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Just saw the film Dark Days. Very interesting document of basic survival in the face of actual homelessness

The people in Dark Days help themselves, as well as they can given their circumstances and troubles. They literally dig themselves underground, build shanty homes for themselves, shower in broken pipe runoff, and scavenge what they can. They live in a marginalized, lightless subterranean scavenger world, but they live.

Most of them are addicted to drugs. Some of them are trying to kick it, or have kicked it. Some of them are trying to pick up the pieces, some aren't. All of them are clearly in a compromised position, and all of them are doing what they can to survive.

The ones who make it out end up section8 housing, and are beyond grateful. As portrayed by the film, I don't think any of these people could have ended up in their own homes without the help of the Coalition for the Homeless and government subsidy. And these ones are lucky; it took threats from the rail industry, Coalition defense, and an eventual plea bargain to even get them noticed.

Help themselves my ass. One of the most important things depicted in this film is the state of mind of homelessness, and the cycle of existence that makes it impossible to see the way out. Mr. College boy could see the light of escape plainly and easily enough; that's where he dropped in from, after all.

FMajinek's post at the end of Page 3 of this thread is incredible. Two thumbs up.

You cracked up a long time ago.

Rick, I'm starting to think of you kind of like a fucked-up tooth fairy. You regimentally give the nice, toothless children the little, shiny quarters (or nickels, if it's a tooth not worth a damn) and tell the other ones they need to brush more.

You're not a stupid person, that is clear. So why can't you wrap your head around the concept of unconditional charity? And don't give me that nothing-but-distracting "liberal v. conservative" claptrap of yours.

I hope he enjoys it as much as you enjoy that mighty, might retirement fund.

You'll be needing it soon enough, messageboard posts won't pay for tins of bully beef, you know.

Rick Reuben wrote:

gio wrote:Just saw the film Dark Days. Very interesting document of basic survival in the face of actual homelessness.

Dude, those mole people aren't any more representative of the general homeless population than Evan Shepard is.

Bull. Shit.

"I see the homeless livin' out on the street.
On every corner, they're asking for money.
I try to help them whenever I can, but sometimes I can't afford to help myself."

Pretty much how I feel. But most of the times I get asked by a homeless man or woman for change, I'll buy them a beer, some food and if I got nothing to do sit down and talk with them for a while. Some of these homeless people have very wise, interesting stories to tell and a lot of times they are happy when someone listens.

I hate to see another person down and out. I don't care if they're beggers, they still deserve the respect of any normal human being. Crazy or not.

Giving cash to a homeless person = getting a quick "charity" buzz. nice warm and fuzzy feeling on your walk home...

Donating time/money to the good organization = not nearly as fun and immediately gratifying, but is the grownup approach.

Giving them a quick buck, at best, is gonna get them some food that they can in all likelihood get elsewhere (like at a homeless shelter), but even then it just enables them to keep on keeping on in their ways and not try to change anything. As cliched as it sounds, status quo truly is the enemy here. And the closer they get to a homeless shelter or social services facility, the greater the (admitttedly still slim) chances are that they can try to make some change and get some help in that direction.

But if it makes you feel progressive and cool to give them some cash on the street, then go ahead, because it really is all about the way this makes you feel. Dumbass.

Conchis wrote:Giving cash to a homeless person = getting a quick "charity" buzz. nice warm and fuzzy feeling on your walk home...

Donating time/money to the good organization = not nearly as fun and immediately gratifying, but is the grownup approach.

Giving them a quick buck, at best, is gonna get them some food that they can in all likelihood get elsewhere (like at a homeless shelter), but even then it just enables them to keep on keeping on in their ways and not try to change anything. As cliched as it sounds, status quo truly is the enemy here. And the closer they get to a homeless shelter or social services facility, the greater the (admitttedly still slim) chances are that they can try to make some change and get some help in that direction.

But if it makes you feel progressive and cool to give them some cash on the street, then go ahead, because it really is all about the way this makes you feel. Dumbass.

You need to calm down there Ayn Rand.

It does make me feel good to help someone out whenever they need it, but that is the least of my motovations for doing so. We can see where your head is at, you selfish chump.

A couple of years ago I didn't have the fortune of growing up in a nice suburban neighborhood where this problem didn't exist. I don't expect sympathy for the way I grew up because I enjoyed it, as shitty as it was.

Maybe you should let the streets take you under its wing for a whiles and see where your $200 pair of Jordans and the sack lunch your mommy packed gets you in world full of pieces of shit like yourself.

Arrested Development - Mr. Wendel


Go ahead, man

Here, have a dollar
In fact, no, brotherman, here have two
Two dollars means a snack for me
But it means a big deal to you

Be strong, serve God only
Know that if you do beautiful heaven awaits
That's the poem I wrote for the first time
I saw a man with no clothes, no money, no plate

Mr. Wendel, that's his name
No one ever knew his name cuz he's a no one
Never thought twice about spending on an old bum
Until I had the chance to really get to know one

Now that I know 'em to give him money isn't charity
He gives me some knowledge, I buy him some shoes
And to think blacks spend all their money on big colleges
Still most of you all come out confused

Go ahead Mr. Wendel
Go ahead Mr. Wendel

Mr. Wendel has freedom
A free that you and I think is dumb
Free to be without the worries of a quick-to-diss society
For Mr. Wendel's a bum

His only worries are sickness and an occasional harassment
By the police and their chase
"Uncivilized" we call him but I just saw him
Eat off the food we waste

Civilization, are we really civilized?
Yes or no, who are we to judge?
When thousands of innocent men
Could be brutally enslaved and killed over a racist grudge

Mr. Wendel has tried to warn us about our ways
But we don't hear him talk
Is it his fault when we've gone too far and we got too far
Cuz on him we walk

Mr. Wendel - a man, a human in flesh, but not by law
I feed you dignity to stand with pride
Realize that all in all you stand tall
Go ahead, Mr. Wendel

Mr. Wendel, yeah
Yeah, Mr. Wendel
Mr. Wendel, yeah
Lord

Mr. Wendel

Mr. Wendel
Mr. Wendel, yeah
Lord
Mr. Wendel
Mr. Wendel, yeah
Lord
Mr. Wendel