Advice: I had an altercation with a homeless person

[Anonymous]

I’m really sorry this happened to you and also so sorry your son was with you. I’m glad you were not physically hurt. It’s normal to feel shaken up and scared.

I lived in a different city in college and was chased several blocks by a homeless person who was yelling. I was very scared and was able to get inside and lock the door. I was very scared for a long time and carried something with me that could act as a weapon, or at least in my mind would help, if someone tried to attack. Think of a small umbrella I could use to hit. I was young.

I moved farther away little by little and once we could afford it, DH and I are way out in the suburbs. It was too many encounters like this that we never really got over. I stopped giving people on the street money or making eye contact a long time ago.

[Anonymous]

OP you should take a self defense class if you're going to continue walking around DC. Being in shock is natural but you want to be able to get away from mentally ill attackers quickly.

[Anonymous]

Report this. We need to get these people out of our communities.

[Anonymous]

OP, don’t describe this as an “altercation”—it implies two-sidedness. He attacked you out of nowhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I stay far away from homeless people. I have a friend who was punched in the stomach while walking down the street. I was spat upon with a luggy. I don't give money or go anywhere near homeless people. Many of them are mentally ill and unpredictable. No. I am not politically correct. However, I value my life.

I also have a friend who was punched in the stomach by a homeless person. And another friend who had an apple thrown at her.

I've told my child to be wary of homeless people loitering. Once he asked to go to a Dunkin Donuts and there were two homeless people sitting outside. I pointed it out to him and told him to get in the store quickly and out quickly because sometimes they are mentally ill and unpredictable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you should take a self defense class if you're going to continue walking around DC. Being in shock is natural but you want to be able to get away from mentally ill attackers quickly.

But she was able to get away quickly

[Anonymous]

Op, pls report to the police.

[Anonymous]

Cities like DC attracts mentally ill homeless people due to all the government provided amenities. The result is lots of mentally ill homeless people.

If it were up to me, I would ship them all out of the city.

[Anonymous]

I think you handled it really well, OP. I'd have probably done something completely unhinged and made the situation worse. I'm not proud of that, but it's likely true.

I would just open up the floor for your 6 yo to say whatever is on his mind about it. Use active listening, empathy, affirmation that you're all safe. Gratitude that everyone is okay.

Maybe a healthy fear of homeless people isn't such a bad thing for a city kid to internalize, kwim?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sorry. Try to remember it was one person not a category of people. If you need support look for a desensitization counselor. Don’t read more into it than it is. Not minimizing for you just don’t want you to making bigger than it is.

Don’t act like homeless people are equally likely to randomly assault you on the street as someone with a middle class job. The category of person is 100% related.

[Anonymous]

The main lesson is to never give them money, and not hesitate to call police when assaulted! Oh yes and avoid the homeless if possible.
There, you have three lessons!
I am sorry it happened to you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was spit on by a homeless lady years ago (during the Obama administration!) and it was terrible and clear we had a problem with mentally ill homeless then. It has only gotten worse and the reason for this problem is that mentally ill people are left on the streets to their devices. This isn’t a DC politician problem but a problem created by Ronald Reagan.

Plenty of mentally ill people don't assault others. These are bullies.

These mentally ill people, peaceful or not, should not be living on the streets. Reagan did cause this. The problem lies in the fact that these sick people cannot be forced into hospitals even by loving family members who want them safe and clean. No one deserves to live like this.

+1

People this ill need to be institutionalized.

[Anonymous]

So sorry thIs happened to you OP. It’s shocking and upsetting but you removed yourself and your child from the situation and stayed safe. This is so important. Please keep this in mind.

Not too late to report it. I would. Don’t know if cops will do anything but a paper trail is not a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was walking with my son on 14th street to get ice cream but got distracted and soon realized we were turned around. I stopped on a corner - was talking to my son and a homeless guy took a Frappuccino out the garbage and hit me in the face. I was stunned but was scared. We went into Teds bulletin to rinse off and wait a while for the guy to leave. I then just asked a staff to accompany me to the corner to cross the street. Of course this was traumatic but I also had a hard time explaining to my son what happened and how to deal. He is 6. He was nervous, I was nervous.. all my best judgement went out the window. I’ve given homeless people money on occasion - to show my son empathy. I dont think I ever want to do that again. I feel violated.
Im also a bit scared now - is there anything I can do better? Any thing I can teach my son? I also wanted to fight back but something in me said it wasn’t worth it. This is weird to ask for advice — but if you have any that would be great. I’m lucky it was just a drink and not glass or spit or metal.

You should have reported it to police and still can. That is the lesson for your son. Years ago I was flashed in the stacks at old B+ N in Gtown. Staff made a feeble attempt to catch the guy running out of the store. I had a good look at ALL of him and should have reported it then or after. Instead, like many women, I let shock and my namby pamby husband who was there and did nothing take over. Terrible lesson for our daughter. Who knows what the flasher went on to do? Women have been murdered by aggressive crazy homeless on 14th Street. Don't know if you are a man or woman but report it! There will be video footage and you can ID this a**-hat, or mentally ill person, who violated you in front of your child.

So I’m a woman. Is it too late to report this? I’m 100% sure if I went down 14th he would be there.

No, it's not too late to report it PP. You did nothing wrong - stop feeling like you did. You were assaulted, there were witnesses to the aftermath in the restaurant, he's easily identifiable, there is likely footage. Do us all a favor and report it. Even if he's mentally ill which sounds somewhat exculpating, he's mentally ill in a harmful (esp to others) way and needs treatment. And you have right too, don't forget that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was walking with my son on 14th street to get ice cream but got distracted and soon realized we were turned around. I stopped on a corner - was talking to my son and a homeless guy took a Frappuccino out the garbage and hit me in the face. I was stunned but was scared. We went into Teds bulletin to rinse off and wait a while for the guy to leave. I then just asked a staff to accompany me to the corner to cross the street. Of course this was traumatic but I also had a hard time explaining to my son what happened and how to deal. He is 6. He was nervous, I was nervous.. all my best judgement went out the window. I’ve given homeless people money on occasion - to show my son empathy. I dont think I ever want to do that again. I feel violated.
Im also a bit scared now - is there anything I can do better? Any thing I can teach my son? I also wanted to fight back but something in me said it wasn’t worth it. This is weird to ask for advice — but if you have any that would be great. I’m lucky it was just a drink and not glass or spit or metal.

You should have reported it to police and still can. That is the lesson for your son. Years ago I was flashed in the stacks at old B+ N in Gtown. Staff made a feeble attempt to catch the guy running out of the store. I had a good look at ALL of him and should have reported it then or after. Instead, like many women, I let shock and my namby pamby husband who was there and did nothing take over. Terrible lesson for our daughter. Who knows what the flasher went on to do? Women have been murdered by aggressive crazy homeless on 14th Street. Don't know if you are a man or woman but report it! There will be video footage and you can ID this a**-hat, or mentally ill person, who violated you in front of your child.

So I’m a woman. Is it too late to report this? I’m 100% sure if I went down 14th he would be there.

No, it's not too late to report it PP. You did nothing wrong - stop feeling like you did. You were assaulted, there were witnesses to the aftermath in the restaurant, he's easily identifiable, there is likely footage. Do us all a favor and report it. Even if he's mentally ill which sounds somewhat exculpating, he's mentally ill in a harmful (esp to others) way and needs treatment. And you have right too, don't forget that!

+1