What are your views on the Homeless?

I completely understand. I see them and everytime I think, what if that was me? How would I feel if someone was treating me like the scum of the Earth when I was already so low. Florida [where I live] IS a crazy place to live and I am not surprised it is here that you had your scary encounter. Not all of us floridians are crazy [just most] :) Thanks for the response.

I think that is why I drive insane is because you HAVE to to be able to drive daily with these whack-o's [haha] I must have misread your response. I thought it said Miami is where you had the "incident". I am glad you overall like Florida as it is a wonderful place [when you look past all the negatives] and it is where I call home. :)

Actually it was DC that the scary encounter with the homeless guy happened. The ones in Florida were pretty harmless...at least the ones that I encountered. And I wouldn't say that most people in Florida are crazy, but a lot of them do drive like maniacs around Fort Lauderdale and Miami! haha But I do still love it in Florida. I usually go down there at least once a year if possible.

I have even heard of many of the homeless breaking the law on purpose Just to go to jail and have "3 hots and a cot."

thats true. People go to jail so they can eat,

haha. he was dressed better than you and asking YOU for money?! oh my! I would do the same thing!

I fully believe in paying it forward. I feel like someone somewhere has seen my good deeds and that have not gone unnoticed [I am not saying I do these things to be rewarded, but I would look like to know these things have been acknowledged at least]

wow.. that is an incredible story! I thank you so much for sharing. And I dont think we realize how many stories like this happen each and every day all over the world. It is by the grace of God that me and my family are not homeless. I count my blessings everyday.

Thats a good way to look at it, where you dont mind either way. It makes it easier when you dont have too strong of an opinion on the subject. I try to spare change often as well..

I used to live on the streets and I have found that most homeless are that way because they want to live that way, to have absolutely no responsibilities. Their are sometimes a few rare gems that just had some hard times that where just too much to handle but these are few and far between. Think of it this way if you where laid off tomorrow and had no money so you get evicted from your apartment. Don't you think your friends would let you stay with them for a while as long as while you where there you where progressively trying to better your situation. I know most of us would have no problem letting a friend like that stay with you. We have all had those friends who need a place to crash "until I can get on my feet again" then they spend all day sleeping playing video games online and don't pay any bills those are the people who are choosing to be bums and will eventually end up on the street. I'm not saying these people are not nice they just want to be a bum and if that's what they want fine, but I'm not going to reward their behavior by giving them my change. I need my change for coffee in the morning. I live in a neighborhood with lots of homelessness and I cant tell you how many times a day I get hassled for money if I gave each just a quarter it would easily be $2-3 every day At least $10 a week for sure.

Thanks for the response barehugs. I never really thought about the children that are out on the streets. As a matter of fact, there are two boys that come to my job all the time to get food and drinks after we close. I feel so sorry for them and always want to ask them why they are in that situation and to let them know there are tons of resources out there to help children, more so than adults.

Yes, I have heard about the "tent citites" I fell like why make them leave? They are just going to be walking the streets and sleeping in public, why not allow a designated space for the temporarily as long as they are not hurting anyone. Usually in the more rural areas, there are not many who are homeless. It seems to be much more in the urban areas where there is access to many more things. I wish there was something that could be done about this unfortunate situation.

Very true. we each walk different paths that leads to different ways of living. I feel sorry for [most] of them and like to help out every now and again.

Hello manofstrongmind. I am great. You make a great point about everyone in the world sharing in a perfect world. If only we could be so fortunate to live in that kind of situation and live in harmony [even though we are so far from harmony now as it is] I wish there was more of a bond between mankind and all of us. But the truth is, there just isn't, so we just have to take it as it is and do everything right by each other. [treat others as you would want to be treated]

Basically scavengers. Sometimes, when I do not have extra money to spare or am not in the mood to deal with them, when they ask me for some spare change, I tell them that I used my card and I do not have cash. It works like a charm. I cannot fathom why a person would choose that lifestyle. But, it is their choice. And I feel very sorry for anyone who is homeless against their will.

Hello friend. I see your point about once a year. Only notice the problem during the holidays. [but then again, you are so excited with the holidays, it makes you feel that much worse for them]. It is a good thing in general to not group people together because not all people are the same. And, there ARE different cases and situations.