She Thinks Too Much [Such Girls Are Dangerous]

holiday-sunrise: deafmuslimpunx: searchingforknowledge: cynique: rockinroller25: Kanye West is wearing leather jackets with spikes in them, and wearing jeans with metal bands names on them… can’t wait for every ghetto swag hoodrat to start dressing like metal heads. Really can’t wait….All the kids who thought people like me were weird for wearing leather jackets or all black with metal band names mocked us.   I’ve been rocking the leather pants and metal band logo for as long as I can remember. Does this mean I’m a hipster and had “swag” before Kanye?   Its not the matter that he’s black. The issue is that he is a mainstream pop/hip-hop person so because of what he wears is “swag” to the mainstream sensation they’re all gonna wear these things which at one point which I was insulted for wearing all the time. So my problem is that I’m gonna see people who mocked me for wearing this attire are now wearing it cause its “hip”. shut up u piece of garbage  black n latin@ ppl have been wearing leather w/ spikes since u were born b. gangs in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s. u weren’t even of existence then.  go fuck urself pls.  Dear rocknroller25. Sweetheart. you young ignoramus.  Just like rocknroll, white people appropriated this look too. No babes, it aint original to you all. reblogging for the lulz that black people and people of color apparently didn’t dress like ‘punks’ back in the original days of punk. you know, never mind the fact that working-class English skinheads were obsessed with reggae, dancehall, ska (all black music!) and mingled with black people in England before it became “cool.” Nevermind the fact that skin punk, Oi!, ska, and other genres of punk rock were influenced by these musical styles & black people’s swag. Nevermind the fact that Latin@s were a huge part of the 1980s hardcore scene in Los Angeles (hey remember Alice Bag?), or that many white punks, such as Lydon and Strummer, were influenced by black people and different black musical styles. Nevermind that Poly Styrene (half English, half black) was one of the first pioneers of punk rock in the original days. Also, NOBODY GIVES A SHIT if you wear a leather jacket with spikes. That’s your choice to dress how you want, but nobody will give you shit for being a black person with natural afro hair or dreadlocks, THEY are the ones who get shit from everyone for being black and natural. How about BLACK PUNKS who get more shit than you, for being black, for being punk, and for having an afro or dreadlocks? And FYI, there are a lot of punks (both black and white, and Latin@ and other races) who happen to be “ghetto swag hoodrats.” It’s really nice of you to show your anti-classist bullshit. GTFO and STFU with your anti-black, anti-class BS. ^ thank you for that commentary! It is very true. I wish more people understood where some bands/genres got their music from - ethnic minorities - more than often Black groups/singers. BY THE WAY - there are some AMAZING metal and punk bands that have Black, Latino, etc members. BAD BRAINS - um hello….Fishbone, The Casualties, etc! I’m Native and I like punk and metal. When I was younger people used to make comments to me like “you know this isn’t a hip hop show?” or “the rap concert is down the road” or “do you even know what music these bands play?”. They also assumed I was Latina and sometimes made comments about how I didn’t belong there.  I got that shit all the time so I can only imagine what a Black young person may have to endure at punk or metal shows.  Btw one style doesn’t always necessarily have to belong to a specific genre of music. I go to punk shows wearing “non-punk” style clothes…what the hell is the big deal? Hahaha, entitled White people.  How droll. 

holiday-sunrise:

deafmuslimpunx:

searchingforknowledge:

cynique:

rockinroller25:

Kanye West is wearing leather jackets with spikes in them, and wearing jeans with metal bands names on them…

can’t wait for every ghetto swag hoodrat to start dressing like metal heads.

Really can’t wait….All the kids who thought people like me were weird for wearing leather jackets or all black with metal band names mocked us.

 

I’ve been rocking the leather pants and metal band logo for as long as I can remember. Does this mean I’m a hipster and had “swag” before Kanye?

 


Its not the matter that he’s black. The issue is that he is a mainstream pop/hip-hop person so because of what he wears is “swag” to the mainstream sensation they’re all gonna wear these things which at one point which I was insulted for wearing all the time. So my problem is that I’m gonna see people who mocked me for wearing this attire are now wearing it cause its “hip”.

shut up u piece of garbage 

black n latin@ ppl have been wearing leather w/ spikes since u were born b. gangs in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s. u weren’t even of existence then. 

go fuck urself pls. 

Dear rocknroller25. Sweetheart. you young ignoramus.  Just like rocknroll, white people appropriated this look too. No babes, it aint original to you all.

reblogging for the lulz that black people and people of color apparently didn’t dress like ‘punks’ back in the original days of punk. you know, never mind the fact that working-class English skinheads were obsessed with reggae, dancehall, ska (all black music!) and mingled with black people in England before it became “cool.” Nevermind the fact that skin punk, Oi!, ska, and other genres of punk rock were influenced by these musical styles & black people’s swag. Nevermind the fact that Latin@s were a huge part of the 1980s hardcore scene in Los Angeles (hey remember Alice Bag?), or that many white punks, such as Lydon and Strummer, were influenced by black people and different black musical styles. Nevermind that Poly Styrene (half English, half black) was one of the first pioneers of punk rock in the original days.

