Stupid bum

[The_Real_Crunk]

So I was on my bike about to go through a crosswalk, when sum dirty looking guy with a backpack asks me for some change. I didnt have anything on me, so I told him that and kept riding. I was sitting on a bench a little ways from there in some shade, and I see the same guy come around the corner, in the corner of my eye. I was hoping he'd just keep going, but he sits down beside me, and asks for money again.

He promises he wont use it to buy drugs, or alcohol, or anything like that and just wants something to eat. Also gave me a story about how hes poor and looking for a job, and has been handing out resumes all day. I told him again I didnt have anything, and he sat for a few minutes before leaving again. There are 2 liquor stores within not even 5min walking distance from here, so I thought he was just looking for booze money.

Eventually I thought, Ive had some tough times too. Mabye he actually was just some guy down on his luck. So I rode over to a bank machine and took out $20 and was gonna take him to get something to eat. So at least he couldnt go waste it on alcohol, or drugs. Rode around the area like 3 or 4 times looking for the guy.

Couldnt find him anywhere. So I thought, what the hell, and took a pass at the 2 liquor stores to check for him. Sure enough I see a guy inside that Im pretty sure was the same guy, but I didnt want to go inside. So I left for a bit to look around again, incase it wasnt him. About a half hour later, I find him in the parking lot of the liquor store drinking cheap beer. He waved at me and said, "Oh, hey!", and I smiled and kept going.

[H2SO4]

Re: Stupid bum

Haha... never trust hobos. Sad truth.

[ErikaFuzzbottom]

Re: Stupid bum

Does that not figure?

[Nixon]

Re: Stupid bum

Not all homeless people act the same. I try not to be naive, but it's also nice to help those who really need it when you can.

Sometimes I see this very old woman at the bus stop near my place. I call her Abuela, even though I don't know her name. At first it seemed like she had a place to go, but then I would see her all the time, even at night.

The only time she ever asked me for anything was when she was thirsty and needed a drink of water. I gave her my tea, which I had brought home from work. Now if I see her around, I usually go and buy her a bottle of water, or give her whatever drink I have on me. She always appreciates it.

[H2SO4]

Re: Stupid bum

Yeah I didn't mean to sterotype poor people, just that the sad truth is that most of them get poor because of all the drugs/alchohol their on. But your right, there are many homeless people that are nicer than people that have homes. I think the best way to help homeless people is to help build houses for them and serve them food in soup shelters and stuff. That way you know that they're not using the money for drugs/alchohol, and you're giving them a meal that helps them, well, stay alive.

[John Mora]

Re: Stupid bum

Once a poor-looking guy was around the queue at an outdoors Dairy Queen shack, asking for money. My dad wouldn't give him any and at first I felt guilty. Then not five minutes later he was blatantly scoring drugs on the side of the store. In front of us. While we ate ice cream.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: Stupid bum

Feed the poor to the hungry and then we can all have a merry christmas. I say this living in a household that is and always has been well below the poverty line.

[Perversion]

Re: Stupid bum

I've been homeless before, and even though I didn't have a job, and always needed money, I never asked anyone for it. And although, in a roundabout way (i.e.-not directly involved in becoming homeless), drugs and alcohol caused my homelessness, I was clean and sober for the five months I lived in a homeless shelter. I've been clean for 4 years now, and I'm worried if I don't find another job soon, I might be back in the same situation. After working my way up from that and living on my own in an apartment for 2 years, being homeless again might just get me drinking again. I mean, after all the time and effort I spent trying to get my life back together, and I end up back here again?!?! Why the hell NOT drink and drown out my sorrows? But I'm just spouting off. I probably won't do that. I like my sober life too much to give it up.

[SkylureX]

Re: Stupid bum

I live in Boston, so homeless people are all over the place. I pretty much just completely ignore them when I pass them, as I get asked for money by at least 5 homeless people every day. I hope that doesn't make me an ass.

[Snarf]

Re: Stupid bum

I was in St Augustine one day and drove past a guy with a sign that said he was starving. There was a Dairy Queen a block away so I went through the drive though and got him a big burger, fries and drink. I also got him a blizzard (yay sugar!). I pulled up to where he was, got out of the car and before I could say anything, he jerked the food out of my hands and in the most scathing sarcastic way, he litteraly yelled "THANKS!!" and the look he gave me was one of sheer displeasure. I didnt know what to say. I mean I wasnt expecting him to fall to his knees and kiss my feet or anything, but damn. I thought this guy was hungry and I just wanted to help. I walked back to my car, looked back at him and he was just sitting there on the side of the road, all dejected and holding his sign back up... I dont understand it.

Maybe he was a vegetarian?

[Perversion]

Re: Stupid bum

all dejected and holding his sign back up... I dont understand it.

Maybe he was a vegetarian?

I think he didn't care about food...he was hoping you would give him money for booze or drugs.

[John Mora]

Re: Stupid bum

Why the hell NOT drink and drown out my sorrows?

Becausssssssssssse... it's pointless and self-defeating?

[Perversion]

Re: Stupid bum

Trust me, I'm not really thinking about doing this in reality...I was merely speaking from a hypothetical standpoint. Like I said, my 4 years of sobriety is actually really important to me. Plus, if I start drinking, I'll probably lose my girlfriend, and I don't really want that either.

[Karr Lord of Chaos]

Re: Stupid bum

in todays world we desicovered a need to help homeless people and devised shelters, food banks, and programs designed to get you back on your feet. though these systems are not perfect, and i understand that each person is unique and requires their own type of assistance, i firmly belive that theirs no need to give anything to homeless people. if you want to make a difference, give your money or food articals to orginizations that suport homeless people to ensure they have an option our of object poverty, and are able to get a bit of food into them.

i would rather teach a man to fish then give him a free meal. i wont suport people who dont deserve my money, i wont suport people who will waste my money, and i wont suport people who dont apreciate my business.

if it makes me stingy then so be it, but the system happends to work. ive seen far to many fake homeless people who use the cash to suport their free life styles, or use the money to buy illicit luxuries.

[Fushigi na Renamon]

Re: Stupid bum

A friend of mine told me about a school project some people she knew were doing, and it was to go out and feed homeless people.

Most of them, when offered a meal, said "Can't I just have money instead?" and didn't want the food.