The bums/homelesss on the streets; are they crazy or are we?

Question

I used to live in Atlanta, GA for a little bit and while I was there, the homeless population was greater than I've ever seen in any place I have been. To a point, it saddens my heart to see them in the condition that they are in, however, it also makes me wonder; how do they see the world? Us who have jobs or some form of income probably dont think about this as much, because we are blessed, but for those who have not; what is it that is going through their heads. I understand that some have no form of education, some got fired, layed-off, or are just plain lazy. For those who had something and lost it; through no fault of their own, how do they view our society? Sometimes, it seems they know something that we dont. Are we crazy for thinking of them the way we do, or they crazy for what they think of us?

Answer 1

I doubt that any homeless person is just PLAIN LAZY, I have seen plenty of lazy people working in many stores, and we all know what I am talking about. Lots of them are people who have fought in wars and seen horrible things and now are pretty crazy from it. Others are just crazy from factors we dont know about. Some are alcholics and drug addicts which is a disease. I dont know how you think of them, but I dont think any different of them then I would anyone else in this world. How do you know what they think of you? Everyone is not the same, you can't pigon hole people.
YOU seem like you are the one with a problem, try volunteering at a local homless center or salvation army.

Answer 2

I know what you're talking about. I've wondered the same thing too. When I was a kid, my mom and I went to the post office and our car broke down. We didn't have any change to call a tow truck and so we went inside to ask someone for a quater. We looked around and everyone seemed so selfish and focused on themselves that we went back outside again. There was a homeless man sitting outside on the floor with a can wher people were giving him money to go wash their windows. My mom asked him if she could borrow a quater. He told her that she was welcome to anything he had in the can. He didn't even look at her while she was taking the quater to make sure she wasn't taking the few dollars that were in ther. Later that day we went back and gave him a 20 because he was so kind when others weren't. I've never forgotten that and its changed the way I've lookd at the homeless my whole life. I think that we really are crazier than even the most insane homeless person because we honestly don't realize how good we have it right now and how easily we could end up like them. They were once someone's baby, brother or sister, father or mother, husband or wife and somewhere they lost the ball. Thats why we should treat them the way we'd want others to treat us or our loved ones.
Thnx for the question and for reading my answer :)

Answer 3

I'm sure this doesn't apply to ever homeless person around, but back in the '70s, I think, some influential people get together and built housing for a good number of them in Philadelphia, I think, and discovered they wouldn't live in the houses. It seems that, thinking they'd done something really swell, the benefactors sent transportation and, without asking whether or not it was alright, gathered these homeless people up and move them into what they'd built. The next day the homeless had move back out. A little study that was done revealed that the homeless had felt shamed for having anyone think they needed charity, and also saw moving back into the main stream as threatening their independence. Go Figure.

Answer 4

The homeless often fall under one or both of these categories: drug/alcohol addicted and/or mentally ill (in addition to being drug addicted). I can't imagine anyone living in an alley because they are "lazy". Some maybe "lazy" about getting help but I don't think it's because they don't want to work.

Sadly often these people are schizophrenic or have another severe mental health diagnosis. They are given medication but they don't take it when they are released from hospitals or shelters. No one is there to make sure they take it and often they don't want to because of the side effects. So it becomes a cycle of them going in and out of shelters or hospitals then coming out and needing to go back again. It is the same with the drug addicts on the street.

It is a very sad thing to see. But I can't imagine that anyone in their right mind that doesn't have any mental health issues or addiction issues would choose to live on the street when they could easily get government assistance to live some place safe and clean.

Answer 5

Many people who are forced to be homeless are not crazy.. however... after a short time on the streets many of them do become crazy...

there is a LOT of stress on the streets...

homeless people often catch deseases because of poor hygiene.. it is hard to keep clean when you don't have your own shower and laundry...

don't think that homeless means stupid.. or ignorant... there are people with Phd's living on the streets...

some people live on the streets because they could no longer take the stress of work and had mental breakdowns...

once on the street... you are a statistic... people forget you.. people don't care about you.... people fear you... people do not want to understand and many people will still try to take advantage of you.

there are a few books written where the author interviewed many homeless in the process.... I don't know the names of any off the top of my head though.

Answer 6

We should avoid associating the word "crazy" with homeless. Seeing as a large portion of homeless have various mental health problems. Let's also not forget that homelessness could happen to anyone. I want to cry when I think that people are out there unsheltered, cold, hungry, lonely and sick. I want to throw up when think about all the youth on the street.
We should be grateful for every blessing we have.

Answer 7

I think that we all see society different mainly cuz not one person is exactly 100% the same, so we don't think or act like one another and that's what makes us so unique. I noticed alot of the homeless lash out against society because of their own mistakes. After spending dark night after dark night be yourself all you do is think, that could definitely change somebody and their reactions to other things in life. There are ways that homeless can get themselves homes along with shelters all over the US but I honestly think 90% of them are just to darn lazy to find that help. So, to answer your first and foremost question I think they GO crazy!!!

Answer 8

It all started with the goofballs on the Supreme Court ruling that begging was protected free speech. The justices are the ones that are nuts. Prior to that ruling beggars were jailed as a public nuisance as they should be. Those mentally ill should be put in mental hospitals and treated. The lazy chiselers should be made to work in work camps until they develop work skills and education to take care of themselves.

Answer 9

nicely the guy doesnt genuinely survive my street yet there are woods in the back of my domicile and there is this guy that patrols those woods. he's an previous guy with a wood walking stick and freaks out in case you alter some thing in his woods. whilst we've been development my domicile, the landscapers moved a fallen tree approximately 3 ft and the guy FLIPPED and started yelling at them approximately the way it could desire to be an animals domicile. loopy.

Answer 10

This is a touchy topic for some, but look these people are choosing their lifestyle........there are SO MANY programs out there in the U.S.A to help people who are in their situation....but the choice is theirs, that is they have the choice to choose wether or not they want to take the opportunity to live a better life OR live the life on the streets! So don't feel sorry for them, feel sorry for those who are living in 3rd world countries who DON'T have a CHOICE.......