Also, NOBODY GIVES A SHIT if you wear a leather jacket with spikes. That’s your choice to dress how you want, but nobody will give you shit for being a black person with natural afro hair or dreadlocks, THEY are the ones who get shit from everyone for being black and natural. How about BLACK PUNKS who get more shit than you, for being black, for being punk, and for having an afro or dreadlocks?

And FYI, there are a lot of punks (both black and white, and Latin@ and other races) who happen to be “ghetto swag hoodrats.” It’s really nice of you to show your anti-classist bullshit. GTFO and STFU with your anti-black, anti-class BS.

^ thank you for that commentary!

It is very true. I wish more people understood where some bands/genres got their music from - ethnic minorities - more than often Black groups/singers. BY THE WAY - there are some AMAZING metal and punk bands that have Black, Latino, etc members. BAD BRAINS - um hello….Fishbone, The Casualties, etc!

I’m Native and I like punk and metal. When I was younger people used to make comments to me like “you know this isn’t a hip hop show?” or “the rap concert is down the road” or “do you even know what music these bands play?”. They also assumed I was Latina and sometimes made comments about how I didn’t belong there. 

I got that shit all the time so I can only imagine what a Black young person may have to endure at punk or metal shows. 

Btw one style doesn’t always necessarily have to belong to a specific genre of music. I go to punk shows wearing “non-punk” style clothes…what the hell is the big deal?

Hahaha, entitled White people. 

How droll. 


fantasticallyindifferent:

tragicblessing:

I got lots of hate for my post on wanting to be beautiful. 

You should know I think most Americans are ugly. I feel ugly on a daily basis, because regardless of what I do I will always be considered a white, oppressive, racist, white, fucking, girl.

No matter how much I love other people or cultures I will be considered disrespectful. No matter how much I try to be anything else I will be considered racist and oppressive. 

How is this any more fair to me than it is to others when people are actually like this?

How is fighting hate and disrespect with hate and disrespect logical in any way?

How is expressing yourself only okay if you do it within the confines of the color of your skin, of the origination of your heritage, of the culture you were born into without being asked about?

Isn’t that… exactingly what we’re all fighting against?

image

Congratulations! This post and that other post you made bothered me so much, I felt the need to personally address you! Let’s talk about this step-by-step.

1: “I got lots of hate for my post on wanting to be beautiful. ” Any hate you got was not for ‘wanting to be beautiful’. Nope, the hate you got was because you decided to hijack a post that wasn’t about you and start spouting ignorant nonsense, whining about ‘not having any culture’ and using that as an excuse to justify cultural appropriation.

2:”You should know I think most Americans are ugly. I feel ugly on a daily basis, because regardless of what I do I will always be considered a white, oppressive, racist, white, fucking, girl.” You do realize that ‘American’ doesn’t equal ‘white’, right? You do realize that there are people that come in all shapes/sizes/colors/races/ethnicities in America, right? You do realize that some of the types of people you romanticize and try to appropriate from live in America, right? You say stuff like that and then whine about being considered ‘oppressive and racist’? Yeah, okay.

3: “No matter how much I love other people or cultures I will be considered disrespectful. No matter how much I try to be anything else I will be considered racist and oppressive.” This isn’t about you loving other cultures. It’s about you taking parts from the cultures, that you probably don’t understand or know the significance of, and wearing them as fashion accessories.

4: “How is expressing yourself only okay if you do it within the confines of the color of your skin, of the origination of your heritage, of the culture you were born into without being asked about?” You mean, besides the spiritual/cultural significance the make-up/jewelry/garmets/etc. hold for the people? White people often get to parade around in hijabs, and at worst people will think they’re ~eccentric~. While an actual Muslim woman wears it and gets death threats if she’s in the wrong neighborhood. If she’s not in the wrong neighborhood, she will probably still have to deal with ignorant assholes telling her how oppressive her religion is and how misogynistic her culture is. If an African woman went in to the office one day wearing whatever traditional garb and markings from her specific culture, people would be all over telling her how unprofessional she looks. Out on the streets, people would be so damn fast to tell her to ‘go back to your own country’. Yet you wanna be able to steal the bits and pieces you deem pretty while people from the actual cultures can’t get away with wearing it.

5: “Isn’t that… exactingly what we’re all fighting against” Wrong again! And if you really think we’re fighting for ‘boring white girls’ to be able to wear whatever they want, from whatever culture they want, while they simultaneously shit on those cultures and benefit from racism, then you have REALLY missed  the point. My suggestion is to sit down and shut up. Perhaps listen to what other people are telling you about how you could actually appreciate and admire other cultures without appropriating from them.

