Hobo by the store

What a bunch of bullies here. Your behavior is inappropriate.
I no longer wish to be a member of this Forum.
 

marty said:
What a bunch of bullies here. Your behavior is inappropriate.
I no longer wish to be a member of this Forum.
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So you've been a member for almost a year and because of one thread you're flouncing out. Are you waiting for people to beg you not to go? :rolleyes: If you're not enjoying the forum, you should move on. No need to make a "Goodbye Cruel Forum!!" announcement.

ETA I’ve been all over the internet for many years, and this is one of the more low-key, easygoing groups. Bullies??!! I know of many forums where they would eat.you.alive and spit you out.
 
AprilT said:
It's funny you mentioned this about the designer clothing, at one of the volunteer gigs I attend making sandwiches and sorting clothing to hand out to the homeless, we get lots of items that would be considered high priced fashion items, including footwear, all used, but mostly in great to newish looking condition. These clothing items will be distributed to the homeless who are walking the street who come to the park where our team hand these items out. Some of them might not even know the original ticket price of these items, they're just happy to have a change of clothing. Sad though, someone will judge them wrongly thinking if they can afford such clothing, they must not be doing so bad.

A lot of these people are vets, some are drug addicts, some are scammers, a number of them suffer from mental illnesses. I'm sure, but, when we go out to assist, that's the last thing we are thinking. There's a lot of pain and suffering out there, I have little time to sit in judgement of the less fortunate to many people are finding themselves on the list when they never thought they'd be. What little release they may find, if that's in a cigarette or whatever, I am not going to begrudge them. Not saying there hadn't been a time I didn't have such a thought, but, having seen the devastation and the pain in the eyes of the people up close, I have a deeper sympathy. Doesn't mean, I'm going to hand out money when approached just means, I'm not going to stand in judgement. It's not as far fetched as one might think to find self in a situation when tragedy strikes in a way that is out of ones own control.

And let me say, I am one of the first to be quite hard on moochers of any kind, some wouldn't want to know what I think of some of the welfare programs and my ideas. As to my reform ideas, I won't speak on them, I might be called satan or worse an undercover repub, j/k.
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LOL....April, there is nothing worse than an undercover repub.

Kudos for the voluntary work you do for the homeless.
 

911 said:
My wife says that I shouldn't donate to them, but being a cop for so many years and running into a lot of these less fortunate people, I don't mind forking over a fin here and there.

We have found out that most are legit people trying to get some money, but not just for food. Some want to buy a bottle of wine or maybe some pills. But, most want to eat. I picked up a guy one time that was pillaging for food out of a dumpster. I spoke with him for a few minutes and I came to the conclusion that he had the mentality of a sixth grader. He also smelled to high heaven. I took him to the YMCA and asked them to let him take a shower and to call the Salvation Army and have them bring up some clean clothes that fit him and a new coat. I asked them to see that he got fed and a bed for the night.

I just know that I am glad that I am not like they are.
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What a nice thing you did, 911, kudos to you too.
 
Most of the time the homeless and needy are legit. Occasionally there are scammers.
We had a woman in this city who used to sit at a busy corner on a blanket. We called her 'shaky lady' because she shook all over and sat there all day and people gave her money and bought her clothes and food. Someone once followed her -- she stopped shaking, got up spry as could be and got into a waiting car, which drove away. She was not shaky lady. She was a fraud.

In some third world countries there are professional beggars as we all know. They put on their beggar clothing and beggar postures and go to work, and come home at the end of the day to take off the work clothing. Not to say that they are doing anything wrong, they aren't making much money and it is their livelihood. Here for whatever reasons some people choose to do the same, with or without their 'poor' clothes, it is not illegal.
 
I commend you 911.. You did a really nice thing! I'm afraid I would not have done that, but would have just given some money. You gave him something better.. Your time.
 
Jackie22 said:
What a nice thing you did, 911, kudos to you too.
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QuickSilver said:
I commend you 911.. You did a really nice thing! I'm afraid I would not have done that, but would have just given some money. You gave him something better.. Your time.
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Agree with these ladies, a very nice thing to have done. Showed great compassion, for someone in need, such an kind and generous thing to do.
 
Just want to set the record straight. Anytime a police officer observes a person that does not look like they belong where they are, especially digging in a dumpster, they will probably be questioned by a police officer. In this case, my reason for checking on this man was because he was not just 'dumpster diving', but standing inside the dumpster throwing trash around. When I approached him, he very quickly put his hands in his pockets, which is never a good idea, so I kept an idea on his hands. I asked him if he had lost something and he just shook his head no. I asked him if I could help him with something and he said that he was hungry, so I assumed that he was looking for food. That's when I asked him to get out of the dumpster and I would see to it that he got something to eat.

I was going to call the local small town police department, but just decided to run him the 5 miles to the Y where I knew he should be anyway. I had to handcuff him because that is policy when taking someone in the car and he was OK with it. When I got him to the Y, I asked the manager if they could feed him and they kindly obliged. I also asked if they would call the Salvation Army and get him some clean clothes after letting him shower. If they had a room available, can he stay the night. They accommodated me with everything that I asked them for.

So, it is the YMCA that should get the praise. I just delivered the man to them. They are a great Y here, but I have heard that not all Y's are so accommodating.
 
