The Continuing Adventure of James in the Big Smoke Part 2
So it's been a while since my last update, and this happened before it snowed, but here it is.
I'm walking down Robson, after I had finished work. I see this guy walking the other way and I do the typical nod when eye contact is made, just as he is walking by. Just after he has passed by me he says "excuse me." I of course turn expecting a question, like, do you have the time? Instead I get a very soft, but well spoken, gentleman thanking me for not blowing him off and actually taking the time to stop and listen. At this point I'm not sure where this is going, but I don't really have anything else to do so I stay and listen. He continues to apologize and thank me for stopping and then get's to the heart of the matter. He doesn't come right out and ask me for spare change, he instead explains his situation. He's HIV positive and his prospects for food in the near future are slim to none. He doesn't ask outright for help or money, but lucky for him I happened to have "spare change" and since he was not in my face "gimme your change!!" I gave him the $2-$3 in change I had in my pocket. He thanked me and we went our seperate ways. The end.
So, Joel, the city has not made me jaded. It all depends on whether you demand the change, as if it is already yours to have, or if you politely explain your situation without the expectation of help in any form.
I'm walking down Robson, after I had finished work. I see this guy walking the other way and I do the typical nod when eye contact is made, just as he is walking by. Just after he has passed by me he says "excuse me." I of course turn expecting a question, like, do you have the time? Instead I get a very soft, but well spoken, gentleman thanking me for not blowing him off and actually taking the time to stop and listen. At this point I'm not sure where this is going, but I don't really have anything else to do so I stay and listen. He continues to apologize and thank me for stopping and then get's to the heart of the matter. He doesn't come right out and ask me for spare change, he instead explains his situation. He's HIV positive and his prospects for food in the near future are slim to none. He doesn't ask outright for help or money, but lucky for him I happened to have "spare change" and since he was not in my face "gimme your change!!" I gave him the $2-$3 in change I had in my pocket. He thanked me and we went our seperate ways. The end.
So, Joel, the city has not made me jaded. It all depends on whether you demand the change, as if it is already yours to have, or if you politely explain your situation without the expectation of help in any form.
posted by James at 2:46 PM
1 Comments:
I've avoided downtown like the plague for the better part of a month now. I hate being one of those people with tons of shopping bags and not giving a cent to homeless people.. It makes me feel guilty, but also just angry that they'd ask. I work too hard for money to give it to people who don't do anything for theirs.
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