs and booze. There are some artists who sell their books or art on the street as well as soliciting donations. Some of these even take VISA. And there are the professional beggers. They live in the suburbs, have a nice home, drive a nice car but they make their money impersonating beggers and actually make enough money to sustain their lifestyle from begging. Sometimes its a husband and wife team. Since I am not an expert at determining which case is which, I just don't give to people on the street. I occasionally give to a food bank or charity that helps the truly homeless.

And are you actually still using cash? And your car has an ashtray?

 

[JHDK]

There are those that are riddled with drugs and booze.

I think this is the vast majority of the beggars I see.

 

[JHDK]

And are you actually still using cash? And your car has an ashtray?

Hah, well that's just what it's called right? The cigarette lighter and ashtray. It's really the change compartment.

I like using old terms for stuff like that.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Hah, well that's just what it's called right? The cigarette lighter and ashtray. It's really the change compartment.

I like using old terms for stuff like that.

I call it the 12v slot since the car didn't actually come with a cigarette lighter.

 

[JHDK]

"12v slot" doesn't have the same ring to it.

 

[scotchandcigar]

I call it the 12v slot since the car didn't actually come with a cigarette lighter.

BMWs have ashtray inserts available, for old-school smokers. Otherwise, it's a storage bin.

At the big intersection near the Wal-Mart in Portsmouth NH, there are the career beggars that IRBS refers to. These days, I only give money to street musicians. But I don't come across beggars that often.

 

[JHDK]

the big intersection near the Wal-Mart in Portsmouth NH, there are the career beggars that IRBS refers to.

Career or not, don't you feel bad for them?

Life has gotten real bad if that's how you decide to live.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Career or not, don't you feel bad for them?

Life has gotten real bad if that's how you decide to live.

Not really. On most days the weather is good. You sit around, do little then go home to a nice house and car. All with tax free money. If the weather is bad, you can just skip that day.

 

[scotchandcigar]

Career or not, don't you feel bad for them?

Life has gotten real bad if that's how you decide to live.

A couple of years ago, we were having a bite at the McDonalds by that intersection. At the table across from us, the professional beggars were having a working lunch meeting. The older guy was discussing strategy with the younger ones: locations, times, etc. They had cell phones, backpacks, and trays of food.

Whenever it's a nice day, and I see these people standing in one spot for hours, I think about how many people would hire them to mow a lawn, or do yard work, or something useful - like everyone else on this planet.

 

[JHDK]

Fuck bro, so you have to lose a big part of your dignity to do that.

I imagine a large part of you dies when you beg on the street.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Fuck bro, so you have to lose a big part of your dignity to do that.

I imagine a large part of you dies when you beg on the street.

There are people who sometimes do anything that makes them money without a second thought. I can think of used car salemen and politicians right off the bat. This is just another scam.

 

[scotchandcigar]

Fuck bro, so you have to lose a big part of your dignity to do that.

I imagine a large part of you dies when you beg on the street.

I've seen disabled vets who (for whatever reason) need to do that, but that's not what I'm talking about. The ones I'm talking about are (IMO) no different than phone scammers, or neighborhood robbers. I don't think they're losing any dignity. I think they've found a scam to make easy money off of us.

For someone who doesn't bat an eye seeing a toddler get ripped from his parents and thrown into a cage for months, you're displaying an odd sensitivity to people who are 100% capable of working, but choose to make an easy buck by playing on my guilt.

 

[semipenguin]

There are those that are down on their luck.

 

[semipenguin]

"12v slot" doesn't have the same ring to it.

12v slot sounds like a bad gay porno.

 

[HecticArt]

NTTAWWT

 

[JHDK]

We get homeless people at main intersections here panhandling (I try to give them a handful of change cause it always makes me feel bad seeing them) but that's really all I've seen until today. While biking around there was this one dude sleeping diagonally on the sidewalk. I had to stop and step into the street to get around him. It was sad and annoying all at once.

 

[Channel98]

A few years ago I saw a {presumably) homeless man begging in front of an Arby's restaurant in Hollywood. He said he needed money to buy food for his family. I was skeptical but I gave him some money – and then watched him walk into a nearby liquor store. Ever since, I make donations only to charities, never directly to anyone who is homeless (or claims to be).

 

[JHDK]

A few years ago I saw a {presumably) homeless man begging in front of an Arby's restaurant in Hollywood. He said he needed money to buy food for his family. I was skeptical but I gave him some money – and then watched him walk into a nearby liquor store. Ever since, I make donations only to charities, never directly to anyone who is homeless (or claims to be).

I said it in a previous post, but I couldn't care less what they use the money I give them to get. If my $1.50 worth of change puts them over the top to afford another bag of heroin, go for it. I mean the vast majority of homeless are either mental or addicts. It's hardly surprising that many will use their panhandling money for various substances. If it helps them forget about their current lot in life for a few minutes, I'm fine with that.

 

[scotchandcigar]

See fewer people. Take fewer showers.

Robin Harper, an administrative assistant at a preschool in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, grew up showering every day. “It’s what you did,” she said. But when the coronavirus pandemic forced her indoors and away from the general public, she started showering once a week. The new practice...

www.boston.com