Beggar/Homeless person story

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flexy

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
8,464
155
106
>>>
but there are many places you can get a apartment for 400 bux/month, probably not there, but maybe let's say 800, well you got a roof over your head at that point, know #2 item is food, grocery store, let's say 40-50 bux a week. Anyways, you'd think it'd be at least livable, at worst get a second job or something to help out. I think a lot of the time they just use it for drugs,(just my guess though).
>>>
wishful thinking ?

Or maybe depends where you live.

I can tell you that most (if not all) POTENTIAL jobs in retail or in a cafe (or maybe at McD) wont pay you $9, except you live in a greater urban area. I am in TN "hicks"-town right now and BB would pay someone for their fvcking geeksquad repairing and fixing PCs $9,50...and the average pay in retail is 7.00, with MANY jobs paying $6.50

ANd you have to be VERY lucky to get an apt for $400....defintly NO FVCKING way here except you have the "luck" to get a rat-infested shed somewhere. I haven't seen one apt for $400 *at all*. $650 PLUS utilities and then you MIGHT have "luxuries" like cable-tv internet.

And now combine that with a job which pays you $6.50 hr and you will QUICKLY realize it looks way better in your posting than in reality.

You know...MAYBE that lady GOT homeless BECAUSE she had a situation like that..she couldnt pay her fvcking rent and NOW she is homeless ? Ever thought about it that way ?
 

SuepaFly

Senior member
Jun 3, 2001
972
0
0
Originally posted by: flexy
>>>
Edit: I think beggars have NO RIGHT to choose.
>>>

No they dont. But giving a beggar a penny is a GREAT insult imho..and obviously you dont realize this.....instead you gave her that penny a few times..and now you act like a crybaby because she was upset about it. And..as you said..the other people gave you ****** about ths too... right, in my opinion.

It would've been much more "polite" to tell her that you just dont have money...instead of giving her a fvcking penny.

I've got to agree here, a penny by any means is an insult. For example, let's say you're in line at some fast food restaurant. The person in front of you seems to be the average customer, and somehow they discover they lost $1.00 somewhere and are now short on cash to pay the bill. You've helped countless others, but golly, all you have is a penny to spare, so give it to them and hope that it somehow helps pay for that $0.99 cheeseburger. Then, the person, rightfully by the way, sees your penny and realizes that it won't even pay the tax on their meal so they reject and ask if anyone else can help. So you offer up that penny a couple more times and wow, they reject, curious.

It may seem like a nice gesture, but nowadays a penny isn't a whole lot on its own. In fact, its almost a negative.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
126
Be very careful of people who are down on their luck, for when they get their lives together, they may very well dedicate a building, in honor of those who helped, and never stopped believing in them. :shocked:

So, Mr, I hope you live to have nightmares about pennys. ;)
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
they didn't survive in the cutthroat world of our society. Hell, animals in nature just die off. I bet most of them use it for fvcking drugs. I always give beggers the cold shoulder, UNLESS I see hunger in their eyes. Then that's different. But if I see signs of drug use, fvck him. They chose to be lazy and don't do sh!t while they were young, and they're paying for it.
 

J Heartless Slick

Golden Member
Nov 11, 1999
1,330
0
0
About six months ago, this guy asked me for a quarter and I said "No thank you but good luck though.".

He said "Look I will give you a quarter and god will reward me later.".

He gave me a quarter and got upset when I put it in my pocket.

Another interaction happened a couple of years ago:

I was standing in line at my neighborhood liquor store and this guy walked up to me and said " Can you give me a quarter? I need it for a ticket to Africa.".

Yes there are jerks out there who are always begging for money and act like you owe them something.

But do not forget there are people who need really help.
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Homeless people are one of two types a) they choose to be, or b) they are mentally ill.

This is why I dont help them, they either picked to be homeless, or their crazy anyways and my help wont help them.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
930
126
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Homeless people are one of two types a) they choose to be, or b) they are mentally ill.

This is why I dont help them, they either picked to be homeless, or their crazy anyways and my help wont help them.

