The great bum purge of '09?

[The Compound]

"Bum" works for me.

[Deuce]

Glad to see that there are others who practice my methodology. I got some other great ideas from this post that I might use too.

"Actually, it would be nice to take them to St Johns County, Ponte Vedra or Queens Harbor. That's where the bleeding hearts live that feel it's necessary to come feed them with lots of stuff that litter or they pay to fund another shelter downtown." - I completely agree!

"Most are mentally ill or addicted to drugs and it's just beyond the reach of an average person's help." -If they are mentally ill, then they should be institutionalized whether they want to be or not. Sorry to be a fascist here, but if they have no family to take care of them, then they should not be on the streets. They are a potential danger to themselves and others. In this case, we should put the concerns of society above the individual. As for drug addiction, I'm an addict myself and there are plenty of resources in this society that can be utilized to get clean (if you want too). That "excuse" holds no weight in my book. This is also the primary reason I never ever give money. I know that I am most likely enabling someone else's addiction.

[BridgeTroll]

spent too many years of my 20's on the corner of Adams & Ocean at the London Bridge pub getting to know a lot of their stories, at least the ones downtown.

We must know each other...

[David]

Yeah i am curoius as to who your real life counter-part is, Mr. Bridgetroll!

I don't frequent LB too often anymore. I followed Ian & Mary Anne over to shanty awhile back. I hardly ever see any bums over there. At least in the immediate area.

[BridgeTroll]

Have been big fans of Ian and Maryanne also... I dont get to Shanty as often as I would like.

[ChriswUfGator]

Why dehumanize a class a people who are already so desperate?  For some of them, it is all they have left. 

Being rude and yelling at people is all they have left?

And everyone who posts on this forum is rude and uncaring.  Of course not, the point is that not every homeless person is either.  Characterizing all homeless (bums) into one category, as most often happens here, is as wrong as saying all blacks are lazy, all rich people are snobs, ETC., and it is just wrong to do it. You personally may think that “not all are” when you post, but the thread ends up portraying that they are.

Look. We seem to have a miscommunication here...

I'm NOT talking about whatever percentage of them are actually mentally or physically handicapped, and truly cannot care for themselves. What I'm talking about are the VAST MAJORITY of them around who are perfectly able to work, but either make more money panhandling, or don't want to work because that would cut into their drinking/drug time.

Out of this category, which includes most/all of the riverside bums I see all the time, most of them are rude arrogant jackasses who "demand" rather than "beg" or "ask", and who will tell you off and make wisecracks if you don't give them money, and will call you a liar if you say you don't have any. They get in your face, are pushy and aggressive, and I don't think most of them are even homeless.

When I say "bum" I'm not talking about "homeless people" I'm talking about "panhandlers".

[stjr]

I have noted regular panhandlers for YEARS around Jax.  Most have the same MO so I imagine they must be taking a course somewhere on how to perfect the trade. From my observations,these must be the basics:

1. Make a cardboard sign.
2. Put on sign "Homeless-no job" and the kicker, "God Bless".
3. Don't shave, take a shower, or apply makeup for a week. Muss hair.
4. Dress in ragged clothes purchased at the Goodwill Thrift store.
5. Stake out traffic lights at the foot of ramps to bridges and interstates.  Downtown is prime territory since no one lives nearby so there won't be any complaints from the "neighbors" and panhandling is already prevalent leading to a certain level of acceptance.
6. Appear at location no more than once every month lest someone begin to recognize you doing this as a vocation.
7. Avoid confrontations with public asking why, if you need help, you aren't at the homeless center getting it, or, alternatively, why are you "begging" for 5+ years straight, or why, if you can stand in the hot sun for multiple straight hours you aren't fit for a job?
8. Avoid filing tax returns for all those cash gifts you ripped off.  Wouldn't want to subsidize welfare for others.

I give my $$$ to charities who will screen out the truly-in-need from those who need to be truly outed!

[Johnny]

You know, one of my strongest beliefs is that people that make excuses are the cause for the majority of societies ills. There should never be an excuse only action, excusing behavior is a crutch that enables a person to continue on their downward spiral. I would advise anyone that disagrees to speak with a judge, cop or detective. They'll tell you how the parents made excuses for their childrens bad behavior, they grow up to do bad things to others or themselves. Then you see those that commit crime or become the bum alcoholics and you hear that they are victim of (fill in the blank, surroundings, bad education, abuse, etc..). Always an excuse, it never ends....

[Bewler]

And everyone who posts on this forum is rude and uncaring.  Of course not, the point is that not every homeless person is either. 

For the record, I am rude and uncaring.

[RiversideLoki]

And I only care a teeny bit. Last nights "panhandler" count was 1.

[wwanderlust]

The great bum purge? Oh, if wishing made it so.

[samiam]

It is my belief that the homeless do get the help they need, most of the bums and panhandlers are vagrants. There is a big difference between someone that is homeless do to just plan bad luck or bad circumstances. A vagrant is nothing but a parasight on society that chooses to be a burdon on the rest of us. Yes there are a few mentally ill people that fall though the cracks and I do think they should be taken care of by there family's and if there family is unable or unwilling to take care of them then the state should step up and take care of them.

[samiam]

The idea of moving all the social services to the more affluent parts of town is great but another option is to move them to the very northern part of duval county of HW 95, There is nothing up there no one to panhandle from. It could be made into a commune if you don't work you don't eat, plain and simple

[JaxNole]

My approach is simple when a panhandler approaches me: I sternly look the person in the eye and firmly say, "No."

No one has ever followed me or blathered on after.

Sorry it doesn't work for any of y'all.

[sheclown]

JaxNole, that has been my experience as well. 

It is rather strange that so many have been victimized by the "bums." )Irony here

As far as locking up the mentally ill, doesn't happen.  The mental ward is now the sidewalk. The shelters are full.  And innocent people are being locked up because they have no place to sleep. 

And btw, are there con men who pose as homeless? Of course.  Just like there are con men who pose in all occupations and walks of life.