The homeless

[Freak Show]

This will no doubt bring about a heart-warming story of brutality and mass murder from our very own children's book author, Satanic Goatslayer, but I will post it anyway.
Since I've moved to the big city I've obviously noticed an increase in the amount of homeless people I see daily and it just makes me think. Its not like people are "born" into homelessness so what are some of the causes? I know many have severe mental disorders and maybe left/escaped an institution or something, but there's gotta be more to it. What events bring this many people to having no home? What was their life like at an early age? Were the opportunities simply not there and that's what caused it? How could someone be that oppressed or "slip through the cracks?" I just can't imagine how one could lose so much or not take advantage of some sort of opportunity and end up that way.
If I could/had the balls to just sit and talk with some of them, I'd like to hear their story. This is just part of the random thoughts that go through my head. What are your thoughts on the subject?

 

[Bigsatan13]

Feed the homeless to the starving!
I realy don't think about the problem because I'm too busy providing a home for my family. Homeless kids bother me however, as a parent you are responsible to provide for your children no matter what and if you can't you should get the help that's out there. Stop sending money overseas to other countries and provide food and shelter for our underprivelaged children, then when all of our's are taken care of worry about others!

 

[satanic goatslayer]

You really should sit down and have a conversation with a homeless person. Actually ask them about their lives and upbringing, if they don't mind the intrusion. They have stories to tell that rival, and in many cases surpass, the stories your average house-possessing brethren have.

One man I met slept in the outhouse at a campground. That's how I met him - I was about to clean the facility. He told me that he was from a rural town in Saskatchewan, disowned by his family for joining a hate group - possibly the Heritage Front, I can't quite remember.

He had moved out and was beaten by his former gangmates when he attempted to leave the circle. He had to flee thousands of miles just to avoid being murdered.

I wish I hadn't strapped that plastic bag over his head and shanked his kidneys out, because something tells me that I really missed out on an enlightening story. Puddlefucker should have just got a job anyways.

 

[huntmaster]

The fact that there are homeless folks bothers me.

As you said, we should spend more of our foriegn money on our own underpriviledged.

I also think that some of the money that goes to save the whales, spotted owls, and other animals, should go toward helping employee these people--the ones that want jobs and also the children out there. My heart really goes out to the children.

It is sad that many people would lay down their life for an animal, but would not raise a finger for a brother or sister in need.

 

[studcj]

There are tons of homeless here in AZ. They're always asking to wash my windows at the grocery store. There's one guy who I actually talked to and he told me he used to be an executive for Chrysler and all this other bullshit. he kept telling me how hungry he was..blah..blah..blah..so I gave him 15 bucks (all I had with me)

The next time he didn't remember me, and gave me some other cancer story, and told me how hungry he was. This time I offered to go across the parking lot to get him a burger since he was "starving", and the motherfucker kept on insisting for the money.

He made me look at homeless people in a whole new light. Which is bad because I have far less sympathy now. The only homeless people I feel bad for are the ones that have the signs that say "will work for food", or offer to clean windows or sell newspapers. The other ones are just flat out lazy. They sit on the corner and expect handouts, and they get it. Some of them make more than minimum wage for doing nothing.

My guess as for main reasons: drugs, alchohol, or they just flat out gave up on life.

fuck, when it comes down to it I still feel sorry for all of them. I just respect the ones that are willing to do work.

sorry for the rant

 

[vixenbabe]

I donate some time at a local women's shelter each week.

This shelter is for women who were forced from their homes by abusive husband's/lover's. It makes me cry at times knowing that they have NO WHERE to go if it were NOT for the shelter.

Sad thing is, as many women and kids staying there, there are MANY more needing a safe place for themselves and the kids.

I often wonder where they end up if the shelter has to turn them away due too lack of room.

