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Alias
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| Why is San Fran so much worse than other American cities in this regard? |
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ryleeys
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: Columbia, MD
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| I've never been to San Francisco, so I can't directly compare... but in College Park and all around the DC area, there isn't a single stop light where people aren't selling flowers or begging for money... |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 6:51 am Post subject: |
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| Alias wrote: |
| Why is San Fran so much worse than other American cities in this regard? |
I think its bad everywhere.. but San Francisco has some great weather going for it.. and the people are extremely tolerant of all things. There is a very active pro-homeless activists groups there. Extremely strong.
But yeah, its actually everywhere in the U.S. But certain places make it illegal to beg or harrass people for money. NYC being one.. its illegal to be going around asking for money from people in the street.
It sounds callous if you aren't use to dealing with a lot of homeless people. But seeing them all in San Francisco and comparing to NYC.. the quality of life for everyone else goes up HUGELY if they do try to something to discourage it.
San Francisco its so ingrained in the culture.. the majority of them are just kind of hanging out.. dealing a little on the side.. party down in the park for awhile.. sleep over here.. its kind of like a social scene or something.
Out on the East Coast.. they definetely have homelessness to.. but its much more hardcore. The homeless guys look like they are really on their last leg.. just too far gone.
West Coast homeless kind of feels like its a chosen lifestyle. East Coast feels like they just seriously actually ran out of options and look it through and through.
Like the refernence above of people washing your windows and such. West Coast they just say 'give me money' and they say something back if you don't.. and if you give them a $1 they ask you for another one complaining its not enough. |
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Alias
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:07 am Post subject: |
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<West Coast homeless kind of feels like its a chosen lifestyle. East Coast feels like they just seriously actually ran out of options and look it through and through.
Like the refernence above of people washing your windows and such. West Coast they just say 'give me money' and they say something back if you don't.. and if you give them a $1 they ask you for another one complaining its not enough.>
I'm liberal but it is people like that who might turn me conservative.
"Get a job ya deadbeat" |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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1. San Francisco City has traditionally paid higher General Assistance benefits than other localities in the U.S.
2. Weather more conducive to outdoor living than, say, New York.
3. Traditionally liberal attitudes toward the homeless and lax law enforcement.
4. Availability of narcotics and tolerance of their use.
5. The San Francisco/Berkeley/Santa Cruz mythos of do-your-own-thing hippiedom. |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Al Gore wrote: |
| I guess it all depends on where "back home" is. In San Francisco, I'd see about 100 homeless people a day, and was asked for money by at least 40 of them. There is absolutely nothing comparable here. And they are in every neighborhood there, not just around train stations. When I was travelling in Bolivia, a very poor country, there was also no situation comparable to S.F., even in the capital city there. Seeing people sleeping in doorways, etc. is really depressing to me, I don't miss it at all. |
This is stupid. You may see more beggars in SF because it is much wealthier than any part of Bolivia. Beggars in Bolivia are not likely to get much money begging from people in the same postion. |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| When I was travelling in Bolivia, a very poor country, there was also no situation comparable to S.F. I spent 10 months traveling the entire continent |
Did you go to Bogota? There might not be a lot of begging but the poor have more effective ways of getting money from you. It usually involves a gun. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Gwangjuboy wrote: |
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| When I was travelling in Bolivia, a very poor country, there was also no situation comparable to S.F. I spent 10 months traveling the entire continent |
Did you go to Bogota? There might not be a lot of begging but the poor have more effective ways of getting money from you. It usually involves a gun. |
I experienced that first hand in Venezuela. Got me from behind.. knocked me to the ground, and tried to strangle me. They were successful and I got some nice bruises and a really badly swollen black eye. Thought I was going to die on those Barquisimento streets that night.
Yeah, violence is worse in South America. They of course got beggars as well. But San Francisco, California stands out my mind moreso for tolerant social institution of it.
Regarding the other post in regards to Bolivia. They have beggars there, I saw many of them. But they aren't hardcore in your face 'give me a $1 bro' kinds. In that country in particular, (Bolivians are meek), they kind of murmur something with their hand held out and you just walk on by.
Actually there is homelessness and beggars throughout the world. They are everywhere.. all over Southeast Asia, South America, Europe, etc.. speaking of which Amsterdam has some very aggressive guys.. as does Vietnam. |
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Gwangjuboy
Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Location: England
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 1:21 am Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| Actually there is homelessness and beggars throughout the world. They are everywhere.. all over Southeast Asia, South America, Europe, etc.. speaking of which Amsterdam has some very aggressive guys.. as does Vietnam. |
Yes, absolutely. I think the "style" of begging is dependent on the beggars cultural surroundings. Obviously, even beggars have to try and comply with cultural norms. That is possibly why beggars in SF are "more in your face" than others, because people in the West are more tolerant. |
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princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2003 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| Have you ever been to Gangnam station? I always see plenty of homeless people on the stairs. Apgu station, too. |
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IconsFanatic
Joined: 19 Jan 2003
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