The Homeless Shake

[brewer]

Everytime I read the title my head hears hippy hippy shakes.

[paulpablo]

Everytime I read the title my head hears hippy hippy shakes.

It sounds like a sienfeld episode to me

[KUSA]

I always stop, give some money if I can and talk to the homeless when around the city. Some of them are the nicest folk you will ever meet. Those people who deliberately avoid and treat them like they aren't human beings make my blood boil.

I give them money sometimes but I usually don't want to shake their hand.

[CapnAwesome]

I always stop, give some money if I can and talk to the homeless when around the city. Some of them are the nicest folk you will ever meet. Those people who deliberately avoid and treat them like they aren't human beings make my blood boil.

I agree that some homeless people are fine, like I've shared joints with plenty and stop to pick up every hitchhiker. However I live next to two bridges in Seattle  (in rains a lot here, and there are a lot of homeless) and a shelter. If I stopped to talk to every homeless person, it would be a full time job. It also gets annoying to have a friendly conversation turn into a hustle so frequently. So I understand why some people become hardened against it. It doesn't mean they are bad people, but when under every bridge is littered with heroin needles (not an exaggeration) sometimes cash is not going to be the solution.

[account_inactive]

I always stop, give some money if I can and talk to the homeless when around the city. Some of them are the nicest folk you will ever meet. Those people who deliberately avoid and treat them like they aren't human beings make my blood boil.

I agree that some homeless people are fine, like I've shared joints with plenty and stop to pick up every hitchhiker. However I live next to two bridges in Seattle  (in rains a lot here, and there are a lot of homeless) and a shelter. If I stopped to talk to every homeless person, it would be a full time job. It also gets annoying to have a friendly conversation turn into a hustle so frequently. So I understand why some people become hardened against it. It doesn't mean they are bad people, but when under every bridge is littered with heroin needles (not an exaggeration) sometimes cash is not going to be the solution.

I obviously couldn't stand and talk to every homeless person, but you know what I mean. I agree with you that cash isn't the solution for the drug addicts though. I didn't really claim it was either, we should be doing more to help the homeless.

We've had a fair share of not so nice homeless around the city too. It's common, I guess.

[Spirian]

On rare occasions I travel into San Francisco (city) to meet with business clients. The homeless population there is staggering. 

I'm struck knowing that many of them could become very potent people if they so chose to apply themselves.

[Minimalist]

The homeless?  Sure.

Some rich cocksucker?  Probably not.  He'd probably try to steal my watch.

[CapnAwesome]

On rare occasions I travel into San Francisco (city) to meet with business clients. The homeless population there is staggering. 

I'm struck knowing that many of them could become very potent people if they so chose to apply themselves.

Some people are homeless by choice. I mean I'm really just barely above that level myself. I live in a tiny ass RV and make just enough money to get by. Last year I worked 15 weeks. That way I can have time to travel and do other stuff with my life. Working sucks man. I have precious little time on this earth, and I'm certainly not going to waste it on a 9-5 job. Some 'homeless' people are just hippies and rainbow kids who would much rather do art then work. You can't group them all together.

[vorlon13]

I spent 15 months (last 3 months of my drinking and drugging and first 12 months of sobriety) in a seedy motel. Not homeless, but close enough to realize it was a real possibility.

We've had 12 Steppers living out of their cars turn up. That is rough and precarious. The car can break, run out of gas (money) or be towed or stolen. Really is tough being in that position, and then having 12 steps looming and cravings and family trouble and job trouble all running at the same time.

[Cato]

I have no problem shaking hands with anyone; homeless or otherwise. Doorknobs, handrails, subway poles, etc. don't phase me a bit either. I also have absolutely no problem drinking from public water fountains. The looks I get these days are priceless. I loathe hand sanitizer, but will wash after excretion out of courtesy for others. I don't wash my hands before eating unless my hands are visibly dirty. My wife thinks I'm fucking nuts, but I never get sick.