Bumbs 101 help?

LOL. You've seen their Albuquerque drop lot I take it?

 

I bet that swearing at them, and acting like you're going to taze them works wonders. I'm not sayin you need to give them anything, just be polite. Why pour fuel on the fire?

 

And just how in this world do you expect to remain calm after what I just mentioned? I will do whatever is necessary to make sure my safety is not in jeopardy in any way, shape or form. You walk up behind me in the dark and dont announce yourself then you get what you deserve, plain and simple. Have you ever been out on the road and had any of this happen to you meltom?

 

I haven't had this happen to me, I'm not even telling you to remain calm. I'm just saying don't antagonize someone with nothing to lose.

 

I usually say "sorry, I don't get paid until tommorrow". But I have mixed thoughts depending on the circumstance.

The week before last I spent two days at the VA hospital here. There is actually homeless vets that sleep in some of the waiting rooms. I stepped outside to smoke a cigarette and one sat near me and tried to carry on a conversation. I listened to him but I could only understand a few words because he talked so quietly and his mind jumped around thoughts. He eventially asked for a cigarette and I gave him one. He made me feel uncomfortable, but I listened to him what I could. I felt sorry for that guy. I actually gave several cigarettes out while I was there for all the bums there.

Last week I read an interesting article about the homeless problem in LA and the lawsuit over the gov't taking their personal property off the streets. They aren't allowed to touch it anymore and the sidewalks are turning into dumps because they are setting up mattresses and everything else.

There was even a story where they set up a warehouse and gave the homeless bins to store their belongings. But some can't stand it, because it gives them the sense of a house structure. That alone says some have mental problems.

Being the scum of society everyone wants to turn their backs on them. That's just natural. But it doesn't take away the fact they are there.

There's a huge difference between a drunk or crackhead and a vet sufferring from exposure to agent orange. Yet society doesn't care about the difference. No kid says I want to be a bum when I grow up. Through a circumstances of events they end up that way.

I do agree it's a waste to give any of them money. But I think they deserve more attention as a group effort to be fed and kept warm.

We'll house and feed someone that has eight kids and abuses the system. We'll even take care of illegals. Why ain't the homeless in them programs? Mainly because their head ain't right.

Let's just say a depression hits this country again. There will be alot more living in the streets.

 

Who goes out of their way to antagonize them. They came to me at my truck or entered a truckstop. One night in a flying hook in OR, there was a drunk, homeless man in the drivers lounge trying to start a fight with everyone. Nobody wanted to be bothered, just watch tv. Was it going out of my way to tell him to "get the f out" ? It sure was and worth it. You should come out and drive for a living and meet up with these lovely ppl at these super secure locations called truckstops. I bet your attitude towards these folks would change a bit as you would start worrying about your personal safety and that of your truck.

 

I been driving when you were pooping green in your diapers. I know what goes on out there. The majority of them are drunks and druggies. There's a whole lot more that don't hang out in truck stops.

 

I get tired of being accosted for money. I have never, in any other profession, been hit up so much in the course of my job.

Where do the freeway ramp sign guys set up? At exits with truck stops. Where do people walk around knocking on doors to ask for money? Truck stops. Where do I (a not very big woman) have to chase someone out from under my trailer or tell them I don't appreciate them peeing on my tires? Truck stops. Somebody always needs a buck, a ride, something to eat, a beer, a fix....and they seem to congregate at truck stops and places truckers frequent. Since when did I become their cash cow? Just because I work for my money, I suddenly owe it to some homeless person simply because they asked for it??

If someone knocked on your door and asked you for money several times a day, slept under your front porch, peed in your rose bushes, acted like you owe them something and hit up every household in the neighborhood, someone would call the cops. But we're truckers, so we have to just deal with it? Some of them get very aggressive. I was leaving the Tulsa Flying J one morning and found myself surrounded by three homeless men asking me for money. I'm supposed to respectfully tell them sorry, broke excuse me please?

I offer food. I do not give cash. If they take the food, I will give them enough for a couple of days. If they refuse, they get nothing.

If they entertain me in some way, I may part with a buck or two. Like the guy who had a sign saying, "My parakeet needs a triple bypass."

 

While I try and have some compassion for the truly down and out by donating to legitimate charities and participating in food drives through my union..It is getting harder to deal with some of these scammers who you know are total liars. I love the ones who wear $75 Nike sneakers, yet stand on street corners or medians and get in your face demanding money. Just TRY and offer them a meal. They get insulted and demand money instead. Recently here in San Bernardino County, the police arrested several people who were soliciting in truck stops and corners for "their dead baby's funeral fund". They admitted that there was NO baby and that their scam ranged as far as the truck stops in Arizona and that the 4 people involved netted on average $4000 (as in FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS) a week in cash. I have more respect for the illegal immigrant standing on an LA corner selling oranges or other fruit than I do for most of these people. AT least they are trying to work. I had a great laugh last year in Tucson with one of these scammers. I got off I-10 at the Ina Road exit to make my delivery. On the exit ramp was a kid who could not have been more than 25. He was holding a sign that said "Desperate Hungry VIETNAM Veteran-Help".. (I served in Vietnam and I am pushing well past 60)..I rolled down my window and asked him what part of the country he served in ? OMG, was he flustered, couldn't name ONE city/ province in the entire country. Didn't even know where Vietnam was..I told him to make up a better story and drove away laughing..Idiot..

 

Gravehauler, you make a good point. I usually need some menial thing done around my truck, and if I have any $$ to spare or can get a guy a meal, maybe I'll give 'em an opportunity to earn it instead of automatically turning my back...I've gotten a little jaded over the years. I still have NO patience or time for lot lizards or the dudes going from truck to truck trying to sell some jewelry or electronics he has hidden under his jacket, though.