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Brain Fart
Mushroom Nerd



Registered: 12/19/07
Posts: 2,538
Loc: Your Mom
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What do you think? 1
#8018054 - 02/13/08 03:00 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Alright, so I live in a suburb north of Milwaukee (city) and I always see this homeless guy walking around town.
Now usually I see him and shake my head and feel bad but today I saw him walking down road in the direction of basically nowhere. Now we got alot of snow and it's fuggin cold right now in WI.
I wanted so badly to ask the guy if I could give him a ride, but then it dawned on me that he very well could rob me.
Now, I didn't want to do something dumb and let a desperate hobo rob me, but I didn't want to do nothing at all because I felt such overwhelming empathy for the guy as he was walking down the snowy road drapped in torn rags and old ratty boots.
I convinced myself that it would be wiser not to let him in my car and then as I was going through the McDonalds drive-thru, I looked at the 20$ bill in my hand and couldn't even bring myself to buy myself anything. I drove back to where the man was still walking down the road and pulled over. I told the man that he should make his way to the nearest shelter during these cold times and try to arrange a ride for himself if possible.
I took the 20$ I was going to use for my lunch and gave it to him saying "Now you go get yourself a nice lunch and a bus trip to the closest shelter here and get yourself out of the cold."
The man almost shit his pants and thanked me like 100 times, just seeing the joy I brought to his life when he probably felt invisible to everyone made me feel wonderful inside.
Now I just hope he uses that money to help himself get a meal and transportation to a palce where they can help him, and not spend it on crack or something. Normally I don't do this when people ask for money but I always see this guy just doing his thing and it's like, maybe the dude is really down on his luck and needs a boost. I hope that boost was me.
What would you have done?
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Syle
Kenai Sigh


Registered: 10/16/05
Posts: 6,678
Loc: WA
Last seen: 10 months, 26 days
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Brain Fart] 1
#8018066 - 02/13/08 03:03 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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you know he bought drugs or alcohol with that 20$ right?
you need to watch the "Night of the Living Homeless" episode by Southpark. it'll put you in your right mind.
-------------------- https://kenaisigh.bandcamp.com/ <- Just completed the 2021 RPM challenge for February - An EP in one month (5 songs or 20 minutes). Check it out!
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nolongerinuse


Registered: 05/14/06
Posts: 947
Last seen: 10 years, 1 month
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Syle] 1
#8018079 - 02/13/08 03:07 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Eh, well first of all- if this homeless guy is out in the cold, alone like that it means he is an asshole, and most likely addicted to something.
Homeless usually go it with a partner, and maybe this guy was making his way back to basecamp or something, but.... he is an idiot to be out in the cold like that, prolly did it just waiting for your $20
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inert
Bombaclat



Registered: 01/16/08
Posts: 35
Last seen: 15 years, 7 months
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I would say that you did it out of sympathy, and your actions were clear. You were obviously trying to help him, and that's what matters. Whether he spent the money on crack or on a hamburger, there is no way of knowing. I would say that you shouldn't do it again just because you have no way of knowing, and there's no sure way of knowing he wouldn't spend the 20 dollars on drugs. But judging by the way you're talking, I think that you think you did the right thing, and so you did. No reason to ask a bunch of hippie strangers on the internet what we think, just find that answer in yourself.
--------------------
If you want a custom signature for this message board, send me a private message!
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appleorange
Rainbow Technician



Registered: 12/30/07
Posts: 4,868
Loc: Reykjavík
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Syle] 1
#8018114 - 02/13/08 03:16 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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i still give money to homeless people even though I know they are gonna blow it on crack.
boy are they good actors though. i once had a couple in their late 30's approach me, telling me how their car had run out of gas and they were trying to collect some money to fill up their gas can and take it back to their car. did they bleed their hearts out to me too, telling me how her husband needed to get to a job interview and how they couldn't afford to miss it for the world. i gave them $20, they were really convincing.
a month later, I was walking down the same street when the same couple approached me and started off with the same lines. i just responded with, "you're about a month late for that job interview, don't you think?" the woman's face had one of those I remember you moments and they got pissed off like somehow I had just stolen from them or something and they walked away.
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WhiskeyClone
Not here


