Hurting the Homeless : What Would You Do In This Situation If You Were There...

Just how would you react if you saw this within your own community in your town?

Primetime: Hurting the Homeless (Embedding Got Disabled)

How is the value of a homeless individual any less than that of an average citizen?

Would you intercede on behalf of these individuals or would you walk away?

People it would seem have no conscience sometimes when it comes to homeless people.

Some see them as trash, as violent, as less than human, and sometimes mentally ill.

I do not see homeless people as trash, nor less than human, but some are mentally ill.

I say this having been a former Security Officer who would have to deal with people just like this, coming into the hospital I used to work at, where other Security Officer's did in fact treat homeless people as less than human, because of their station in life, or because they smelled, or were mentally ill, the reason for them being in our hospital to begin with.

Under the Baker Act in Florida.

Partial quote from : Florida Mental Health Act

The Florida Mental Health Act of 1971 (commonly known as the "Baker Act") is a Florida statute allowing for involuntary examination of an individual.

It was originally enacted, at least in part, because of widespread instances of elder abuse, in which one or more family members would have another family member committed in order to gain control over their estate prior to their death.

Once committed, it was difficult for many of the patients to obtain representation, and they became warehoused until their death.

Having been around the block, myself, having eaten at the local Soup Kitchen, at the age of 18, now currently living out of my car, at the age of 37 due to the economy, this video just pisses me off.

Do people just see the homeless as human detritus not worth anything?

While delivering pizzas for 15 years and dealing with customers I avoided the homeless.

Not because of their smell, or being mentally ill, but because of seeing the constant cons.

When you come out of the store you work in and are constantly asked for money repeatedly, it is irritating, to say the least, especially when you see someone use that money for booze.

Or drugs.

The illegal kind.

And I have to remember my safety through proximity regardless of who is who on the street.

But I did not go out of my way to harm anyone and I would step into this situation and get in these people's faces, because I still see the homeless as human beings who deserve humane treatment.

Are people really this inhuman to homeless people because of their perceptions?

I recommend to you a worthy book about the fears of society :

The Science of Fear: Why We Fear the Things We Shouldn't--and Put Ourselves in Greater Danger

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/94f1880c5ece.jpg[/atsimg]

Publisher's Weekly : Amazon Review :

Gardner, a columnist and senior writer for the Ottawa Citizen, is both matter-of-fact and entertaining in this look at fear and how it shapes our lives.

Although we are capable of reason, says Gardner, we often rely instead on intuitive snap judgments.

We also assume instinctively, but incorrectly, that if examples of something can be recalled easily, that thing must be common.

And what is more memorable than headlines and news programs blaring horrible crimes and diseases, plane crashes and terrorist attacks?

There is a very real danger within a community where homeless people gather. Illness, sickness, diseases, yes those are rampant, however, the very real danger does not just come from this, but from our own perceptions of these people, especially considering the fabric of our society when the family unit is so mixed emotionally.

With America being so torn apart throughout our political system, the social castes, upper class, middle class, the poverty line, we have a responsibility to watch what happens.

Politically speaking, as well as socially speaking, because if we're not aware, we will very easily be tipped into the social ineptitude where citizens can and will demand a final solution.

Remember, we are the very real problem with our own society, because of our perceptions.

All American's are very seriously one paycheck away from being homeless themselves.

Especially in the current economy.

[edit on 5-8-2010 by SpartanKingLeonidas]

reply to post by SpartanKingLeonidas


Yes I would intervene.

I have always viewed the scams ran as a survival mechanism. I never look down I just usually look people in the eye and tell them . Either yes or no.

I actually bought one guy dinner and asked him about the scams going on. He told me quite a lot. He also chased away a few others that tried to feed. It turned out he was former army. He showed me his VA ID.

As a society their will be a price to pay for the wasted capacity and potential...

reply to post by SpartanKingLeonidas


we are all homeless if one of us is homeless, and that is the law.

laws.

friends don't talk to friends in either actions or words and let them know that there are so many rules to our friendship that you will not live long enough to learn them all, let alone comply with the expectations of our friendship. friends do not talk to friends this way. it is not an example of making any child feel at "home". how many laws/rules are there for me to comply with in order to fullfill the expectations of my "friends'" society?

family does not talk to family in either actions or words and let them know that there are so many rules to our family that you will not (cannot) live long enough to learn them all, let alone comply with the expectations of our family. family does not talk to family this way. it is not an example of making any child feel at "home". how many laws/rules are there for me to comply with in order to fullfill the expectations of my "families'" society?

