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I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you've never been truly poor. Speaking as someone who was raised extremely poor and took a while to get out of it eve

by sulam 9y ago

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you've never been truly poor. Speaking as someone who was raised extremely poor and took a while to get out of it even as an adult, you really have to have been there to understand the mindset. There are many factors that go into it, some of which are structural (when you're 51 yrs old earning < $1000 / month, no amount of saving is going to change your life significantly) and some psychological. (google search for poverty and impulse control pops out many results, including: https://newrepublic.com/article/89377/poverty-escape-psychology-self-control https://newrepublic.com/article/89377/poverty-escape-psychol... ) As far as the dog goes, did you pay any attention to the woman's social interactions while you were judging her? This dog is probably the only unconditional affection she experiences in her life.

marak830 9y ago
I have been there. I grew up in that situation and crawled out of it. I struggled for everything I have, and I saw many people who said it was too hard. For those, I have zero sympathy. There is no reason to buy beer or cigarettes. They are just a crutch. I have seen my father brought down by that, as well as cousins, sisters and brothers. If the aforementioned 51yo was living by themselves ? I could almost see their reasoning. But then again, the reason I am not in that same position is by someone who, at the age of 45(approx), spent their time pushing me to learn and not join the other wastrel youth I was surrounded by. Re: your last paragraph. Do you think that dog is being properly fed? A pet is a responsibility almost as difficult as a child in some ways, in others, moreso. I dread to think about that poor animals life in such conditions, nearly as much as I abhor the situation the articles subjects are living in.
- bbradley406 9y ago
  If it happened to that many of your relatives, maybe there was a reason?

by sulam 9y ago

marak830 9y ago

I have been there. I grew up in that situation and crawled out of it. I struggled for everything I have, and I saw many people who said it was too hard. For those, I have zero sympathy. There is no reason to buy beer or cigarettes. They are just a crutch. I have seen my father brought down by that, as well as cousins, sisters and brothers. If the aforementioned 51yo was living by themselves ? I could almost see their reasoning. But then again, the reason I am not in that same position is by someone who, at the age of 45(approx), spent their time pushing me to learn and not join the other wastrel youth I was surrounded by. Re: your last paragraph. Do you think that dog is being properly fed? A pet is a responsibility almost as difficult as a child in some ways, in others, moreso. I dread to think about that poor animals life in such conditions, nearly as much as I abhor the situation the articles subjects are living in.

bbradley406 9y ago
If it happened to that many of your relatives, maybe there was a reason?