So go ahead, let someone you don't know use your home. What if that person is a recovering addict and just by chance on accident gets involved with drugs and is still staying at your house. Common sense would tell you not to do it. I wouldn't. BUT If I didn't have four kids and an extended sick family, I would be on my "free time" be trying in some other way to help out. I work at a restaurant and do what I can for the area I live in. Just yesterday, I gave out free food to the nicest lady ever, I could tell she just needed to sit in private somewhere and eat. Do what you can WHEN you can, it makes a difference!

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Originally Posted by startover22

Well crap, I was doing nice things all along. Are you telling me it took Obama to be president to tell these people they could do good? I am not buying that crap. AND just now people are noticing that someone did something nice? I do not think so. It is a choice, and that just goes to show that before they were not making the right ones. I guess that sounds pretty negative, but as I see it, excuse after excuse is why someone couldn't make their own choices to help someone out.

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Well, you'd better shop somewhere else, because crap it's not! Maybe, probably they were doing nice things all along too, but now there's an enthusiasm and a joyousness that wasn't there before. And others who weren't doing nice things all along have caught that enthusiasm and are doing nice things and feeling the rush of pleasure that happens when one does a nice thing for someone else.

I recognize that rush of pleasure. I LOVE IT! I just get all doom and gloom when it takes a "star" to make people see that they can do it. When this could have been happening all along. We all know it and should be ashamed! We are not kids who need a parent giving encouragement anymore Wondergirl, we are adults and that should count for something.

Don't get me wrong, I will take all the do gooders in the world and wish them all the success in the world, I just really wish they would have come out long before this. Don't you?

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Originally Posted by startover22

No, but they could go to a church or a homeless shelter to try and get on their feet

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Have you ever stayed overnight in a homeless shelter? You close your eyes and finally fall asleep and someone swipes your stuff.

My long-time homeless friend asserts his independence by avoiding shelters saying, "I am not a case and I don't want to be managed."

So you are saying you wouldn't go to a shelter and instead live your life on the streets instead? "I am not a case and I don't want to be managed." What does that mean?

EDIT: no I have not stayed in a shelter, thank my lucky stars I have never been put in that position.

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Originally Posted by startover22

I recognize that rush of pleasure. I LOVE IT! I just get all doom and gloom when it takes a "star" to make people see that they can do it. When this could have been happening all along. We all know it and should be ashamed! We are not kids who need a parent giving encouragement anymore Wondergirl, we are adults and that should count for something.

Don't get me wrong, I will take all the do gooders in the world and wish them all the success in the world, I just really wish they would have come out long before this. Don't you?

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I guess not everyone in the world is as sharp as you and I are and need a model or an example (your parent figure) in their lives to point the way. How often I have heard since November, "I never even thought of doing something [to help society or someone else] that's so easy!"

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I guess not everyone in the world is as sharp as you and I are and need a model or an example (your parent figure) in their lives to point the way. How often I have heard since November, "I never even thought of doing something [to help society or someone else] that's so easy!"

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I am not saying I am sharp. But I agree with your statement about never even thinking about what they could have been doing all along. You got that right! And it sure is easy.

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Originally Posted by startover22

We are not kids who need a parent giving encouragement anymore Wondergirl, we are adults and that should count for something.

Don't get me wrong, I will take all the do gooders in the world and wish them all the success in the world, I just really wish they would have come out long before this. Don't you?

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But what you are not recognizing Start is that a lot of people that are starting to volunteer and help out are college kids. As much as you don't need someone to inspire you to give someone free food it does take someone like Obama to inspire a 19 year old to step away from the beer pong table and do something worth while.

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Originally Posted by spitvenom

But what you are not recognizing Start is that a lot of people that are starting to volunteer and help out are college kids. As much as you don't need someone to inspire you to give someone free food it does take someone like Obama to inspire a 19 year old to step away from the beer pong table and do something worth while.

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Ok, I can handle that. I get that.

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Originally Posted by startover22

So you are saying you wouldn't go to a shelter and instead live your life on the streets instead? "I am not a case and I don't want to be managed." What does that mean?

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Nope. My long-time homeless friend had a few very bad experiences in shelters and never went to one again during his twelve years on the street.

The "case managing" thing is that, in a shelter, you give up your right to be yourself. You have to go with their program. If it's a church-sponsored shelter, you are obliged to sit through a sermon before they feed you or allow you to sleep. If you are out of work, you are obliged to follow their program for job hunting. (I volunteered for a few months at a family shelter as a job coach and quit because of the "dance" the residents had to perform.)