Ahem. I am in no way, shape, or form an expert with this stuff, so if anyone sees something off or offensive in my argument feel free to call me out. This just really bothered me so I felt the need to say something.


tragicblessing:

I got lots of hate for my post on wanting to be beautiful. 

You should know I think most Americans are ugly. I feel ugly on a daily basis, because regardless of what I do I will always be considered a white, oppressive, racist, white, fucking, girl.

No matter how much I love other people or cultures I will be considered disrespectful. No matter how much I try to be anything else I will be considered racist and oppressive. 

How is this any more fair to me than it is to others when people are actually like this?

How is fighting hate and disrespect with hate and disrespect logical in any way?

How is expressing yourself only okay if you do it within the confines of the color of your skin, of the origination of your heritage, of the culture you were born into without being asked about?

Isn’t that… exactingly what we’re all fighting against?

how bout, and I’m about to really rock the boat here, how about 

you try listening to the people who’s ~*cultures you love so much*~ when they tell you, in various tones ranging from polite to pissed off, hey, don’t steal/jack/culturally appropriate our things!

FUCKINGWHOA, AMIRITE?

Because while you may be utterly enthralled by the things that aren’t yours, one would think, one would hope, that you have more respect for the people!

Hope I didn’t lose you there. 


Anonymous asked: "Yo I understand the context of that post, in that prejudice against white people has no huge societal consequences, and agree, but prejudice is still uncool and it shouldn't have to be oppressive to be frowned upon. Be a lil more sensitive maybe?"

Yo, guess what, bullying is bad, but that post was not the place for her to vent about the bullying she received as a kid in school!

Trust me, that was literally the most leveraged and sensitive response I could possibly give with all the flames on the side of my face!~ ^-^

Edit:

Here, maybe having a White person point out how she was wrong will seem a lil more ~*sensitive*~

posted 1 week ago with 12 notes

madihatestumbler:

fuckyeahcracker:

Effects Of Thinking White People Are “All Like That”:

  • Literally nothing other than white people having their feelings hurt on the internet
  • I’m not joking there is no real world consequence of this

Effects Of Thinking People of Color Are “All Like That”:

But yeah, white people’s feelings :*(

WOW THESE POSTS MAKE ME SO FUCKING ANGRY.

Just because you purposely looked up stories of non-white racism you think that it doesn’t exist?

THIS POST FUCKING PROVES THAT YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE! LIKE WHAT THE HELL! I spent my childhood fearing African-Americans because I was afraid they’d hurt me. Why? Because they made me cry for not knowing a fucking rap song. Because they told my best friend that she and I couldn’t be friends because I was white. Because I was the weird kid. Because they all constantly laughed in my face.

Just recently am I making friends who are black, and that’s only two boys who are sweet enough to realize that the world is a nice place if you make it nice.

You want to talk about prejudice and privilege? How about entitlement privilege? You think anyone cares about the white, cis girl who has been bullied and mistreated all her life? For a post about prejudice, you’re just focusing on the bad aspects because you didn’t bother looking up the ther side. Don’t act like a fucking saint and don’t speak for everyone.

why didn’t you learn some rap songs then?

Like….was that your only problem? Not knowing the lyrics to a “fucking rap song”? Oh noes?!1?

Sorry about your personal lyric-based trauma, but you legitimately missed -yet proved- the entire point of the list.

And what the fuck is “entitlement privilege?”

Just, idk, just go fucking sit down somewhere.

Jesus.


"The problem with Seth MacFarlane’s humor, as always, is that he’s almost always punching down instead of punching up. He’s picking on people who have always been picked upon, and he thinks he’s hilarious for doing so. What’s more, he’s making a lot of money from other people who enjoy that sort of thing. But that doesn’t make him funny. It makes him one of those fratboy douchebags who seem to be everywhere in life, even into middle age, making uncomfortably insulting wisecracks that always seem to end with the protest that “I’m just joking.” The result? The two white guys are the straight men in this bit. Everybody else—foreign, old, female—is ripe for the ribbing."

"So there must have been dozens of times that the word “nigger” was spoken in front of me before I reached the third grade. But I didn’t “hear” it until it was said by a small pair of lips that had already learned it could be a way to humiliate me. That was the word I went home and asked my mother about. And since she knew that I had to grow up in America, she took me in her lap and explained."
—

Gloria Naylor

I had to read her essay for English(that she wrote in 1986). A classy way to describe the word nigger and how it was/is used in the African American community. I respect that her mother kept the negative connotations from her as a child until necessary that she know, but with that being said, why are we still having to read about this? Why is the word “nigger” still such a controversial topic? It’s 2013 people, stop being offended by a word and stop relating it to such negative ideas. MOVE ON. 

(via orange-wall)

This is the only stupid thing I saw in the Gloria Naylor tag.

