3 ms·

One of the most depressing moments I've experienced was when I was still in school and we did a charity thing for a month where we'd go to the local homeless sh

One of the most depressing moments I've experienced was when I was still in school and we did a charity thing for a month where we'd go to the local homeless shelter and help out with various tasks and interact with the homeless people who would come by the shelter. The reason it was depressing wasn't what you'd expect, I had expected to feel sorry for them but in turned out that the vast vast majority of them were perfectly happy to be homeless they had no want for a better life, they just wanted handouts and felt entitled to them, it was really a strange experience that stuck with me.

spacemanmatt 8y ago
You misunderstood that situation profoundly.
- FundThrowaway 8y ago
  I don't believe so, over that month I spent many hours talking to them and heard many times that they would rather be homeless than live a regular Joe life. I imagine that kind of freedom could be somewhat satisfying.
  - diogenescynic 8y ago
    I’ve had several similar interactions with the homeless as well. They would prefer to eek by on the outskirts of society than have to follow society’s restrictions. I’m sure part of this is mental illness, but the gutter punk street kids who turn it into a lifestyle are the kind who make you lose sympathy for them. You can’t help people who don’t want help.
  - foldr 8y ago
    >heard many times that they would rather be homeless than live a regular Joe life I suspect a lot of that is just pride. It's very common for people to say that they'd rather be doing what they're doing than something else, even when that's not the case.
slfnflctd 8y ago
Not a single one of those people asked to be born. Many of them still haven't decided whether their birth was even a good thing, and a few have decided it wasn't. Some are considering suicide (and you often wouldn't know by talking to them). What should we do with people like this? I've been close to the edge in the past, a few different turns of luck and I could have easily been on the street. Fighting off thoughts of self-imposed euthanasia was one of several Bad Things I went through. At any point during my worst struggles I would have happily checked myself into a competently run mental facility for long term, inpatient care. There is no such place. Folks in these situations, without intervention, end up either dead or on the streets. Once they realize they can actually continue existing without being trapped in a constantly uncomfortable dystopia, they might find they are able to smile when offered a free meal, and relax into the generosity of others for a few minutes. After they've spent countless hours fearing for their safety and exposed without shelter while getting dirty looks from hordes of strangers, I think that's probably a little bit okay.

spacemanmatt 8y ago

You misunderstood that situation profoundly.

FundThrowaway 8y ago
I don't believe so, over that month I spent many hours talking to them and heard many times that they would rather be homeless than live a regular Joe life. I imagine that kind of freedom could be somewhat satisfying.
- diogenescynic 8y ago
  I’ve had several similar interactions with the homeless as well. They would prefer to eek by on the outskirts of society than have to follow society’s restrictions. I’m sure part of this is mental illness, but the gutter punk street kids who turn it into a lifestyle are the kind who make you lose sympathy for them. You can’t help people who don’t want help.
- foldr 8y ago
  >heard many times that they would rather be homeless than live a regular Joe life I suspect a lot of that is just pride. It's very common for people to say that they'd rather be doing what they're doing than something else, even when that's not the case.

slfnflctd 8y ago

Not a single one of those people asked to be born. Many of them still haven't decided whether their birth was even a good thing, and a few have decided it wasn't. Some are considering suicide (and you often wouldn't know by talking to them). What should we do with people like this? I've been close to the edge in the past, a few different turns of luck and I could have easily been on the street. Fighting off thoughts of self-imposed euthanasia was one of several Bad Things I went through. At any point during my worst struggles I would have happily checked myself into a competently run mental facility for long term, inpatient care. There is no such place. Folks in these situations, without intervention, end up either dead or on the streets. Once they realize they can actually continue existing without being trapped in a constantly uncomfortable dystopia, they might find they are able to smile when offered a free meal, and relax into the generosity of others for a few minutes. After they've spent countless hours fearing for their safety and exposed without shelter while getting dirty looks from hordes of strangers, I think that's probably a little bit okay.