$100000 donated in two days to homeless man who returned $42000 he found

[ADK]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2425533/Glen-James--100-000-donated-days-homeless-man-returned-42-000-found.html

 

I know it's the USA but thought rincey might like it.

 

[The Year Of The Fox]

There's no way that'd happen on our streets. How much heroin could you buy for $40k?

[Zingari]

I'm pretty sure this is an old story .but it just goes to prove that the homeless only have themselves to blame if they keep doing stuff like being honest.

[Rincewind]

I'm pretty sure this is an old story .but it just goes to prove that the homeless only have themselves to blame if they keep doing stuff like being honest.

True. I wonder how many non homeless people would have returned it. Although from being penniless to splashing money about would have been spotted even by the American authorities and he would have been shot by cops as he attempted to run away whilst trying to carry his newly bought house on his back.

 

Not read it yet but I would rather see the donations also go to organisations that maybe would  help others in his position.

 

It was only $2k cash he found though rest in travelers cheques. Still dispels one myth.

 

'It's nice to have a little money in my back pocket.'

 

Nice statement.

[indierich06]

Why do these people have to wait until this chap has done a good deed to 'earn' their donations? If they took the same attitude about more homeless folks, then maybe there wouldn't be so many homeless people in the US.

 

Before he found that backpack, the same people probably would have walked past him in the street without giving him a second glance. Just smacks of Americans wanting to give themselves a big old pat on the back, as usual.

[absolutelegend]

True. I wonder how many non homeless people would have returned it.

 

, not sure what you mean by that.  first time i read it i assumed you meant that homeless people had better morale integrety than people with homes.

[absolutelegend]

Why do these people have to wait until this chap has done a good deed to 'earn' their donations? If they took the same attitude about more homeless folks, then maybe there wouldn't be so many homeless people in the US.

 

Before he found that backpack, the same people probably would have walked past him in the street without giving him a second glance. Just smacks of Americans wanting to give themselves a big old pat on the back, as usual.

 

I think that's a very negative attitude to the situation.  i just view it that people like to reward acts of selflessness.

[Jon the Hat]

, not sure what you mean by that.  first time i read it i assumed you meant that homeless people had better morale integrety than people with homes.

 

Of course that is what he means.  Ken has convinced himself that people are on the streets are better than those who are not.  He is like someone who only has their pets for company who convinces himself dogs are better than people.

 

I love the fact that the Mail has to put HONEST homeless man.  Like homeless people are by definition criminals and this guy is an exception.  You wouldn't want a feel good story to interfere with your long held stereotypes would you!!

[Zingari]

Of course that is what he means.  Ken has convinced himself that people are on the streets are better than those who are not.  He is like someone who only has their pets for company who convinces himself dogs are better than people.

 

I love the fact that the Mail has to put HONEST homeless man.  Like homeless people are by definition criminals and this guy is an exception.  You wouldn't want a feel good story to interfere with your long held stereotypes would you!!

He may have meant that of course, but I inferred that there would likely be many well heeled  who would have kept the dosh . But of course many homeless people would have done likewise but with more reason to do so.

 

To me that means there are good and honest people in all walks of life and however rich or poor they may be. And homelessness is not something that turns people into monsters . Rather they are symptoms of a sickening society not the cause. 

[Rincewind]

Of course that is what he means.  Ken has convinced himself that people are on the streets are better than those who are not.  He is like someone who only has their pets for company who convinces himself dogs are better than people.

 

I love the fact that the Mail has to put HONEST homeless man.  Like homeless people are by definition criminals and this guy is an exception.  You wouldn't want a feel good story to interfere with your long held stereotypes would you!!where a

No not really. I don't think homeless people are any better or worse than those that are not. There are many assumptions however that they are not. Maybe my words were misunderstood. Like you I noticed the emphasis was on the honest and homeless man. If the money had not been returned or the fund had not been set up his plight would not have been noticed. If a non homeless person had found it they may have been given a reward but it would not have made it to the Mail.

[Alf Bentley]

Why do these people have to wait until this chap has done a good deed to 'earn' their donations? If they took the same attitude about more homeless folks, then maybe there wouldn't be so many homeless people in the US.

 

Before he found that backpack, the same people probably would have walked past him in the street without giving him a second glance. Just smacks of Americans wanting to give themselves a big old pat on the back, as usual.

 

Well said - and Brits seem to be becoming more like that, too.

[Bert]

I think that's a very negative attitude to the situation.  i just view it that people like to reward acts of selflessness.

What he says is right though.

[absolutelegend]

What he says is right though.

ok, so the alternative is that nobody rewarded that guy.  would that be better?

for all you know the people who sent rewards might well be people who regularly donate to homeless charities, but that doesn't fit with the stereotypical americans being referred to.

god knows why we in this country have to criticise well intentioned acts.