 

[Prometheus]

not bashing them, but considering the other side, realize that many of these (most?) people are drug addicts or alcoholics, and that they have made choices that have led them to where they are, just as you may choose to sacrifice a significant part of your life working or studying to better yourself.

every major American city has some taxpayer-funded program set up to help them via shelters, counseling, health care, soup kitchens, etc. (which is more than the government ever offered me free of charge) -- if they are sleeping on the street it's because they choose not to use the services provided. Of course, many I've seen are mentally handicapped - I don't know if that is a cause or a result of their homelessness - naturally those that are deserve special attention.

 

[the nature boy]

The fact that there are homeless folks bothers me.

As you said, we should spend more of our foriegn money on our own underpriviledged.

I also think that some of the money that goes to save the whales, spotted owls, and other animals, should go toward helping employee these people--the ones that want jobs and also the children out there. My heart really goes out to the children.

It is sad that many people would lay down their life for an animal, but would not raise a finger for a brother or sister in need.

I agree with just about all of your post but I don't think we spend more on foreign assistance than we do on our underpriviledged, that is, unless you have statistics.

 

[Prometheus]

my post above doesn't apply to battered women obviously. I was referring more to the "career homeless," not to those that are just in a temporary bad situation, and for whom more should be done, IMO.

why the U.S. gives billions of dollars yearly in foreign aid while simultaneously kicking women out of overcrowded shelters is beyond me.

 

[the nature boy]

also, in DC, many of the homeless are mentally ill, in a majority of those mentally ill were released as a result of Ronald Reagans bizarre mental health policies in the early 80's.

 

[Summer Bunny]

it used to kill me when i went into the city and saw this. but now i look at it as why could someone let something bring them so far down to live on the streets...
i live in an area that you don't see homeless people...or so i thought. the other day i was riding my bike on a bike trail and i noticed this van that looked like it had been abandoned for a while. then i saw this guy sitting in it reading a newspaper.. honestly it scared the shit out of me. i thought the dude was dead untill he moved.
its just a shame that is all i can say

 

[vixenbabe]

Originally posted by Prometheus
my post above doesn't apply to battered women obviously. I was referring more to the "career homeless," not to those that are just in a temporary bad situation, and for whom more should be done, IMO.


------------------------------------------------------

Of course it applies, hon!These same women and kids are living in the streets if NO programs are available to them. Do not kid yourself if you think all of these familes can get help when they need it. She will become "career homeless" when she has NO education or family support within her grasps. Sorry, that IS not a" temporary bad situation" in my eyes!

I've seen woman with kids get turned away weekly. Where do you think they go? She'll hit the STREETS and ,God forbid, back to the abuser! The stories I could tell...It would make anyone with a heart cry!

Pure desperation can lead anyone to the streets!

 

[Prometheus]

vixen - I agree. what I was saying was that many homeless are where they are (and where some choose to remain) because of choices they made of their own free will, whereas for a battered woman that's not necessarily the case.

 

[Y_lifter]

yes, some are homeless temporary and other's long term due to being lazy or whacked mentally...

I also am amazed that someone would choose to live on the streets instead of getting the help that is offered if they take the time to either find it or wait their turn...

I have heard some choose the streets instead of shelters because of the crime, rape and other things that go on in some Shelters.

I think you would be amazed by the stories of WHAT HAPPEND to them to cause their homeless situation.

 

[toga22]

When I was younger I was given the opportunity to live, work and attend school in Washington D.C. Coming from a relatively small and sheltered town of 60,000 here in Wisconsin...the differences in everyday life were noticeable immediately as I stepped off the plane. Upon arriving to my brownstone, my roommate who was a D.C. native gave me a long list of "How to Survive in D.C". Believe me I would have been smart to read it...instead, however I foolishly laughed and tossed the list aside.

Before D.C...I had seen homeless people, but I had never seen them in such abundance. Directly behind our brownstone, was a popular gathering area for the homeless...on some nights I would see groups as large as 50+ congregate there. Unlike my roommate, I was not immune to these people and the lost looks in their eyes, left me feeling rather unsettled.

