LonerMatt
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2012
- Messages
- 2,744
- Reaction score
- 1,525
I don’t know anyone who objects to extending a helping hand to people who are down on their luck and could use assistance in getting back on their feet.
But that is not the majority of people who you encounter here who are “homeless.” It is a mix of abuse victims, addicts, criminals, and the mentally ill. Solutions that would work for the “down on their luck” group largely won’t work for them.
If we want to improve the situation, we can’t fool ourselves about what is going on.
1. Yes, homelessness is a multi-faceted issue that is pernicious and compounded by significant factors outside of any individual's control - almost as if it requires a social solution!
2. Abuse victims, addicts, criminals are all much more likely to be homeless - or to become those things through homelessness - especially in states like California where mental health institutions were turfed out by Regan - where do people who can't look after themselves end up?
3. Do you give money to these places, or do you just lament 'reality' while photographing someone who is suffering to post online to prove a point?
I'm not telling anyone to give or not give money to homeless people - just saying to be aware that by doing so, you can make yourself a target and a mark and that the tendency to lionize the poor or destitute is rather misguided.
Man who demonizes homeless people and conflates mental illness with violence lectures on not 'lionising' literally one of the most vulnerable group in his society.
And unfortunately, good sentiments are not going to protect anyone.
The idea that we need protection from people that don't even have the agency to buy their own food is extremely flimsy a premise and speaks more to paranoia than anything else.
I buy an ice cream on a hot day for $6.80 and I'm walking down the street some dude is begging for change, what kind of an asshole walks enjoying their stupidly lucky life and doesn't even have a tinge or sympathy or chuck $.20 to help?
Probably the same people photographing homeless people and posting it online in the same page asking for over-priced bar recommendations.
What a wank.