4 ms·

I know most people here are fairly well-paid, intelligent and many are well-adjusted and stable. But it'd be mistake to assume this happens to other people. S

by dm319 9y ago

I know most people here are fairly well-paid, intelligent and many are well-adjusted and stable. But it'd be mistake to assume this happens to other people. Sometimes a series of unfortunate events (lost job, lost child, lost marriage) trigger a series of events, helped by alcohol and poor-decision making and resulting in homelessness and poverty. When I lived in Oxford I came across a book put together of mini-interviews of the homeless there - their stories. It really surprised me how many of the biographies started off with a well-paid professional job with a happy family and spiralled out of control.

adstr123 9y ago
Do you happen to remember the name of that book/any details? I'm from Oxford and would like to have a look at that
- dm319 9y ago
  I can't find it at home, but came across this website, I think it's related. http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/ http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/
malmsteen 9y ago
Any reference ?
- dm319 9y ago
  Not saying we shouldn't be concerned unless this can happen to us, but a brief google turned up these[1][2]. I didn't find many stories that started out as professionals, apart from someone who did law at university then couldn't find a job. But the stories are interesting. Might have to dig out my book which is somewhere at home. [1]http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/ http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/ [2] https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-one-woman-went-professional-11371566 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-one-woman-went-pro...
dazc 9y ago
A bout of depression or a series of unfortunate events can certainly put you into a tail-spin that's difficult to get out of. I've been there; it's like you know what you need to do but something is weighing on you with such a force that it can be very difficult to fight against. Ending up on the streets with nothing is a natural conclusion and what happens then is partly a test of character and partly luck. For many it's the end of the road.
- yetanother1980 9y ago
  > Ending up on the streets with nothing is a natural conclusion and what happens then is partly a test of character and partly luck. For many it's the end of the road. I would argue that it is a test of society. We should judge ourselves on how we treat the weakest amongst us.
  - dazc 9y ago
    I agree in principal but society is currently set-up to help those who are first to ask for it. Paradoxically, many such problems come-about as a result of being reluctant to ask for help because it is perceived as a sign of weakness.
    - mercer 9y ago
      I think this is actually one particularly good reason why society should be set up in such a way that this kind of help is so 'normal' that it wouldn't even be considered asking for help. I know quite a few people who lived on unemployment for a year or so, whether between college and their first job, between various jobs, or because of mental health issues. While even here (NL) there's still a stigma attached to 'doing that', I'm convinced that none of these people would've taken this path if it wasn't so relatively normal.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

by dm319 9y ago

adstr123 9y ago

Do you happen to remember the name of that book/any details? I'm from Oxford and would like to have a look at that

dm319 9y ago
I can't find it at home, but came across this website, I think it's related. http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/ http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/

malmsteen 9y ago

Any reference ?

dm319 9y ago
Not saying we shouldn't be concerned unless this can happen to us, but a brief google turned up these[1][2]. I didn't find many stories that started out as professionals, apart from someone who did law at university then couldn't find a job. But the stories are interesting. Might have to dig out my book which is somewhere at home. [1]http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/ http://www.oxhop.org.uk/ourvoices/mystory/ [2] https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-one-woman-went-professional-11371566 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-one-woman-went-pro...

dazc 9y ago

A bout of depression or a series of unfortunate events can certainly put you into a tail-spin that's difficult to get out of. I've been there; it's like you know what you need to do but something is weighing on you with such a force that it can be very difficult to fight against. Ending up on the streets with nothing is a natural conclusion and what happens then is partly a test of character and partly luck. For many it's the end of the road.

yetanother1980 9y ago
> Ending up on the streets with nothing is a natural conclusion and what happens then is partly a test of character and partly luck. For many it's the end of the road. I would argue that it is a test of society. We should judge ourselves on how we treat the weakest amongst us.
- dazc 9y ago
  I agree in principal but society is currently set-up to help those who are first to ask for it. Paradoxically, many such problems come-about as a result of being reluctant to ask for help because it is perceived as a sign of weakness.
  - mercer 9y ago
    I think this is actually one particularly good reason why society should be set up in such a way that this kind of help is so 'normal' that it wouldn't even be considered asking for help. I know quite a few people who lived on unemployment for a year or so, whether between college and their first job, between various jobs, or because of mental health issues. While even here (NL) there's still a stigma attached to 'doing that', I'm convinced that none of these people would've taken this path if it wasn't so relatively normal.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]