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by Symbeline on March 10th, 2008
I don't think they're lazy. Surviving harsh weathers, scrounging all day for food or fighting mental illnesses or addictions must be some damn hard work.
If they don't do it, they'll most likely die. I think it's probably pretty complicated, too. There are various reasons for being homeless, and even if statistics suggest common reasons, some people might do it on purpose. Some fall into the cracks of society, others plunge there willingly.
And being ''lazy'' is relative. I'm the laziest bitch ever, but I must have missed like a week's worth of work days in the past four years. I don't even take my optional vacation or sick days.
And lazy people who just don't want to work, actually work extremely hard at faking mental illnesses or passing fraud on the government.
Which brings me back to homeless folk, there could be a lot of reasons why they're in such a situation, but I don't think sloth is really one of them.
First off, you need to be comfortable to be lazy. Kind of hard to enjoy doing nothing and kick back when you're freezing to death and your stomach is eating itself.
by Boohradley on April 24th, 2007
No. The majority of homeless are mentally ill. In the 80's when mentally ill care was deregulated many people who were institutionalized were then released, landing on the street without a safety net. This is a complicated unfortunate situation with no easy answers. I'm not sure if institutionalization is the answer.
It is nearly impossible to improve your situation when you do not have stable housing, food, bathrooms, etc. Therefore I think we have to as a society provide shelter before we can work with people to become self sufficient.
by bobbo489 on April 24th, 2007
No, i consider them disfortunate. I wish there was a way that we could take the homeless people and reintegrate them into the the working force and give them places to live.
by Bsweet. on December 5th, 2008
no not when people are losing thier homes all over the country due to the economy. no i dont
by Oor Galooly - on May 25th, 2008
Some may be lazy but it`s all circumstance. There was a homeless guy in France who apparently used to be a university professor. He lost it when his wife died and couldn't cope anymore and eventually ended up in the street. I was homeless once too, but only by unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances.
by Neptune66 on December 8th, 2008
No. There are people with mental disorders who, because of their mental condition, have no choice in the matter. There are others who prefer a life of no responsibility. There used to be a tramp called 'Matty' who lived in the woods. He would do gardening an odd jobs for people but prefered to live outside. The story was that he had been jilted by the girl he loved and never recovered from it. I used to take him Easter eggs and leave them by the hut he lived in in the woods. He wore a top hat and tails.
by chrisfrommanila on December 8th, 2008
No. Just unlucky. Probably made bad decisions. And many where born poor, really poor that they call the streets home. These are the ones who need mercy especially the children, they can grew up becoming criminals. Very few were able to get out from the rut. They need help.
by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on December 5th, 2008
Not at all. Despite what we all had drilled into our heads in the Reagan years, the closing of all those huge, overcrowded mental hospitals meant that a lot of people with serious mental illness suddenly had no where to sleep anymore. The hospitals are still standing there, empty and rotting, and the people who used to live in them are sleeping under bridges and in old subway tunnels. That is, if they haven't died of exposure in the ensueing years.
The premise behind those closings was that mental hospitals were cruel, and that medication could take care of all their problems now. The trouble is, those medications usually have side effects. Many people with mental illness would rather have the illness than the side effects and there is usually no one around to make sure they take those meds. The medication doesn't help in the bottle. Somehow, I think throwing someone who is not able to take care of themselves out on the streets to beg and freeze is a little more cruel than keeping them warm and fed in a hospital.
by 40ishVoiceofReason on December 5th, 2008
No. They fall into two groups.
Those who are mentally ill and those who have fallen on hard times.
With the downward turn of the economy- there will be a lot more homeless now more then ever.
by Anonymous on September 16th, 2008
I think most homeless people work as hard (if not harder) than your average American. They've got a tough life.
by leeks5229 on September 1st, 2008
No, I would not consider homeless people as lazy. If I do so it would tantamount to making a sweeping statement without understanding the real situation and this is not being fair to them. However we can't deny the reality that there are people in that unfortunate state.
What do we have? What have driven them to this state of seemingly "no return"? I would be great if we could undertake a survey to ascertain the real situation but this may not be easy.
by ohthunderbelle doesnt dance she boogies on March 10th, 2008
Not necessarily. I'm sure some of them are, but...everyone has a different story...
by Done. never again. on March 10th, 2008
No....I imagine it's incredibly difficult to pick yourself up after bringing yourself into that position, plus suffering from mental illness and often alcoholism.
by Spunts.answered 67 questions in 1 hour. on January 18th, 2008
no,a lot of them are war veterans.
by Nellie Wise Gamgee on April 24th, 2007
no most homeless people are in fact working.
by roiboysatx on October 2nd, 2009
the vast majority of homeless people are not lazy. alot have mental problems and now a growing number have lost their incomes and homes due the the economy.
