Friday, October 12, 2007
Observation #3 "You just never know"
When I was riding with my friend in my car, I noticed a man on an off ramp with a sign asking for food. I I have noticed this man about three times before as well. I started talking to my friend and telling him that we should give this men some food and blankets. He looked at me as though I was crazy. He said I didn't know what that man would do if I stopped the car. He could have a gun, he could be a bad person. I didn't see the harm in just stopping to give food, but I understood his point. You just never know sometimes. I didn't know this person's history. Did he live at a shelter? Was there no food left and that is why he was begging for it? What was the reason he was out there? Was he a veteran? Did he have a mental illness? What was it? Hadn't a social worker or police officer gone by him and asked him if he needed them to bring him to a shelter or somewhere to get food? I never know what to do in those situations? How can I help and ensure my own safety? Who can I trust and who can't I? Who can I call to help this person? I really want to look into this more. There has to be something that I can do to, and I am going to find out just what that is.
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2 comments:
I think that your first instinct was the right one. Yes, there are dangerous people out there. But if this guy had a gun, do you think he'd be wasting his time standing on an interstate ramp all day where probably only a few people even gave him anything? You were also with someone and had the car as a barrier. If anything the homeless guy should fear people in a car. The problem in this area and pretty much every area is that there aren't enough shelters. They are first come, first serve. The government simply does not give enough money to create more shelters. So to answer another question, a cop or social worker can offer the man referrals, but they can't send him to a shelter if there isn't one available.
I have observed a man doing this same thing on the Williston off ramp. He was standing there with a sign for food. Traffic was backed up so a couple people handed him dollar bills, which was a nice gesture. However, I would be suspicious and worried about getting out and giving him food, simply because I don't know what his true intentions are.
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