tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post1820970635112752151..comments2023-11-02T01:51:25.812-07:00Comments on Confessions of a Cafe Writer: Yesterday, I threw in the towel!Cliffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07981816941459227266noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-91573256023529882462007-05-18T20:44:00.000-07:002007-05-18T20:44:00.000-07:00Howard, there are plenty of homeless here in Santa...Howard, there are plenty of homeless here in Santa Monica (where I live), and the problem is pretty overwhelming. The city provides free lunches every day to whoever asks. There are also free clinics, and a Salvation Army shelter. All it's done is attract more homeless to the city.<BR/><BR/>I try to be understanding and nice, but sometimes it isn't easy. Some of the homeless are downright rude and nasty. There's a guy I call "the Fuck You man,' because I've passed him a few times, and he suddenly turned on me and screamed FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU!<BR/><BR/>And it's not just me. I've heard him screaming FUCK YOU! from around corners, apparently at other passersby.<BR/><BR/>Cliff is right. Many of them are mentally ill, or substance abusers. Chatting with them about their problems won't help much. There are already social workers in this city who chat with the homeless, to the extent that it does any good.<BR/><BR/>Cliff, I hate the sunny & warm weather too. Maybe someday I'll move to Seattle. I hear it's cheaper than L.A., with nice, gray skies.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06426225673638400368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-1202311410693189652007-05-18T05:18:00.000-07:002007-05-18T05:18:00.000-07:00Thomas,Ah, house ownership...now that's an entirel...Thomas,<BR/><BR/>Ah, house ownership...now that's an entirely different issue. As for LA, I really haven't spent much time there. But for me, it's a bit too sunny and warm. I need my blustery climate (: And hell, if I moved to LA, you'd end up moving anyway (:<BR/><BR/>Howardd21,<BR/><BR/>The homeless problem is pretty extreme in SF. It's a very homeless-friendly place in many ways. On a daily basis, I get asked for money/food/beer half a dozen times or more. Stopping to chat would be fruitless. Most homeless on the street have mental problems, there because the system has no love for those who can't take care of themselves. When I give a handout, I don't delude myself into thinking that I'm helping the problem in any way. I don't even care if the person intends to purchase liquer or drugs with the money I give them. If I can simply help ease the pain they're feeling...if only for a minute, the karmic wheel turns on. Should I be doing more? Should I stop and chat with each of the people who pushes their way into my sphere? Hell yeah, I should. And I probably should be on the street with them, having shared everything I own, till I have as little as them, but I'm neither that strong nor that selfless.Cliffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981816941459227266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-68163099251289181782007-05-18T05:01:00.000-07:002007-05-18T05:01:00.000-07:00I guess I am wondering why you don't really help t...I guess I am wondering why you don't really help that homeless person and engage in a deep conversation with him about how he got there and what he is doing to get out of that situation. I often think that the occasional dollar, or towel in your case, is really a "here is something now don't bother me" payment. Would you agree? It seems from your description you would and did. Wouldn't it be better to keep the dollar and really talk to them, and help them? Aren't we just propogating the problem to keep them sustained in their situation, instead of helping them improve on it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-85288866333365089332007-05-18T04:01:00.000-07:002007-05-18T04:01:00.000-07:00Sure, it'd be fun to hang out with you. But as I ...Sure, it'd be fun to hang out with you. But as I get older, I want to own my own house. And there's no way I'll ever be able to afford a house in L.A., much less in the more expensive S.F.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, you can always move down to L.A. if you want to hang out, :-)<BR/><BR/>What DO you think of life in L.A.? Does it hold any appeal for you, or are you among those who hate La-La-Land?Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06426225673638400368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-47694665976620325122007-05-17T10:49:00.000-07:002007-05-17T10:49:00.000-07:00Hey Thomas, If you moved to SF though, you could h...Hey Thomas, <BR/><BR/>If you moved to SF though, you could hang out with ME. That must count for something (:Cliffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981816941459227266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-11493280348791516912007-05-17T03:53:00.000-07:002007-05-17T03:53:00.000-07:00S.F. is beautiful -- and I love its cold summers.B...S.F. is beautiful -- and I love its cold summers.<BR/><BR/>But I hear the cost of living, and housing, is even more expensive than L.A. And I'm looking to move to a less expensive city, not more so, :-(Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06426225673638400368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-39891907113513570232007-05-09T15:18:00.000-07:002007-05-09T15:18:00.000-07:00Oh, now don't be so negative! :)My mother always t...Oh, now don't be so negative! :)<BR/><BR/>My mother always told me if people were staring at me it was because I was cute. Of course, later I realized it was because my fly was open or something, but still...<BR/><BR/>Think positive! :)RK Sterlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01034917381901499281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-41146836305371795412007-05-09T09:07:00.000-07:002007-05-09T09:07:00.000-07:00Kate,You're such a romantic! 10 years ago, maybe, ...Kate,<BR/><BR/>You're such a romantic! 10 years ago, maybe, but I'm well past that stage and into the "look at that dufus with the toilet paper trial dragging behind him!" stage. And if I hadn't been seated in a car, I would have checked(:Cliffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981816941459227266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-1081325829388189882007-05-09T06:06:00.000-07:002007-05-09T06:06:00.000-07:00Maybe the driver thought you were cute, Cliff. :)Maybe the driver thought you were cute, Cliff. :)RK Sterlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01034917381901499281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-56253871900740605692007-05-08T19:27:00.000-07:002007-05-08T19:27:00.000-07:00Yeah, I agree. It was strange in a disturbing way....Yeah, I agree. It was strange in a disturbing way. I ride the bus all the time, and let me tell you, there are some characters behind the wheel. This was likely one of them.Cliffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07981816941459227266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413407.post-50413896200402189802007-05-08T19:09:00.000-07:002007-05-08T19:09:00.000-07:00I'm glad you told him to keep it. But the other i...I'm glad you told him to keep it. But the other interaction intrigues me more. I don't know why.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com