Quote:
Originally Posted by Strongside
I tried to give a dude ten bucks a few years ago when I moved down here. I was shocked when he said "Man, that ain't enough. I'm tryna get a room down here and I need at least twenty." I immediately put the money back in my pocket and told him to kick rocks. He got pissed off and became aggressive. I didn't grow up with privilege, and I know how to handle myself. When hobo Steve grabbed my jacket I put a firm forearm into his neck and pinned him to the wall (this was right next to the Midland box office, I was buying tickets). Since then, I haven't even acknowledged the homeless down here other than when I've volunteered at shelters a few times. Those people need help and are smart enough to know where to get it. The bums on the street asking for twenty spots are just looking for a buzz.
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I've never had a homeless person be aggressive towards me. They might come up and ask if you have a smoke/money/whatever and you just say "Nope" and keep trucking forward. It isn't a difficult concept. Sometimes they'll try to keep walking and telling you some sob story and you just don't acknowledge them and they realize they're wasting their time. There's no need to fear them or avoid areas altogether because you think they're scary.
Maybe in twenty years when I'm living in some burb; and I make my quarterly venture into downtown past 8 pm I'll understand the fear of some posters.