It is sad to say....but it did not take me long to grow immune to the sight of the homeless...it just became a reality of everyday life. But before this reality and my DC wise attitude came about I made a few mistakes...I once gave a man $5 dollars and he followed me home and camped out on our front stoop, and there was a man who "lived" outside the grocery store who everyday would scale the fire escape and drink the milk out of my refridgerator...and then there was the lady, whom I said "Good Morning" to on my walk to the Metro...who for the next 3 weeks would walk behind me on the street screaming the word "Bitch!!" at the top of her lungs...

Don't get me wrong, I was not heartless however, I just learned the best way to carry yourself on the street. I often volunteered at the local soup kitchen, and I would take food weekly to the community living behind me. Small deeds, I know, but at the time it was all I could think of to help.

~toga

 

[satanic goatslayer]

Homeless people who find ways to afford alcohol are among the first to be stabbed and burned.

Homeless people who drink aftershave and vanilla extract will die soon anyways.

Homeless people who ask for spare change will need more change than they will ever panhandle once their appendages are involuntarily amputated.

Give a homeless man a fish and you feed him for a day. Kick a homeless person in the face and burn their makeshift house down, and you laugh for three seconds.

 

[fistfullofsteel]

I rather shovel shit than be homeless.

 

[huntmaster]

I agree with just about all of your post but I don't think we spend more on foreign assistance than we do on our underpriviledged, that is, unless you have statistics.

Not saying that we do spend more on foriegn nations than we do on our underprivledged, just that we should re-alocate more of the money that goes out to other countries, on our own people.

 

[Steroid_Virgin]

I rather shovel shit than be homeless.

Being homeless is like being a fag... no one would ever "choose" to be that way.. Comon show some compassion.

No one would hire a homeless person anyway, because there is obviously something wrong with him/her if they are homeless in the first place right?

Homelessness is a vicious cycle

 

[dballer]

Being homeless is like being a fag... no one would ever "choose" to be that way.. Comon show some compassion.

No one would hire a homeless person anyway, because there is obviously something wrong with him/her if they are homeless in the first place right?

Homelessness is a vicious cycle

haaaaahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaahahhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahaahaha

 

[the nature boy]

Not saying that we do spend more on foriegn nations than we do on our underprivledged, just that we should re-alocate more of the money that goes out to other countries, on our own people.

I got you. But as you well know, sometimes throwing money doesn't always fix socio-economic problems.

 

[fistfullofsteel]

Being homeless is like being a fag... no one would ever "choose" to be that way.. Comon show some compassion.

No one would hire a homeless person anyway, because there is obviously something wrong with him/her if they are homeless in the first place right?

Homelessness is a vicious cycle

i beg to differ. i knew somebody in a situation in which her and family became homeless and they lived in their car for months and found a way to get jobs and pull themselves back up. i also know of a story where a guy was homeless living in central park and eating from garbage cans. he got his big break when somebody gave him $300 (this was the 70's) and that money gave him his break. many years later the guy is a millionaire.
long story short.

i do have compassion for the homeless. don't jump to conclusions.

 

[Steroid_Virgin]

i beg to differ. i knew somebody in a situation in which her and family became homeless and they lived in their car for months and found a way to get jobs and pull themselves back up. i also know of a story where a guy was homeless living in central park and eating from garbage cans. he got his big break when somebody gave him $300 (this was the 70's) and that money gave him his break. many years later the guy is a millionaire.
long story short.

i do have compassion for the homeless. don't jump to conclusions.

Ok buddy.. I forgot that a lot of homeless folks become millionares.. that slipped my mnd.. You are stupid if you think the homeless are not at a disadvantage... more so because you heard a story about how one homeless guy became a millionare and now think they all should be millionares.. dummy

 

[Norman Bates]

why the U.S. gives billions of dollars yearly in foreign aid while simultaneously kicking women out of overcrowded shelters is beyond me.

Helping the poor countries isn´t just for helping.
Usually these countries have rich resources and those donations help to keep the government stable, so the prices for resources keep more stable.
Also it helps the enterprises to get permission to exploit these resources.
These donations are very beneficial to economy.