And what is still incredible to me about white people (and probably will always be incredible to me) is that they can read the work of one of the most profound and incredible African American female novelists and not understand the writing at all. They just do not get it. Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Gloria Naylor, James Baldwin… nobody can help them.

They CANNOT comprehend anything that disrupts their white privilege or challenges white supremacist thought.

It is incredible to witness as a black English major and it’s also very scary. That you can read that excerpt and all you get out of it is that “nigger” is no longer a meaningful words and black folks should get over it.

Incredible. 

Prayer circle for white folks. 

(via daniellemertina)

“I had to read works by people of color telling the truth about white supremacy and white people’s complacency in it! Black people just need to get over it because I’m tired of hearing how they are dehumanized on a regular basis by white supremacy”

That’s pretty much what that fucker said.

“Why do we still read about this?”

Because those who do not learn from the fucking past will never learn.

Because fuck ass ideologies like the OPs exist.

THAT is why. Clearly they have learned NOTHING if that is their reaction.

You need to read more and more until it is burned in your fucking psyche.

(via sourcedumal)

posted 1 week ago via karnythia · © orange-wall with 192 notes

stvincentinexile:

If you are part of a privileged group and have to constantly demand that somebody in an oppressed group say “not all (insert privileged group here) are like that” 

what you are really demanding is that they reassure you that you’re not like that and you’re not being held accountable 

which is a cowardly thing to do and also shows the great lengths you will go to in order to avoid examining your role in a toxic system


expelled-from-heaven:

jhenne-bean:

oh my god this disney/frozen discussion is way too long and it’s pretty boring: CUT.

expelled-from-heaven:

jhenne-bean:

disneyforprincesses:

jhenne-bean:

haildisney:

Don’t worry, I’m not going to make any lengthy responses to this post, just letting you know that I’ve read your reply and went through the links you provided which were all related to your conversation to Haildisney therefore I probably should just leave it at that, because I shouldn’t have interferred in the first place. You two were fully capable of working through that on your own.

Probs.

I am not going to try to argue with you or explain how the world actually works outside of the Western zone or that your Western institution of privilege does NOT reflect the way other societies are structured and the experiences of people outside of the limited US/Western zone therefore, once again, you cannot apply your political/social/historical context and specific terminology to residents of other countries because their history does not reflect your history.

Which is why you added nothing proactive to this conversation, as you admitted above.

Because I’ve had this conversation a gazillion of times with US/Western residents on this site and they hardly get any grasp of it and it doesn’t seem you are interested either. We have a history too, you know. We have OUR institution of privilege that works in a vastly different way in our society. We have our history with oppression, marginalization, erasure, murder and mistreatment. First World residents, however, don’t seem to put the slightest of effort into acknowledging that their struggles or history with oppression are not the only one deserving of recognition thus go around Tumblr instructing others on their privileges coming from a place of their First World superiority complex, with little to no regard for other people’s experiences and the way their reality functions.

Okay, honestly though? I don’t want to give the impression that your history or institutions of oppression are worthless in consideration, or aren’t worthy of discussion. That’s not my intent.

So maybe the US residents you’ve been talking to aren’t actively denying ~*your*~ institution of privilege, maybe they are saying “Hey. That doesn’t fit here. We aren’t discussing that. You’re derailing”

Like, you pretty much hopped all in this discussion to inject your angle, which wasn’t what was being discussed, and then get offended when others fail to take you up on it?

(And, if you feel that it is never discussed, don’t hijack a thread, start a discussion! There are 95690404 Disney blogs, and I think they might be more willing to take up a conversation of what(ever) you were putting forth than they are “Racism and erasure of PoC in Disney.” I’m willing to bet money on that.)

Like…………..your rant, when directed at me, in the context of what was being discussed prior to your intrusion?

Stop.

I hardly resist the “facepalm.jpg” reaction whenever you try to INSIST on Disney specifically aiming at Western audience because it’s a multi-million dollar company that benefits from broadcasting their movies and selling related merchandise worldwide. Clearly, the fact that most US corporations profit from the foreign customars/audience is among the things that hardly occur to First World residents.

Once more, I kNo W tHiS.

And you can operate with your educational specifics for as long as you like, it is still not going to invalidate the opinions of other people on this site, not even mine. I’m not trying to instruct you on how you are supposed to perceive those movies and the issues related to them, therefore don’t try to instruct me either. I assure you I have a fair ton of problems with modern (particulary Western) media that you haven’t even noticed or acknowledged but, once again, you are clearly not interested in learning up on the perspective of people outside of your limited Western/First world zone.

Last but not least, glad to hear we at least agree on the core point in regards to diversity and guess it would be better to leave it at that.

