I've lost all sympathy for street people

[Regorium]

I completely agree. Nobody should be giving money to beggars.

I was walking with my GF and her friend once and a beggar approached us begging for money for food and of course complaining it was freezing. The friend gave her her gloves, and she basically refused them and continued to ask for money.

I hate beggars and the homeless. No sympathy for them either. The sob stories about the 1 "good" beggar does not counteract the thousands of low life people that lie in the bed that they made.

[joe_mullen]

Originally Posted by DESS

Mental illness and addiction are two distinctly different problems. IMO, that statistic is meaningless unless separated out.

actually, addiction is classified as a mental illness under the DSM criteria. They are very similar problems. Just like other medical diseases, addiction has a very strong genetic component.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Yup homeless people are homeless because they are lazy.

Yup

Nice contribution. Did he say anything about homeless? He said that it grinds his gears that people are asking for free money when there are plenty of jobs available.

And yeah, it's true that alot of these poeple aren't employable. But alot of them are. Like that guy that walks up and down the median by anderson station with a sign asking for money. Both legs work. Both arms work. Get a job.

[Cowperson]

Maybe this should be in the irony thread, but a few years ago I was volunteering at the Drop In centre one morning and parked briefly out front to run in to return a parking lot key. Upon coming out some guy was looking in the window of my vehicle and trying the door handle . . . . right outside the front door of the place!!!

I thought it was pretty funny . . . . but, you know, it makes you wonder why you bother.

I agree that society should step up efforts to help those with mental issues that render them unemployable. There are also those who use those kinds of facilities only for a short time as they relocate with little resources andyou can sympathize with their situation. Many of them never return.

It seems there are many, though, who have made a deliberate lifestyle choice, chosing not to compete or to compete at the lowest possible level, including the use of petty crime. Not a lot of sympathy for that group.

Cowperson

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by HOOT

And let me guess there was a nice "Help Wanted" poster on your way in...

Oh yeah... apparently all shifts and all positions too for the discerning worker.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by FireInTheHole

I cringe when I see people roll down their window to give them money... it's just enabling their addictions/issues.

I would probably give them money too though, not because I want to, but because I'd be afraid of them kicking my car or something if I said "no". I'd rather throw a few quarters their way and get a "thank you" than not give anything, and get a shoe print in my fender.

I know it doesn't really help them though.

Haha, and this thread reminds me of "Scary Movie", when the hobo asks for a dollar and she gives him a sandwich, then he throws it at her head while she walks off. "I said a dollar B*TCH!"

[DESS]

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

actually, addiction is classified as a mental illness under the DSM criteria. They are very similar problems. Just like other medical diseases, addiction has a very strong genetic component.

And a very strong buying crack, picking up a crack pipe, lighting and inhaling the crack component.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Oh yeah... apparently all shifts and all positions too for the discerning worker.

I don't know. Would you want to eat any food served by the homeless guys?

The last time i was at Brentwood KFC, there was this huge lineup and the manager, some 17 year old kid having a food fight by the fryers.

I'm staying away from fastfood until after this labour shortage is corrected.

[RougeUnderoos]

There was a story on the news last night about a bunch of losers who were a little concerned about getting brutally murdered on the street. This crowd of "homeless" women had heard the warning issued by police that women shouldn't be out alone at night and they were bitching about how they were "vulnerable" to murder and how "they didn't have much choice about being alone on the street". Pathetic.

Then the story went on to say that many of these women had fled, often with kids in tow, abusive relationships and they'd had to make the "decision" between living on the street or being abused. Nice excuse. Maybe if they kept their mouth shut they wouldn't have been abused in the first place.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Kobatuzzied

I don't know. Would you want to eat any food served by the homeless guys?

The last time i was at Brentwood KFC, there was this huge lineup and the manager, some 17 year old kid having a food fight by the fryers.

I'm staying away from fastfood until after this labour shortage is corrected.

Point taken, but I'd have no problem with them pushing a broom and cleaning tables.

[urban1]

Is this a bad attempt at humour or are you serious?

