Jimmy Higgins
Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2001
- Messages
- 44,388
- Basic Beliefs
- Calvinistic Atheist
I'd just give them a hamburger.
I suspect you aren't trying for the broad brush...but I thought I'd point out that I've had a couple people gladly accept my buying them food from the grocery store I was about to go into, as I cam back to them.I got some interesting excuses. It seems many homeless are allergic to the ingredients in McDonalds food. Not just hamburgers, but apparently the whole entire menu. I offered it many times, I kept that book until I graduated.
The one thing I thought of was that a coupon book could count as cash to a homeless person who wants drugs. Better to give them food (which can still be traded, however, has a short life left) than anything that has face value (even if only at McDonalds or Itchy and Scratchy Land).I suspect you aren't trying for the broad brush...but I thought I'd point out that I've had a couple people gladly accept my buying them food from the grocery store I was about to go into, as I cam back to them.I got some interesting excuses. It seems many homeless are allergic to the ingredients in McDonalds food. Not just hamburgers, but apparently the whole entire menu. I offered it many times, I kept that book until I graduated.
Giving to a person, you have no idea what their story is. A charity group, however, does have an agenda and you can give to one with an agenda you agree with.Adding in something not really mentioned so far. Most big cities have charitable organizations that do work real hard to help people transition from homelessness. Yeah it doesn't always work, but I find giving to such organizations better than handing out money randomly. One good group IMPOV:
http://www.joinpdx.com/
Wow. You're either an asshole or you really didn't think that one through. Did you even stop and think about all the fucking McDonalds' food they'd eaten out of dumpsters and trash cans?I got some interesting excuses. It seems many homeless are allergic to the ingredients in McDonalds food. Not just hamburgers, but apparently the whole entire menu. I offered it many times, I kept that book until I graduated.
Yeah. When you've eaten tons of "free" McDonalds, grocery store food is pretty fucking awesome.I suspect you aren't trying for the broad brush...but I thought I'd point out that I've had a couple people gladly accept my buying them food from the grocery store I was about to go into, as I cam back to them.
You're standard of living is higher having made the decision not to help them then it was when you were helping them?All of this is far beyond my resources and abilities. If I try to help them, it does them little good and diminishes my standard of living.
With all your snarky derision and assumptions of several people on this thread, its hard to tell where the crap stops... Anywho, not that I should have to even say it...I have a regular auto donation to that JOIN group I mentioned 2 posts above; and my wife and I have volunteered with some of their efforts.Yeah. When you've eaten tons of "free" McDonalds, grocery store food is pretty fucking awesome.I suspect you aren't trying for the broad brush...but I thought I'd point out that I've had a couple people gladly accept my buying them food from the grocery store I was about to go into, as I cam back to them.
Wow. You're either an asshole or you really didn't think that one through. Did you even stop and think about all the fucking McDonalds' food they'd eaten out of dumpsters and trash cans?
Anyway, back to the Harvestdancer's post about homeless people "being allergic" to McDonalds:
That's the kind of example that stupid right wing nutjobs get blasted for on the Daily Show, while highly intelligent conservatives who care about the welfare of others as long as it doesn't cost them a cent get praise for this type of thinking on the Colbert Report.
I mean, why actually think about why a homeless person does something when you can just assume something about them? It's not like you're homeless, or going to be anytime soon, so really, do they matter to you as long as they aren't on your lawn? Isn't it better just to see them as evil opportunists trying to take your hard earned riches away from you?
I think I can understand where the homeless guy is coming from. Before I continue, I will state that this is my brother and my opinion on my brother, not a generalised opinion.
My brother is paranoid about the government knowing anything about him. IMO the paranoia comes from having smoked too much weed for pretty much the last 30 years (he is 46). Up until about 5 years ago he refused to own a bank account, preferring to be paid in cash. He didn't submit a tax return for many a year, in fact I don't think he has ever filed one. Until a couple of years ago, he would drive, but didn't hold a drivers licence, until he was caught for driving without a licence. He was, and is, completely adverse to any sort of identification that could (in his words and mind) assist the government in locating him. He has all of his mail sent to our parents house. Nothing is ever delivered to his residence.
It is possible that the gentleman in the article may be of a similar mindset. Maybe he doesn't want to be 'found' and so prefers to live as he is.
Congrats on continuing to learn and develop, and maybe that will help him to ease back into society. Until then, it is his decision and who are we, as a society, to convince him otherwise?
The problem isn't homelessness, it's houselessness. Home is mom baking pies and dad and uncle Joe practicing politics on the porch and grandma sneaking a nip from the sherry bottle. Thats home.
What people living outdoors need is an indoors to go to. And nothing is keeping us as society from providing shelter but the lack of will to give a shit about people.
You're standard of living is higher having made the decision not to help them then it was when you were helping them?
What exactly has changed in your life?
Is it mainly mental, or is it more physical, along the lines of 'you don't have to sweep as much crap off your sidewalks?'
Is there anything you've done in your life that contributed to someone becoming mentally ill, and subsequently homeless?
Seriously, there are individuals who choose to be homeless. I see nothing wrong with that. I've lived out of the back of a pick-up truck for six months by choice. I will always cherish that time.
Article said:And Grand, who holds McConlogue in the same regard, says he's happy.
Nothing in what you say is a surprise to me, although many on here will deny that the primary cause of homelessness is mental illness.
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The problem isn't homelessness, it's houselessness. Home is mom baking pies and dad and uncle Joe practicing politics on the porch and grandma sneaking a nip from the sherry bottle. Thats home.