Here, let me clarify my point. Again:

Disney is a magical corporation that began its run in America, and serves a multinational audience. (We agree. because this is common knowledge. I was never denying this point! Go fig!) But like, I don’t know if you’ve ever sat in on Disney info sessions, but their American centricity isn’t really up for debate? Their animation studios which make the feature films which includes the princess franchise films consider themselves an “American” company  first and foremost, for what it’s worth. I’m not pulling this out of my ass because the world revolves around #MURICCA. I understand that Disney hopes to reach universal audiences because (optimistically:) everyone loves and benefits from a good story, and (realistically:) money! Hey,  I even understand that in general Disney products make more profit overseas than they do domestically. (This is the case with a lot of Hollywood!) I understand that Disney Hong Kong, and Disney Paris, and Disney Tokyo are things that exist!

I understand that Disney has universal meanings and themes, but that they also create with American sensibilities largely in mind. (In a sense that their domestic audience is the primary audience, with overseas serving at the secondary audience in terms of their feature films starring princesses. I’m speaking in terms of signifier and signified. Cultural context. Humor, to a lesser degree. Reinforcing hegemonies of America. I am talking about the writing process -and let’s be real Disney’s writers are primarily White Americans. I would stretch that to White male Americans. They can swipe a story from the Brother’s Grimm, or Hans Christian Anderson, but that does not mean they are writing from a German or Danish viewpoint, influenced by the cultural institutions and history and discrimination of said country and its people. You and I both agree that Disney is capable of magical feats of adaptation change—this is an inherent aspect of that.)

So while your perspective is just as valid in the grand scheme of the universe, what I am saying is that you cannot inject it into (this!) conversation, because the answer Hail Disney was asking for, was one of an American perspective. They were asking for an explanation of the criticism they’d seen. The criticism I was addressing comes heavily from Americans (including American people of color) and is centered in America’s film and representation history.

Again—

I’m not limiting the scope of discussion because I am uber-ignorant of Disney and how it rolls, or don’t give a single fuck about the perspective of others, or because I’m incapable of acknowledging someone else’s history and how it would differ from my own worldview: I am limiting the scope of discussion in order to answer the initial question asked.

So thanks for the spar, Expelled-from-heaven.

Good show.

 