Remember the one word in life, which can save you from almost everything;! Unfortunately, most of us have a Karma call coming, not going. ;)
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,368
418
126
It is so sad looking in this thread and see all the ill informed replies because of the news. The news shows you only the people who beg and walk down the street into there Bently at the end of the day. The news only shows you the guy who parks his new car down the street in raggy clothes going into the welfair office to pick up his/her months check. I been on the system. Not because I am lazy. Because I was laid off from jobs, and the jobs I had to take to get some sort of money coming, in wasnt enough to keep us afloat. Or like now when I am disabled and unable to find employment in my condition. My wife works, she could do what 25% of thoes on welfair do, that you see on the news, and just act like she was looking for a job so that we can stay on it, but didnt. And now that she did find a job, the state we live in considers the hours you work rather then what you make to determine if you stay on the system or not. That is if you work over 100 hours, your cut off. My wife is unskilled, makes $5.60 an hour, what kind of luxeries do you think were going to be able to afford on that? If it wasnt for my house being paid off it wouldnt take long for us to become homeless on her pay trying JUST to make the bills only. Right now, at it sits, till I can get on SSI, on her pay there is no cable tv, there is no going out to eat, there is no celebrating any holidays, there is no insurance on any of us. And welfair just said thats it your working to many hours, not you make to much. She could be making $3 an hour, but she works, WORKS, to many hours to stay on it. They punish you for WORKING to hard and give it to the ones you see on the news leaching, NOT looking for work, or, even want to work. Anyone here want to tell me if they had no outside help from anyone, with 2 children, and a disabled SO WOULDNT BE Homeless on $5.60 a hour living where they are right now. No welfair, no food stamps, NO healthcare, and no family or friends that could front you money to get by for the rest of your life. Wouldnt take you that long would it? You wouldnt end up like me now would you with a migrane all day, cant sleep, shaking all the time, wanting to kill yourself because if you did they would recieve assistance? But because your disabled worthless shaking cant talk ass is still here
you get nothing and have to try to figure out a way between all the pain how the fvck you dont become homeless and lose you children to the state on $5.60 an hour with NO help from anyone.

So before you go commenting and making replies like I see find out the real picture or live it for yourself and see how the system really works. Ask yourself "if I lost my job today and could find one for 4 months, would I be homeless if I didnt go on welfair or got any outside help from anyone?" I worked all my life up to the point I became disabled. I was never on the system before and though like most that ones on it are worthless scum. I paid alot into this system, and yes, I got onto it when all my resources, or where I was at, was not enough. I dont have family I can call and ask for help. The ones that would of are dead and the ones alive dont give a rats ass. You find out really fast where your family lies when you become poor and they look down at you with the same attitude as you would get if they met a poor stranger on the street. I have a younger brother in Joliet, who, I bailed his ass not only out of jail but alot of times from being one step on the street, and a older brother in LA who makes a good buck, and, owns his own business. Do you think they would come to our time of need when we needed it, HELL NO. Who helped us more then anyone, YOU DID ANANDTECH. People we didnt know, saved us 3 times from being homeless when I got hurt and was going through paxil withdrawls. Fvck my brother owes me $500 when I bailed his ass out of jail for a DUI at 4 am in the morning, right after I got laid off and needed the money, and SILL has yet to pay me back. And when I asked him when I was short on my lot rent for that money threw a fit, saying he didnt have it. And 4 years later have still yet seen it. I didnt ask him for a hand out. I asked him for money I loaned him to bail his ass out of a shiitey situation. Anyway....

I wish the news would do a real report and find all the ones who actually need the asistance and put them all on the news with thier story. Expose the real ones for all to see, but that wont be news worthy then would it ;) They can eaisy go and follow everyone for a year, and weed out the ones leaching and the ones who trully need it. It needs to be done so to give all the effort they can, and free up millions of dollars each year, to help the trully needed ones. But no my state is set in place to help the ones who are leaching by telling them you find a job and actually work it your cut off, so fvck off and make it look like your looking and we will pay you to stay on it. It makes no sense to run it like that at all :(

Oh if my wife didnt work we kinda had it made. Insurance on all of us. Hell my insurance for me alone per month, if I was to go out and get it, is over $500 a month, for just me, not including my prescrioptions. Add my wife and kids and it would be close, if not over, $1K a month (my wife doesnt even make this per month working), we got $250 in cash, and $550 in food stamp. This is WAY WAY more then she makes now, and we wont spend half that much on food for the 4 of us, and there is no insurance we could afford and I need to keep me alive. We could of easily just acted like she was looking for work and kept all of that, like all the rest, but we didnt. And, again, we gave up on something I need to keep me alive. Am I scum? Are we lazy? We could of said fvck it and stayed on it for a few years till my three years are up per my settlement I got, how do you feel that we didnt want to stay on it and try to make ends met, at the expense really, of the health of my children and me? We dont have cable tv right now and havent had it for over 8 months. We havent gone out and seen a movie in over 5 years. We had dinner, one time, after I sold something in the FS/FT forum about 3 months ago, at the chinese buffet. My kids Birthday and christmas is comming up in December, and, my 7 year anniversary is comming up as well, WHICH BTW, because of situations pretty much from day one, have yet to go out on our honeymoon. How much of a scum am I for trying my damness not to go on the system and when I did still tried my damnness and cut everything out just to make ends meet not to be homeless and lose my kids to the state.