Registered: 06/25/01
Posts: 16,509
Loc: Longitudinal Center of Canada ...
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Brain Fart] 1
#8018116 - 02/13/08 03:17 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I say good for you.
No matter what he does with the money, your gift was an act of kindness and he will not forget it. A little bit of goodwill goes a long way.
Ignore the cynics.
-------------------- Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man. For him all doors are flung wide: him all tongues greet, all honors crown, all eyes follow with desire. Our love goes out to him and embraces him, because he did not need it. ~ R.W. Emerson, "Self-Reliance"
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boxcarguy07
Uno



Registered: 04/25/07
Posts: 3,942
Loc: SC
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
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Re: What do you think? [Re: inert] 1
#8018121 - 02/13/08 03:18 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yes, no matter what he spend it on, you brought about positivity within yourself. It was a good thing, IMO. And he very may well have used the money for food and transportation. No one can say for sure he bought drugs.
--------------------
Music doesn't stop at the ears when it begins at the heart.
"Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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g00ru
lit pants tit licker



Registered: 08/09/07
Posts: 21,088
Loc: georgia, us
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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One time I gave a hobo a ride to the MARTA station. It was stupid but there were like 4 of us in the car so I wasn't too worried.
-------------------- check out my music! drowse in prison and your waking will be but loss
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nolongerinuse


Registered: 05/14/06
Posts: 947
Last seen: 10 years, 1 month
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Most homelss arent addicted to crack, if they are addicted to anything it is usually alcohol. Yeah, good job giving him the whole $20 tho, thats awesome.
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Prisoner#1
Even Dumber ThanAdvertized!


Registered: 01/22/03
Posts: 193,665
Loc: Pvt. Pubfag NutSuck
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Re: What do you think? [Re: appleorange] 1
#8018160 - 02/13/08 03:30 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
appleorange said: i still give money to homeless people
I'll buy them food and get them warm clothes, no money I've seen many that demanded money instead, they got fucked
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Humble lurker
Stranger
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 169
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You show yourself up writing that.
Just because someones homeless you assume they are an asshole and addicted to drugs. 
I think thats disgusting.
Even if he is on drugs, so fucking what? Don't say you don't do any. Your on a drug site!
I feel compassion for all human beings.
I often speak to the homeless and I found many of them are really nice genuine people that have low esteem or bad things happen and they give up the struggle.
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Brain Fart
Mushroom Nerd



Registered: 12/19/07
Posts: 2,538
Loc: Your Mom
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Now I usually don't give people money like this, but this guy isn't a begger he minds his own business so I figured, hey why not give him a boost in moral. Shit I make enough, 20$ is a sit down dinner for me, where to him it's like winning the lottery.
I like to put things in perspective for myself, and I believe what I did was right. Not that I'll make a habit of it though.
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azurite
4got10horse


Registered: 03/18/07
Posts: 173
Loc: oregon coast range
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Brain Fart] 1
#8020336 - 02/13/08 11:11 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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you're fucking cool for doing that. i never give more than five bucks and i can tell if someone needs it or if they're just scammers. so what if they spend it on alcohol. the alcohol will probably give them more comfort than a meal would anyway, especially if that's what they want. when i was a teenager we hung out with bums all the time and they would buy beer for us. they were obscene sometimes but they still had big hearts. to the general public though, they may seem like zombies, but most people who think that way have never spent more than thirty seconds in their presence. this one guy we called junior was the coolest human ever. he didn't eat food, only beer. the cops would always stop by waterfront park and dump his 40 out, but he always had such a good attitude. we even had to pull him out of a campfire once. some kids would have just let him burn. when we grew up and left he got real sick and we thought he was gonna die of liver failure. i'd see him in front of stores and he didn't remember us at all. eventually some fucking skinheads beat his head in and he died on the sidewalk. i didn't make it to his funeral, but a friend told me that there were hundreds of people there. R.I.P junior.
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DoltishVirtuoso
Waiting



