One of the things I love about Seattle is that I can walk so many more places and it feels like a much more active city because there are always people out walking around. However, along with the high number of people walking to work, to eat, or to the store, there are also quite a few people asking for money, digging through the trash, or sleeping on a bench. You can't really walk downtown without being asked for money and seeing several homeless people. However, since there are so many other people walking around, you're never alone on a street with a beggar. In fact, there are probably more regular people walking around per homeless person than in Dallas or Fort Worth. And, unlike some agressive homeless people in other places, like Chicago, the people here won't give you a hard time if you don't give them money. And, while there are more homeless people, there are also more street performers, homeless or not, which makes for a more enjoyable street scene. And that's how it is, homeless people here are just part of the fabric of the city. People don't feel like they have to avoid them or feel uncomfortable around them, they're just a part of every city.
We moved to Seattle in February 2008 and shared blog posts and photos during our first few years in Seattle.
- Troy & Lesley H
Monday, June 16, 2008
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15 comments:
Make no mistake. One slip up and they will be on you like vultures.
Drug addicts and alcholics make up a lot of these derelicts. I never offer them money as they sometimes just want to peak in your wallet to see if you are worth robbing. Giving them money does not help them.
The streets here are full of people, so the homeless probably aren't going to rob you. Plus the beggars seem pretty passive here, in contrast with the aggressive panhandlers I encountered in Chicago.
make no mistake, the person who wrote that is very, very wrong.
And how is it wrong? or is it you just like to shoot off your mouth just to say something or have the last word.
I wouldn't take any chances, if you are feeling generous - give them the change from your pocket, but you shouldn't let anyone see how much money you have in your wallet - homeless or not there are lots of people out there who will take advantage of you, crowds or not. MOM
"don," take some classes somewhere. do yourself some good for once.
I knew you did not have an answer.
Redirecting to personal attacks and not staying on task. Not original thought.
hardly a personal attack, but I see that you still haven't undertaken to show me why you're right. I wonder why...
my comment was honest advice. I hope that someday you might find out for yourself why you're so wrong. the numbers don't support what you have to say. but don't take my word for it, and don't rely on me to show them to you. you'd reject them if they came from me anyway. go educate yourself, and you might learn some things that surprise you.
I know you won't do it, you're much too far gone for it.
I'm not the only one here who doesn't care much for the bickering and personal insults from either party involved.
TAKE FOOD OUT YOUR CHILDREN'S MOUTH TO BUY DRUGS
The ones that are not druggies are mentally ill. Not much better if not worse. The thing is that these are desperate people who have nothing to lose and anything to gain. These are not nice people.
See below from one study:
http://www.iugm.org/steps.html
Besides not having a home to call their own, most of the 500,000 to 3 million people identified as homeless have something else in common - addiction and mental illness. According to one study, up to two-thirds of homeless adults suffer from alcoholism and at least half suffer from drug disorders. (1) In their book, A Nation In Denial, Alice Baum and Donald Burnes shatter many of the myths surrounding the root causes of homelessness, which have little to do with the economy, governmental social policies, lack of affordable housing, and so forth. According to their research at least 65-85% of all homeless adults suffer from chronic alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, or some combination of the three, often complicated by serious medical problems. At least 1/3 of the homeless suffer from severe and persistent chronic psychiatric disorders. Forty to fifty percent of these individuals are "dually diagnosed" - suffering from addiction to alcohol and/or drugs, as well. (2)
"At least 1/3 of the homeless suffer from severe and persistent chronic psychiatric disorders. Forty to fifty percent of these individuals are "dually diagnosed" - suffering from addiction to alcohol and/or drugs, as well."
there you go! you're starting to make progress, you just need someone to connect the dots for you. first of all, anything that says "Association of the Gospel Rescue Mission" on it is not something you should take seriously. but now let's examine their claims, because we can use some of them to help you along your own path to recovery.
mental illness, as even your unabashedly-biased and unsophisticated sources admit, is the overriding factor of homelessness. this any educated researcher of the topic will tell you. I certainly hope you would never suggest that we as a matter of personal policy should treat mentally-ill people as dangers or make pariahs of them. why, you may have close family members who are mentally ill.
the biggest thing your Gospelicious source here doesn't want you to know is that drug and alcohol addiction IS a mental illness! the fact that many people with untreated mental conditions (though by no means most, as even the Gospel Healers unwittingly suggest by their telling 50% of 1/3 statistic) manifest their illness through "substance abuse" should come as no surprise, nor should it override our compassionate disposition towards them.
but let's get to the heart of the matter, which is your leap of prejudiced illogic suggesting that homeless people, mentally-ill or no, are likely to commit crimes against the non-homeless. if you'll look into THOSE numbers (taking care to avoid the hate-filled Bible-thumpers), you will see that the homeless indeed SUFFER far more crime than they commit!
Gospelicious? Is that a real word?
I do feel sorry for them. But then again, I go to work everyday and they beg everyday so f them.
If no one gave them anything, then they would have to go the helper agencies. By us giving to the hobos, it make it worse for them and us. All of us have some mental hangups, the arrogant ones that don't think so, shouldn't blog.
I'm glad you admit it's simply a hangup. nice talking with you. :)
Seattle sucks big time! I came here expecting cool coffee houses and hip neighborhoods. Man was I wrong. I have never felt so unsafe (and I am from the city of
Chicago!) Nearly every second person on the street is seriously sketchy and/or homeless, the downtown is deserted at night, waiting for the bus alone is a scary experience. The only redeeming factor here is the mountain landscape. But if you live in the city day to day, that is hardly enough! Ugh! We should all move to Vancouver!
So, because many homeless are ill, therefore help none, and those who preach that God who commands to do good even to hate-filled Satan worshipers and atheism magic bomb from dildos and dildos of fairy deers ago like you are uh, the ones who should be helped. Geta clue Hitler. You shall not make up imaginary magic bombs kr worship Lady Gaygag, you shall not lie, steal, murder, cheat your spouse or hate someone for having what you don't, like morals, common sense, patience and wisdom.
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