buskers vs. pan-handlers

[crookedking]

i don't give either of them money.

[gnosis]

If I hear someone playing music, and it's not bad (ie: the old hippy on Granville banging on bongos w/ NO sense of rhythm _whatsoever_!), then, of course I'll toss 'em a doubloon!. They've given me something: music!

Sods begging? No.

I don't give my money away. I give it to the ones who earn it.

It goes like this:
I buy lots of bottled beverages.
I pay a deposit on all those containers.
I can't be bothered to return all these containers, so, I leave 'em out in the alley.
I KNOW that within 20 minutes, they will be scooped by _someone_ who will take them to the appropriate location and redeem them for the deposit money.
I consider it a recycling program I vonluntarily pay for.

Frosty
(living in a world-class, cosmopolitan city, complete w/ homeless beggars)

[Rayeine]

buskers make the best company..I once did it with a friend of mine and someone bought us a pizza..The greatest buskers dont even have to be that good, which is awesome...like that guy on Granville who plays stairway to heaven over and over and over again...because it's the only song he knows, but he's so involved..like it's his soul sermon, and he's just gotta get it out..
...I love that..
i once met a poet who sold his poems for a buck on the streets of Victoria..
He would recite it on the spot..that was cool, (I still have his book)
Both can be interesting to talk to, there are many times when i just grab some lunch pass it around, and meet some amazing people.

[*SunShyne*]

If you can make a funny sign, you're not that hungry.

If you can write & you can speak, you can get a job... very easily. I take no pitty on the homeless. I've worked my way up from having nothing.

I work in a temp agecy... i give people jobs every day... there's no reason why these people can't.

Go to a shelter, shower, go to a temp agency, go to any united way thing... there's alsways a fucking option. Stop being so fucking lazy and do something with your life you douchebag

[Rayeine]

Mental illness and drug addiction is a huge factor...you cant just write off the homeless like that..ever think that these people are the ones that just cant handle our reality, it's not meant for them?..We work in different ways, all of us...and sometimes it's easier for others. Even if some of the people with drug addictions do get clean, their friends are often addicts and it's really easy to get back into the habit when who you love, sit so close with the enemy..The people I've talked to, often wait for hours to get into a shelter, but are turned away once they reach the door..
I cant stand people who dont even look and take the time once and a while to get to know these people, who just so happen to live on the streets..
How can you judge when you have no idea what their life story ..who they are..These people are daughters, sons fathers..mothers..grandfathers..
and a lot of them just dont have the strength to do it on their own..
I think a lot of them are just Worn down, so close to giving up..that it's hard to even comprehend that life..
The street kids i've talked to, so many of them..just want someone to listen..
And a lot of them if they had stayed in the situation they were in, would possibly not be here today.. I have a home to go back to, a bed..food in my fridge ...no holes in my shoes... a roof...i dont have to sleep in the rain, deal with the effects of addiction,..i feel secure in my house... There are days when i feel hopeless, dont you get that ways sometimes?...But imagine that hopelessness...and having people day to day not treating you like a human being, but like a disease...If you can make a funny sign...maybe your just a funny person with a little lighter outlook on the situation..Dont write off the homeless...Would you want someone to do that to you?
Just be a hand man if someone needs it..lend an ear..
Were all family.

[Séguin]

Originally Posted by tiedye

fuck yeah.. I survived off my guitar when I lived in East Van. Support buskers.. they're more valuable to the scene than the musicians signed to major labels.

hah, ya. Cause they can actually play an instrument.

[kittah]

Originally Posted by 3507321C

More to people than bodies.

If you've slipped through the cracks, like so many do, those cracks, are people like you.

Homeless=McDix

Buskers=$$$

instead of standing on the side of a street "performing", these ppl could have a real job...