Registered: 01/02/08
Posts: 151
Last seen: 5 years, 11 months
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Re: What do you think? [Re: azurite] 1
#8020426 - 02/13/08 11:29 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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As long as you feel good about what you did, it was the right thing.
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WakeboardrB
Pepe Silvia



Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 13,678
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
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Re: What do you think? [Re: appleorange] 1
#8020481 - 02/13/08 11:42 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
appleorange said: i still give money to homeless people even though I know they are gonna blow it on crack.
boy are they good actors though. i once had a couple in their late 30's approach me, telling me how their car had run out of gas and they were trying to collect some money to fill up their gas can and take it back to their car. did they bleed their hearts out to me too, telling me how her husband needed to get to a job interview and how they couldn't afford to miss it for the world. i gave them $20, they were really convincing.
a month later, I was walking down the same street when the same couple approached me and started off with the same lines. i just responded with, "you're about a month late for that job interview, don't you think?" the woman's face had one of those I remember you moments and they got pissed off like somehow I had just stolen from them or something and they walked away.
I have heard the same fucking story about 30 times in downtown Richmond, VA. It's funny cause after they spend 30 seconds bleeding their hearts out with some story that would make you feel like a despicable human for denying them some change, they just turn around and lay it on some other person right in front of you.
There is a science to panhandling. It's quite impressive if you ask me.
-------------------- Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.
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Tangerines




Registered: 04/17/05
Posts: 17,918
Loc: woodwork
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Re: What do you think? [Re: WakeboardrB] 1
#8020503 - 02/13/08 11:50 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yea I love when homeless fiends try to rob you but they can't run because they are so unhealthy and cracked out.
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azurite
4got10horse


Registered: 03/18/07
Posts: 173
Loc: oregon coast range
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: What do you think? [Re: WakeboardrB] 1
#8020513 - 02/13/08 11:53 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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seems the ones who could really use some help or friendship are never seen panhandling. i know i would rather die in a ditch alone than spend all day scamming people. these are two different classes of homelessness.
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BrainChemistry
Captain Obvious



Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 3,657
Loc: Mountains of N. America
Last seen: 10 years, 5 days
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Brain Fart] 1
#8020522 - 02/13/08 11:57 PM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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You coulda bought the man a couple Big Macs.
-------------------- Word to your mom.
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ralphroks
humaniform


Registered: 03/25/07
Posts: 553
Loc: Up north passed Alaska
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One time a Hobo asked me for $ for cat food because his cat wouldn`t eat the cheap shit and he had to buy fancy feast. I didnt see a cat and he looked strung out so I gave him $5 and told him about another grocery store I used to get Day old fried chicken for free to feed cats and he could get chicken there for his cat.
So I Started half stalking his ass from a distance and watched as he went into a store and came out with Cat food. I was sure he was going to buy crack.
-------------------- "Please read and learn and relay knowledge not misinformation! Thank you"-hyphae
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Dobie
Dopeless Hopefiend


Registered: 08/15/02
Posts: 52,841
Loc: ON DA BLOCK
Last seen: 5 months, 30 days
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I used to be homeless I have pulled all the scams ya can think of, and just so ya know he for sure bought some dope with it unless he already had dope and then he probally just saved it for the morning or something. When you are homeless its pretty easy to get a meal ya learn this shit quick
-------------------- This place is gayer than when the balls touch
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Kamin



