Comments on: The man at the exit ramp http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:13:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shayne http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27693 Shayne Fri, 15 May 2009 18:13:05 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27693 This is difficult. You don't want to be taken advantage of, but also don't want to be uncaring. A pastor at my church once participated in an experiment where he "became" homeless and lived on the street for several days. He said the toughest part of it all was not the hunger or the weather or the lack of hygiene, but the fact that people ignored him, as if he wasn't a person at all. This has always stuck with me. I don't often give money, but sometimes I do. When I do, I ask the person his or her name and tell them that I will pray for them. If what my pastor said is true, then I figure that acknowledging the person as a person with a name and with a need must be just as helpful as the small amount of money I've given. <abbr><em>Shayne´s lastest post..<a href="http://intheburbs.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/quick-find-me-a-triangular-prism/" rel="nofollow">Quick, Find Me A Triangular Prism!</a></abbr></em> This is difficult. You don’t want to be taken advantage of, but also don’t want to be uncaring.

A pastor at my church once participated in an experiment where he “became” homeless and lived on the street for several days. He said the toughest part of it all was not the hunger or the weather or the lack of hygiene, but the fact that people ignored him, as if he wasn’t a person at all.

This has always stuck with me. I don’t often give money, but sometimes I do. When I do, I ask the person his or her name and tell them that I will pray for them. If what my pastor said is true, then I figure that acknowledging the person as a person with a name and with a need must be just as helpful as the small amount of money I’ve given.

Shayne´s lastest post..Quick, Find Me A Triangular Prism!

]]> By: Issa http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27560 Issa Thu, 07 May 2009 17:01:19 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27560 A lot of times, they are the mentally ill. Because there really aren't services for most of them. Doesn't mean you need to give to them, I can't always...but generally people don't beg on the street because they are capable of getting a job. I never do this, ever, I swear. But I wrote a post on this, because my uncle was one of those people. If you want to, you can read it, might give you a different idea about the homeless in this country. I put the link in the URL, instead of just my blog address. <abbr><em>Issa´s lastest post..<a href="http://issascrazyworld.blogspot.com/2009/05/elephant-in-room.html" rel="nofollow">The elephant in the room</a></abbr></em> A lot of times, they are the mentally ill. Because there really aren’t services for most of them. Doesn’t mean you need to give to them, I can’t always…but generally people don’t beg on the street because they are capable of getting a job.

I never do this, ever, I swear. But I wrote a post on this, because my uncle was one of those people. If you want to, you can read it, might give you a different idea about the homeless in this country. I put the link in the URL, instead of just my blog address.

Issa´s lastest post..The elephant in the room

]]> By: farmerswife http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27553 farmerswife Thu, 07 May 2009 10:18:59 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27553 I enjoyed reading this post. I just blogged about something similar in vein that irriated me greatly. It's titled "stupid people" I enjoyed reading this post. I just blogged about something similar in vein that irriated me greatly. It’s titled “stupid people”

]]> By: kaitlynsage http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27495 kaitlynsage Tue, 05 May 2009 20:52:46 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27495 I have this same problem every week when I take the girl that I nanny for to dance class. I always lock my door, and then my stomach turns over because of my own lack of trust and empathy. I wish that I thought ahead enough to carry almonds or peanuts or bottled water in my car to hand to those people, but there is a part of me that has been so ingrained to think that these people put me and the girl I nanny in danger. And it's silly, because I've lived and worked downtown for long enough to know that for the most part, the people have just fallen on hard times. What a hard conundrum. Thank you for bringing this back to the forefront of my mind. I have this same problem every week when I take the girl that I nanny for to dance class. I always lock my door, and then my stomach turns over because of my own lack of trust and empathy. I wish that I thought ahead enough to carry almonds or peanuts or bottled water in my car to hand to those people, but there is a part of me that has been so ingrained to think that these people put me and the girl I nanny in danger.

And it’s silly, because I’ve lived and worked downtown for long enough to know that for the most part, the people have just fallen on hard times. What a hard conundrum.

Thank you for bringing this back to the forefront of my mind.