amaevis: writeswrongs: genderbitch: cynicaldouche: elainemorisi: aiffe: chainofaffection: “Have you ever come across a homeless individual and felt totally uncomfortable? You see them and you know they are in need, but you are not sure what to do. You know that handing them money is not the best thing. But, you also see that they clearly have some needs. Their lips are chapped. They are hungry. They are thirsty. They are asking for help. How can you help? Here is a simple idea - blessing bags. This was such an easy project. We are now going to keep a few “Blessing Bags” in our car so that when we do happen to see someone on the streets who is homeless, we can hand them a Blessing Bag. I first learned of these bags from my friend, Julie. I am using the picture of her bags (see above) because the ones we took were taken in horrible lighting and turned out really grainy and hard to see what is inside of them. If you’d like to make your own Blessing Bags, this is what you would need: Gallon size Ziplock bags items to go in the bags, such as: chap stick packages of tissues toothbrush and toothpaste comb soap trail mix granola bars crackers pack of gum band aids mouthwash coins (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item) hand wipes you could also put in a warm pair of socks, and maybe a Starbucks gift card Assemble all the items in the bags, and maybe throw in a note of encouragement. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a moment of providence. This would be a great activity to do with some other families. Each family could bring one of the items going into the bags (ex: toothbrushes). Set up all the items around a table and walk around it with the ziplocks and fill the bags.” http://kwavs.blogspot.com/2011/05/blessing-bags-how-to.html Hey, words from an actual former homeless person here. Those people you see who make you uncomfortable? Those aren’t homeless people, they’re beggars. Well, some of them are also homeless. Some of them are not. NOT ALL HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE BEGGARS. (Also, they’re not all addicts, though some are. You literally know nothing about a beggar’s life except that they are beggars.) Beggars have a uniform like any other kind of worker. They have to look as bedraggled and dirty and pathetic as possible. If you gave a beggar a chance to shower and wash their clothes, you would be damaging their earning potential. They make their money by manipulating the feelings of people who don’t know much about poverty. That means they have to play to stereotypes, some of which are like a hundred years out of date. When I was homeless, I did not beg. (I stole, dealt with charities, sometimes even worked. Yes, you can be homeless with a full-time job. I’ve worked 60 hours a week and been homeless. And I mean sleeping in a car or a tent homeless, not on somebody’s couch homeless, though that’s an under-counted form of homelessness. I asked for food once or twice, but I didn’t look like a beggar.) I kept myself clean. I looked like anyone else. That person you pass in the store, on the bus, someone who looks just like anyone else, they could be homeless. The sales clerk who helps you for minimum wage. They could have lost their apartment because you can’t pay rent on that salary. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with begging. And it’s true that some people do actually just look like that because due to mental illness or addiction they sincerely can’t take care of themselves. Some of them are honestly nothing more than scam artists who have no real need, though, playing off people’s sympathy for those who genuinely do need help. But let’s assume that you were giving these to an actual homeless person. - soap is not that difficult to come by if you are so inclined to have/use it. Many public bathrooms have it. Homeless shelters will give you a bar of it. If you have $10 or so for a truck stop shower, soap is provided. Running water is a lot more difficult. - believe it or not, they may already have a toothbrush and toothpaste, and if they don’t, it’s unlikely they have any interest in using them. Homeless people commonly cache useful items wrapped in plastic in a bunch of hidden places. If you want to help the homeless, next time you find one of those caches, don’t throw them away. I mean, think about it. If you had to start living on the street, would you stop brushing your teeth? I didn’t either. Plus, if everyone gave homeless people one of these packs, they’d have more toothbrushes than they did teeth. Same with the deodorant—one stick lasts a long time, and they give them to you in shelters. This kind of mismanagement and waste is incredibly frustrating. People are willing to flush money down the toilet to avoid helping you TOO much. - food is nice! But keep in mind that not everyone can eat stuff you give them. Dietary restrictions like diabetes and Crohn’s unfortunately don’t go away when you become homeless. Maybe this is why they were hoping for cash? Also, some (though not all) homeless people have access to food already through food stamps, soup kitchens, charities, etc. A granola bar is nice, but they likely have other problems. If they need food, they will usually have a sign asking for food, or ask for it verbally! Otherwise food might not be a problem for them. - I’ve given medicine to beggars when it was asked for. Medicine can be super useful if you have a need of it. But when you don’t have a place to put your shit, you realize what a luxury it is to be able to store shit you don’t need at the moment. At best, it could go into one of those caches, if that individual uses caches, or into a shopping cart if they haul one of those around. Or in a car if they have one. You know what’s useful, lightweight, and portable? MONEY. You know what money can be used for? - the nightly fee of some pay-shelters to keep you out of the elements. - minutes for a pay-as-you-go phone, which can be used for emergencies, scheduling appointments with therapists, doctors, and addiction counselors, even searching for jobs or housing. There is a TON of bureaucracy involved in getting help when you have nothing, and that shit burns through your minutes. Payphones? What is this, 1980? I still have and use a phone I bought while living in my car. It was $10. - gas for a car, if they have one. (Commoner in rural areas.) - a hot shower at a truck stop. - medicine, including prescription medication. - items that protect against the elements, in their size! - transportation. News flash, no bus will let you on for pocket change. - items you might not even think of, like pet food (some homeless people have pets!) sanitary napkins (even if they don’t look female—remember how the homeless rates go up if you’re queer? Yeah.) condoms (possibly for sex work? Not something you want to assume though!) diapers (adult or otherwise! seriously! You don’t know their lives!) or pretty much anything else THAT IS BOUGHT AND SOLD WITH MONEY. Does that include cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol? You bet it does. But you know what, if that’s what they need, you’re in no position to judge. I’ve never been through withdrawal, but I’ve seen people go through it, and it’s complete shit. If that were you, yeah, you wouldn’t want to get drug sick, are you fucking kidding me? Offset it with a contribution to a rehab center, whatever helps you sleep at night. And all this is assuming the person giving you a case of the guilts is actually homeless. When they may not be. And other people you don’t notice around you almost surely are. That uncomfortable feeling you get, though? That has a name. It’s called INEQUALITY. It means that you know you have shit other people don’t have access to. You probably have resources so that even if you were in trouble, there’d be safety nets. You have the kind of money that you can buy a bunch of care packages to assuage this horrible guilt you feel every time you’re in bed in the rain and you know someone else out there isn’t. Those feelings are right. The world shouldn’t be this unequal. We shouldn’t have houses standing empty while people live on the street. We shouldn’t have food sitting in warehouses till it spoils while people starve. We shouldn’t be punishing people for trying to medicate away the pain we gave them. If you want to REALLY help the poor, go buy a pen and paper and write to your representatives. Stop blaming “generational welfare users” for being “leeches on the system.” Tell them you want to see real aid going to people in your community. Tell them to fund the mental health system, which is inadequate for the demand and constantly getting slashed. Tell them you don’t want to see food stamps cut for bad grades! Tell them a stitch in time saves nine, and if they helped people who were losing their homes, maybe there wouldn’t be so many homeless. Tell them to decriminalize drug use and prostitution. Tell them to support programs like Insite. Support universal healthcare, because you’d be surprised how many people end up homeless due to illness, either in themselves or a family member. If you’re ever in a position of power, such as a landlord or employer, don’t discriminate against people who don’t have a current address. Also don’t discriminate against marginalized groups by race, gender, orientation, ability, etc. These people are more likely to end up homeless because of this BS. Check out charities in your area doing actual outreach with the poor, many of whom are not beggars and not visible. And if you’re going to give a beggar something, either ask them what they need or just give them fucking money. You can’t make that uncomfortable feeling go away with the wave of a magic wand. You can’t buy exemption from the fact that you HAVE and others DON’T with some soap and granola. And if you’re going to give a beggar something, either ask them what they need or just give them fucking money. AllOfThis Finally someone tore that shit post apart. I was too inarticulate with rage as a someone who’s been homeless to hit it. WELP It’s also the same ugly impulse that’s behind food stamps, as in, I don’t trust you to make good decisions with resources (after all, you must be shitty at decisions because you’re begging!) so instead of money I’ll impose artificial restrictions on what I think you should and shouldn’t consume. The next time you see a beggar, GIVE MONEY. And if you’re really concerned about the illicit drug trade, fight the systemic root causes of addiction. Even if you happen to be handing money to an addict, maybe that next hit is what they need. Don’t make them bear the entire brunt of your desire to end addiction while entire classes of our society profit from addiction and get off with no accountability.