What people living outdoors need is an indoors to go to. And nothing is keeping us as society from providing shelter but the lack of will to give a shit about people.
Did that article go in one ear and out the other?
And what about gmbteach's post?
Nothing in what you say is a surprise to me, although many on here will deny that the primary cause of homelessness is mental illness.
- - - Updated - - -
The problem isn't homelessness, it's houselessness. Home is mom baking pies and dad and uncle Joe practicing politics on the porch and grandma sneaking a nip from the sherry bottle. Thats home.
What people living outdoors need is an indoors to go to. And nothing is keeping us as society from providing shelter but the lack of will to give a shit about people.
Did that article go in one ear and out the other?
And what about gmbteach's post?
I don't mind them wanting money.
Of course, they'll say it's for food, it's the only way to get some with the average Christian mentality that one has to suffer to get nice things.
But if I want to be nice to them, I have no problem giving some money:
1) they might really need it. Food isn't the only need of a homeless. What about clothes, for the most obvious? Clothes donations are often devoid of underwear...
2) if they really think they need booze more than food, it's their choice. I'm just trying to be nice, not to solve all their problems, so if they find their problems more bearable with booze and empty stomach than the reverse, hey, it's their own experience, who am I to deny it?
Agreed, my paintbrush was too wide.I don't mind them wanting money.
Of course, they'll say it's for food, it's the only way to get some with the average Christian mentality that one has to suffer to get nice things.
But if I want to be nice to them, I have no problem giving some money:
1) they might really need it. Food isn't the only need of a homeless. What about clothes, for the most obvious? Clothes donations are often devoid of underwear...
2) if they really think they need booze more than food, it's their choice. I'm just trying to be nice, not to solve all their problems, so if they find their problems more bearable with booze and empty stomach than the reverse, hey, it's their own experience, who am I to deny it?
Christian mentality with giving is to "not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing". A Christian giver is not supposed to be concerned with what the other person will do with the money. If the person has to earn their gift, it's not a gift.
Agreed, my paintbrush was too wide.I don't mind them wanting money.
Of course, they'll say it's for food, it's the only way to get some with the average Christian mentality that one has to suffer to get nice things.
But if I want to be nice to them, I have no problem giving some money:
1) they might really need it. Food isn't the only need of a homeless. What about clothes, for the most obvious? Clothes donations are often devoid of underwear...
2) if they really think they need booze more than food, it's their choice. I'm just trying to be nice, not to solve all their problems, so if they find their problems more bearable with booze and empty stomach than the reverse, hey, it's their own experience, who am I to deny it?
Christian mentality with giving is to "not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing". A Christian giver is not supposed to be concerned with what the other person will do with the money. If the person has to earn their gift, it's not a gift.
I was refering to the belief that god has put us on earth to suffer for Adam and Eve sin, and that this suffering is part of what will earn us our place in heaven. I've often see, even in a secular country like mine, this belief slip into the unconscious and give rise to objections with people getting things for seemingly nothing. "But, some lazy guy is going to get it for free, that's so unfair!" is a common objection here for a lot of debates about healthcare or any other form of social net. And for a lot of people I know, that's why they don't give to homeless. Not because they can't afford it, but because the homeless haven't earned it. Food is seen differently because it keeps one alive and cannot be hoarded...
Nothing in what you say is a surprise to me, although many on here will deny that the primary cause of homelessness is mental illness.
- - - Updated - - -
The problem isn't homelessness, it's houselessness. Home is mom baking pies and dad and uncle Joe practicing politics on the porch and grandma sneaking a nip from the sherry bottle. Thats home.
What people living outdoors need is an indoors to go to. And nothing is keeping us as society from providing shelter but the lack of will to give a shit about people.
Did that article go in one ear and out the other?
And what about gmbteach's post?
Loren
If I go camping and sleep in bag for night or week or all summer, I am not houseless, I am making a decision to sleep outside.
If I have no address, no shelter and no choice, then I am houseless, shelterless, and in need.
Genuinely universal healthcare would go a LONG way towards solving the homelessness issue - particularly if psychiatric and psychological care is included. Just providing people who need them with free prescription medications would help a lot.
Genuinely universal healthcare would go a LONG way towards solving the homelessness issue - particularly if psychiatric and psychological care is included. Just providing people who need them with free prescription medications would help a lot.
That's assuming they'll take it. Many won't, certainly not the paranoid ones.
Genuinely universal healthcare would go a LONG way towards solving the homelessness issue - particularly if psychiatric and psychological care is included. Just providing people who need them with free prescription medications would help a lot.
That's assuming they'll take it. Many won't, certainly not the paranoid ones.
Oh, well, if 'many' won't, that entirely and completely justifies us in throwing the rest under the bus.
Any proposed solution that helps, but fails to completely solve the entire problem, must clearly be rejected outright.
You really need to learn to spot the difference between a justification and a rationalisation, Loren. It is a subtle, but very important distinction.
Genuinely universal healthcare would go a LONG way towards solving the homelessness issue - particularly if psychiatric and psychological care is included. Just providing people who need them with free prescription medications would help a lot.
That's assuming they'll take it. Many won't, certainly not the paranoid ones.
Oh, well, if 'many' won't, that entirely and completely justifies us in throwing the rest under the bus.
Any proposed solution that helps, but fails to completely solve the entire problem, must clearly be rejected outright.
You really need to learn to spot the difference between a justification and a rationalisation, Loren. It is a subtle, but very important distinction.