 

[the nature boy]

Helping the poor countries isn´t just for helping.
Usually these countries have rich resources and those donations help to keep the government stable, so the prices for resources keep more stable.
Also it helps the enterprises to get permission to exploit these resources.
These donations are very beneficial to economy.

I read something on the Heritage Foundation webiste site that showed a corelation between countries that voted favorably towards the US and the amount of money the US gave them in aid. Countries that voted favorably to the US got more money on average than countries that voted non favorably.

 

[fistfullofsteel]

Ok buddy.. I forgot that a lot of homeless folks become millionares.. that slipped my mnd.. You are stupid if you think the homeless are not at a disadvantage... more so because you heard a story about how one homeless guy became a millionare and now think they all should be millionares.. dummy

you are a fucking moron, when did i say that homeless aren't at a disadvantage. i see you like to make hasty generalizations.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

This will no doubt bring about a heart-warming story of brutality and mass murder from our very own children's book author, Satanic Goatslayer, but I will post it anyway.
Since I've moved to the big city I've obviously noticed an increase in the amount of homeless people I see daily and it just makes me think. Its not like people are "born" into homelessness so what are some of the causes? I know many have severe mental disorders and maybe left/escaped an institution or something, but there's gotta be more to it. What events bring this many people to having no home? What was their life like at an early age? Were the opportunities simply not there and that's what caused it? How could someone be that oppressed or "slip through the cracks?" I just can't imagine how one could lose so much or not take advantage of some sort of opportunity and end up that way.
If I could/had the balls to just sit and talk with some of them, I'd like to hear their story. This is just part of the random thoughts that go through my head. What are your thoughts on the subject?

My thoughts:

We have a $2,100,000,000,000.00 annual budget. We could solve this problem in about a day.

Maybe we could use teh $500,000,000,000.00 we use for social security. Old people have the most money and remain the greediest motherfuckers in society.

We are pulling the kids out of college, and keeping people on teh street, so grandma acan have extra money for bingo.

 

[Steroid_Virgin]

you are a fucking moron, when did i say that homeless aren't at a disadvantage. i see you like to make hasty generalizations.

And I make hasty generalizations I see... LOL..

 

[dballer]

Re: Re: The homeless

My thoughts:

We have a $2,100,000,000,000.00 annual budget. We could solve this problem in about a day.

Maybe we could use teh $500,000,000,000.00 we use for social security. Old people have the most money and remain the greediest motherfuckers in society.

We are pulling the kids out of college, and keeping people on teh street, so grandma acan have extra money for bingo.

I really hope you do not believe that some lazy freak who is still capable of holding a job deserves my tax money more that a WW2 vet who fought for this country.

I work in the city of Atlanta.. lots of homeless here.
When they aske me for money I hit them with this...
you get $0.25 for every push-up you can do... now get to it.

you would be suprised at how many just bum out and walk away.

at that point I make sure to tell them they will be out here forever. That usually makes them mad.

 

[fistfullofsteel]

ok since you are so stupid allow me explain

you said

"No one would hire a homeless person anyway, because there is obviously something wrong with him/her if they are homeless in the first place right?

Homelessness is a vicious cycle"


I gave you two examples where there was not anything wrong with them. Their situation put them there and they got out. They found a way to get hired. Last time I checked they aren't homeless anymore.

I never said a lot of homeless persons become millionaires.

****be back later*****

 

[Steroid_Virgin]

Whatever dude.. I can see you just wanted to argue with somebody.. dont get all defensive it's all good.. I jus gave you some good karma, and I hope you're never homeless

 

[junglist]

each homeless persons story is different, but one thing is certain:

2% of the population in america control 90% of the wealth. just a fraction of the money bill gates, oprah, the ceo's of ford, enron, make in a SINGLE YEAR could feed every underpriviledged person in the United states. It could give every child health care, a warm blanket for every homeless, etc.

got to love capitalism and the free market!