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
I think that there are different kinds of homeless people like mentioned in one of the answers, and not all are lazy, some are maybe, but you can't put all homeless people into one category.
by myego39 on December 5th, 2008
the ones I know are just lazy freeloaders who will do anything for a cigarette or another drink
by singwell-is off researching a lot on September 1st, 2008
As many of them are lazy as those who have homes are lazy. Most of the ones I deal with regularly on the streets are either alcoholics or psychiatric patients.
by Anonymous on September 1st, 2008
No i don't consider them to be lazy. I consider many of them to be unfortunate.
by JuJubee is wearing a COAT of chocolate on August 31st, 2008
No I don't. I think that they have had some bad stuff happen in their lives, and they ended up this way. Most of us are 2 paychecks away from being homeless.
by DA BEN DAN yanggui zi on August 31st, 2008
no, not necessarily...I assume some are lazy...but I know people who are not homeless who are lazy as well....I think a lot of homeless people work very hard just to survive...
by Koz - Passion Perseverance Patience on August 31st, 2008
Some might be, some probably need help. Some are mentally disoriented and need guidance. There was a program on TV where they interviewed some homeless people and a couple of them said that they were unwanted by their family so they had no choice but to live they way they are.
by cobber on August 31st, 2008
some, but most have mental issues.
by thewallfly on August 31st, 2008
No, its unfortunate. Before I assuem their lazy I try to figure out how they got to that stage. I'm also a bit hsocked at how unaware people are of their situation. Its hard to move out of that atage (being homeless I mean). Most people wont hire them because they think the person may nto be reliable, and others who are homless have mental illnesses which makes them undesirable when it comes to offering job positions. I knew a guy who use to hire homeless people, like anythign dealing with people, its hard to find the ones willing to work and the ones who may truly be lazy but you've got to have alot of patience becuase they may not be as happy-go-lucky as their non-homless coutnerparts.
I fel like before people judge they should try living on the streets a few days. See how a homeless person is treated (usually second clas citizens and ignored like a stray animal). I've often seen stray animals get treated better than a homeless person. Or atleast volunteer their time at a shelter and tlak to a few, those who think they are lazy will be surprised after hearing a few stories.
by JunieC on August 31st, 2008
No, definetly not there are many reasons people are homeless. People don't always qualify for government assistance and the waiting list for people struggling with mental illness is torture. Sure there are people with addictions that are homeless but they don't always choose their addiction.
by Jen-Jen on July 31st, 2008
No I DON'T.
by Zack on May 25th, 2008
I consider then as people needing help.
by Mastodon on May 25th, 2008
Some are but many are just victims of circumstance?
by DA BEN DAN yanggui zi on May 25th, 2008
No, not all of them. Many of them are mentally ill or have just really had a rough time in life. I don't think you can lump all homeless people into one category. Life is a crap shoot..some people don't have it nearly as rough...some people bounce back. And true there are some people who are lazy as well...who just don't try.
by Anonymous on January 18th, 2008
No not in all cases. But most could do better for themselves if they tried.
by Galeanda on January 18th, 2008
No, for the most part they are people with problems like mental illness, physical problems, bad timing, catastrophes, and economic hard times. A few may be avoiding work but they are in the minority.
by Saltlick on January 18th, 2008
There's different kinds of them but for the most part they are stupid and irresponsible, but not particularly lazy.
by Mustang on April 24th, 2007
Some are lazy and some are just drunkards or druggies but may are just stuck in a rut that they really cant get out of. No money to get some decent clothes to get a job to get money...
by lee_jm08 on October 4th, 2008
im a homeless and i will never consider myself as a lazy person.. sometimes is that you just dont have to generalized people..it is not a mistake of some people unfortunate enough compared to other people..
by malevolentbutticklis on August 31st, 2008
Yes. They normally are. I tried to have one guy who said "will work for food" come dig a hole and he wouldn't budge. What a conartist!!!
by philosopher-saint on September 1st, 2008
Au contrare. They gotta move when the man says so.
by what on September 16th, 2008
No just a little out there.
by Someguy on August 31st, 2008
No. A lot of them are mentally ill.
It takes a lot of work staying off the grid.
by American idle on April 24th, 2007
Mentally maybe. The apparently think there's no hope left for them.
by Anonymous on May 25th, 2008
I consider homeless people lazy. I think that if they are mentally ill that is a totally different matter and that they should seek medicinal help. However, for the average homeless person, who has not commited any felonies, getting a job should not be that hard. If they go to a shelter they will be able to find clothes to look presentable to jobs, and then interview a job. I'm 18 years old and have been supported by an upper class family my whole life. However, I moved out and getting a job and finding an apartment was very easy. Suck it up and work.
by gh0stt0wn on August 31st, 2008
no becuz all them ride cross town on thier bikes or walk to fynd cans n shyt
by Anonymous on December 5th, 2008
No, although I believe there are those in that situation because they ARE lazy. Mostly it's either bad planning, bad choices or just plain bad luck. Things can change literally overnight. One day you're riding high ad the next you have nothing.
by lysdexia9 on March 10th, 2008
I wasn't lazy when I was a squatter. I was going threw a lot and the easiest yet hardest thing to do was leave everything with a backpack and be homeless. But now everything is changed and I am clean and with a home, in continuing college, and with a great job.
by machinerat on August 31st, 2008
For the most part no. I think that the lazieness is inversely proportional to the age. Meaning, the young and able 'gutter punks' are the ones who tend to be lazy.
by Colt COAT of Justice on December 8th, 2008
On the contrary. They are people who worked too hard and felt through the cracks. This should never happen!
by Anonymous on September 30th, 2009
NO. Some have made bad decisions in life some other just got the worst of luck. But not all are lazy
by leeks5229 on September 30th, 2009
No, I do not consider homeless people as lazy.
by CaRbOnPrOdUcK is Baccuss on October 2nd, 2009
No. EIther depressed or down on their luck.
by Zack on October 2nd, 2009
It could happen to any one of us. Being lazy is the last thing that would occur to me.