Registered: 02/04/07
Posts: 449
Last seen: 12 years, 3 months
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Brain Fart]
#8020594 - 02/14/08 12:16 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I think you did a good thing. Your intentions were good, and that is what matters.
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Robo
R Series 66Y
Registered: 05/08/07
Posts: 14,861
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Kamin]
#8020610 - 02/14/08 12:22 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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But he probably went and bought some smack with it
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Dobie
Dopeless Hopefiend


Registered: 08/15/02
Posts: 52,841
Loc: ON DA BLOCK
Last seen: 5 months, 30 days
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Robo]
#8020640 - 02/14/08 12:27 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I know when A dude gave me 40 bucks I said I was getting a room with it but in reality I bought some heroin
-------------------- This place is gayer than when the balls touch
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JonnyOnTheSpot
Sober Surfer


Registered: 01/27/02
Posts: 11,527
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
Humble lurker said: You show yourself up writing that.
Just because someones homeless you assume they are an asshole and addicted to drugs. 
I think thats disgusting.
Even if he is on drugs, so fucking what? Don't say you don't do any. Your on a drug site!
I feel compassion for all human beings.
I often speak to the homeless and I found many of them are really nice genuine people that have low esteem or bad things happen and they give up the struggle.
fuck that. so what if he's on drugs? if he/she is addicted to crack then that is WHY they are homeless. it's not anyone elses fault, it's not societies fault, it's their own fault. they are homeless because they are weak willed losers who cannot do anything but squander all their money on crack. they can fuck off if you ask me.
i will only help real homeless people who need the money. i'm not helping the asshole who comes up to me high as hell on crack talking about how he needs money for bus fare. he's lying right to my face and he can kiss my ass.
i've given these people money before for the longest time and i refuse to do it anymore. i've become pretty good at judging the non-crackhead homeless people from the crackheads so i just pick and choose wisely. i have no problem at all telling someone that i know is just going to waste all the money he gets on crack to remember my face and never ask me again because he will never ever get a dime from me.
you make it sound like it's your responsibility to give street druggies money because you have it better than they do. that's insane! it's their choice to be out there. besides if you really want to help people that deserve help then volunteer for a soup kitchen of habitat for humanity.
your disgust towards someone who refuses to give crack heads money disgust me.
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wrestler_az
PsiLLy BiLLy



Registered: 08/11/02
Posts: 13,676
Loc: day dreams of a mad man
Last seen: 15 hours, 58 minutes
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Brain Fart]
#8020684 - 02/14/08 12:38 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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regardless of what he spent it on, it was still a nice thing to do. especially since he wasnt asking for it in the first place. i have to laugh when i see all the strung out junkies walking around with gas cans... like you really have a car man. get real.
-------------------- how's your WOW?
Edited by yageman (04/20/06 4:20 PM)
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Tangerines




Registered: 04/17/05
Posts: 17,918
Loc: woodwork
Last seen: 4 years, 23 days
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Re: What do you think? [Re: wrestler_az]
#8020686 - 02/14/08 12:39 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
wrestler_az said: regardless of what he spent it on, it was still a nice thing to do. especially since he wasnt asking for it in the first place. i have to laugh when i see all the strung out junkies walking around with gas cans... like you really have a car man. get real.
I see that shit ALL the time around here. You'll be at a party and someone pulls that shit.
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wrestler_az
PsiLLy BiLLy



Registered: 08/11/02
Posts: 13,676
Loc: day dreams of a mad man
Last seen: 15 hours, 58 minutes
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Tangerines]
#8020698 - 02/14/08 12:43 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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ive had a few ask me for some money, and when questioned on the intent of the cash they were honest and told me beer/crack/meth what ever... the fact they didnt try to come at me with some lame bullshit was enough to help em out.
-------------------- how's your WOW?
Edited by yageman (04/20/06 4:20 PM)
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aNeway2sayHooray
Cresley Wusher




