Every once in a while something grabs you

by Radix
9 replies
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I spend most of my life far removed from humans. I've got my reasons, but being able to avoid daily reminders of our loathsome condition is certainly one of them.

And then I see something like this: http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/

One of the videos made me cry. They probably all will. I'll finish the others as I can, but I will watch all of them.


Ugh
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    Maybe its just because I see it every day but i have no sympathy for the homeless. I see them everyday at practically every intersection and they aren't just 'down and out'....being down and out doesnt give you the shakes, make you slur your words or smell like booze. There are more than enough ways for people that want to get off the street to do so.

    At one time I was homeless and I didnt get off the street by begging with a cardboard sign or waiting until someone takes pity on me
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  • Profile picture of the author Jhf14
    I tend to agree with Michael... I never feel too sorry for the homeless because I have seen it so much... and all of them want something for nothing. Heck, if I gave out all my money, then I'd end up homeless too.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    I dont mind giving money to someone that truly needs it. But when you're holding a sign that says 'will work for food' and you're less than a block from a strip mall with multiple 'help wanted' signs or you live in an area, like this one, that has unending amounts of day labor places (but that means you have to get up early) or you are standing on the corner in your freshly ironed jeans and new shoes with a fresh shave and clean shirt...i find it hard to part with my cash to pay for your beer/crack/smack
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by Michael Motley View Post

      I dont mind giving money to someone that truly needs it. But when you're holding a sign that says 'will work for food' and you're less than a block from a strip mall with multiple 'help wanted' signs or you live in an area, like this one, that has unending amounts of day labor places (but that means you have to get up early) or you are standing on the corner in your freshly ironed jeans and new shoes with a fresh shave and clean shirt...i find it hard to part with my cash to pay for your beer/crack/smack
      I sometimes cannot tell if they really need help or have an addiction withdrawal, so , at times when I see a sign stating they will work for food...I'll go to a fast food joint and buy them a few items, just in case! I do however see three times the amount of people with signs around the Holidays!

      Tough to tell if they're taking advantage of the season or not, but I do like giving to others who are worse off than me.

      MissTerraK
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      • Profile picture of the author Radix
        A very small minority of homeless people will actually panhandle. The vast majority suffer in silence and make every effort to isolate themselves out of shame.

        I was behind a man and his young son in the grocery store only a few weeks ago. They were buying bread and lunch meat and he was paying with a lot of change, which was what really caught my attention. As I left the store their car was parked close to mine. Inside I could see an older woman and two small girls in addition to the son and father. They were making sandwiches in the car. Again, this wasn't all that weird in my mind. After I loaded my car I took one last glance and saw they were passing a one gallon water jug around to drink from. The back of their car had everything you could possibly imagine in it including blankets and pillows and was nearly touching the ground.

        I don't need to tell the rest of the story as I think you get my point. Hobos, bums and panhandlers may be homeless, but not all homeless folks are bums or hobos.
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        Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
        -Groucho Marx
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  • Profile picture of the author Kenster
    Thanks for the videos, very powerful stuff. Sometimes its hard for us as humans and as internet marketers to get caught up in the daily grind of making money that we dont take the time to take a step back and realize where we are in our lives, what we have, and how lucky we all are.

    Its so powerful when one guy in the video has one wish and he wishes for a van so he can stay warm and dry at night


    powerful stuff
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  • Profile picture of the author Maddi
    See the third world. This is nothing compared to the conditions there. I'm not saying they are better off but its just sad how things are worse in diff parts of the world.
    It comes down to the individual as well. 8 out of 10 times its there fault and most of the times they can't be bothered to work as they get easy money food and even cigarrettes of the walkers by.
    Some are genuine but some really take the p*ss.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    We have panhandlers that work in shifts here at the highway exits. Seriously, they change out with another panhandler about mid-day or so. I had an intersection about 2 blocks from my house that i came through every night on my way home and there was a bum there. I saw this one bum there everyday and this is what i observed.

    Monday - walking with a limp
    Tuesday - waking with a limp and a pantleg rolled up (looked like an injury if you didnt look close)
    Wednesday - strap on brace on the leg with the pantleg rolled up
    Thursday - crutches
    Friday - crutches strap on brace and a sling on his arm.

    i didnt watch him past that, but i figured by about sunday he should be in a full body cast.

    They had an article in one of the local papers here on the panhandlers and these people aren't down and out', they are bums. They have strategies as to how to get the most money. Most of them they talked to couldnt get a job because of some physical ailment or another that apparently kept them from working, but didnt keep them from walking up and down the median of a busy street for 9-10 hours. Some of these people were making $150 or so a day tax free.


    People who are truly down and out, down on their luck, whatever you want to call it, are usually the last people to beg money from someone else. They really DO want to work, and usually are atleast somewhat taken care of by a state agency or the thousands of church based or citizen run outreach programs. Those that have some form of addiction prodding them along are the ones out there with a cardboard box begging for money.

    I've seen guys down here with signs that say 'why lie, i need beer money'
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    • Profile picture of the author Radix
      I completely agree with you. I had a friend that did a research project when he was an undergrad and did exactly what you described. He was turning around $300 a day during the holiday season by roaming a mall parking lot.

      I don't advocate laziness or substance abuse.

      Sadly a large majority of homeless folks now are people who had jobs and houses only a few years ago. The despair caused by that often leads to substance abuse. We may only be seeing the end result, but the circumstances are relevant in helping these folks.
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      Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
      -Groucho Marx
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