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Then the story went on to say that many of these women had fled, often with kids in tow, abusive relationships and they'd had to make the "decision" between living on the street or being abused. Nice excuse. Maybe if they kept their mouth shut they wouldn't have been abused in the first place.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by bradster57

I agree. 99% of people disagree with me when I say this: Addiction is a choice- not a disease. You chose the drug/bottle in the first place. Cancer? Maybe not so much.

Addiction isn't a choice, it's a disease. Even ask Theo Fleury!

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Do what I do, when they ask for change, ask them if they have change for a hundred. It's mean, yes, but most of them deserve it. Most.

When I see them approaching me, I walk towards them and before they can say anything, I ask them for change.

Or sometimes I tell them I have tons, but need it for drinking money

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Kobatuzzied

I don't know. Would you want to eat any food served by the homeless guys?

The last time i was at Brentwood KFC, there was this huge lineup and the manager, some 17 year old kid having a food fight by the fryers.

I'm staying away from fastfood until after this labour shortage is corrected.

I don't eat fast food anymore so it doesn't bother me

But I see what your point is, but hopefully within a few paycheck he/she wouldn't be homeless or at least "less" homeless.

Plus there are other jobs besides serving food; janitor, cleaning cars, oil rigs (not that would help their addiction). But there are plenty of jobs out there that ANYONE can do! Mental Illiness or not it doesn't take a brain scientist to push around a broom or be taught how to do simple tasks.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Addiction isn't a choice, it's a disease. Even ask Theo Fleury!

In a way, its both. Some people have naturally addictive personalities. But in the end, its always a choice. People with Alcoholism (for example) aren't screwed, they can be helped and can live normal, healthy lives if they choose to get the help and dig deep with will power to make it happen.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Do what I do, when they ask for change, ask them if they have change for a hundred. It's mean, yes, but most of them deserve it. Most.

That's a good strategy.

Next time I see some down and out guy who's probably enjoying the absolute most miserable time in his life, I'm going to be mean to him, because it's funny.

[rockstar]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

There was a story on the news last night about a bunch of losers who were a little concerned about getting brutally murdered on the street. This crowd of "homeless" women had heard the warning issued by police that women shouldn't be out alone at night and they were bitching about how they were "vulnerable" to murder and how "they didn't have much choice about being alone on the street". Pathetic.

Then the story went on to say that many of these women had fled, often with kids in tow, abusive relationships and they'd had to make the "decision" between living on the street or being abused. Nice excuse. Maybe if they kept their mouth shut they wouldn't have been abused in the first place.

<Insert winking smiley face here>


(I hope)

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by urban1

Is this a bad attempt at humour or are you serious?

He's not serious, and it's hilarious.

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

i'm sure you're aware that about 90% (according to stats) of these people suffer from mental illness. furthermore, these illnesses are extremely difficult to treat in an inpatient setting, nevermind an outpatient setting. very easy to make such absurd blanket statements without ever walking a mile in there shoes.

I'm with you. I think we should all show compassion for those suffering with mental illness, especially those who have sunk to the lowest level of society because of it.

I realize not all street people's situation is the same and are going to benefit by a handout, but I think if there's a chance they need our help on occasion, it's probably worth the gamble.

It's easy to judge with a full belly and a roof over your head.

[Cowboy89]

I hate all those "end all homlessness forever" crusades put on by our governments. As long as we have mentally ill, fetal-alchohol syndrome people, and addicted people in our society there's always going to be a sizable population of homeless people in every major city. You can drive a dump truck full of money and give the Mustard seed and other shelters billions of dollars in funding and the problem will still not go away. At a certain point it's a waste of taxpayers dolllars.

That being said, due to such a large spike in the cost of living in Calgary there's plenty of people who already work a job or jobs and still can't afford to pay for a place. Unless you work in some of the shelters dedicated to these people you'll never meet them, because they're never the cracked out people going up to you begging for change. I think as a society we should help all those people who want help and work with us to get them off of the streets. For the loser crowd we should continue to provide meals, drop-in places, etc, however we should drop the silly charade(and the wasted millions of taxpayer dollars) that it's even possible to eradicate homlessness short of locking all of them up in a institution.