So there, I could of said screw it honey lets leach, we make more being on it. But noooooooooo would you see us on the news for doing what we did just to get off the system? Fvck no. I been here a year. During which a got my settlement, paid off all my bills including my house, took the rest while my wife was looking for work, for almost a year, and used the rest of my settlement to pay the bills, till there was nothing left, AND THEN, went back on welfair to keep the lights on and food on the table. I could of easily, with about $9K left to my name got on welfair down here right away but didnt. Instead, as usual, used my money for bills while my wife looked for work. She has applied to every place from here to a hour away in every direction and has finnaly found a job that hired her. Not because she was lazy. Oh no, she has had 2 jobs her entire life. At which she has stayed many years at each. No real reason not to hire her, she applied at 3 different walmarts which they all even called her refs and people she put down as friends to call on her, WHICH they called, and still have yet to get a call to bring her in for a interview. When we had some money I did buy me a few things to keep my busy around here. I am glad I did. We also have the internet on because it is needed this day and age, for my kids and it gives me something to do. Without it and I had to sit here, poor, broke, with nothing to do, dweling on my disability adn what my wife and kids would get if I killed myself, for my wife would get all kinds of assistance being a widow of 2 and no real income. I think I would of killed myself several months ago if thats all I could do all day long.

But again would you call us lazy scum? Looking at the clock it took me over 1 hours to type this out right now in my condition, and I am done for the day. I tried to catch all the mistakes and just think if I had not gone back and re-read that garbage what it would look like :p OH yeah I can work right no too. Call me the human bobble head (LOL Mods can I get my screen name changed to that?)

My point I guess is, is that, it doesnt take much to happen to a person to become homeless. No not all states have a system in place to help one from doing that , and in the case of mine punishes you for finding work, especially, if it doesnt pay much at all. I still to this day, even as broke as were are, if I am aproched or see someone down and out, will hand them my change or a few bucks if I can afford to do so. When I got my settlement I gave, thats right gave free and clear, my traielr to my neighbor. He was worse off then I was in a run down one with no celing, missing windows, 4 kids, and worked his ass off as a roofer and collected junk around town to try to make ends meet for his family. I gave him my trailer I paid $3500 for, for free. Got my settlement, paid off my taxes, got my title and signed it and handed it right to him. Should of seen his and his wifes face. Priceless.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
Originally posted by: yobarman
Hahaha thats pretty funny.

But if you're gonna give money to a homeless person, go for all or nothing. A penny is just disrespectful, even to the homeless.

Heh, my gf gets mad at me because if I have a few pennies in my pocket after I get change somewhere, I usually just throw them out onto the ground outside. She gets sooo mad at me.
 

Madwand1

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2006
3,309
0
76
As this thread shows, homeless people in a materialistic society are generally regarded as about as low as you can go; outright crooks are often regarded better...

With this in mind, one thing they desperately want (among money, warmth, food, etc.) is the minimum of tolerance and acceptance. When I say just say "sorry" sometimes, I usually get some tangible appreciation for saying just that much. You don't have to like it, but you don't have to be an ass about it either. It's the rare beggar who thinks they can squeeze a rock -- most don't bother once they've gotten a negative.

And if you think they should "just get a job" -- just try to imagine an employer that would trust them enough to give them a job -- just based on prejudice, never mind their personal troubles. Real help for these people is in giving them jobs and making them feel capable of doing it, but is very rare and hard to find.

To the OP. What is this animosity and hate getting you? Give the poor woman a bit of money and make peace. Regardless of how much you resent doing so at the moment, it's the better thing to do.
 

Syringer

Lifer
Aug 2, 2001
19,333
3
71
Originally posted by: Madwand1
As this thread shows, homeless people in a materialistic society are generally regarded as about as low as you can go; outright crooks are often regarded better...

With this in mind, one thing they desperately want (among money, warmth, food, etc.) is the minimum of tolerance and acceptance. When I say just say "sorry" sometimes, I usually get some tangible appreciation for saying just that much. You don't have to like it, but you don't have to be an ass about it either. It's the rare beggar who thinks they can squeeze a rock -- most don't bother once they've gotten a negative.