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Comments
well said.
by kuyakev on March 11th, 2008
Very well said, being homeless isn`t easy, I don't think anyone would be out on the street by choice.
by Oor Galooly - on May 25th, 2008
Alot of what you said got me thinking. I am extremely lazy. I am finally admitting it. I have been on Welfare for 6 years now. I tried to get on Social Security so I'd have a more permanent source of income, because I didn't want to work. I felt like there was nothing i was good at and I'll never be any good for any company. I didn't want to work so badly that I made myself depressed so I could try to get SSI for it. Untill one day I just realized this isn't going to work if I still want my family in my life, so I stopped being that way for awhile. Now I'm starting to fall into that crack again and I'm scared I might become homeless. I can get a job at BK, but I'm too scared. Sometimes I don't know what to do. i think that I'll just need to be pushed sometimes but then when someone tries to push I start to push back and become even more lazy. I've even tried to convince myself that I was born retarded and that's why I can't do anything right.
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
I don't know why I made the comment so long. Sorry. Oh by the way, even though I try to tell myself that I can't do anything right, I often find myself able to do some pretty cool things without trying. What's up with that?
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
I think you just need to find something to do. As you're aware, you're not stupid or lazy, just sounds to me like you couldn't give a rat's ass about half of what society means. And I'm with you on that one. You may not have liked that company, or felt that you were inferior, but you could try some other place, or take a course in something. I hate my fucking job, but I'm only working it while taking my pathology courses. I mean life isn't easy, and most of us have no choice to but to endure shitty jobs, but there are alternatives, different choices and shit-and as you acknowledge, things like family, or just feeling better about yourself are quite worth it in the end. Living on welfare, for as little as you get on there, is more work to me than actually working-what with always being hungry or being anxious that they'll drop you any day.
by Symbeline on October 1st, 2009
I do need to find something to do. And as bad as society might be I would like to find my place in it. Thankyou for saying I'm not lazy, but 7 years is pretty long to be dependent on the government to pay for your living expenses. And stupid no I'm not. And what does society mean to you?
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
Beh. Humans are like pack animals, so we don't have a choice to live in groups, but unfortunately, I don't see much beyond our instinctive and natural behaviours to thrive by crushing those weaker than us. But in my opinion, that's just how it is. So, to me, society is like a clean jungle. I mean, everything is so superficial, and people say things and sprinkle it with corny shit, but in the end, we all just do what we can to survive-people feign mental illness to get welfare, others are tyrannical company leaders. Of course I make it sound all dramatic, but if you have a better suggestion, I'd love to hear it. I don't like my views. I even think love and family are nothing but motivational means for maintaining the human race-nobody likes my views-but either way, as you seem to know, even if within different approaches-we all got our place somewhere.
by Symbeline on October 1st, 2009
I actually like your views. I'm glad I got to hear them. I would like to think alittle more like you!
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
Welfare exists because if it didn't, there would be revolutions, like France once knew, or our countries would crumble, like Africa. People also compromise. It gets complicated, but I'm also afraid that my views only serve to justify ME being lazy and not wanting to attempt and change anything-just accept it all as it is. It's a great flaw. In short, what are your views like?
by Symbeline on October 1st, 2009
I would need to think about that one awhile. I'll get back to you.
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
Lazy bastard.
.
I'm joking lol. :) Any time you feel like it. :)
by Symbeline on October 1st, 2009
Kinda like yours, I think things are the way they are for a reason and any small contribution I make won't change anything. I think society is harsh especially to uneducated people. I think kids are the example that some people should follow. I think too many people are allowed to do things they shouldn't be allowed to do. And I think I need to think more about my views and what I should do about them, because I have a child that needs direction in her life, and that to follow my own heart would be a good example for her to follow.
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
I read your latest comment right when I finished posting mine. Now who's lazy?
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
Nevermind, that didn't make much sense. Sorry. LOL
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
Whatever sense it made or didn't make, it's all good. And yeah, I see where you're coming from. A lot of things happen that just shouldn't. Why? That's what I always ask myself. Why do little kids get raped? Why do we skullfuck and murder our fellow men? It's really hard thinking that this happens because there's a reason to, you know? But if there isn't a reason...WHY does it happen? I'm a horrible person. :)
by Symbeline on October 1st, 2009
Why do you say, "I'm a horrible person?" I don't think you are. I think we should talk more but not on this site. My email deathcab4cutie_numberonefan@msn.com, email me sometime if you want.
by funnybunny on October 1st, 2009
All right. Mine is fakeplasticnoway@yahoo.com
by Symbeline on October 1st, 2009
cool
by funnybunny on October 2nd, 2009