Anyone been to San Francisco lately? The "traveler" population is out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How stupid are you to actually give money to these people?? Grow a backbone and walk on by!

And you are so smart and just bursting with good will aren't you?

You betcha.

Sarah, is that you?

[Anonymous]

I see a young woman panhandling in the same spot every day when I drive to work. She appears to be a crusty. Only one I've ever seen in downtown DC and I often wonder why people continue to give her money. Yet they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see a young woman panhandling in the same spot every day when I drive to work. She appears to be a crusty. Only one I've ever seen in downtown DC and I often wonder why people continue to give her money. Yet they do.

She probably makes more $ than you!

[Anonymous]

Back in the mid to late 1990s, one of the most powerful exhibits I ever saw at the Corcoran was called "Raised by Wolves" which was a photo/video exhibition by an artists named Jim Goldberg about street kids in LA---a 20 year ago version of the phenomenon you are describing in SF.

Sad and disturbing. The kids who usually wind up in that milieu are there because they were failed by the adults in their childhood---one of the protagonists of the exhibit---a young woman who had become a runaway and speed freak because of her stepfather's sexual abuse---eventually got straightened out, while her street cohorts did not fare as well. I still vividly remember the interviews the artist did with them in which they told their respective stories.

[Anonymous]

I lived in SF 15 years ago and it was like this back then. Has been for a long time. I remember my dad offering to buy pizza for a kid who was begging in a line at a restaurant. The guy said no, he just wanted money. Why? Because that pizza doesn't buy liquor and drugs and the majority of the time that is what they want. So just say no. They depend on tourists like you who give $20 to buy them their next hit and then they can go get high in Golden Gate Park. They're just being belligerent to show off to their friends. Best thing you can do is ignore them and instead give your money directly to a homeless shelter or other charity.

[Anonymous]

I'm from Paris and have developed a hard shell to all who ask for money. My mind boggles at the thought of OP's husband handing over $20. It's generous but dangerous of you. You don't engage with these people. Charity off the street. True needs aren't visible like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see a young woman panhandling in the same spot every day when I drive to work. She appears to be a crusty. Only one I've ever seen in downtown DC and I often wonder why people continue to give her money. Yet they do.

She probably makes more $ than you!

Please! That is mean. And remember, she probably only gets a portion of that after taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How stupid are you to actually give money to these people?? Grow a backbone and walk on by!

And you are so smart and just bursting with good will aren't you?

You betcha.

Sarah, is that you?

My name is not Sarah.

[Anonymous]

I see this in most cities around the country. Both large and small. Drug addiction fuels a lot of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How stupid are you to actually give money to these people?? Grow a backbone and walk on by!

Why is giving money to someone who appears to be in need stupid? Especially someone with innocent dogs in tow. Why so rude to the OP? I think it is clear that they were not aware that this was a problem in the northwest.

Because they're buying drugs. You're an enabler.

[Anonymous]

Just got back last night. There are homeless everywhere. No surprise when the cheapest city apt is over $1700 for studio

[Anonymous]

This is all over the west coast. I live in Portland. It's a shame because before I moved here, I always gave homeless people money- a couple bucks at a time (I'm young). But I've noticed the homeless here are pretty aggressive and rude- you give them money and they can barely keep the smug glare off their face. Of course, this is not everyone- and that's what's infuriating, it's so hard to tell who they actual nice people are. So now I don't give.

I call them "crusties" also, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How stupid are you to actually give money to these people?? Grow a backbone and walk on by!

Why is giving money to someone who appears to be in need stupid? Especially someone with innocent dogs in tow. Why so rude to the OP? I think it is clear that they were not aware that this was a problem in the northwest.

It is stupid because they use the money for drugs and there is no incentive to work when you get just as much money from do gooders. You sound clueless!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw the exact same thing the minute I got out of a cab in Austin, 2007.

Has nobody bothered to point out that this is absolutely the result of failed liberal policies?

In Texas, that bastion of liberalism?

Yes, Austin is about is "bastion of liberalism" as you can get.

You don't get out much, do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know/knew a few of these kids (I was their age at the time and we hung out) and their parents very much wanted them home. The drugs and freedom were a big draw. These kids did eventually come home 5-7 years later worse for the wear but somewhat acclimated back to "regular" middle class life. Just one big adventure I guess.

This. Its a cultural/social movement. No one is talking about the mentally ill/abused that wind up on the streets - that is a tragedy.

What I'm saying is that a large portion of the people that compose the cultural/social Crusty "movement" have serious issues - proclivity to addiction, bipolar disorder, manic depression, schizophrenia, abandonment issues, PTSD from physical or sexual abuse, no family to rely upon due to being raised in foster care, etc.

It's a bit of a chicken-egg dilemma - what makes a Crusty? Is it free will? Or are they suffering from some sort of trauma/mental illness that drives them to become a homeless traveler? I'd wager that it's the latter.

I think you're right and that's what makes it so difficult to live somewhere where you see them all the time.