Amy's Random thoughts

Friday, October 19, 2007

Good morning friends, here are my thoughts and a question for you.

1) Michael and I finally finished season 3 of Greys Anatomy. We get to get caught up on the current season.
2)I am watching Private Practice this season and not sure what I think about it yet
3)I have no idea who I like on Survivor, I like James but he wont last because of his strength
4)Will be doing a Christmas Card exchange and will be accepting names and addresses Nov 1. You will choose how many people you want to exchange with. 1,5,10,20? Just letting you know!

So here is my question for you. This comes from the book I read for book club (the book listed on my blog below). When you see a homeless person, what do you do, what do you think? Have you ever gone out of your way to talk to someone who has nothing? Why or why not? Is it fear? Is it just uncomfortable? What do you think the homeless person is thinking when you do talk to him?

14 comments:

Frazzled Farm Wife said...: I don't think I have ever seen a homeless person except for on tv.; 9:21 AM
Unknown said...: thanks for being honest. I tend to live in bigger cities so i have seen homeless people but honestly I have just walked on by. I wonder what homeless people think when we just walk on by; 9:49 AM
Baba said...: Hi Amy, What happen yesterday fits your question perfectly...As five of us Bloggin Babes were driving down the street, we saw three adults and a baby on the side of the road with all of their belongings around them.Melli stopped the car and asked what is wrong???. The man said they had been kicked out of the motel where they had been living,because his monthly check had not come in yet and the bill could not be paid..Well , Melli collected our money and spent most of hers to pay for a two night stay for the family.The poor man was crying and could not thank us enough..It was a blessings from God to help in some small way.. Baba; 10:40 AM
jenn said...: I just sat here for 10 minutes leaving a comment, then deleted it before posting it. It made me look heartless.
Most of the homeless people I've seen in my life, in NYC, always made me feel like they felt I owed them something. If you walked by without giving your change, they would make a comment or be nasty. But in reality, you just can't give to everyone.
I also think that these people make more money begging than my husband does working each day. How many news stories have you seen about people who "act" homeless and make a fortune begging?
I don't know. I guess I've been so jaded by my past experiences, but now I would probably walk right by and not think twice about it.
Okay, I still made myself look bad, but that's how I feel.

I definitly want to get in on this Christmas card exchange. It sounds fun!; 11:24 AM
Unknown said...: It wont make you look heartless. I am looking for honesty.; 1:56 PM
Amy said...: This is a good, but tough question. What we have learned from a policeman in our church that around our town people make a lot of money pretending to be homeless. It's so sad because if there truly is a homeless person in need I won't know if I can trust them or not.

Also, two of my BIL's are pastors of small churches in Illinois. They get a lot of calls daily asking for money. What they advised us to do was instead of giving actual cash go to the store and buy $20 or more of food that will last them a while. Such as peanut butter, crackers, etc. And if they say they need money to take a train or get somewhere, then offer to take them yourself.

It's too bad there are so many scams out there because I know people want to help when there is a need!

And if you're just not sure go to a fast food place and buy them a hot meal. It'll only cost $4 or $5 bucks. You know what else would be a good idea? Buy some Bibles that you can get at the Dollar Tree and give them one. You just never know what kind of seed you might plant!; 4:38 PM
Megan said...: Wow, good question and something I've actually thought about a lot. I just came off 6 months of living in Boston and before that I don't think that I'd ever seen a homeless person. In Boston I worked downtown in a bookstore, so I experienced a lot of homeless people as they were often all around and in the store. I have to say that had I not been paid to deal with them there, I probably would have ignored them if only out of my own guilt at not being able to do much for them. While I was there, I was earning just enough to get by, so I had no money to spare, nor was I terribly comfortable (as a girl alone in the city) opening up my wallet on the street to dole out cash to people asking for spare change.

But I did make it a point to get involved in a ministry at my church cooking a meal for the homeless once a week which at least helped me to feel like I was helping these people in a way that I was comfortable with. Also, the bookstore I was working at was pretty lenient when it came to the local homeless population in terms of letting them come and spend the day sitting in the store as long as they at least looked like they were reading something. Sadly, I have to admit dealing with them on a daily basis in the store turned into a major aggravation - that's when it's the worst, when you stop seeing the people and start only seeing a "problem" to be dealt with. =/; 4:46 PM
Theresa said...: The first time I saw homeless people was in NY City while visiting my boyfriend, being from a smaller town I talked to them- but my bf now husband told me not too. But when he would leave me alone they would come up to me and I would talk to them.

Now living near L.A. I see more homeless people. I used to give money to the ones who asked but found out they usually buy liquor with it. So I have treated a couple of homeless people to lunch. I have offered some food instead of money and a couple have turned me down.

But now I am a bit jaded seeing homeless people on a daily basis for about 10 years now, and unfortunately I have to say - I have learned the don't make eye contact, don't say anything routine.

I do run a food drive at my school and deliver about 300 cans a food to our local food bank. So I figure if anyone is truly hungry the can get free food at the food bank.

Interesting topic. And sad to say in a country as rich as ours we have this problem.; 6:51 PM
Anonymous said...: I feel bad for them, but I also feel uncomfortable. When they start talking to my kids, then I get fearful something bad might happen.; 9:05 PM
Sparky Duck said...: Private Practice has improved as the season has gone on. Mrs Duck hated episode one, yet she needs to TiVo each episode.

In Philly, the homeless are a problem and a nuisance. You can not smoke ciggy on a Center City street without getting hit up for cash, so it makes you jaded; 9:42 PM
Christie said...: I have seen many and it upsets me. But when you try and talk to them, 9 times out of 10 - they're just bizarre. Not all there - you know? Once I witnessed to a homeless person in Sacramento, and he listened to me for about a half hour and then said "tit for tat...I listened to you, now you listen to me" and he proceeded to rattle on and on about Richard Nixon and Watergate. Meanwhile, once I saw a homeless woman, who looked very hungry. I ran to the nearest convenience store, bought a sandwich and milk, and took it back to her. She spat on me and said she wasn't hungry. Yeah. So not such a good experience. But I went about it in the wrong way. If you want to help out, volunteer at a soup kitchen or donate clothing to your local Salvation Army.; 7:10 AM
Anonymous said...: Interesting question. I tend to talk with them. A few years ago I stopped at a gas station and got to talking to two people down on their luck looking for change. I asked where they were headed. they said they were trying to make it to the rainbow family gathering. Funny I said my brother is in the rainbow family. They said "who's your borther?" I told them and they knew him. I gave them the few bucks I had and invited them back to our home to eat, they said no they had to get going. Then a few weeks later I spoke to my brother and told him who I met and said I invited them for dinner. He said good thing they didn't come they would have stolen everything you had he knew them well unfortunatley I guess. Hmm, I have scaled back a bit on inviting them to dinner. But I still say hi, and look them in the eye. Many are ill.; 7:50 PM
Yoli said...: I am a weird individual, I talk to the homeless every now and then. I also go to the shelters and give them food on Thanksgiving. I totally understand people being scared and repulsed since they smell and a lot have mental problems but I feel for them. You can gain so much by just speaking to a person. Everyone wants their story to be heard.; 3:46 AM
k said...: as i'm driving by i give homeless people bottles of water. it doesn't help in the long run i know, but it makes both of us happier for a moment.

i'm intrigued by the c-mas card exchange...; 8:45 AM