My night....(hmm, controversial?)

[vivilasvegas]

Please take off your blinders and look at every single posting in this thread. Once you have done this you will see why the sarcasm has continued. By the way she was not alone, she had her bf with her. If a strange guy aggressively grabbed my wife going down the street then I would remedy the situation and not leave my wife all alone to deal with this.

Rex

Please enlighten me as to why my sarcasm has continued. And please, insult my boyfriend more. Should have pummled the man to the ground? No, he held my arm and walked me away.

 

[Aidensmom]

You know, I have actually gone out of my way before to go buy food for someone who had a "will work for food sign" out standing on the corner peacefully, but if I was walking along minding my own business, and someone GRABBED my arm, they would be darn lucky if all I did was refuse them my food. I don't honestly believe that everyone on this thread would think "oh, this stranger just grabbed me, I should be nice to him." Someone grabbing you is scary. Someone you don't know grabbing you is even scarier. Sarcasm is a defense mechanism, and would be a common reaction. And then, if somoene not only grabbed me, but started following me? They'd get a meal all right, in jail.

I have no problem with helping someone in need, but grabbing and following someone is not something that should have to be accepted.

 

[alliecats]

There is an old cliche- Perception is everything/ perception is truth. It means, no matter how you meant something, if the majority of people took it another way, their perception is the truth. It may not seem fair, but if the majority is telling you you are being heartless, then maybe it's time to re-evaluate yourself.

I can tell you are young, so hopefully one day down the road, you'll get it. I was homeless once. I have had to ask strangers for a handout because I hadn't eaten in 3 days. When I could scrounge up enough money for an 89 cent taco at TB, I would eat that taco as slowly as I could just so I could stay in the store longer & maybe feel normal for a change. I knew that people made fun of me.

Life sucks when you are at the bottom. It was the hardest thing I have ever done just getting enough money & resources to be able to get out of that black hole. I am not ashamed of that time in my life because it helped make me the person I am. I pray that you have a family & a support system around you so you will never have to feel the humiliation of being alone & not knowing where you are going to sleep at night or how you are going to eat.

Sbella

I am so sorry you went thru this. The part about the taco breaks my heart. I am glad you are in a better place now.

 

[rparmfamily]

Please enlighten me as to why my sarcasm has continued. And please, insult my boyfriend more. Should have pummled the man to the ground? No, he held my arm and walked me away.

Never mentioned violence did I? Well no offense it took you doing all the work to get rid of this "aggressive man" if I read the posts correctly. The sarcasm has continued because of the way you have reacted in this thread. People keep throwing out the bait and you keep biting and it's human nature to bait when you keep biting. It's an entertainment value to some

Rex

 

[TimeforMe]

Unfortunately, OP, you are learning a lesson I once learned too that has prevented me from posting a lot. When I first read your post, I kind of agreed with the majority here, but after reading your explanations and imagining myself in that situation (we live near and visit NYC often), I can understand your reaction. The sad part is that when we post things like this, we sometimes omit things that may be important to the story and once it's out there, people have already formed their opinions so it may seem as though we're backpedaling....

Anyway....I'm sorry people have made you feel like crap. You know what you meant and that will have to be enough. Live and learn.

 

[swea_pea1]

I think I would've given the guy my leftovers.

Often times when I am in the city (san francisco) or Berkeley, and I see a homeless person, I give them my coffee, tea, leftovers. It just feels like the right thing to do.

It feels like it's the right thing to do because it is the right thing to do.

OP, check this out from Getting Housed, Staying Housed - a 10 year plan to end homelessness in Chicago (bolding mine):

How Many People Are Homeless in Chicago?

Counting persons who are homeless is a notoriously difficult task fraught with definitional and technical challenges. As a result, comprehensive and accurate numbers are difficult to generate. In Chicago, the Chicago Department of Human Services (CDHS) tracks the number of persons who access city-funded shelters and homeless service programs and compiles this data annually. City funded shelters account for approximately two-thirds of the 6,500 shelter beds available in Chicago. According to estimates derived from annual CDHS statistics, approximately 15,000 persons were housed in these shelters from July 1, 2000 – June 30, 2001. For Chicago, this is the only available longitudinal measure of homelessness – that is, a measure of the number of people who are homeless over a period of time. However, it is important to bear in mind that CDHS statistics do not account for those people who annually fill the shelter beds that are not supported by city funds.

Point-in-time data are the best way to understand the magnitude of homelessness on a daily basis. A 2001 point-in-time provider survey conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago indicates that
approximately 6,100 people are served within Chicago’s greater homeless system each day.

However, not all persons who are homeless access the shelter system. In addition to those persons in the shelters, many individuals are temporarily housed in institutions such as mental health and substance abuse facilities and jails; living on the streets or in cars; illegally squatting in abandoned
public and private housing; or, as is particularly the case with families and youth, precariously doubled up with relatives or friends. A broader definition of homelessness encompasses these households as well. By this broader definition, advocates such as the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless estimate Chicago’s homeless population to be as high as 80,000 over the course of a
given year.

There are a whole lot of homeless, hungry people out there who need our compassion - not ridicule or fodder for a Friday night laugh.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

You know, I have actually gone out of my way before to go buy food for someone who had a "will work for food sign" out standing on the corner peacefully, but if I was walking along minding my own business, and someone GRABBED my arm, they would be darn lucky if all I did was refuse them my food. I don't honestly believe that everyone on this thread would think "oh, this stranger just grabbed me, I should be nice to him." Someone grabbing you is scary. Someone you don't know grabbing you is even scarier. Sarcasm is a defense mechanism, and would be a common reaction. And then, if somoene not only grabbed me, but started following me? They'd get a meal all right, in jail.

I have no problem with helping someone in need, but grabbing and following someone is not something that should have to be accepted.

Which is why I wouldn't have given the guy my food, but I wouldn't have taunted him, either. And then he likely wouldn't have followed me. Of course it's hard to know how it would have played out if the OP's initial reaction had of been different--we'll never know.

 

[lulu71]

Gosh, there is so much I can say..."to whom much is given, much is expected" or however that saying goes. But really, wouldn't you have felt better if you would have just given the guy your leftovers? I feel really bad for the guy.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Methinks the OP had a lot to drink at Chili's, and that's the reason she finds her posts to be so hilarious.

Do yourself a favor, OP. Turn off the computer and go to bed. When you read this tomorrow sans alcohol, you'll see why so many here aren't finding your posts all that funny.

 

[Hermosa11]

the problem of agressive panhandleing has gotten so bad in san francisco-the advocates for the truly homeless have asked that money be given to organizations and not handed out on directly to individuals (allot are not homeless, they are agressive oportunists who "dress" the part to verbaly and physicaly threaten people into handing over money. a bay area news station did an undercover report and found that some of the most aggressive owned very high end apartments and thought it was a "fun way to sucker tourists").

i won't travel there and some other tourist areas because of the problem.

oh brother.............you are going to avoid a whole town because os some panhandlers? geesh............fine by me! one less tourist!

 

[NewJersey]

My bf always gives money to the homeless, and I sometimes do. But if he asked me for my leftovers I would have certainly given them to him. And I sure as hell wouldn't have taunted him and asked for 10 dollars. Wow, you're definitely one cool person (I'm sorry...did you sense that sarcasm?). Let's hope you're not in his situation ever.

 

[southernbella]

I am so sorry you went thru this. The part about the taco breaks my heart. I am glad you are in a better place now.

Thanks for the . Life is MUCH better now. I didn't want to jump all over the OP. I just wanted them to realize that the person they are making fun of is a person just like the OP. Their life just took a different path. Sbella

 

[Miss Kelly]

I can't believe what this thread has turned into. Bickering, calling the OP names, and acting childish on a public message board is way more disheartening then the OP's original post.

IMHO, all of you need to take a good hard look at yourself before criticizing others.

ETA: I don't live in or near a big city, so if I was approached my someone on the street wanting my belongings, I would have walked away very, very fast. That's just plain scary. JMHO.

 

[vivilasvegas]

oops.

 

[Pugdog007]

I "got" the OP and thought it was funny.

Good grief Disers lighten up.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

There is an old cliche- Perception is everything/ perception is truth. It means, no matter how you meant something, if the majority of people took it another way, their perception is the truth. It may not seem fair, but if the majority is telling you you are being heartless, then maybe it's time to re-evaluate yourself.

I can tell you are young, so hopefully one day down the road, you'll get it. I was homeless once. I have had to ask strangers for a handout because I hadn't eaten in 3 days. When I could scrounge up enough money for an 89 cent taco at TB, I would eat that taco as slowly as I could just so I could stay in the store longer & maybe feel normal for a change. I knew that people made fun of me.

Life sucks when you are at the bottom. It was the hardest thing I have ever done just getting enough money & resources to be able to get out of that black hole. I am not ashamed of that time in my life because it helped make me the person I am. I pray that you have a family & a support system around you so you will never have to feel the humiliation of being alone & not knowing where you are going to sleep at night or how you are going to eat.

Sbella

It's so easy to think that this can never happen to us or someone close to us. It's why one of the sayings I repeat to myself is the one that I quoted earlier "There But for the Grace of God go I".

 

[vivilasvegas]

I "got" the OP and thought it was funny.

Good grief Disers lighten up.

Thank you.

 

[Tiziminchac]

Like one of the great thinkers of our times said... "There's one thing you can't hide, when your cripple inside."

 

[gallaj0]

You know, I wasn't going to post here, things escalated pretty quick, but I think some of the people here who started off with good intentions need to go back and look at some of their other posts.

Starting off with a "holier than thou" attitude when you don't know someone's mindset, reading into things, and jumping to conclusions are obviously a big part of the Community Board.

But now we've moved on to meanhearted personal attacks, name calling, and just outlandish presumptions about the O.P., her boyfriend, the homeless man, etc.

Let's all take some deep breaths, step back a little, and regroup.

 

[vivilasvegas]

You know, I wasn't going to post here, things escalated pretty quick, but I think some of the people here who started off with good intentions need to go back and look at some of their other posts.

Starting off with a "holier than thou" attitude when you don't know someone's mindset, reading into things, and jumping to conclusions are obviously a big part of the Community Board.

But now we've moved on to meanhearted personal attacks, name calling, and just outlandish presumptions about the O.P., her boyfriend, the homeless man, etc.

Let's all take some deep breaths, step back a little, and regroup.

Thank you.