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Here’s a question I’ve lived: what if you live in comically impoverished conditions such that the elements you’ve described are mitigated? Squatting in a half c

Here’s a question I’ve lived: what if you live in comically impoverished conditions such that the elements you’ve described are mitigated? Squatting in a half collapsed 1970 single wife trailer with raccoons sleeping on your futon couch. The schooling is there, the meals are there, but you’re living a life so embarrassing you don’t mention it. Is that poor?

Quinzel 3y ago
Yeah man, that’s poverty. The thing about poor/poverty is that it completely shapes your frame of reference. Sometimes you don’t even know how impoverished you really are, just like how privileged people often don’t understand how privileged they are. But I think, if you’re so embarrassed by your living conditions you don’t mention it, I’d say you’re poor, and you know you’re poor too, by virtue of the fact that you feel embarrassed - not that I think people should be embarrassed about being poor, it’s not a signal of some moral failing as a human being (in my opinion).
Moto7451 3y ago
There are a few definitions of being homeless depending on the frame of reference. For a number of years I lived in a busted up unrentable storefront and it was certainly not by choice. It certainly fit a few of the government definitions of poverty and/or homelessness that are out there. Being poor, being homeless, etc is a fuzzy thing in its nature. It’s not just being without everything. My personal definition of being poor is having to make trade offs between food, shelter, and safety where you’re going without one or more on a regular basis. I didn’t sleep in a bed, the place I slept in would pour buckets of water when it rained, it was cold in the winter, and the neighborhood could be unsafe at times. I didn’t go hungry since I always had the money for a $1 package of pasta and a $1.50 can of tomato sauce. I was able to go to school because my specific version of homelessness matched one that California recognized in order to waive tuition. Ultimately life worked out for me. 15 years later I feel stressed for money due to all the asks my family makes of me, but I never feel poor.

Quinzel 3y ago

Yeah man, that’s poverty. The thing about poor/poverty is that it completely shapes your frame of reference. Sometimes you don’t even know how impoverished you really are, just like how privileged people often don’t understand how privileged they are. But I think, if you’re so embarrassed by your living conditions you don’t mention it, I’d say you’re poor, and you know you’re poor too, by virtue of the fact that you feel embarrassed - not that I think people should be embarrassed about being poor, it’s not a signal of some moral failing as a human being (in my opinion).

Moto7451 3y ago

There are a few definitions of being homeless depending on the frame of reference. For a number of years I lived in a busted up unrentable storefront and it was certainly not by choice. It certainly fit a few of the government definitions of poverty and/or homelessness that are out there. Being poor, being homeless, etc is a fuzzy thing in its nature. It’s not just being without everything. My personal definition of being poor is having to make trade offs between food, shelter, and safety where you’re going without one or more on a regular basis. I didn’t sleep in a bed, the place I slept in would pour buckets of water when it rained, it was cold in the winter, and the neighborhood could be unsafe at times. I didn’t go hungry since I always had the money for a $1 package of pasta and a $1.50 can of tomato sauce. I was able to go to school because my specific version of homelessness matched one that California recognized in order to waive tuition. Ultimately life worked out for me. 15 years later I feel stressed for money due to all the asks my family makes of me, but I never feel poor.