Why are people so mean to homeless people?

Question

Some of the answers are so nasty. Like if your homeless how come your using a computer? Maybe because they have a cell phone or maybe they are using a friends?

Answer 1

People judge others based on their own life experiences and circumstances. So, they think to themselves, "I'm not homeless. I work hard and I have nice things. That must mean that everyone who works hard enough can have nice things and won't be homeless. Therefore, homeless people must be lazy."

We often forget that other people have their own experiences that shaped who they are and what they do. It's hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes when the only life you've known is your own.
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The first poster in this list is making the exact logical mistake I am talking about. She thinks, "I am not homeless. I chose to have a job because I value having a home more than I dislike rules and responsibilities of work. Therefore, those people who chose not to take a job when given the opportunity must not want to deal with the rules and responsibilities."

She is not taking into account all of the other possible reasons the people chose not to take the job: maybe they have a mental disorder so they can't look for a job, maybe they are depressed and don't think they can hold a job, maybe they don't think they deserve a job, maybe they don't know how to get a job, maybe they are too immature to understand the importance of a job, maybe they don't like to take "handouts" or "charity" from others and were rejecting it, or don't trust the people running the study.

Some of them are probably acting just like the poster said: they don't like the rules and responsibilities of work. But not all are.

Answer 2

That is very sad because people never expect to be homeless. But, through some type of crisis, you can be homeless, even temporarily. I was homeless a few years ago. I had to stay in a shelter. Many people stay for months in a shelter. I did not. I had to rebuild my life and get everything together as quickly as possible. I have rebuilt my life by myself. I volunteer my time, contribute when I can, help whenever and whatever I can give of myself. I have been in their shoes.

Note: Homeless individuals use public library computers and some shelters have donated computers and internet lines. People donate old cellphones to shelters. Some retailers donate small amounts of prepaid phone cards to shelters.

Hope this was helpful. This Thanksgiving (after working at my regular job), I will donate my time to clean-up crew at my city's community dinner. I have done this every year since I was homeless.

Answer 3

Its called lacking empathy for other people. Some individuals can not picture themselves in other peoples shoes. Other people like kicking someone when their down, which I think is pathetic. There are some homeless people that really do bust their *** to find jobs, but the job market is very $h!tty right now. I think the media portrays homeless people as being lazy low-lifes, which is not always true. Some people need to learn definition of humility. We live in a society that is very superficial and shallow, so if your not rich, attractive, and young then move aside.

Answer 4

People are so mean to homeless because they don't understand the feeling. In the same sense a lot of times, people are skeptical of the homeless. You do have people that would help and then encounter some people who aren't homeless but just hustle money. There are people out there like that and it gets hard for some people to tell the difference between those who scam and those who don't.

Answer 5

I'm not mean to homeless people, but I don't like giving them money because chances are they won't use it for food. I have a big purse, and I usually carry around some granola bars. If someone asks me for money for food, I give them a granola bar. I've actually had some people get mad at me for giving them actual food and not money!

Some people are grateful though - I bought some bottled water for 3 guys who were sitting outside on a hot day, and they were very grateful. It depends on the situation, which is why I shy away from dropping dollars.

Something that put it into perspective for me was going to Russia. Homeless people there are usually old widows who don't have any way to support themselves, and no social security. They really are starving. They're not obnoxious or in your face, they're very humble and sit on the ground with their head down and hands up. Often they can be seen weeping. Honestly, it breaks my heart into pieces. I give them money pretty often.

America is the richest country in the world. We have social programs that can help people out, if they want it. There are definitely starving people and people in desparate situations, but at least we have soup kitchens and shelters to help people out. It could be a lot worse.

Answer 6

some people are just born mean or get a joy of making fun of people who dont have anything. Lots of the times what i fond out about the homeless is soon as you make eye contact they would flip out and start swearing at you. So if that happens to you alot they you really dont care about the homeless. So thats what i think.

Answer 7

Context? Fear of the different, fear of how close they are to it happening to them. Arrogance, like if you're homeless, you must be clueless, you must deserve it, you could have avoided it. And maybe the reason some one is homeless is BECAUSe they made poor choices, like buying stuff they couldn't afford (laptops and cell phones) and not paying the rent.

Answer 8

Gee there's a lot of really great answers by a lot of real caring people. But not one of these wonderful up standing citizens took a poor homeless person home. They all have room in their backyard for a homeless person to live that is safer than the streets. If all the big talkers in here took one person home with them it would take care of the homeless problem.Myself I just ignore them.

Answer 9

They are mean because they don't know, and don't understand. Some people are there because of their own mistakes, but nobody chooses to be homeless. Some people wander, they don't like being in place for long, so they hitchhike, others are people who mental illnesses that are not able to adapt to society and are not able to get any kind of assistance through the county or the state. Either those, or they don't know how to go about getting it.

Have compassion. . .

Answer 10

people arent necessarily mean to homeless people, people are cautious, mainly because some people act homeless just to beg, many never try to get a job or their lifes sorted theyll take your money and expect it the next day money youve earned its not your fault theyre homess, also some homeless people just spend money on drugs which im against the global criminal organisation, some rob people ask for change say 20p when really theyre looking to attack and rob a person