Set an example
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- FantasticPower
I recently was involved in a argument with a table of women (and one older man) in Edinburgh. I was sitting outside enjoying myself near Cafe Truva, a few blocks from the museum.
This table of 40-something women and the older man were laughing it up like sopranos in an opera, ordering drink after drink after drink and generally taking a long time in their tables. All the while a homeless man was lying sleeping on the ground underneath a bench, maybe 30 feet away. He had his shoes off and a note asking for pittance next to it, and the shoe had no more than a pound or so in it.
The women tossed down petty change as a tip on their table but continued to sit and chat, giggle and yip time away. I was disgusted by their complete lack of regard for this man under the bench as they drifted over an hour away wrapped in their own isolated bubble. Eventually I had enough and grabbed the man's shoe and brought it over to their table and dropped it down in front of them and said "Fill something that counts will you?" and they looked like I came from outer-space and we proceeded to get into a nasty conversation that really makes me cast doubt on us as a progressive species. Eventually I realized I was not going to win this one so I brought the man his shoe and went on his way. People take great defense when you call them out on their ingorance but this should come as no shock to me at this point. I do not think this is indicative of Scotland as a whole, and in fact I actually often enjoy my time here.
- Continuity0
So how much did you put in the shoe?
- monospaced0
It kind of sounds like you're saying that if you're going to have a night out drinking with your friends that you're obligated to give money to the closest homeless person out of pure guilt for being able to spend money on beers in the first place.
- d_rek0
True story #1:
I once when to a an upscale-ish restaraunt in downtown Detroit for a post graduation dinner with my family. I ordered an amazing kobe steak for dinner but didn't finish it and boxed it up to take home. After the dinner was over I headed to the local dive that me and all my colleagues were meeting up at. As I pulled up and started to get out of my car a bum stalked up to me and began begging for food and money. Being as I was slightly intoxicated and feeling in good spirits I deigned this fellow deserving of my fine leftovers. I gave him a good word and handed over my leftovers. He opened the carry-out box, looked at the generous amount of food, and then looked me square and the eye and said, "That's it? This shit is too rare for me", and tossed the leftovers on the ground.True story #2:
I worked for several years in the heart of Downtown Detroit, very near to Comerica Park and all the other major downtown destinations. The company I worked for had a paid parking lot but being so near the new Rosa Parks bus terminal it got a lot of foot traffic. Occasionally we would have a bum who would come and try to clean our windows. Usually, to get the guy away from me I tossed him some change. Well one day I gave him some change and instead of him doing the whole window cleaning routine he gave me a dog-eyed look, turned around and proceeded to take off at a good trot with barely a thanks to be had. I watched the bum progress down the street and then duck into the corner liquor store. Not but a few minutes later he popped out with a large brown bag.Moral of these stories:
Fuck Bums.- you were driving while intoxicated?lowimpakt
- and?d_rek
- and therefore I don't think you have a right to be moralising.lowimpakt
- who said I was moralising? All i've done is formulated an opinion based on my singular experiences.d_rek
- I'm not saying everyone need share my opinion. By god people, make up your own minds.d_rek
- lowimpakt missed the point i see.********
- sorry but any point casting moral judgement on anybody is thrown out by the drunk driving.lowimpakt
- had #1 happen to me downtown chicago one night. exact same story.kona
- doesnotexist0
^ that's homeless in Detroit for you.
The ones that play music will always get a buck from me. The ones working on my sympathy don't get it.
- < that's homelessness in every city.********
- so to get some cash from ya they have to play you a tune and dance a jig? starving isn't enough?sherm
- come on, really? do you honestly think that's what i meant? i sure hope not.********
- < that's homelessness in every city.
- ********0
@d_rek, an old chestnut: "there but for the grace of God go I" - not trying to get all religious on your ass, but c'mon man - compassion for others will carry you a lot further than your "Fuck Bums" attitude... by a quick glance at your work you seem to be successful and happy in your chosen career... hopefully you'll never be down and out... then again maybe you should; just a taste of "the life" might serve you well in your growing maturity... enough said: good luck...