911 said:
Just want to set the record straight. Anytime a police officer observes a person that does not look like they belong where they are, especially digging in a dumpster, they will probably be questioned by a police officer. In this case, my reason for checking on this man was because he was not just 'dumpster diving', but standing inside the dumpster throwing trash around. When I approached him, he very quickly put his hands in his pockets, which is never a good idea, so I kept an idea on his hands. I asked him if he had lost something and he just shook his head no. I asked him if I could help him with something and he said that he was hungry, so I assumed that he was looking for food. That's when I asked him to get out of the dumpster and I would see to it that he got something to eat.

I was going to call the local small town police department, but just decided to run him the 5 miles to the Y where I knew he should be anyway. I had to handcuff him because that is policy when taking someone in the car and he was OK with it. When I got him to the Y, I asked the manager if they could feed him and they kindly obliged. I also asked if they would call the Salvation Army and get him some clean clothes after letting him shower. If they had a room available, can he stay the night. They accommodated me with everything that I asked them for.

So, it is the YMCA that should get the praise. I just delivered the man to them. They are a great Y here, but I have heard that not all Y's are so accommodating.
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Oh please, take credit where credit is due man, you didn't have to go out of the way to do anything, I've seen quite a few people in positions of authority just kick such people to the side and have nothing to do with them. Not that I can always say they're in the wrong, sometimes it's just not possible to always be charitable under some circumstances. You however went way beyond the call of any duty of what any public servant or savilian may have done. Just admit, you have a decent bone in your body and did something exceptional.

You did the community a service by observing and making sure no crime was to occur and then you offered help, beyond the call. = praise worthy.
 
AprilT said:
It's funny you mentioned this about the designer clothing, at one of the volunteer gigs I attend making sandwiches and sorting clothing to hand out to the homeless, we get lots of items that would be considered high priced fashion items, including footwear, all used, but mostly in great to newish looking condition. These clothing items will be distributed to the homeless who are walking the street who come to the park where our team hand these items out. Some of them might not even know the original ticket price of these items, they're just happy to have a change of clothing. Sad though, someone will judge them wrongly thinking if they can afford such clothing, they must not be doing so bad.

A lot of these people are vets, some are drug addicts, some are scammers, a number of them suffer from mental illnesses. I'm sure, but, when we go out to assist, that's the last thing we are thinking. There's a lot of pain and suffering out there, I have little time to sit in judgement of the less fortunate to many people are finding themselves on the list when they never thought they'd be. What little release they may find, if that's in a cigarette or whatever, I am not going to begrudge them. Not saying there hadn't been a time I didn't have such a thought, but, having seen the devastation and the pain in the eyes of the people up close, I have a deeper sympathy. Doesn't mean, I'm going to hand out money when approached just means, I'm not going to stand in judgement. It's not as far fetched as one might think to find self in a situation when tragedy strikes in a way that is out of ones own control.

And let me say, I am one of the first to be quite hard on moochers of any kind, some wouldn't want to know what I think of some of the welfare programs and my ideas. As to my reform ideas, I won't speak on them, I might be called satan or worse an undercover repub, j/k.
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Really excellent post April.:)
 
applecruncher said:
his sign said "out of work, please help..."if you really want to engage him, refer him to a few day labor places, a food pantry, or a social service agency such as salvation army.

Imo the fact that he smokes and how he’s getting cigarettes is irrelevant. If it bothers you to see him with a cigarette, don’t look at him and keep going on your way.
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wow!
 
I can't imagine going up to an adult and asking "Where did you get money for (cigarettes, cellphone)?" That's a haughty, busybody question asked by nosey people who think they have the right to cross-examine and chastise strangers. Truly eyeroll inducing. :rolleyes:
 
I find it is a very bad idea to question street people or panhandlers as they could easily lash out at you and perhaps even assault you. We don't know what's going on with them at all. Just give them a smile and some change .....

I was once waiting for my son to have brunch in front of a cafe and he was late. I was wearing a hoodie and jean jacket and I had been there a while, when what I considered to be maybe a panhandler or a street person came over to me and offered me money. I turned it down, of course. That was sweet.
 
Mrs. Robinson said:
They generally bring in about 60K a year panhandling. Tax free. Some use their kids to gain sympathy. There are many services available to help truly homeless people-you are better off helping them to know about the services that are available to them. Just giving them money really is not helpful.
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Can't agree more Mrs. R., I want to share what I have, but I do want to know that it really is for someone in need.
 
Through no fault of my own, I spent three and a half weeks on the street when I was young. Thank God, people were compassionate, otherwise I might not be here. Now I try to pay it forward when I can.
 
Speaking of inappropriate and holier-than-thou -- years ago I was standing outside my office building smoking a cigarette in the designated area, and a hugely fat (think grossly morbidly obese Wal-Mart lady type fat) came over and proceeded to give me an angry lecture on my lack of self-control! Talk about the pot calling the kettle!
 
Butterfly said:
Speaking of inappropriate and holier-than-thou -- years ago I was standing outside my office building smoking a cigarette in the designated area, and a hugely fat (think grossly morbidly obese Wal-Mart lady type fat) came over and proceeded to give me an angry lecture on my lack of self-control! Talk about the pot calling the kettle!
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I don't understand the Walmart reference. :confused:
 

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