I was out earlier when I stopped in a store to pick up
bannanas and an orangejuice. While I was at the counter
This homeless fellow got in line smellin like 'Aw, be damn'
waitin to pay for his morning beer.
My thoughts of him were of the most disrespectful kind.
My qwestion is, are we pedjudiced on way more than racial issues?

I mean I know I can't be the only one that turns a nose up at these people. Bums, Tramps, (that's all the names I can come up with) names being called and there are some of them whom are just 'homeless' for reasons other than Booze and Drugs, ie. meantal illness.

Anyway after this encounter, when I was back in my car, I got to thinkin that, even though it was just mentaly,
I really felt wrong for thinkin that way about them.


Is it just me???

Bad, well, I get those thoughts to but, remember...we gotta' luv everybody...no matter what ...I wanna' add more to this but,... better shut up now

No your not wrong for having those kind of thoughts, I think we all do sometimes even though we know it is wrong.

Prejudice does not discriminate. Race is only one issue. There are many issues that human beings are prejudice against including religion, nationality, and yes, even against homeless people for no other reason other then that they are homeless. I too have been in your position and am continually disciplining myself for having such thoughts.
[This message was edited Sun Oct 12 11:14:51 PDT 2003 by LittlePill]

Every single person has prejudged someone to a certain extent at one time or another in life. Are you wrong for it? I'd say yes, but at the same time commend you for acknowledging it.

00769BAD said:

If someone, homeless or not, smells bad a negative reaction is normal, BUT - I don't know about those disrespectful thoughts.

Disrespect is prejudiced if it assumes that the man was homeless by choice, and you judge this without knowing his specific circumstance.

But how could he not be there by choice, if he is the type to buy beer first thing in the morning?

Negative reactions to foul smells is instinctual...even if it's body odor. Societal "norms" also end up, over time, instilling within us an almost 'instinctual' response when those norms are not present. Within our society it is "normal" to have decent hygiene and to keep alcohol consumption reserved for later in the day so as to not impare our ability to function within society. (for instance, plop this guy down in the middle of a hot bus in Jamaica, and his "odor" would not stand out...trust me, I know :O)

When we come in contact with someone who seems to disregard these norms, it's common to have an immediate negative reaction to what we encounter, especially if it appears as if their actions are purposeful.

However, as human beings we have the beautiful ability of "override"...which simply means that, no matter what the initial, almost instinctual reaction we may have within our minds and our hearts to any given event or circumstance, we have the ability to override it and not act on it, not let it effect how we see someone...it's that ability to override which also helps us to forgive. Sounds like that's what you were doing...




...consider this an "override"...heh
[This message was edited Sun Oct 12 11:49:30 PDT 2003 by Byron]

My nucka is turning soft You are better than that scum. Reconize that and step around them so you don't step on them :LOL: j/k

Besides...if a man is considered guilty for what goes on in his mind, then give me the electric chair...

teller said:

Oh I done been found guilty of the MIND.
like I say, I act better than I think at all times,
Even when I've done some truely crtical shit, whut I TOUGHT of doin was Waaay worse.

CtheUncanny said:

Get a new avi and forget who your friends are

I'm sure, by the look he got, he pretty much felt steped
on or somethin. That's why I got to thinkin.

I think that some people are just a paycheck away from homelessness. Sometimes things happen that are beyond a person's control, e.g. a fire, or the death of the sole provider...

Anyway, often I give the homeless change. However, what I hate is if I give him/her, say, 50 cents and I don't get a "Thanks." You don't have to drop and kiss my feet, but a "Thank you" will do.

sometimes when i see a REALLY big person hookin' into a cream bun like they wanna get inside the mutha... bad things pop into my head...but they're usually along the lines of comedy... i do feel bad though...i've been discussing this lately with my girlfriend...it's like all these one-liners instantly pop into my head... it's not nice, i know

MrBliss said:

you didn't kick him did you? then you are fine.

00769BAD said:

And you thought I just lush after your body.

Blackcat said:

00769BAD said:

But next time, because there is always a next time, are you going to remember how you felt in the car, when you could think about your response, or are ya gonna just go back to the "aww damn". Listen to your transformation...

teller said:

Maybe he was on a downward spiral with the alcohol because he has been in the circumstance so long and can't seem to get out of it.. Maybe he gave up... Of course, it could be the other way around as well, but just an idea...

I think we become frustrated that we do what we are "supposed to" i.e., go to work, pay your bills, try the best you can, etc., and it irks us when we see people who don't. Also we feel bad for the person and become disgusted because we know there are millions more like them all over the world and there is nothing we can do to make everything better overnight. In short all of this rambling comes down to this, I think when we see a homeless person we are disgusted by the problem not the human, we know there is really nothing we can do so it becomes easier to blame the individual not society. We have to do that,to feel that disgust, in order to live with ourselves. I might be wrong that's just my

teller said:

"I like a good beer buzz early in the morning"-Sheryl Crow

irresistibleb1tch said:

Supernova said:

BUT--a lot of people will say that the homeless are that way by their own choice or circumstances, that it's not the taxpayers' fault that "those people" are mentally ill or drug/alcohol addicted or lost their jobs and have kids to feed, so why should the taxpayers support people like that? They will also say that they worked hard for their own money and never had anyone help them, so these people should pull themselves up by their own bootstraps (they will conveniently forget their parents and the type of family they were born into).

AnotherLoverToo said:

god, i hate that whole "bootstraps" concept... what incredibly short-sighted thinking. as long as we value individualism over compassion and community, there will never be a solution to these kinds of problems. couldn't you just scream?!

irresistibleb1tch said:

AnotherLoverToo said:

Yeah, that is the typical republican spiel about it. But many times people come from complex situations that were beyond their control. There is no one size fits all story for homeless people, any more than there is a one size fits all story for people who live a middle class or wealthy lifestyle. We don't like to think about it, or voice it, but many of us could just as easily be homeless as the next homeless person. Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is half the battle. The system has never been perfect by any means, in fact it's hugely flawed. But it's a system we have to work within to try and make it better for the ones who sincerely need it. My mother used to work social services, and there were times I'd help her out (she's a technophobe - computers aren't her thing). I don't think she ever worked with any homeless people, but it's a very eye opening and humbling experience when you deal with people who are less fortunate than you on a daily basis.

The homeless aren't homeless because they're ALL drug addicts and panhandlers. That seems to be a convenient stereotype for some to ease their own conscience.