Dude at a Gas Station Got Into My Wallet

[Red]

aaand now I wanna go find sharp objects to use on my wrists. Damn, Steve! Now you have to tell us a happy story!

 

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[Formless]

Went to London to meet an internet person just over a week ago.

Got approached by 3 homeless people for change.

Asked each of them for something.

'Where are the nearest pubs here?' 'Do you have anything to offer? (he had some newspaper)' 'Tell me some obscure fact about the city. (The trainstation I got out at was where they filmed Harry Potter.)'

I ended up giving away a shitty £3. Meaningless. At best they could buy 2 sausage rolls at Greggs for that.

But I hope they walked away meditating on 'why did this impudent little 5'5 a**hole ask me for something even though I have nothing... oh wait...'

 

[MorgothBauglir]

This is where my soft spot comes from. The feebleness of my efforts don't go very far these days.

I seem to have got something in my eye.

 

[Rawr]

Since reading ice creams post I have bought 3 people food who looked like they could use some help. The response is always disbelief and humble thankfulness. I simply ask if I can buy them something.

Note, I have a different stance on homeless bums who look like they aren't trying. Those guys get help rarely.

Today a friend was going into a gas station and a guy who looked about 35 asked for a cig...my friend said he is going in to maybe buy a pack..so the guy says "ill take a pack of camel." so my friend says "buddy, ill give you a single cig IF i buy a pack."

once we came out not only did this guy want a cig, but he asked for antoher one for another bum, and another bum from across the parking lot was sitting on his a$$ yelling "let me get one!"


couldnt believe it..

 

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[RadioActive]

Since I am on a roll..... Here is an old post from 2008. https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/threads/the-beggar-on-the-street.17815/#post-332923
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The main point of this thread is with regards to beggars. I agree with the general discussion that handing money over to people asking on the street is not the proper thing to do.

There are some people that just don't have the ability to sort life out. Even with handouts from the government. It is real difficult to even figure out a bus schedule. Daily activities that most of us take for granted are a major burden to them.
There are people that cannot figure out how to use a cell phone. Can't count money...

There is not a way to teach them how to function the way you and I do. They get left behind in life and society does not know how to deal with them.

Mental illness is easy to spot. People tend to stay away from them because they are unpredictable.
How do you help them?

I grew up in a poor area. I knew a guy that was tall, good looking, and had a pretty normal life. In his early teens, he developed a brain tumor. By the age of 18, he had gone through a couple of brain surgeries and had lost one of his eyes. His mental capacity was now at about the level of an 8 year old.

Because of the brain problems, he was not able to use one side of his body very well. He dragged one of his feet when he walked. He was hideous to look at.

He had siezures regularly. Sometimes people would call the police because they did not know what was going on and he would end up in jail instead of the hospital. He once had a seizure in church and the police took him to jail from there. He was homeless and would sleep in old ratty motels or find abandoned houses.

His bitterness toward the world would get the best of him sometimes. He could not formulate sentences. He knew what he wanted to say but was unable to find words. People would give him a hard time due to his appearance and he would lash out... and end up in jail again.

He had a tender heart and a soul but the world was cruel to him. Everywhere he went, people would stare. He would get escorted out of restaurants and other public places.

He did not shower regulary. The coolness of the water would send him into siezures.

Through all this, he continued to maintain a life to the best of his ability. I helped him get an apartment. Everytime he moved, I helped him. When he needed something, I would help him get it. He did my yardwork for me. Even with his physical problems, he was strong as a bull.

When society did him an injustice, I would stand up for him.

He was always outdoors and in the sun. That did him in. He had a skin graph on his face that covered his eye socket. The graph was taken from the inside of his leg. He developed melanoma on that skin.

He slowly got weaker and was not able to move around very well. He never gave up hope. His family was informed. His sister showed up to visit him in the last couple days of his life.

I took him outside for a walk in a wheelchair. It was the last time that he saw daylight...

There were only five people at his funeral. Although he came from a large family, only one of his blood relatives attended. It was a sad life for him.

This is where my soft spot comes from. The feebleness of my efforts don't go very far these days.

wow dude.. this had me in tears. you didn't have to help this guy, you wanted to help this guy and be there for him when the world treated him like shit.. you have heart