]]> By: MacNessa (Ness) http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27471 MacNessa (Ness) Tue, 05 May 2009 08:58:55 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27471 Here in Africa, those people are at *every* *single* traffic light. It is gutwrenching. One never gets hardened to it. I do the same as you, busy myself 'looking' for something, or looking in the rearview mirror, or talk to the kids. Now and then if someone really breaks my heart (young mother with baby on her back is a classic example) then I give money. I give money away that I don't have. This constant barrage of poverty 'in your face' here, is one of the reasons we're trying to leave. Our kids are getting old enough to start asking *why* those people are standing there, and it just breaks my heart to tell them. Here in Africa, those people are at *every* *single* traffic light. It is gutwrenching. One never gets hardened to it. I do the same as you, busy myself ‘looking’ for something, or looking in the rearview mirror, or talk to the kids. Now and then if someone really breaks my heart (young mother with baby on her back is a classic example) then I give money. I give money away that I don’t have.

This constant barrage of poverty ‘in your face’ here, is one of the reasons we’re trying to leave. Our kids are getting old enough to start asking *why* those people are standing there, and it just breaks my heart to tell them.

]]> By: Jill http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27469 Jill Tue, 05 May 2009 07:41:00 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27469 I can totally relate here as living in India has shown us poverty that far surpasses any place I've ever seen. Beggars hit on the car windows at every stop light, indigent people live on every street, kids run around naked. It's very hard to turn a blind eye... especially when over 400 million people live on less than $2 a day. But is it realistic to save everyone? <abbr><em>Jill´s lastest post..<a href="http://theperlmanupdate.blogspot.com/2009/05/okay-so-heres-latest.html" rel="nofollow">Okay... So Here's The Latest</a></abbr></em> I can totally relate here as living in India has shown us poverty that far surpasses any place I’ve ever seen. Beggars hit on the car windows at every stop light, indigent people live on every street, kids run around naked. It’s very hard to turn a blind eye… especially when over 400 million people live on less than $2 a day. But is it realistic to save everyone?

Jill´s lastest post..Okay… So Here’s The Latest

]]> By: Stacy Vaughn http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27465 Stacy Vaughn Tue, 05 May 2009 00:50:28 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27465 Been there, so hard to handle. Even worse as the kids get older and wonder why we can't stop to help everyone. Why it is not safe, why these people could ask our church for assistance, have many other choices. It still breaks my heart. Been there, so hard to handle. Even worse as the kids get older and wonder why we can’t stop to help everyone. Why it is not safe, why these people could ask our church for assistance, have many other choices. It still breaks my heart.

]]> By: Loralee http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27464 Loralee Tue, 05 May 2009 00:38:02 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27464 The sad thing is that it just isn't wise to stop, talk, help. Too many bad things have happened by doing that (aka Elizabeth Smart), I am totally in agreement that some have ruined the trust and help for others. To live with myself I have to think that those who need the help that I would be willing to give (food, shelter, clothing) will get it from my donations to local charities. This was beautiful, sweetpea. <abbr><em>Loralee´s lastest post..<a href="http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2009/05/04/1-billion-twitter-followers/" rel="nofollow">1 BILLION TWITTER FOLLOWERS!</a></abbr></em> The sad thing is that it just isn’t wise to stop, talk, help. Too many bad things have happened by doing that (aka Elizabeth Smart),

I am totally in agreement that some have ruined the trust and help for others. To live with myself I have to think that those who need the help that I would be willing to give (food, shelter, clothing) will get it from my donations to local charities.

This was beautiful, sweetpea.

Loralee´s lastest post..1 BILLION TWITTER FOLLOWERS!

]]> By: Jennifer http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27463 Jennifer Mon, 04 May 2009 20:19:32 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27463 Beth, that song is exactly what is in my thoughts, but also with the sad thought of, "but what if he isn't an angel." I know that's horrible, but I really would be worried about rolling down my window, with my kids in the car. Some other commenters have mentioned donating their time and money to a charitable cause. Maybe that's the answer for me. Beth, that song is exactly what is in my thoughts, but also with the sad thought of, “but what if he isn’t an angel.” I know that’s horrible, but I really would be worried about rolling down my window, with my kids in the car.

Some other commenters have mentioned donating their time and money to a charitable cause. Maybe that’s the answer for me.

]]> By: Jennifer http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/2009/05/04/the-man-at-the-exit-ramp/comment-page-1/#comment-27462 Jennifer Mon, 04 May 2009 20:16:51 +0000 http://playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren.com/?p=1267#comment-27462 Aimee, EXACTLY. It's the scheisters who are ruining it for the people who truly need our help. I love the idea of volunteering my time. Aimee, EXACTLY. It’s the scheisters who are ruining it for the people who truly need our help. I love the idea of volunteering my time.

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