And if you think they should "just get a job" -- just try to imagine an employer that would trust them enough to give them a job -- just based on prejudice, never mind their personal troubles. Real help for these people is in giving them jobs and making them feel capable of doing it, but is very rare and hard to find.

To the OP. What is this animosity and hate getting you? Give the poor woman a bit of money and make peace. Regardless of how much you resent doing so at the moment, it's the better thing to do.

Ya think?
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
All of the personal baggage people are bringing into this thread aside, I don't think it matters if you're Mother Theresa, don't give a homeless person in the states only a friggin penny unless they ask for one.

Regardless of the homeless person's annoying reaction (particularly since they are homeless and often unstable anyways), that's flat out rude and disrespectful.
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Originally posted by: Madwand1
As this thread shows, homeless people in a materialistic society are generally regarded as about as low as you can go; outright crooks are often regarded better...

With this in mind, one thing they desperately want (among money, warmth, food, etc.) is the minimum of tolerance and acceptance. When I say just say "sorry" sometimes, I usually get some tangible appreciation for saying just that much. You don't have to like it, but you don't have to be an ass about it either. It's the rare beggar who thinks they can squeeze a rock -- most don't bother once they've gotten a negative.

And if you think they should "just get a job" -- just try to imagine an employer that would trust them enough to give them a job -- just based on prejudice, never mind their personal troubles. Real help for these people is in giving them jobs and making them feel capable of doing it, but is very rare and hard to find.

To the OP. What is this animosity and hate getting you? Give the poor woman a bit of money and make peace. Regardless of how much you resent doing so at the moment, it's the better thing to do.

They wern't born homeless, they let themselves get there. I know two people who became homeless, both thought the world should provide for them. They got fired from job after job. They complainted always about how it was someone elses fault, or how they just had no luck. It reality it was their inablity to deal with life and take responsibility for their actions. After they got thrown out of shelters they came asking for my help. They found no solice with me.

I grew up in chicago. I've seen lots of homeless people. I've seen the mentally ill, and I've seen the you own me something guys. The ones who force their paper on you, or are just going to use that money to buy drugs. And I've seen the ones who live in houses and go out to beg just to make money. I knew a guy who had a nice appartment, would spend everyday begging on the street and collecting cans.

I've been to Washington DC. I watched beggars ask you in the native tounge and if you replyed in english then they asked for money for phone calls or coffee, etc. One of my friends happened to speak the language and found out they were only begging from stupid americans.

You want to help homeless people? Petition the goverment or donate to shelters. But giving homeless people money is like giving beer to an alcholic. You are only an enabler.
 

uberman

Golden Member
Sep 15, 2006
1,942
1
81
Originally posted by: sourceninja

They wern't born homeless, they let themselves get there. I know two people who became homeless, both thought the world should provide for them. They got fired from job after job. They complainted always about how it was someone elses fault, or how they just had no luck. It reality it was their inablity to deal with life and take responsibility for their actions. After they got thrown out of shelters they came asking for my help. They found no solice with me.

I grew up in chicago. I've seen lots of homeless people. I've seen the mentally ill, and I've seen the you own me something guys. The ones who force their paper on you, or are just going to use that money to buy drugs. And I've seen the ones who live in houses and go out to beg just to make money. I knew a guy who had a nice appartment, would spend everyday begging on the street and collecting cans.

I've been to Washington DC. I watched beggars ask you in the native tounge and if you replyed in english then they asked for money for phone calls or coffee, etc. One of my friends happened to speak the language and found out they were only begging from stupid americans.

You want to help homeless people? Petition the goverment or donate to shelters. But giving homeless people money is like giving beer to an alcholic. You are only an enabler.

The ignorance of the people in this thread is astounding. People here are not stupid, only ignorant. Many are homeless for a myriad number of reasons. Many people because they were injured at work and became disabled. A friend of mine used to run a homeless shelter and many of the people there were there because of worker's compensation. Simply put, don't get hurt at work, because you'll be screwed. This wasn't their fault.

Many of the people posting here could be homeless in a second. Injury at work, catastrophic illness, or other circumstances. Many spend all their money and live from paycheck to paycheck. Have some compassion, don't give people pennies, and show some empathy.

 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
berkeley is pretty scary with all the homeless. i guess the leftist folk running the place have made it too welcoming
 

Madwand1

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2006
3,309
0
76
Sourceninja, I think you misunderstood me. I'm not saying that you should give handouts to every homeless person who asks. I'm saying that IMO, at this time, the OP would be better off making peace with this particular woman by giving her money, once.

