The Lawrence Fake Homeless Kids

[banyon]

I feel like ranting today.

I was walking in beautiful downtown Lawrence today to grab a bite for lunch. These two kids about 19-21 yrs old are slouched in front of the antique mall with their mangy dog. Although it is clear they are in good health, they are dressed in disheveled clothes with their hair all natted up.

Let me say that I believe homelessness is a serious problem facing our country. Many of the homeless have truly fallen on hard times, or are mentally ill and need to be receiving medication.

So I walk by this Bohemian couple and the guy says

"Hey man, gimme some change."

Not "do you have any change", "I'll perform for some change", "change for a vet", but just hand it to him, he is entitled to it.

Then I say, "I don't have any" (which I did not at the time)

Then he says, "Well just gimme a dollar."

Oh, yeah, that makes it better. WTF?!!!

So I just shook my head and went on.

Then after buying lunch with $ given to me by my employer and going back to my office with it, the guy is like "Hey you have change now." (which was not mine)

I just went on.

That being said, these kind of people make me want to just punch them in the f***ing face.

I mean these kids were perfectly healthy, probably have a family that still loves them, but they've decided to "rough it" as temporary homeless for a while. I doubt they have applied for a job or made any efforts to better themselves in a year. But in Lawrence, KS, there are enough bleeding hearts around to make this activity feasible for a while.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by banyon

So I walk by this Bohemian couple and the guy says

You don't say.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

You don't say.

Eh, I hit the wrong button before I was done.

[banyon]

BTW, anyone ever seen that Star Trek DS9 episode where they go back in time to the 2020's and the homeless relocation camps?

[Cochise]

I saw a lot of beggars in Miami when I was there on business recently. But the whole city I found to be kind of dirty and scary so I guess it fit.

Come to think of it, when I was in New York this spring I can't remember seeing a single one. Maybe they just keep them out of sight somehow.

[BucEyedPea]

Did someone steal banyon's account?

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by banyon

Eh, I hit the wrong button before I was done.

I kinda figured, but why pass up the opportunity to be a smart ass.

I know exactly what you’re talking about, though I’d just assumed it was part of the “hippy” culture Lawrencions seem to embrace.

[Baby Lee]

The Texas Panhandler

[trndobrd]

It can be a very fine line between "hippie" and "bum". If it makes you feel any better, he is probably in a musical band of some sort.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by trndobrd

It can be a very fine line between "hippie" and "bum". If it makes you feel any better, he is probably in a musical band of some sort.

We have a lot of the slovenly that play their instruments too. This includes the ultra-weird "maracas" lady. She sits emotionless on the curb, shaking the maracas in a very montonous rhythm which never changes. She, however, is dressed in a reasoble way and appears to shower regularly, which makes me think she is conducting some sort of sociological experiment. Maybe to prove that donations have nothing to do with musical ability or talent?

Anyway, I think the musical homeless/indigent are fine. They are at least trying to contribute something to society. It's these fake kids that bug me.

I've been to Paris and had a 8 year old girl beg for one of the hamburgers I was eating saying "mange,...mange!" I've also seen the very humble Prague beggars who just have their faces to the ground, supplicating themselves to the public. (I gave the girl a burger by BTW).

Compared to these real cases of abject, mostly unavoidable poverty, these bum kids should be ashamed of themselves. And if you're going to accost passersby for $, at least have a schtick. Like the one drunk indian guy that always asks me for bus fare to Topeka. He's been here for four years and could've walked back and forth 1000 times by now, but at least he's got a thing.

These kids are probably from Overland Park, or its Chicago equivalent and got tired of working at the GAP.

[Adept Havelock]

Originally Posted by banyon

BTW, anyone ever seen that Star Trek DS9 episode where they go back in time to the 2020's and the homeless relocation camps?

It reminded me of Niven/Pournelle/Stirling's "Welfare Islands" for the citizen class (not to be confused with the socially higher "Taxpayer" class) from their "CoDominium" series of future histories.

[frazod]

I love the fat beggars. There are two I regularly see on my way to and from the train station. And when I say fat, I mean these turds are fatter than I am.

How in the hell do you end up being a FAT beggar?

Obviously they get nothing from me. Of course, neither do any of the rest of them. My wasted tax dollars should be enough.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by banyon

We have a lot of the slovenly that play their instruments too. This includes the ultra-weird "maracas" lady. She sits emotionless on the curb, shaking the maracas in a very montonous rhythm which never changes. She, however, is dressed in a reasoble way and appears to shower regularly, which makes me think she is conducting some sort of sociological experiment. Maybe to prove that donations have nothing to do with musical ability or talent?

Still got the “Honk for Hemp” guy?

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Still got the “Honk for Hemp” guy?

I remember there used to be this dumbass that drove around Lawrence with cd’s hot glued all over his car. Looked like an automobile shaped disco ball going down the road.

[eazyb81]

I have never given a beggar money before and I never will. There's no reason they can't get a job working at McDonald's or somewhere else if they need money so bad. I don't work because I like it, I work so I have money to support myself, and they should to.

You should have told that guy to go F himself, and if he gave you any back talk just kick him upside his head.

I have a friend that lives in San Fran, and he says the place if filled with beggars because the weather is nice and the government is so liberal.


Sidenote: Why can the government ban prostitution but not begging?