amaevis:

writeswrongs:

genderbitch:

cynicaldouche:

elainemorisi:

aiffe:

chainofaffection:

“Have you ever come across a homeless individual and felt totally uncomfortable?
You see them and you know they are in need, but you are not sure what to do. You know that handing them money is not the best thing. But, you also see that they clearly have some needs. Their lips are chapped. They are hungry. They are thirsty. They are asking for help.
How can you help?
Here is a simple idea - blessing bags.

This was such an easy project. We are now going to keep a few “Blessing Bags” in our car so that when we do happen to see someone on the streets who is homeless, we can hand them a Blessing Bag. I first learned of these bags from my friend, Julie. I am using the picture of her bags (see above) because the ones we took were taken in horrible lighting and turned out really grainy and hard to see what is inside of them.

If you’d like to make your own Blessing Bags, this is what you would need:
Gallon size Ziplock bags
items to go in the bags, such as:
chap stick
packages of tissues
toothbrush and toothpaste
comb
soap
trail mix
granola bars
crackers
pack of gum
band aids
mouthwash
coins (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item)
hand wipes
you could also put in a warm pair of socks, and maybe a Starbucks gift card
Assemble all the items in the bags, and maybe throw in a note of encouragement. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a moment of providence.
This would be a great activity to do with some other families. Each family could bring one of the items going into the bags (ex: toothbrushes). Set up all the items around a table and walk around it with the ziplocks and fill the bags.”

Hey, words from an actual former homeless person here.

Those people you see who make you uncomfortable? Those aren’t homeless people, they’re beggars. Well, some of them are also homeless. Some of them are not. NOT ALL HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE BEGGARS. (Also, they’re not all addicts, though some are. You literally know nothing about a beggar’s life except that they are beggars.)

Beggars have a uniform like any other kind of worker. They have to look as bedraggled and dirty and pathetic as possible. If you gave a beggar a chance to shower and wash their clothes, you would be damaging their earning potential. They make their money by manipulating the feelings of people who don’t know much about poverty. That means they have to play to stereotypes, some of which are like a hundred years out of date.

When I was homeless, I did not beg. (I stole, dealt with charities, sometimes even worked. Yes, you can be homeless with a full-time job. I’ve worked 60 hours a week and been homeless. And I mean sleeping in a car or a tent homeless, not on somebody’s couch homeless, though that’s an under-counted form of homelessness. I asked for food once or twice, but I didn’t look like a beggar.) I kept myself clean. I looked like anyone else. That person you pass in the store, on the bus, someone who looks just like anyone else, they could be homeless. The sales clerk who helps you for minimum wage. They could have lost their apartment because you can’t pay rent on that salary.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with begging. And it’s true that some people do actually just look like that because due to mental illness or addiction they sincerely can’t take care of themselves. Some of them are honestly nothing more than scam artists who have no real need, though, playing off people’s sympathy for those who genuinely do need help. But let’s assume that you were giving these to an actual homeless person.

- soap is not that difficult to come by if you are so inclined to have/use it. Many public bathrooms have it. Homeless shelters will give you a bar of it. If you have $10 or so for a truck stop shower, soap is provided. Running water is a lot more difficult.

- believe it or not, they may already have a toothbrush and toothpaste, and if they don’t, it’s unlikely they have any interest in using them. Homeless people commonly cache useful items wrapped in plastic in a bunch of hidden places. If you want to help the homeless, next time you find one of those caches, don’t throw them away. I mean, think about it. If you had to start living on the street, would you stop brushing your teeth? I didn’t either. Plus, if everyone gave homeless people one of these packs, they’d have more toothbrushes than they did teeth. Same with the deodorant—one stick lasts a long time, and they give them to you in shelters. This kind of mismanagement and waste is incredibly frustrating. People are willing to flush money down the toilet to avoid helping you TOO much.