- Religion is a little too one-sided for my liking. I'll take life as it is - black, white and many shades of grey.d_rek
- Call it what you want, man... I'm just suggesting you take a look at yourself on occasion... no guilt, just self-examination********
- And when was the last time you were 'down and out'. Have you practiced what you're preaching?d_rek
- absolutely... been laid off four times since 2000, haven't had gainful employment in over a year - still volunteer, still give********
- not that my personal situation matters - it's more about my personal attitude...********
- lol @ this conversation. ratesly, you should go back to lurking, bro.********
- DM - why? I think I have a perspective to share... and lurking? That's just insulting...********
- ********0
Continuity nailed it.
- Sep0
You indeed have set an example.
An example on how to be a self-righteous prick.
- fugged0
I hate the fact that we've become so fucking cynical. Kid of sad really that you can't just offer someone some help without having to second guess if you are getting taken or not.
But FantasticPower, I don't think that you can pass judgement on that group that easily. You don't know what they do in life. Maybe they donate a shit-ton to charities or do charitable work? Can't hand out cash to every single person you come across.
- CanHasQBN0
So you tried to force a group of strangers to give money to a homeless man? They're not obligated to give money to anybody. If you felt that the man should have some money, give him yours and be on your way. How rude to walk up to a bunch of people with a shoe and ask them for money. What if one of them was going to give him something as they got up?
Basically, this is your rationale: If one is within X amount of distance from a homeless person, they must give him some money and may not have multiple drinks or laugh.
It seems like you have a lot of anger inside you and are misdirecting it. You should've set the example yourself by giving him money and just walking away. They might've seen that gesture and done the same.
- Sep0
Oh, wait... You're the cappuccino-on-the-floor guy, right?
People skills!
- bumdrizzle0
fantastic power is clearly trolling. there is no way anyone* can be this much of cock in every single country he visits.
*i'm assuming v3/registe has never left the US.
- Apparently Edinburgh, a city which has evolved over time has planned "blocks" in it's layout.kalkal
- CALLES0
"can someone fill up this empty shoe with money so this gentleman can get himslf some more smack, what kind of people are you??"
- ZOOP0
Actions speak louder than words. When I am driving to and from a job, and see someone at an intersection asking for money, I generally give so long as I'm not holding up traffic too much. Here in America a third of our homeless are veterans, who in my opinion don't get proper thanks for their service. I wouldn't tell someone else what to do with their money, it's not for me to say how they express concern for others. Lead by example, it's a more powerful statement than trying to tell some strangers how they should live. What's ten dollars compared to the gratitude and smile you can give someone who is less fortunate.
- Juanmonk0
You sound like a bit of a odd one fella. In Italy you had a spaz attack over a cappuccino, throwing it across the bar and gobbing all over the tiles. At some gala you berated poor old Theodore for affectionately calling his kids 'squirt'. Then in Scotland you're running around with a stinky shoe demanding money from strangers.
Stuffed any cats into a cash machine lately? Need to return some videotapes, huh? How's the business card looking, these days?
- ********0
You sir, are a cheesedick.
- Continuity0
@Juanmonk:
Put that way, it rather alarms me that there are people like the OP travelling this world, and pulling this shit.
- ZOOP0
Yo dawg, we heard you like shoes, so we put a shoe in your shoe :-P
- Continuity0
Actually, I'm going to amend my previous post, somewhat.
After a brief skim of the OP's posting history, he's simply a RL troll with a massive, globe-spanning sense of entitlement that makes me surprised he hasn't been banned from entering the Schengen zone for the rest of his life.
Christ.
- I submit to you all that it's quite likely Hedge.Continuity
- i think you're on to somethingplash
- Tossed his cappuccino then spit on the floor? Sounds like something a squirt would do. Spoiled baby... tisk tiskZOOP