Registered: 07/07/05
Posts: 7,653
Loc: Orphic Trench
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Re: What do you think? [Re: wrestler_az]
#8020722 - 02/14/08 12:49 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I agree.Who cares what they spend it on.I usually turn down people with the big elaborate stories about being a preacher with a busted fan belt.But an honest bum will usually get a dollar from me.
Its just money.Are they lazy,drug addicted moochers?Maybe.Are they human?Yes
-------------------- Mad_Larkin said: Death is just a thang.
MrJellineck said: Profits, prophets. That's all you jews think about. sheekle said: life is drugs... and music... and cat...
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WakeboardrB
Pepe Silvia



Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 13,678
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
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Re: What do you think? [Re: azurite]
#8020754 - 02/14/08 12:57 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
azurite said: seems the ones who could really use some help or friendship are never seen panhandling. i know i would rather die in a ditch alone than spend all day scamming people. these are two different classes of homelessness.
It is the good ones, the ones that are most deserving of charity... They are the ones that are too proud to ask for a handout.
I've been there before and fortunately I've always had a roof to live under. But beleive it, I would never be on the street rooting for money. I would rather starve in the woods.
Call it pride, call it standards. Like I said, the ones most deserving are too good to swindle change from strangers.
-------------------- Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.
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Humble lurker
Stranger
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 169
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Re: What do you think? [Re: WakeboardrB]
#8021096 - 02/14/08 05:34 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I'd rather buy them a bag of smack than a big mac
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Ferris
PsychedelicJourneyman



Registered: 03/12/06
Posts: 11,529
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Smack? I haven't heard it called that since the early 90s
-------------------- Discuss Politics
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Merkin
neep.



Registered: 07/04/03
Posts: 27,537
Loc: Ass Flavoured Pie Factory
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Ferris]
#8021108 - 02/14/08 05:46 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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smack
-------------------- Wheels of cheese wheeels of cheeeeese!!!
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Ferris
PsychedelicJourneyman



Registered: 03/12/06
Posts: 11,529
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Merkin]
#8021112 - 02/14/08 05:48 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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I could go for a big mac and smack atm
A smack mac? Big smack?
-------------------- Discuss Politics
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JPMorgan

Registered: 01/24/08
Posts: 256
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Re: What do you think? [Re: ralphroks]
#8021123 - 02/14/08 06:02 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Definitely respectable, man. Good stuff and right decision.
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Robo
R Series 66Y
Registered: 05/08/07
Posts: 14,861
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Re: What do you think? [Re: Ferris]
#8021148 - 02/14/08 06:14 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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Smack is in.
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chaos05
Stranger

Registered: 08/16/05
Posts: 290
Last seen: 1 year, 10 months
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Quote:
new2grow said: Eh, well first of all- if this homeless guy is out in the cold, alone like that it means he is an asshole, and most likely addicted to something.
Homeless usually go it with a partner, and maybe this guy was making his way back to basecamp or something, but.... he is an idiot to be out in the cold like that, prolly did it just waiting for your $20
I hope you or anyone close to you never experience homelessness, thats some fucked up shit to say. You cant tar everyone with the same brush punk
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Ferris
PsychedelicJourneyman



Registered: 03/12/06
Posts: 11,529
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Re: What do you think? [Re: chaos05]
#8021293 - 02/14/08 07:44 AM (15 years, 11 months ago) |
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The downsides definitely outweight the ups imo
-------------------- Discuss Politics
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WhiskeyClone
Not here


Registered: 06/25/01
Posts: 16,509
Loc: Longitudinal Center of Canada ...
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Quote:
BrainChemistry said: You coulda bought the man a couple Big Macs.
Whoa, whoa, we're trying to HELP these people
-------------------- Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man. For him all doors are flung wide: him all tongues greet, all honors crown, all eyes follow with desire. Our love goes out to him and embraces him, because he did not need it. ~ R.W. Emerson, "Self-Reliance"
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Ferris
PsychedelicJourneyman



Registered: 03/12/06
Posts: 11,529
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-------------------- Discuss Politics
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