if it is not examples of being friendly like, family like, nor like making one feel at "home" to (by law) expect one to participate in conforming to the expectations of the rules and laws of society (GOD/Governments Of Dollars) that number so great no child born today (or existing) can live long enough to learn them before they die, then we are all homeless.

if members of society demand (by law) compliance with laws that number more than anyone can learn before they die...

if people are not friends, and they are not family ... then i may as well be homeless.

i've been in similiar situations shown in that tape, but honestly i may have reacted differently in some scenarios than others. some of those scenarios i would have used a few words, maybe, to difuse the situation. in some of those scenarios i wouldn't have used any words at all, and i would have dropped whoever the biggest one was first.

and for those who TEST my integrity and TEST the general public by putting them into stressfull situations to exploit and make profits out of creating situations and scenarios from people who already have enough stress in their lives...

if i would physically harmed the actor with the rubber bat who was what appeared to me as to be beating a homeless guy, and then john showed up with the cameras to question me about being a good or bad citizen, i may be inclined to cause him physical injury for having conspired to make me believe some kids were beating up on a homeless guy so he could film it and make a show on how people are.

i'm a war vet. i damn well know how i would react. and for those who try to put me into situations where i feel i have to fight/defend another, for their expose, would also get to see a little of what they felt inclined to go looking for, a reaction to wrong doings.

the "what would you do host"?

i'd hurt him if i had hurt another in what i percieved as defending another from harm. period.

the first "fake scenario" i may have been suspiscious. the second, i may not have known it was a rubber bat before i dropped one of those kids who was just "acting". but, i'm thinking at least one in their crew may have been experience with reading body language as i was approaching from across the street or somewhere, and would have been able to decide that it was time to stop acting. if they are "proffessionals" i would hope so.

those are some of my thoughts,
et



[edit on 4-8-2010 by Esoteric Teacher]

Oh my, it's hard to really say what someone would do in a situation, until they were actually in it.

I just had to say it hurts me, to see such disregard for human life. Such a lack of love for our own.

It should be a crime against humanity, to attack a person for no reason what so ever.

Its not hard for me to say how I would react in that situation.

I would have probably hit the kids if they touched the homeless person again after I told them to stop.

I got thrown out of school in the 9th grade for whupping the dog snot out of someone who was pushing and threatening and yelling and humiliating a kid everyone picked on in school for being poor and "ugly."

I dont care about going to jail if it comes to that. Dont pick on someone helpless in front of me unless you want some crazy to come down on you, because I lose my mind when I see stuff like that.

reply to post by ripcontrol


Intervening is in my estimation wholly acceptable.

I am a man of action and my actions speak loudly.

A citizens arrest would be in order if it were myself seeing this happen.

And that would be the least of my actions.

I would have already dialed 911 and reported an act of terrorism.

While I certainly can understand what you're saying about the con being survival, I cannot say I necessarily agree with it, because I see conning people as wrong.

I've seen far too many con men in my lifetime but the vast majority are behind a podium.

Not homeless individuals.

reply to post by Esoteric Teacher


I'm not sure if I agree about the first sentence of your reply but that's fine.

However, everyone will react, reply, and rectify this situation differently.

To each their own.

I do see this as horrendous behavior not acceptable to society.

Just because someone is homeless does not mean they deserve ill treatment.

I would always treat the homeless individuals coming into the hospital as human.

While I would not show sympathy, empathy definitely was there, sympathy was/is something easily taken advantage of irregardless of people's station in life.

reply to post by LostNemesis


Yes, while it might be difficult, until within the situation, a sense of outrage simmers.

At least within myself.

Crimes against humanity is a good idea.

The problem with this is the perception of humanity.

Quite a lot of people do not see the homeless as a part of humanity.

While I see people who treat people who are homeless like this as less than human.

[edit on 4-8-2010 by SpartanKingLeonidas]

I always carry a bat with me where I go so that would be a big yes.

I have never used it but it makes a great human repellent.
Nobody wants to mess with someone with a bat.

reply to post by Illusionsaregrander


People are the sum total of our actions and or inaction.

Unfortunately, there are just as many people, who would see your actions as criminal.

Because of those being teenagers and you an adult.

I cannot say I agree with those people though because of the necessity of the situation.

However, I could see plenty of people who would join in, being just as ignorant.

As the teenagers beating the homeless person.

We as a society need to make sure people are treated as people.

Humans treating humans with humanity.

And the parents of any teenagers doing these atrocious actions are just as guilty.

Bad parenting, peer pressure, lemmings running with the herd, it is ignorant.

mentally ill,

especially when you see someone use that money for booze.

Or drugs.

Many of mentally ill use illegal drugs yes but many because they can not get treatment for there mental illness. so they treat themselves with street drugs or alcohol.