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Re: Re: Re: The homeless

I really hope you do not believe that some lazy freak who is still capable of holding a job deserves my tax money more that a WW2 vet who fought for this country.

I work in the city of Atlanta.. lots of homeless here.
When they aske me for money I hit them with this...
you get $0.25 for every push-up you can do... now get to it.

you would be suprised at how many just bum out and walk away.

at that point I make sure to tell them they will be out here forever. That usually makes them mad.

Interesting response to absolutely nothing I asserted. Why'd you even quote me?

What are you trying to conclude by categorizing all old people as WW2 vets and all homeless as lazy freaks? Your ignorance? Proven.

If stats are your thing, more WW2 vets have died than still alive, by a large margin.

What are you trying to prove by further dehumanizing someone who already lives on the streets? Is someone asking you for a handout supposed to perform for a few cents for your amusement? Either this is a joke, or you've got real issues. I suspect the latter.

 

[spongebob]

Re: Re: The homeless

Maybe we could use teh $500,000,000,000.00 we use for social security. Old people have the most money and remain the greediest motherfuckers in society.

We are pulling the kids out of college, and keeping people on teh street, so grandma acan have extra money for bingo.

its all about choices in my opinion, at least a high percentage of the time.

old people should be treated as such and with the highest respect. ANYbody with a capable body can get a job and work thier way up.

p.s. i do agree with the point i think you were making. no social security if your already banking.

 

[Norman Bates]

each homeless persons story is different, but one thing is certain:

2% of the population in america control 90% of the wealth. just a fraction of the money bill gates, oprah, the ceo's of ford, enron, make in a SINGLE YEAR could feed every underpriviledged person in the United states. It could give every child health care, a warm blanket for every homeless, etc.

got to love capitalism and the free market!

Very true.
But since my goal is to have enough money to live on the interest rates i still go for capitalism. ( call me a dreamer, but i mean that serious.I don´t want to work forever)

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Re: Re: Re: The homeless

old people should be treated as such and with the highest respect.

Treat them with respect as you would treat anyone with respect. These's nothing magic about being older. Age is not always equal to wisdom.

The younger people of the world do not need to bear teh burden of their lack of preparation. It is time to make Social Security optional.

 

[Prometheus]

2% of the population in america control 90% of the wealth. just a fraction of the money bill gates, oprah, the ceo's of ford, enron, make in a SINGLE YEAR could feed every underpriviledged person in the United states. It could give every child health care, a warm blanket for every homeless, etc.

got to love capitalism and the free market!

Exactly!!! that is why we should switch to soviet/cuban-style communism, that way .01% of the population can not only control 100% of the wealth and dictate the lives of the other 99.99%, but can also be secure in their wealth, safe from competition from the proles stuck in breadlines or getting shot trying to escape to America.

government intervention and forced wealth redistribution will not solve homelessness any more than it has improved the situation of minorites living in the American inner city - the best it can do is ensure that everyone except the elite is equally poor. at least under capitalism, those homeless have a chance to better themselves.

 

[mistyp]

If you're ill, and don't have a home, you can't get help, because you have to have a mailing address. Despite what many think, being a substance addict is an illness, as much as thought disorders are.

Most shelters and residential treatment facilities are full. Women can usually get help from a support system, but men are often out of luck, unfortunately. After a while, they start to distrust the "system" so much that they decide that they're better off not "being a part of it".

Not that I agree. But I've known someone who works rehabilitating homeless vets, and this is what I've been told.

 

[spongebob]

Re: Re: Re: Re: The homeless

The younger people of the world do not need to bear teh burden of their lack of preparation. It is time to make Social Security optional.

then lets combine it with welfare, regardless the same percentage of old folks who actually need it will still be the same. and i'd be willing to bet that a high percentage of those folks recieving social security actually need it. and we cant say the younger people shouldnt bare the burden for the older peoples lack of preparedness. then we shouldnt have any social programs and that includes your idea of taking the social security fund and helping the homeless, because they didnt prepare for shit. at least people recieving social security woorked and contributed something.