I am a big advocate for compassion. Hurray compassion! I really do try to live by the golden rule.
Exception: the homeless.
I refuse to make eye contact with the homeless. That's why I love my iPod so much. With earphones on, I can ignore the pleas of help. Isn't that sick?
I am not proud of myself here. The worst part is, back in the pre-Bethesda days, if I had change, I would give it to a beggar. I mean, what did I care if I lost out on 42 cents?
But now, there's this bus that takes me from the Metro right to my house. And it costs 35 cents. And it isn't like I can get change from a bus. So, to make my life a teensy bit more convenient, I am taking away a homeless person's ability to get a bite to eat or buy a blanket. To save myself from walking a mile, I am hoarding my nickels and dimes.
Maybe DC would be a bit more bearable if it didn't have so many people without a place to sleep and who kept trying to make eye contact.
Guilt trip over. Tomorrow I am giving a homeless person 35 cents. I don't care if he's going to buy vodka with it. I will suck it up and walk the extra mile.
3.06.2006
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bring back james.
ReplyDeleteThe homeless people are more charming than the unfriendly, pretentious liberal yuppies who populate D.C.
ReplyDeletethey have more interesting things to say too (the homeless people do, not the unfriendly pretentious liberal yuppies)
ReplyDeleteIf you feel badly, do something about it. People come here and piss and moan about things but don't make an effort to change them. Lots of volunteer opportunities out there. Nothing is stopping you from geting involved.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you see a homeless person selling Street Sense, buy a copy, damn it. It costs less than your frappuccino, and you can afford it.
Tommy
Any homeless advocate will tell you NOT to give homeless people money. If you want to/are able to, buy them something to eat, but don't give them money. As far as the ignoring goes...to each their own...I try to always say "sorry" and make sure to make eye contact, but even that has elicited an angry response. So I can see why you'd go the iPod route.
ReplyDeleteTo my credit, everytime I got in trouble for underage drinking at AU, I would spend my forced community service time at homeless shelters.
ReplyDeletejust say sorry and then feel bad about it. I honestly cant afford to give every homeless person i encounter on the way to work 35cents. and if they want to get f'd up with your money so be it, thats part of being free making those choices...
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't there a "Why I hate Baltimore" blog.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep a couple of certificates to McDonalds in my purse. That way, if I see someone in need, I can give it to them and know that they will buy food instead of booze or cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteWho are you?!
ReplyDeleteinvest in a smart trip card, most Metrobuses have them and no need to worry about getting a transfer from the Metro station and you can give your change to a homeless person if it helps you feel better.
ReplyDeleteI used to think I'd be a sucker to give money to ANY homeless and person and once walked stoicly by a bent-over 85 year-old woman clinking a (literally) tin cup. I still think about the black homeless guy I dissed one Christmas Eve. Damn.
ReplyDeleteOn a positive note, I remember seeing a guy stopped by a homeless man who pointed out that, for Christ sake, it was Christmas. The guy chewed it over and said, You know what? You got it, buddy.
I just read a post that blew my mind: a mcdonald's gift card. just give a random person a gift every once in a while.
I usually only think about donating my time when I get really drunk. Another time I almost joined the Air force
To Anonymous re SmarTrip cards,
ReplyDeleteMontgomery County busses allow you to make transfers from the Metreo for 35 cents, but they do not accept cards as payment. That is, of course, retarded.
Stop fretting about giving a quarter, and do it. And stop worrying about how a homeless person will spend it. It's not your business.
ReplyDeleteI once gave a man at the Union Station metro stop all the change I had in my pocket, and he picked out the pennies and threw them on the floor. That was the last time I gave money to a homeless person.
ReplyDelete