Am I too Insensitive?

So, in my town, we have homeless folks on nearly every street corner, holding signs that read something like this: "Homeless, Anything Helps, God Bless."

There are variations on the above, but you get the idea. Now, I've given on occasions, but I'm a little concerned about how the money is being spent, so I try to give them alternatives, like food or cigarettes. Anyway, seeing these people every day while you're on the road can get you down, and I was thinking it would be nice to see someone on the upswing.

My answer is to make my own sign that reads something like this: Have a Home, Have a Job, Don't Need Your Money, God Bless.

My problem is that I'm not sure how people will react. It's supposed to be a positive message, but people might take it in the wrong way. What do you think?

 

ODE TO JOHN LENNON by mike bedell
broke, busted, discusted but still can be trusted
i find myself down to my last dream
ive always had so many but soon i wont have any
i cant imagine just what that will mean.
will i have to go on welfare? will i have to stand in line?
you know those government issued dreams they arent enough.
will i be standing at an offramp holding up a sign
begging for spare dreams and other stuff?
just what will my sign say as im standing by the freeway???
dreamless, will work for dreams, god bless?
what will the givers be giving? will i want to go on living?
im responcible for this mess i must confess
but ive searched through all my pockets, the bottom of all my drawers
you know those places where you caN usually find a loose dream or two
but theyve been picked clean like a bone so my last dream stands alone
and i would like to share my final dream with you.

I DREAM THE AIR IS CLEAN THAT PEOPLE SAY JUST WHAT THEY MEAN.
I DREAM OF AN HONEST POLITITION A WORLD FREE FROM MALNUTRITION
I DREAM OF SMILES ON CHILDRENS FACES HARMONY AMUNGST ALL RACES
I DREAM OF A WORLD FREE OF ALL ADDICTIONS BECAUSE REALITY IS SWEETER THAN FICTION
I DREAM OF A WORLD UNITED IN RESOLUTION TO FIND A SOLUTION TO POLLUTION
I DREAM OF A WORLD MOVING IN ONE DIRECTION TOWARDS A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION
WELL IM GOING TO END THIS POEM RIGHT HERE AND GET MY ASS IN GEAR
ITS UP TO ME TO HELP THIS DREAM SURVIVE
BESIDES JOHN LENNON SAID IT BEST BEFORE HE WAS LAID TO REST
"GIVE PEACE A CHANCE AND KEEP IMAGINATION ALIVE"

SCRUB PUPPY I HAVE PONDERED YOUR SAME THOUGHTS AND THATS WHAT I THINK
I MYSELF WAS HOMELESS NOT LONG AGO BUT WHAT HELPED ME THE MOST WAS THAT I DIDNT BECOME DREAMLESS. my love and prayers to all those homelsss out there mike bedell

 

Yep, I'm one of the fortunate--never been homeless. I've been unemployed but always had something to eat and a roof over my head. I truly am blessed.

 

if anyone out there would like to share thoughts with me i dont represent but i am a
member of THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD EARTH and can be reached at our web site here
on HIP FORUMS mike bedell

 

yes Scrub Puppy, life comes to us all at just one heartbeat at a time so
everyone walking upon this earth is very blessed above all else. so shine+ your love light

 

If it's something you feel very compelled to do, then go for it..
why care what people are going to think?


well, I suppose you're trying to make them think..
food for thought


...But what exactly is it you're trying to get across? what do you want people to get from reading your sign?

 

Going out and being such a person can be an interesting experience. There was a psychology experiment many years ago where someone dressed up as a hobo and lived on the streets to see what it was like. He got all types of reactions from people being friendly to ones that were harsh . He was walking across one of the streets and came close to getting hit by a car and some lady on the street said that it was too bad he wasn't run over because there were too many of his type around. Later he made a report about the experiment and published it.

 

That the world isn't a complete loss. By taking responsibility for my own life, I can make the world a little better. Don't get me wrong, I feel badly for these people (they're on nearly every corner of the city), but there's no way I can save all of them, much less one.

 

Don't you think most of them would love to have a home and a job without you being an asshole and rubbing it in?

 

I think that if you want to communicate an uplifting message, you might want to say something different.

what you suggested sounds more like "I've got it and you don't, ha ha". I don't think that that is what you intend, however.

 

I was homeless once. Technically, I had to live with my ex's grandmother. I've also been hungry and had to ask for handouts at churches and from strangers.

Now I have a job, a good husband that has a decent job and life is better.

I remember the kindness of strangers when I was going through a hard time. I try to pay it forward as often as I can, in any way that I can. We have to help each other as humans. To look down upon or to tease someone because of their financial circumstances is cruel and insensitive!

 

The message is intended for those who pass by in cars. I'm not directing it at the homeless.

 

Well, I've always been self-reliant. That's not to say that I didn't have help from family.

My intention is not to tease anyone.

 

Ive given to goodwill .. when I needed them, they want money..
Ive given to salvation army.. when I needed them, they wanted money..
Ive given to disabled veterans of america.. when I needed them. they wanted money..
Ive given to Social Security.. when I needed it, they told me to get fucked in so many words..

When I needed a parking space in town, it was being taken by a homeless person driving a benz..

When I need my friends, they are to busy buying heroin with their disability checks..

Happy Memorial Day.. Thanks for the Oil.

 

I have your solution
..maybe you should just hold up a sign saying "Have a Nice Day"
this will spread a positive message and positive energy

 

That's been done before. I was hoping to do something unique and original. However, it is painfully clear from reading this thread that it would be, with out a doubt, a bad idea. It wasn't intended to put down the homeless as much as give the passerby a chuckle and say that not all is misery.

 

i think if you're not sitting there with an "i'm homeless" sign, it's already assumed that you're not homeless.

 

Good intention, bad idea. I've been homeless before and I think that it's what's in your heart/mind when you give to someone begging than what they actually do with the money. If you're doing it because you think it might help the person or it makes you feel good that's what's important. An alcoholic or addict is going to get their fix one way or another.. nothing wrong with that that 70ish % chance they're not either.

 

I think that's funny. I'm perhaps even more insensitive.. When I was maybe 19 or 20, there was this lady that was always begging at an intersection by my house and one day I handed her an employment page.

I've been homeless since, and never resorted to begging. I think most of those people are strung out on hard drugs and booze.

 

lol thumbs down.