Well, I guess it is a choice, don't do drugs, go to church and do some extra curricular activities in order to stay here:) If you don't like it I suppose you don't have to stay. Do you really think the volunteer are there to make the homeless lives miserable? I don't, I hope not. Maybe they thought these rules and regulations would get them in to gear faster? I don't know really, just a thought!

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Originally Posted by startover22

I am not saying I am sharp. but I agree with your statement about never even thinking about what they could have been doing all along. You got that right! And it sure is easy.

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Even something as simple as carrying a garbage bag and gloves as you are out and about, then picking up papers, cans, and other trash can inspire other people not only not to drop their refuse wherever they feel like it but also do the same thing as you are doing. And oh, how the melting snow is exposing the trash in Chicagoland!

(I was very disappointed that Obama didn't end his inauguration speech by saying, "Oh, and before you leave the Mall, please pick up all the trash and empty water bottles and pop cans and blankets and newpapers that are lying at your feet. We've put out many receptacles for your use. Please look for one or take the trash home (since you carried it in before it was trash) to dispose of properly.")

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Originally Posted by startover22

Well, I guess it is a choice, don't do drugs, go to church and do some extra curricular activities in order to stay here:) If you dont like it I suppose you don't have to stay. Do you really think the volunteer are there to make the homeless lives miserable? I don't, i hope not. Maybe they thought these rules and regulations would get them in to gear faster? I don't know really, just a thought!

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My homeless friend doesn't drink or do drugs and, even though was raised Catholic, is no longer religious. He didn't like what he found at shelters, and he didn't stick around. So then he was dead meat as far as social services go.

I didn't say the volunteers made the homeless' lives miserable, but the homeless so have to dance to their tune and give up their autonomy, or they're out the door. There are too many homeless and not enough volunteers who know (have been trained to know?) what they are dealing with.

Just do your part and them some. That is my motto...
I agree about the melting snow, it shows all the yuck from the winter. I agree that it looked really bad when people left that night after they were done with the celebration. I do not think it was his duty to tell the people to pick up their own trash, I mean come on did all those people voting for him not know to do it without being told? Sorry, I had to put that in there... we just rely on others too much to tell us what the right thing to do is. AND it bothers me a lot.

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Originally Posted by startover22

Just do your part and them some. That is my motto....
I agree about the melting snow, it shows all the yuck from the winter. I agree that it looked really bad when people left that night after they were done with the celebration. I do not think it was his duty to tell the people to pick up their own trash, I mean come on did all those people voting for him not know to do it without being told? Sorry, I had to put that in there....we just rely on others to much to tell us what the right thing to do is. AND it bothers me a lot.

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No, it wasn't his duty and yes, they "should have" been respectful enough to honor the day and pick up after themselves. But we all seem to need a parent figure in our lives now and then.

I live in an upper-middle-class suburb. Once a year there's a big parade in town. Why don't all those well-educated, well-off spectators pick up their trash? Main Street looks like a dump after everyone leaves.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

My homeless friend doesn't drink or do drugs and, even though was raised Catholic, is no longer religious. He didn't like what he found at shelters, and he didn't stick around. So then he was dead meat as far as social services go.

I didn't say the volunteers made the homeless' lives miserable, but the homeless so have to dance to their tune and give up their autonomy, or they're out the door. There are too many homeless and not enough volunteers who know (have been trained to know?) what they are dealing with.

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When we get a job, we have to dance to our bosses tune. When we go to school, we have to dance to our bosses tune. When we do anything we have to. To get ahead and not be homeless, I would do what I needed to. Especially if I were on my own, no drug addictions, no mental illnesses. I would do it then leave that part of my life in the dust as I enjoyed working and spending my free time as I wish. Now, my head is spinning, if I had money I would start a shelter of my own. Mark my words... for sure people like you who do good would be welcome to volunteer suggestions and help;)

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

No, it wasn't his duty and yes, they "should have" been respectful enough to honor the day and pick up after themselves. But we all seem to need a parent figure in our lives now and then.

I live in an upper-middle-class suburb. Once a year there's a big parade in town. Why don't all those well-educated, well-off spectators pick up their trash? Main Street looks like a dump after everyone leaves.

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I agree all the way.. it is called being lazy and selfish.

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Originally Posted by startover22

To get ahead and not be homeless, I would do what I needed to.

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If you ever become homeless and have hung out at a shelter, find a computer and PM me about your experience. (I can't wait!)

I am not saying it wouldn't be hard. Sheesh, my life not being homeless is hard! You can't wait? Well I really appreciate that Wondergirl!

Look, all I am saying is that I guess some of us are willing to do what is needed and some of us aren't. Some of us plainly just can't. A shelter vs. the street for another 15 years, the choice would be clear to me. Others maybe not. I know we can make a difference!