- food is nice! But keep in mind that not everyone can eat stuff you give them. Dietary restrictions like diabetes and Crohn’s unfortunately don’t go away when you become homeless. Maybe this is why they were hoping for cash? Also, some (though not all) homeless people have access to food already through food stamps, soup kitchens, charities, etc. A granola bar is nice, but they likely have other problems. If they need food, they will usually have a sign asking for food, or ask for it verbally! Otherwise food might not be a problem for them.

- I’ve given medicine to beggars when it was asked for. Medicine can be super useful if you have a need of it. But when you don’t have a place to put your shit, you realize what a luxury it is to be able to store shit you don’t need at the moment. At best, it could go into one of those caches, if that individual uses caches, or into a shopping cart if they haul one of those around. Or in a car if they have one.

You know what’s useful, lightweight, and portable? MONEY.

You know what money can be used for?

- the nightly fee of some pay-shelters to keep you out of the elements.

- minutes for a pay-as-you-go phone, which can be used for emergencies, scheduling appointments with therapists, doctors, and addiction counselors, even searching for jobs or housing. There is a TON of bureaucracy involved in getting help when you have nothing, and that shit burns through your minutes. Payphones? What is this, 1980? I still have and use a phone I bought while living in my car. It was $10.

- gas for a car, if they have one. (Commoner in rural areas.)

- a hot shower at a truck stop.

- medicine, including prescription medication.

- items that protect against the elements, in their size!

- transportation. News flash, no bus will let you on for pocket change.

- items you might not even think of, like pet food (some homeless people have pets!) sanitary napkins (even if they don’t look female—remember how the homeless rates go up if you’re queer? Yeah.) condoms (possibly for sex work? Not something you want to assume though!) diapers (adult or otherwise! seriously! You don’t know their lives!) or pretty much anything else THAT IS BOUGHT AND SOLD WITH MONEY.

Does that include cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol? You bet it does. But you know what, if that’s what they need, you’re in no position to judge. I’ve never been through withdrawal, but I’ve seen people go through it, and it’s complete shit. If that were you, yeah, you wouldn’t want to get drug sick, are you fucking kidding me? Offset it with a contribution to a rehab center, whatever helps you sleep at night.

And all this is assuming the person giving you a case of the guilts is actually homeless. When they may not be. And other people you don’t notice around you almost surely are.

That uncomfortable feeling you get, though? That has a name. It’s called INEQUALITY. It means that you know you have shit other people don’t have access to. You probably have resources so that even if you were in trouble, there’d be safety nets. You have the kind of money that you can buy a bunch of care packages to assuage this horrible guilt you feel every time you’re in bed in the rain and you know someone else out there isn’t. Those feelings are right. The world shouldn’t be this unequal. We shouldn’t have houses standing empty while people live on the street. We shouldn’t have food sitting in warehouses till it spoils while people starve. We shouldn’t be punishing people for trying to medicate away the pain we gave them.

If you want to REALLY help the poor, go buy a pen and paper and write to your representatives. Stop blaming “generational welfare users” for being “leeches on the system.” Tell them you want to see real aid going to people in your community. Tell them to fund the mental health system, which is inadequate for the demand and constantly getting slashed. Tell them you don’t want to see food stamps cut for bad grades! Tell them a stitch in time saves nine, and if they helped people who were losing their homes, maybe there wouldn’t be so many homeless. Tell them to decriminalize drug use and prostitution. Tell them to support programs like Insite. Support universal healthcare, because you’d be surprised how many people end up homeless due to illness, either in themselves or a family member. If you’re ever in a position of power, such as a landlord or employer, don’t discriminate against people who don’t have a current address. Also don’t discriminate against marginalized groups by race, gender, orientation, ability, etc. These people are more likely to end up homeless because of this BS. Check out charities in your area doing actual outreach with the poor, many of whom are not beggars and not visible. And if you’re going to give a beggar something, either ask them what they need or just give them fucking money.

You can’t make that uncomfortable feeling go away with the wave of a magic wand. You can’t buy exemption from the fact that you HAVE and others DON’T with some soap and granola.

And if you’re going to give a beggar something, either ask them what they need or just give them fucking money.

All
Of
This

Finally someone tore that shit post apart.

I was too inarticulate with rage as a someone who’s been homeless to hit it.

WELP

It’s also the same ugly impulse that’s behind food stamps, as in, I don’t trust you to make good decisions with resources (after all, you must be shitty at decisions because you’re begging!) so instead of money I’ll impose artificial restrictions on what I think you should and shouldn’t consume. The next time you see a beggar, GIVE MONEY. And if you’re really concerned about the illicit drug trade, fight the systemic root causes of addiction. Even if you happen to be handing money to an addict, maybe that next hit is what they need. Don’t make them bear the entire brunt of your desire to end addiction while entire classes of our society profit from addiction and get off with no accountability.