I just gave a slice of chocolate cake to a homeless man on University Ave. in Palo Alto today.
A man who has nothing except for a slice of fancy cake. Just a couple blocks from Palantir, where Facebook was a few years ago.
An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
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Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#32This is just me, and my approach to the homeless or destitute, but if someone asks me for money, the answer is some form of no (if I even acknowledge the asker). Yeah, you tell me you're hungry or whatever, but I'm not going to risk participating in your next fix. If they ask me for food , however, it's always a yes, assuming I can do it right then (not late for something, have money or my card on me or whatever). Yo…
I tried to take this attitude a while ago, but after being abused and accused of mistrust too many times (the homeless aren't actually starving in Australia) I returned to ignoring such people.
The worst was when a couple implored me to give them some money for accommodation, as they had been evicted. I said "Sure, let's go to a hotel right now and I'll check you in." They called me a bunch of expletives and stormed off.
!
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#33I don't know what it is, but posts like this make me feel like HN is waking up and realizing the world isn't just 'social networks for dogs', and that there are real social problems out there needing to be fixed. There is a trend happening.
This post is powerful because it's recognition. The act was powerful because it was recognition, which then led to real action.
If judging by recent posts on HN, hopefully posts like this lead to more action. I want to think that this will lead to more smart thinkers here spending time to use technology do some sort of action. Even if just like the author, people think it's just one drop in the bucket unsure of any real impact, at some point we might actually begin to fill this bucket. Eventually sandwiches will turn into code. We need more of this.
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#34I don't give anyone money, but if a some poor soul asked for food I'd buy / give in a heartbeat.
But never cash.
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#35blog post
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#36At the Safeway where I live, there are nuns that stand outside with a grocery list of food they ask people to donate for them. I didn't know if they were really nuns so I asked the cashier, and they confirmed it, so it made it a lot easier for me to go ahead and donate food. They make food for the homeless and the donation goes straight into feeding these poor people so it's a lot better than giving food or money dir…
I liked the sentence in original post, "Maybe it was because we had something in common: we both wanted a sandwich. Except that I was actually going to get one. I can have as many sandwiches from Subway as I want." Sometimes what I've got in common with a homeless panhandler is that we both want a beer.
I use some portion of MY money for drugs (including beer), I don't see why it should bother me if a homeless person does too. Whether or not they're going to use it on beer, I know they're a lot less comfortable than me either way, and I'm not hardly going to miss the 50 cents or $1 I contribute.
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#37What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…
I live in the Mission and work in Soma. I ride my bike under a stretch of 101 where there are usually several people sleeping.
I am not sure if this is "accepted" or not but everyone seems to just ignore it completely.
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#38I think http://currywithoutworry.org is an excellent solution to the problem. I think it makes a huge difference in the community. People in need are able to interact, and help each other without worrying about dinner once a week.
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#39You can't help everyone you see, or even half the people you see, and still have the time and resources to help yourself. What's important is to know what you're comfortable with doing, why you're comfortable with it: Personally, I will buy or give food, but never give money.
Sometimes, when asked for money, I will offer to walk with them to get them food instead.
Sometimes I remember that I'm pinching pennies on damn-near everything, to have just one more month's rent, just one more week of food, and have that much longer for my company to succeed. So I shrug and tell them the truth: "Sorry, right now I don't have an income either."
Sometimes "Zombie By The Cranberries By Andrew Jackson Jihad" starts playing in my head and I'm too lost in thought to prepare a response in advance. By the time we cross paths and they say something, I end up genuinely startled and its awkward for everyone.
I also don't have a point to make. Like you, this kind of thing makes me feel bad, and I just need to vent about it for a moment. At least we both can be sure our sense of sympathy is functional.
Re: An Unremarkable Event in the Tenderloin
#40What's remarkable about this is how the poster finds these casual encounters with homelessness "unremarkable". No other western city that I have visited has the massive, in-your-face homelessness as SF. I don't know enough about the causes of this phenomenon in SF to suggest what can be done about it; I'm sure they are complex, multi-factorial and politically fraught, but the level of homelessness in SF and (almost)…
I have this reaction every time I visit a west coast city. So far, that includes San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.
I've always assumed it has something to do with the climate being more amenable to homelessness. But thinking about it now there must be some other political or structural reasons at play.