Beyond that, I think it's my choice and your as to whether or not you give money to whom.

But I think there's no need to be hateful on the street. Giving this woman a penny in this case was taken as an insult. "No" or "sorry" should have been good enough, and if it wasn't then I don't know -- I'd just ignore them, and certainly wouldn't reward pushiness.

But when insult has been given and taken, I advise making peace instead of continued war in this particular case.
 

brxndxn

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2001
8,475
0
76
Don't give any money to beggars. They can help themselves. Don't create a market for beggars.

Here in Bradenton, in a fairly wealthy area, there's this group of 'homeless' men that stand outside by intersections and ask for money. And, stupid fvcking retarded people actually give them money... but LOTS of it. They'll make $2-3 every freaking red light.. So, we're talking $2-3 at 5 minute intervals.

That's a hell of a lot more than I make.
 

Stuxnet

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2005
8,392
1
0
My wife was approached once by some woman. My wife pulled out a dollar and tried to give it to her, but then the woman got really aggressive with her and started demanding larger bills: "you mean you ain't got a ten or a twenty?"

"Nope... and magically, I no longer have a dollar, either."

ShizzPwned
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
Originally posted by: uberman
I'm just down the street from you. It is a sad commentary on our society that people are homeless in one of the richest countries in the world. The safety nets that existed in the past no longer exist, food stamps, rent money, etc. They've tightened regulations so much that they are unavailable. We both know the costs of owning or renting property in the San Francisco Bay Area, astronomical. It sounds like the lady who was trying to get money from you was a little off, ill. I do give money, but I also don't give to those that are professional beggars. You're eating in the right place, Oakland's Chinatown. I usually go to Delicious Foods at 734 Webster St. You can get cartons of chow fun or fried rice for $1.50 around lunch time, add a few extras and you can feed your friends lunch for $10.00. What restaurant are you impressed with? My favorite Economy Kitchen went under 2 years ago, after 20 years of eating there regularly.


Please if you are homeless in this country without a mental condition it is because you decided to be.

Only in this country can the homeless afford to be picky on what they recieve for free.

 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Originally posted by: uberman
Originally posted by: sourceninja

They wern't born homeless, they let themselves get there. I know two people who became homeless, both thought the world should provide for them. They got fired from job after job. They complainted always about how it was someone elses fault, or how they just had no luck. It reality it was their inablity to deal with life and take responsibility for their actions. After they got thrown out of shelters they came asking for my help. They found no solice with me.

I grew up in chicago. I've seen lots of homeless people. I've seen the mentally ill, and I've seen the you own me something guys. The ones who force their paper on you, or are just going to use that money to buy drugs. And I've seen the ones who live in houses and go out to beg just to make money. I knew a guy who had a nice appartment, would spend everyday begging on the street and collecting cans.

I've been to Washington DC. I watched beggars ask you in the native tounge and if you replyed in english then they asked for money for phone calls or coffee, etc. One of my friends happened to speak the language and found out they were only begging from stupid americans.

You want to help homeless people? Petition the goverment or donate to shelters. But giving homeless people money is like giving beer to an alcholic. You are only an enabler.

The ignorance of the people in this thread is astounding. People here are not stupid, only ignorant. Many are homeless for a myriad number of reasons. Many people because they were injured at work and became disabled. A friend of mine used to run a homeless shelter and many of the people there were there because of worker's compensation. Simply put, don't get hurt at work, because you'll be screwed. This wasn't their fault.

Many of the people posting here could be homeless in a second. Injury at work, catastrophic illness, or other circumstances. Many spend all their money and live from paycheck to paycheck. Have some compassion, don't give people pennies, and show some empathy.


Again, who's fault is it that they did not get a good paying job? Who's fault is it they rushed out and had kids and couldn't afford them? Who's fault is it they spent more they they really should have, didnt' save and have no backup money? Who's fault is it they don't have insurance?

It's not my fault. I payed attention and made something of my life because I seen what my parents had to deal with. The only injury that would make me unable to do my job is an injury of the mind. And I have a feeling that if I become mentally handicapped, I won't care all that much.

I'm not saying we shouldn't help these people. I'm saying that giving beggars money in no freaking way helps these people, it only enabled them. Give your money to charitys, churches, shelters, or petition your government if you want to help these people. Giving them money only lets them be homeless and beg for more money. And yes, because of my way of thinking, some people might die before we can help them. But sometimes people need to die for a greater good to be acheived.