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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a growing problem in Seattle, too. For this type, it's a lifestyle choice -- they could just as easily be back on the couch in Petaluma, playing Xbox at Mom's house.

Walk right on past, seriously. Then give what you can to small-overhead non-profits that use best practices to get help to those who actually need it.

Note the politics in those cities. Then watch your vote.

[Anonymous]

Why do we always victim shame/blame or judge someone trying to help?

OMG you gave too much, YOU are the problem!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel really bad for the dogs they have. Way moreso than the people. Isn't there anything to be done for them, to get them off the streets and into a nokill shelter and get vet care, etc. I know thats terrible, but I can also watch a violent movie no problem as long as an animal doesn't get hurt - then I'm traumatized.

You and me both! It's not terrible. You feel that way because people have the ability to reason beyond animals, so you know in your heart, they are (at least) partially responsible for the predicament they are in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a similar.experience when.I went to SF two years.ago. I couldn't stand it. I've visited and lived in several major cities - NY and LA -'and never saw anything like it. Even in Portland where the youth drug culture is.prevalent, the aggressiveness on the street was something I only experienced in SF.

I worked in NY before Gulianni cleaned it up. Where do you think all the homeless went? It was not as if all of a sudden there were programs and services and they had a place in NY to go to.

This is not from a displaced homeless population. Thus is an entire culture of young people that for the most part have no reason to be homeless except by choice.

And they are given that choice by government, who supports them to do so.

Being a little hungry is not a bad thing. It's a motivator. If they weren't rewarded for their behavior, by government or otherwise, they would not choose this lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do we always victim shame/blame or judge someone trying to help?

OMG you gave too much, YOU are the problem!

It's not shaming or blaming someone trying to help. It's educating individuals as to what's really going on.

Why is it always about emotion, and not about "ah, I didn't know that - thank you for the information!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we always victim shame/blame or judge someone trying to help?

OMG you gave too much, YOU are the problem!

It's not shaming or blaming someone trying to help. It's educating individuals as to what's really going on.

Why is it always about emotion, and not about "ah, I didn't know that - thank you for the information!"

Um, laughing at someone, calling them stupid.....that's not exactly kindly informing the OP. Would you thank someone who pointed and laughed at you while calling you stupid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

LOL +100

OP, what the heck is wrong with you? 20 bucks? Oh my.

I applaud OP for having a big heart. We need more people like OP in the world. All OP needed was some information, so he/she can act accordingly next time. Thank you for those who provided it. I have not encountered these youth, and now know how to behave if I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we always victim shame/blame or judge someone trying to help?

OMG you gave too much, YOU are the problem!

It's not shaming or blaming someone trying to help. It's educating individuals as to what's really going on.

Why is it always about emotion, and not about "ah, I didn't know that - thank you for the information!"

Um, laughing at someone, calling them stupid.....that's not exactly kindly informing the OP. Would you thank someone who pointed and laughed at you while calling you stupid?

The few that did that? Yes, I agree. I hadn't seen those particular posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a similar.experience when.I went to SF two years.ago. I couldn't stand it. I've visited and lived in several major cities - NY and LA -'and never saw anything like it. Even in Portland where the youth drug culture is.prevalent, the aggressiveness on the street was something I only experienced in SF.

I worked in NY before Gulianni cleaned it up. Where do you think all the homeless went? It was not as if all of a sudden there were programs and services and they had a place in NY to go to.

This is not from a displaced homeless population. Thus is an entire culture of young people that for the most part have no reason to be homeless except by choice.

And they are given that choice by government, who supports them to do so.

Being a little hungry is not a bad thing. It's a motivator. If they weren't rewarded for their behavior, by government or otherwise, they would not choose this lifestyle.

Precisely. For these people, “homelessness” is a choice and the government is more than willing to support that choice.
And, the entitled attitude is proof of that.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand how they made this decision. If the kids want to travel, they should join the military and get to travel the world and be paid to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how they made this decision. If the kids want to travel, they should join the military and get to travel the world and be paid to do it.

But then they couldn't be lazy and take drugs and blame all their problems on the government.

[Anonymous]

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

+1.

Well, +20, to be precise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do we always victim shame/blame or judge someone trying to help?

OMG you gave too much, YOU are the problem!

Nobody said OP was "the problem." IMO, she got what she asked for. So no, she's not entitled to feel outraged

[Anonymous]

I was in Seattle about 18 months ago and was shocked by the large number of aggressive, young panhandlers. It was really different from the panhandler situations I normally see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we always victim shame/blame or judge someone trying to help?

OMG you gave too much, YOU are the problem!

Nobody said OP was "the problem." IMO, she got what she asked for. So no, she's not entitled to feel outraged

Oh do tell, what did she ask for?