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There are plenty of people, today and in the past, who do not have compassion for the homeless.

mixmastamyk 4y ago
Compassion is worthless unless it results in a roof overhead and food on the table, and/or mental health care. We've seen plenty of "compassion" from behind locked gates however, and it is worth every penny. i.e. none.
- shepherdjerred 4y ago
  My experience with the homeless is limited, but I feel this isn't true. I've heard from friends that work with the homeless, as well as from reading online, that many of the homeless feel invisible. People don't stop to talk to them, they don't make eye contact, they don't say "hello" while passing on the street. From this I feel that treating the homeless as people -- even if it isn't something that tangibly benefits them -- is beneficial. Making small talk, or even just making eye contact and saying "good morning" while walking by would make them feel a little more human. Obviously this doesn't solve the problem, and I expect that most homeless would prefer food and shelter over chit-chat, but when we're talking about "compassion for the homeless", I think that this fits perfectly in that hole.
brigandish 4y ago
I think that’s true but those numbers are inflated, falsely IMO, by those who disagree on what’s effective/who should be compelled/what’s the root cause. For instance, if you say that we should both give twenty quid to a homeless bloke we see, and I disagree because I genuinely don’t think it’s a good way to help, you (if you were so inclined) might call me uncaring but that wouldn’t be true. Then you argue that I should be compelled to give the money and I’ll fight you on that, for several reasons, and before you know it you’re casting me as evil.
- jdlshore 4y ago
  This is literally a strawman argument.
  - humanrebar 4y ago
    If we're keeping score on fallacies, roenxi is pointing out an association fallacy.
  - brigandish 4y ago
    Do go into detail.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

Compassion is worthless unless it results in a roof overhead and food on the table, and/or mental health care. We've seen plenty of "compassion" from behind locked gates however, and it is worth every penny. i.e. none.

shepherdjerred 4y ago
My experience with the homeless is limited, but I feel this isn't true. I've heard from friends that work with the homeless, as well as from reading online, that many of the homeless feel invisible. People don't stop to talk to them, they don't make eye contact, they don't say "hello" while passing on the street. From this I feel that treating the homeless as people -- even if it isn't something that tangibly benefits them -- is beneficial. Making small talk, or even just making eye contact and saying "good morning" while walking by would make them feel a little more human. Obviously this doesn't solve the problem, and I expect that most homeless would prefer food and shelter over chit-chat, but when we're talking about "compassion for the homeless", I think that this fits perfectly in that hole.

brigandish 4y ago

I think that’s true but those numbers are inflated, falsely IMO, by those who disagree on what’s effective/who should be compelled/what’s the root cause. For instance, if you say that we should both give twenty quid to a homeless bloke we see, and I disagree because I genuinely don’t think it’s a good way to help, you (if you were so inclined) might call me uncaring but that wouldn’t be true. Then you argue that I should be compelled to give the money and I’ll fight you on that, for several reasons, and before you know it you’re casting me as evil.

jdlshore 4y ago
This is literally a strawman argument.
- humanrebar 4y ago
  If we're keeping score on fallacies, roenxi is pointing out an association fallacy.
- brigandish 4y ago
  Do go into detail.

deleted 4y ago

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