[Zingari]

ok, so the alternative is that nobody rewarded that guy.  would that be better?

for all you know the people who sent rewards might well be people who regularly donate to homeless charities, but that doesn't fit with the stereotypical americans being referred to.

god knows why we in this country have to criticise well intentioned acts.

quite so 

[Rincewind]

Maybe by seeing the story it will encourage those who would normally spit on this type of person to see them in a different light.

Even getting one person to take a closer look at the person instead of what is portrayed would be progress.

[Jon the Hat]

Maybe by seeing the story it will encourage those who would normally spit on this type of person to see them in a different light.

Even getting one person to take a closer look at the person instead of what is portrayed would be progress.

 

I doubt it.  You would have to be a really unpleasant ignorant twat to spit on anyone at all, and those kind of people probably dont read stories like this. 

[Rincewind]

I doubt it.  You would have to be a really unpleasant ignorant twat to spit on anyone at all, and those kind of people probably dont read stories like this. 

I gave the most extreme example but I take your point.

[Guest MattP]

Well if its in the Daily Mail so it must be true.......

Big deal anyway. Jesse Pinkeman threw ten times that amount around a ghetto in Alberqueue.

[Zingari]

I doubt it.  You would have to be a really unpleasant ignorant twat to spit on anyone at all, and those kind of people probably dont read stories like this. 

I've never been the type to abuse homeless people in any way, but I'll have to admit that my opinions regarding homelessness has changed recently due to the work of people such as Ken .

I think a couple of years ago I might have heaped all the blame on them and regarded them as feckless scroungers . Maybe some are , but I now believe it's a case of " there but for the grace of god go I"

[Guest MattP]

I doubt it. You would have to be a really unpleasant ignorant twat to spit on anyone at all, and those kind of people probably dont read stories like this.

Exactly.

And before anyone says it deliberately spitting on someone isn't the same as accidently urinating on a person.

[Rincewind]

I've never been the type to abuse homeless people in any way, but I'll have to admit that my opinions regarding homelessness has changed recently due to the work of people such as Ken .

I think a couple of years ago I might have heaped all the blame on them and regarded them as feckless scroungers . Maybe some are , but I now believe it's a case of " there but for the grace of god go I"

My opinions have changed a little over the last couple of years.Getting to know people that have been homeless, hearing their stories  and how they have come through it does a lot to change your perception. One person I know from working with has just been offered a flat. Think it's only a bedsit but after a couple of years in a hostel he is thrilled. He ended up in a hostel after a relationship breakdown then depression. He is better but now having to deal with an ATOS related problem which is stressing him out.

He will come through it I am sure because he has become stronger since doing the volunteer media work but could do without the stress.

I know some will say stress is part of life and it is but we all have different ways of coping with it.

 

Jack Monroe the woman that did a blog on how to eat on £10 a week has started to write a comment column for a national newspaper and her first is very good.

[Captain...]

Why do these people have to wait until this chap has done a good deed to 'earn' their donations? If they took the same attitude about more homeless folks, then maybe there wouldn't be so many homeless people in the US.

 

Before he found that backpack, the same people probably would have walked past him in the street without giving him a second glance. Just smacks of Americans wanting to give themselves a big old pat on the back, as usual.

 

Because there is always the risk that giving thousands of ponds to a homeless man would be misspent and misused, as it could be if given to anyone. Whereas giving it to a homeless charity it wouldn't go that far and probably not directly help the person who did the good deed.

 

The fact is anyone could find themselves homeless and it seems implied in this article that this man was a decent human being who found himself homeless because he was unable to hold down a job due to an illness, as an aside I'm glad we live in a country where this man would have been given benefits and looked after and not dumped on the street. People are suckers for a good sob story but also genuinely want to help other decent people who are down on their luck, the problem is highlighting the good people without rewarding the smackheads and the druggies and the violent homeless, which lets not kid ourselves there are some wrong 'uns living on the street, probably not as many as we believe, but that is down to social stigmatisation. Incidents like this serve to not only help one man, but also serve to remind us that a homeless person is not necessarily a bad person.

[Jon the Hat]

I suppose I used to think that I would never be homeless becuase I would also have family to fall back on, and I wonder why other people do not.  When you consider though that mental ilness in particular can be very hard to handle for family members it starts to make more sense.  Those suffering from mental ilness are often not able to access services even if they are available.

[Bert]

ok, so the alternative is that nobody rewarded that guy.  would that be better?

for all you know the people who sent rewards might well be people who regularly donate to homeless charities, but that doesn't fit with the stereotypical americans being referred to.

god knows why we in this country have to criticise well intentioned acts.

Maybe you've missed the actual point. This chap wouldn't have been donated $100,000 if he'd not have done a good deed. Surely if they've got money to donate when someone has done something, they'd have it if he hadn't have done so?

[Zingari]

I suppose I used to think that I would never be homeless becuase I would also have family to fall back on, and I wonder why other people do not.  When you consider though that mental ilness in particular can be very hard to handle for family members it starts to make more sense.  Those suffering from mental ilness are often not able to access services even if they are available.

You seem to be softening in your attitude a little   

It ain't quite as simple as many of us might have thought