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Ouch! More than sad here.....
I have always had an overactive empathy gland and people hungry and on the streets always affect me, a lot.
BUT, I think that possibly one reason some people ignore them is that among the majority that are genuine there are the those who are not. I used to know of one chap who sat 'homeless' in Cambridge for so many hours a day and then would drive home having made more than some people earn. My son, in his teens, years ago passed a homeless person as he went into a burger place, he bought one extra and gave it to the chap on the way out. A nice gesture you would have thought but the man threw it back at him and said he wanted money! I think he was a lot closer to a spell in hospital than he would have imagined.
On the other side my grandaughter, with me a save distance behind, at Christmass time gave a chap on the pavement some pork pies and some mince pies with a 'Happy Christmass', he replied, in a very well spoken, articulate, manner 'thank you my lovely, and you have a happy christmass too.' Nearly reduced me to tears, and does still as I write this.
So, I will give food, or a hot drink, but never money. Maybe these passers by are just unsure what to do, most people are kind!
BUT, I think that possibly one reason some people ignore them is that among the majority that are genuine there are the those who are not. I used to know of one chap who sat 'homeless' in Cambridge for so many hours a day and then would drive home having made more than some people earn. My son, in his teens, years ago passed a homeless person as he went into a burger place, he bought one extra and gave it to the chap on the way out. A nice gesture you would have thought but the man threw it back at him and said he wanted money! I think he was a lot closer to a spell in hospital than he would have imagined.
On the other side my grandaughter, with me a save distance behind, at Christmass time gave a chap on the pavement some pork pies and some mince pies with a 'Happy Christmass', he replied, in a very well spoken, articulate, manner 'thank you my lovely, and you have a happy christmass too.' Nearly reduced me to tears, and does still as I write this.
So, I will give food, or a hot drink, but never money. Maybe these passers by are just unsure what to do, most people are kind!
Quote:I have always had an overactive empathy gland and people hungry and on the streets always affect me, a lot.
BUT, I think that possibly one reason some people ignore them is that among the majority that are genuine there are the those who are not. I used to know of one chap who sat 'homeless' in Cambridge for so many hours a day and then would drive home having made more than some people earn. My son, in his teens, years ago passed a homeless person as he went into a burger place, he bought one extra and gave it to the chap on the way out. A nice gesture you would have thought but the man threw it back at him and said he wanted money! I think he was a lot closer to a spell in hospital than he would have imagined.
On the other side my grandaughter, with me a save distance behind, at Christmass time gave a chap on the pavement some pork pies and some mince pies with a 'Happy Christmass', he replied, in a very well spoken, articulate, manner 'thank you my lovely, and you have a happy christmass too.' Nearly reduced me to tears, and does still as I write this.
So, I will give food, or a hot drink, but never money. Maybe these passers by are just unsure what to do, most people are kind!
I have had both experiences myself. Being told to F*** Off when I gave a guy a burger and coffee, saying he only wanted money. And yes some will exploit others kindness. Most I have spoken to on the streets are the victims of circumstances most of us are lucky enough to have avoided in life. As they say so many people are just a couple of cheques away from a similar situation. I also agree that it can be unfair to take a picture like this and harrange the people for not giving. They may have just given to someone else along the bridge ! But at the same time it is meant to be a metaphor for the abject poverty that exists in the fifth wealthiest country in the World !
An excellent follow up, Tony and the ideal title.
Will today's tears ever become tomorrows rainbows?
Not in my life time.
John.
Will today's tears ever become tomorrows rainbows?
Not in my life time.
John.
Quote:I believe that the Swedes have a word meaning 'enough and not too much' - the idea that people should not seek to be rich at the expense of others. It's expressed as 'no tall poppies' - so no Shard, and no poverty...
A fine way to run a society.
John, the word is 'Lagom' and absolutely agree with you. I am not some left wing militant activist but I do believe that there is a good case for a fairer society...........Lagom !
You are quite correct it is your image conveys the sense of despair beautifully but I feel a sense of unease
The people walking past are avoiding making no eye contact and using their phone.
No one want to approach which is understandable given the circumstances but if Covid 19 wasn’t present
Would the same reactions occur again .
Carole
The people walking past are avoiding making no eye contact and using their phone.
No one want to approach which is understandable given the circumstances but if Covid 19 wasn’t present
Would the same reactions occur again .
Carole