I lost track of the times when i worked as a EMT that we would take someone with mental health problems into the hospital and how many times the hospitals would release them with only a few days worth of meds.
No followup, no referrals to some place that could help them just dumping them back on the street.

If i saw a homeless person being beaten on the street the least I would do is use my cell phone to photograph the beating and call 911.
If a weapon was used i would use my walking stick and beat the h**l out of the punks.
My walking stick is a two piece hardwood stick about 5 1/2 feet long.
and i have been trained in Arnis (Doble Baston/Bangkawa) Filipino martial art. A stick fighting system.

reply to post by Mythic Chris


Being that I am 6'4" and 360 pounds people do not usually give me grief.

But I sure understand where you're coming from.

Delivering pizzas we're not allowed to carry weapons.

Which is why I learned street smarts real fast.

I can spot trouble before it happens.

Like I mentioned before I would have already called 911.

Originally posted by SpartanKingLeonidas

Unfortunately, there are just as many people, who would see your actions as criminal.

Fortunately for me, I dont live my life for other people. I really dont care what the herd thinks of me. I care what I think of me, and I have pretty high standards.

In the end, I am, as you point out, the sum total of my actions and inactions. And when I am judged, (either by myself or God depending how that turns out) it will be for my actions or inactions, and not for my popularity.

Like I said, I would happily go to jail. I really dont care. Nor do I care one iota how many people might feel I was a child abuser for thumping a little monster for assaulting a homeless person. I would first verbally say for them to stop, I wouldnt just walk up and punch them. BUT..............the first one to lay a hand on that person after that would have all hell break loose on their butt. And I dont care what the consequences are for it.

I wouldnt try to weasel out of it in court either, I would just tell the judge exactly what I did and let the cards fall where they may.

I sleep GOOD at night. And I want it to stay that way.

Originally posted by ANNED
Many of mentally ill use illegal drugs yes but many because they can not get treatment for there mental illness. so they treat themselves with street drugs or alcohol.

I've heard about that I assure you.

I've worked in the hospital where they came to get help.

And I've seen Law Enforcement round them up for no real reason.

I worked in the psychiatric facility as well.

Followed a trail of corruption through State paying the facility too.

Originally posted by ANNED
I lost track of the times when i worked as a EMT that we would take someone with mental health problems into the hospital and how many times the hospitals would release them with only a few days worth of meds.
No followup, no referrals to some place that could help them just dumping them back on the street.

I've seen that as well as a former Security Officer in a hospital.

Between Baker Acts and Marchman Acts I saw a lot.

I was only working there for almost 2 years and I was shocked.

Thousands of people in a year were processed through the psyche facility.

All on our tax dollars.

Originally posted by ANNED
If i saw a homeless person being beaten on the street the least I would do is use my cell phone to photograph the beating and call 911.
If a weapon was used i would use my walking stick and beat the h**l out of the punks.
My walking stick is a two piece hardwood stick about 5 1/2 feet long.
and i have been trained in Arnis (Doble Baston/Bangkawa) Filipino martial art. A stick fighting system.

I did speed up and slam on my brakes honking my horn one time.

The incident was near the railroad tracks and a bunch of hookers and homeless were beating the crap out of another homeless man, I called 911 while laying on the horn.

I never got out of the car but I did wait with doors locked until the Police Department sent someone.

reply to post by Illusionsaregrander


Understood.

You know where I stand on this atrocity.

Please take my comment merely as a reply and not a judgment.

Respect for one's self is primary.

Life is not a popularity contest.

Those who do not like me know exactly where they can go.

Straight to Hell.

This is making me concerned about going to sleep at night even knowing this happening to anyone at all, around me. There are many homeless on the westcoast of Canada. What on earth is this world coming to when teenagers and children are doing this to other human beings.

Homelessness itself is something that infurtiates me for there is no excuse for bankers and realtors, and knowing that no one gets it, no one really gets how evil this world is and we should have thrown them all out because it is abuse of our children to allow slavery or poverty or money even, no one except for natives and the poor seem to get it at all.

Nor do I believe in run down hotels and condemable apartment buildings. I believe in eco villlages and people helping each other erect homes and plant gardens and volunteers helping those in need all the time.

While these people all did the right thing and it made me feel happy to see the innate goodness, the acceptance of homelessness itself is not right. And even more, this happens at night, when there is no one around to stop it. And at night, people are far more likely, if they see this, to not get involved with violent thugs who are likely to kill or maim you without witnesses.



[edit on 4-8-2010 by Unity_99]

reply to post by Unity_99


It definitely concerns me that this happens.

The homelessness.

The abuse of the homeless.

But I lose no sleep over homelessness.

