Someone should put a quote from this thread in their sig and put underneath: "Grown man acting like an absolute douchebag and making himself look like the most immature poster since OIG."
Good point!! YES!!!! This is EXACTLY what dude next to me had to go threw. He busted his ASS (and his girl busted her ass) to get any paying job they could get, got a trailer, worked more, saved more, got a little better trailer, worked more, saved more finally got an apt. Blah blah blah, now he works with me at the software company, makes good money, has his own house in a nice city. I told him my story and he said GOOD! Maybe that panhandler will get some motivation now and get a real job!
There is a big shelter downtown, but the homeless, just like everyone else, find it disgusting. You shouldn't antagonize them, but if he is a druggy (like a disproportionate amount are) he has a much bigger issue. There are some people who are homeless by choice, but most have some problem (see: druggy) that prevents them from putting their life back together. And yes, Beaverton is a gross sprawl of poor urban planning.
Having worked with homelessness/drug addicts, it's fair to say most homeless individuals have disabilities and/or drug addictions. I'm sure the ratio of those with disabilities/addictions has decreased in comparison to non-disabled/non-addicts in this economy, however.
I understand, can agree with and respect everything you said. But, I do know for a fact, this person does not have a car. They sit at the Fred Meyer with the gas sign almost every day for the last 2 weeks. You think they would have enough gas money to get where they are going now?! I think you are a good person from the things you have said to me today. I hope someday I can have a kind heart like you do. No sarcasm. I am being serious. lol tell me a story I made up about my life?! lol funny. And obviously you read what I say! You just quoted me word for word! Maybe thats where the "Go vote for Bush" comments came from. Maybe. But the group of co workers I told are close friends of mine. Like, we hang out outside of work. Maybe thats why they agreed with me lol Then why was it so wrong of me to say something to they guy?! You don't like something, you speak up, right? lol you and I just are not connecting lol Let me try to put it in Tracy McGradys sons name for you. Panhandler = dog shit. Fred Meyer parking lot = the park the dog shit on. I do not like dog shit where I shop. I do not own the park. Do you get it now? Is that so hard? You are resting on the ownership of the land lol and not the PRINCIPLE. You are just being a *personal attack* but its cool homie. lol you do you lol
I have a little more empathy for some of the panhandlers now that I haven't worked for six months. I sometimes give money, depends on my gut feeling mostly, probably one in ten. I have been blessed with help when I needed it. I believe that what goes around comes around. I have some stories about my life that are very sad also. I used to be angry all the time because it was the only feeling I could identify with. If I was in this situation a couple of decades back, my head would have exploded. Now I just try to be thankful for what I have. Doesn't always work, but I haven't felt like my head was going to explode for quite a while now. The PROZAC doesn't hurt either.
I can agree with I shouldn't have antagonized him, but what about the people he is bothering standing there? I am POSITIVE that he bothers other people, they just don't have the guts to say anything. Yes!!! And it drives me insane that people still give panhandlers money!!! You cannot tell me that most of them are just going to buy drugs or alcohol!!!! Have you guys heard the story about the panhandler who had a house, a BMW and a nice job? He was just panhandling to make more money and he was coining around 5 G a month extra from it?! That is BS!!!!!!! If you need money so bad, go pump gas! Wash dishes! Get a paper route! Go work for a homeless shelter and help others! Work at Goodwill! Salvation Army! There are options!!!!!
I have been out of work before. It sucks. But I would NEVER consider panhandling. I would do Labor Ready every day at 4am before that. In fact I did do that. I worked as a pool boy for a while. I worked in a plastic factory for a while. I worked some SHITTY jobs!!!! But I worked! And then I got a little better job, little better, then now I have my great job!!!! Success by any measure takes work. Panhandling is not working.
lol, Beaverton isn't nice, its been a shithole for about 10 years now. There's pockets that are nice, sure, but for the most part its garbage. Panhandlers are everywhere, especially areas they percieve as wealthy. I don't know too many people that feel like they've done their "justice" by making a panhandler feel like shit. Personally, I don't even acknowledge their existence when they are panhandling so they don't bother me at all.
Wow. BenDavis, nobody gives a shit on how you let how your spurg-rage. Now I remember why this community ran you out a couple years ago.
I actually think it is a good thing that he is conversing with others about this and asking if it was okay. Yes, I know that he has not and will not change his opinion, but this seems like his way of getting through things. If you don't give a shit, don't post in the thread. It is that simple.
And BenDavis503, I would actually guess that most people don't care too much about panhandlers being there, they can ignore them. Even if you think he hasn't tried making his life better, you don't know ANYTHING about his life (well now you know he worked for Intel and his mom went to Stanford..). I always feel bad for them but maybe I'm just a sympathetic 17 year old. I don't know. You were asking for opinions so my opinion is that what you did was wrong. You talked about your children being afraid, but if you were my father and I saw you do that or heard about you doing it, I would be ashamed.
Ben.... I hate to go biblical on this one, but the situation calls for it. "Judge not, lest ye also be judged". The wisdom in that is universal, no matter which brand of religion you choose....or even if you choose none. Try being a little kinder towards others. The anger thing gets tiresome, and it consumes a lot of energy you could direct elsewhere in your life. peace, and happy new years!
I think you have an anger problem, I have never in my life seen or heard about anyone doing what you did. It is about as anti-humanity as you can get, and it certainly paints a clear picture about your intelligence. First off I live in SE Portland, and I can tell you that I have never encountered a pan handler in my neighborhood. There is a lot I could say, but all I will say is this: follow the golden rule.
he had every right to open up your gills with his boxcutter. youre gonna run out of luck if you keep this shit up.
A lot of them are aggressive. The 'street kids' in particular. You walk by and say you don't have anything to give they always have a reply and it's something along these lines: "Well, FUCK YOU then". I'm so sorry I can't support their heroin habit.
