Ask a (formerly) homeless (pseudo-)bum anything

Have you seen the episode of South Park where the homeless beggars overrun the town? I loved that episode as it tied in the zombie angle as well.

As I don't get out that much these days, I haven't noticed people begging. My friends recently returned from a holiday to USA and were struck by how many people make a living out of begging. In Australia the welfare system is very generous as is the public healthcare system so I guess that would reduce the need to beg.

I would be more inclined to buy some food and then give that to a homeless person who I thought I could help rather than give money to a beggar.

Are there a lot of beggars in your area? and would you ever resort to begging in extreme hardship?

Fair enough. Hope to see you back on PoE soon.

Dear Homeless Bum

Have you considered joining the Bum Fights team for extra cash?

Also have you considered being a travelling bum? Catching trains and going through the country, doing manual labor for cash and living on the move, or just settling in one place and finding a stable job?

"

Hardlicker wrote:

Have you seen the episode of South Park where the homeless beggars overrun the town? I loved that episode as it tied in the zombie angle as well.

As I don't get out that much these days, I haven't noticed people begging. My friends recently returned from a holiday to USA and were struck by how many people make a living out of begging. In Australia the welfare system is very generous as is the public healthcare system so I guess that would reduce the need to beg.

I would be more inclined to buy some food and then give that to a homeless person who I thought I could help rather than give money to a beggar.

Are there a lot of beggars in your area? and would you ever resort to begging in extreme hardship?

The thing you need to understand about panhandling is that it plays on public misconceptions regarding homelessness. As I covered earlier, the question is not whether or not you can find a shelter, it's how many rules you'd be subject to in order to stay. Even those who cannot live a drug- or alcohol-free lifestyle can find a place which doesn't breathalyze or piss-test; such places aren't nice, being little more than an exercise mat on an indoor floor for a bed, a sandwich per meal, and a 7pm curfew, but no one is literally starving in the streets, unless a 7pm curfew is too much to ask.

So in essence, every panhandler is a conman. He knows you don't know about the availability of shelters, so he spins a story with his sign, and convinces you to give him money. From what one panhandling friend told me, it's good money — a good spot with a good sign makes $80-100 per day, assuming about six hours of work during peak times and no interference from law enforcement. That's in El Paso, mind you; I assume NYC would be considerably more profitable, while also perhaps more risky (theft or turf disputes with other panhandlers).

Most of these guys have strong addictions (to be fair to them, normally alcohol, not hard drugs) which means they prefer money for motels and a break from the curfew system. I normally expect them to disappear on the first of the month (when Social Security disability checks come in) and come crawling back around midmonth. Which brings up another point: LOTS of homeless are receiving "crazy checks."

So simply put, the shame in panhandling isn't in the desperation of it, because it's not desperation; it's the shame of being a con. I would never do it myself, as there are far more ethical hustles to be had. And if you give to any of them, you're a sucker... no other way to look at it. Their job is panhandling because its one of few you can work plastered drunk, the one constant in their lifestyle.

All of which, by the way, makes that episode of South Park even more hilarious. At least the way I see it.

"

VictorDoom wrote:

Dear Homeless Bum

Have you considered joining the Bum Fights team for extra cash?

Also have you considered being a travelling bum? Catching trains and going through the country, doing manual labor for cash and living on the move, or just settling in one place and finding a stable job?

Both questions have been covered earlier in the thread. And I do perform temporary manual labor, although I try to keep it legal, perferring direct deposit to under-the-table.

Dear homeless bum

What is your edc gear? Volume of luggage you carry around. Do you have some of your possesions stashed somewhere or do you carry all you own ATM? Please share your thoughts on essential gear needed to have minimum required comfort possible in such circumstances.

"

ScrotieMcB wrote:

And if you give to any of them, you're a sucker... no other way to look at it. Their job is panhandling because its one of few you can work plastered drunk, the one constant in their lifestyle.

I was asked by a man for money to get a bus ride or something, I refused him. I knew he would spend it on alcohol or drugs, he had the look in his eye that he was already on something.

I was asked by a man for money to get a beer. He had a big smile and seemed like a good sort of fellow, I gave him what I could, and we shook hands. It was nice to think that there are some honest beggars left in this world.

"

JohnGrammaticus wrote:

Dear homeless bum

What is your edc gear? Volume of luggage you carry around. Do you have some of your possesions stashed somewhere or do you carry all you own ATM? Please share your thoughts on essential gear needed to have minimum required comfort possible in such circumstances.

Thankfully, I got my car up and running prior to eviction, thanks in part to generous donations from the PoE community. I pretty much condensed everything I care about to within the volume of a car trunk (I still have my beloved desktop for eventual return to PoE). I don't have anything stashed elsewhere and barely use the dresser where I'm staying (I tended to leave hotel dressers empty as well).

While homeless, I have picked up:
1) a high-quality sleeping bag. Shelters are cheap on the thermostats; warm is good.
2) a backpack. As a vet I brought an official camo backpack, but it just seemed out of place so I picked up a nice black one for $5 at some Juarez bodega. (This was before I realized the native American tribe sold cigarettes even cheaper.)

"

ionface wrote:

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ScrotieMcB wrote:

And if you give to any of them, you're a sucker... no other way to look at it. Their job is panhandling because its one of few you can work plastered drunk, the one constant in their lifestyle.

I was asked by a man for money to get a bus ride or something, I refused him. I knew he would spend it on alcohol or drugs, he had the look in his eye that he was already on something.

I was asked by a man for money to get a beer. He had a big smile and seemed like a good sort of fellow, I gave him what I could, and we shook hands. It was nice to think that there are some honest beggars left in this world.

I approve.

"

ScrotieMcB wrote:

]Thankfully, I got my car up and running prior to eviction, thanks in part to generous donations from the PoE community. I pretty much condensed everything I care about to within the volume of a car trunk (I still have my beloved desktop for eventual return to PoE). I don't have anything stashed elsewhere and barely use the dresser where I'm staying (I tended to leave hotel dressers empty as well).

While homeless, I have picked up:
1) a high-quality sleeping bag. Shelters are cheap on the thermostats; warm is good.
2) a backpack. As a vet I brought an official camo backpack, but it just seemed out of place so I picked up a nice black one for $5 at some Juarez bodega. (This was before I realized the native American tribe sold cigarettes even cheaper.)

Do you drive a lot or try to save as much gas as possible?
Do you take daily photos of your current adventure?

"

JohnGrammaticus wrote:

Do you drive a lot or try to save as much gas as possible?
Do you take daily photos of your current adventure?

I endeavour to get other people to pay for my gas. Like I said earlier, the Only Bum With a Car Taxi Service. :) The trick is to never let on that you would be heading in that direction anyway. I end up driving quite a bit but net gas costs are low.

I hope none of my compatriots check out this thread... but so far I've only mentioned PoE to one of them. Should be safe.

What car do you own? Out of curiosity to check mpg and trunk volume lol.