There are shelters nearby and a Soup Kitchen.

The abuse has never happened that I have seen personally.

I've only read about it or seen it on the news.

If I saw it happen locally I would intervene.

And sleep soundly.

We need to take care of our country before all others.

America gives out far too much aid to other countries and ignores itself.

This is the fault of the politicians currying foreign favors through our tax dollars.

i have a homeless brother.
i could not watch the video as its a very sensitive subject to me, but i will tell yo this, if i saw something happening to a homeless person just getting hawked, i'd personally intervene in what ever manor it took to shake up the action being tended.

how people can be so ruthless is mind boggling to me.
people are brutally primitive at times. from what i have read in the past, it seems mostly young people doing the harm.

god speed to my brother. where ever he is.

reply to post by zooplancton


May your brother be safe from all harm.

And I understand about you not watching the video.

It is mind boggling how ignorant can be in their treatment of their fellow human beings.

Mankind is sadly the only species that harms those of the same species for fun.

I am talking specifically just for cruelty that ignorant people see as fun.

Barbarism is just one step away.

I typically will intervene in any situation where I feel there is an injustice occurring and I have any remote chance at tipping the scales.

I do this as part of balancing my karmic debt, and let me tell you I sure have a debt!

So I am almost always happy to do something when a situation presents itself where I can help out and do the right thing.

I also will basically give what ever I truly have to give to anyone who asks. “Ask and thou shall receive”, I don’t really care if they are going to spend it on booze, drugs, cigarettes, food, or a flop house. That’s how they choose to live their life, and if a cheap bottle of wine or malt liquor in an alley or a park satisfies their ambitions and desires, who am I to deny them that or frown down upon that.

I will say this though, you really never know. Once when I was still in my late teens I was walking down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood CA one day and noticed a shirtless, filthy kid about my age, by a gas stations pay phone. He only had one shoe on and he was rummaging through a satchel that looked like it had already been rummaged through after being stashed in the wrong place, or him being robbed.

I thought to myself “There but for the grace of good fortune stands I”, I arrived in LA myself scarcely a year before with nothing but a similar satchel over my shoulder and 35.00 dollars in my pocket.

I didn’t know how much money I had on me, but I decided what ever it was, I was going to give it all to the kid.

It turned out to be 235.00 dollars I gave him that day, not because I counted it, but he did. He didn’t right there and then he was too stunned. I handed it to him and directed him to some cheap clothing stores nearby and a cheap hotel nearby and suggested he get some new clothes and cleaned up, and wished him luck.

Three weeks later I was walking down a nearby side street when a car screeched to a halt next to me and a kid jumped out of the passenger side and leapt and screamed for joy “It’s you, it’s you, it’s my lucky day, I can’t believe it, it’s you!”, I looked at the kid, and said, “Who are you?”

He turned out to be the same kid, with a haircut, all cleaned up, and driving the car was his new boss and roommate. He took my advice, found a decent construction apprentice job within a couple of days, the foreman took pity on him and let him move in with him, and when he got his first paycheck he stuck 235.00 aside and had been out ever afternoon for a week driving around trying to find me.

He proudly counted out 235.00 and handed it to me, and told me he had dreamed about nothing but this moment from the moment I gave him the money. That above all he wanted me to see the difference I had made and to be proud of him.

I scratched my head in disbelief, scarcely able to believe it.

That happened 27 years ago, and the memory is truly priceless to me still to this day.

People will surprise you; don’t be afraid to surprise yourself to find out!

Originally posted by SpartanKingLeonidas
reply to post by zooplancton

 

May your brother be safe from all harm.

And I understand about you not watching the video.

It is mind boggling how ignorant can be in their treatment of their fellow human beings.

Mankind is sadly the only species that harms those of the same species for fun.

I am talking specifically just for cruelty that ignorant people see as fun.

Barbarism is just one step away.

thanks spartenm, i appreciate that.
i was horrified about 7 years ago when reading about the kids that lit a homeless person on fire while they were asleep...

how can people pick on someone that has so little going for them? is it a primitive act of trimming the tribe of useless fat?
i don't get it.

not all homeless are drug users. my brother is schizophrenic. he lives a pretty normal life for the most part. he was attacked in san fracisco a few years back. he came to my home all bloody and swollen face. it broke my heart in two.

sadly i wish *i* could help him, but there's not much i can do financially.
and as the years roll by, its going to be harder to see how he gets by. i'm 43 and he's 54. time and age are harsh for the folks that live on the streets. (sorry for rant)

now i'm sad.

reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler


AMAZING story proto!!!
wow, people like you are what we need more of.
thank you for posting this. this made my night.
thank you.
friending you now.
-zoo