this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2024
173 points (90.6% liked)

Asklemmy

43950 readers
993 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy ๐Ÿ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I've actually skipped work just to help a homeless guy get his beard trimmed. Bought him pizza too. Kinda hard to get anywhere in life when you look like shit.

Be kind to the homeless, they just need a helping hand here and there.

What would you do?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] Redredme@lemmy.world 67 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Hell no.

Are you u all living in rosy mc Rosewood Santa's little safe harbour everything is fine and dandy rainbow world? Or are you all lying through your teeth?

Letting someone in your home with clearly visible psychological issues, in your circle of trust, filled with those you hold most dearly and packed with your dearest memories, that place... And then letting someone in you know nothing about?

Hell fucking no.

In the real world letting some rando homeless dude in your home has a 50/50 chance of ending up in crazy town. There is a high probability that you, yours or your stuff get fucked up. I cannot and will not accept those odds. Even a 2% chance of shit happening is a risk I'm unwilling to take when it comes to my kids.

Would I help him? Maybe. It depends on some factors (like can I at that specific time, did I help him out earlier, do I have cash on hand) Would I let him in? No f-ing way.

So real answer: money: maybe, eat & drink: anytime. Clothes: I've got some you can have, no problem. Bath and clean: nope. Never.

[โ€“] M500@lemmy.ml 20 points 4 months ago

This is my thought as well. Even if things go well this time, whoโ€™s to say they will not feel entitled to come back. Maybe with or without your knowledge.

Iโ€™d send them away otherwise I might start getting a regular visitor to my house asking for stuff.

In public, Iโ€™m happy to give money or food.

[โ€“] EABOD25@lemm.ee -4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

While I do agree with you. Your wording could be a little bit better. You seem like a glass half empty kind of person, and I can respect that. However your statement makes it seem like all homeless people have some kind of dangerous psychological issues, and that is a wild accusation. Mental health problems come in all shapes and sizes

[โ€“] Haui@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 4 months ago (2 children)

As someone with diagnosed mental health issues, I can tell you that I mean no harm. But sadly, the pure difference in perception paired with unfamiliarity of the two parties makes the situation insanely dangerous, not the person.

You never know why the person is in this predicament and if they have a tendency towards violence, robbery or other things. Iโ€˜m not saying they are. Iโ€˜m saying you have to assume they are before making that decision. Can you defend yourself against a pulled knife or even gun, do you have enough mental capacity to observe them at all times. Those odds do not look good.

So, although I would never willingly look down on folks less fortunate than myself. I too will never ever let a stranger into my house if they raise any concerns.

[โ€“] EABOD25@lemm.ee 2 points 4 months ago

Very better wording. Sorry if I was seeming like a dick. I've always had the view that people generally mean no harm, but might have articulated it in the wrong way. I'm definitely trying to work on that with myself as well. I also have mental health issues, and I was homeless for a good 2 years of my life, and would have been longer if a person didn't invite a scruffy person into their home and show them goodness and ask for nothing in return.

After I typed that, I had to think about it for a bit. I was probably one of the few lucky ones. I've had the experience working in movie theaters, and I've encountered many homeless and have had good and bad experiences. The bad is more memorable (which probably says more about human nature rather than social conception at this point), but had many great experiences with homeless people. I have stories, but I'll save them for the sake of typing a shit ton lol.

TL;DR: I like the cut of your jib, you seem very intelligent, and have good points. However, I still believe the whole argument comes down to pessimis vs optimism. I'm a very long winded person, so tldr are hard for me

[โ€“] over_clox@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago

"if they raise any concerns"

Yes indeed, those words sum it up pretty well. Everybody is different. Every situation is different.

Everyone deserves a chance though, with caution of course...

[โ€“] Ledivin@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

However your statement makes it seem like all homeless people have some kind of dangerous psychological issues, and that is a wild accusation.

He never said anything like this, and specifically called out pretty low probabilities throughout his comment.

[โ€“] EABOD25@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

I hate linking comments. Sorry, but it took me a bit to type all of that up. So I beg your pardon

https://lemm.ee/comment/13208280

[โ€“] over_clox@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Thank you for your opinion, every individual is different. Homeless does not inherently equate to psychological issues nor drug addiction.

Sometimes people just had their house destroyed from a hurricane or tornado or whatever, and insurance done fucked them over, if they even had proper insurance in the first place.

Sorry you're getting downvoted, but you got my upvote. Thank you for having enough of a mind and soul to care. ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿ‘