ravn
Community Member
0 posts
410 comments
1.6K upvotes
894 points
This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.
ravn • upvoted 15 items 2 months ago
Show All 15 Upvotes
ravn • commented on 11 posts 2 months ago
Show All 11 Comments
ravn • upvoted 12 items 3 months ago
Homeless-People-Unwritten-Rules-Reddit
I apologize for wall o' text, I have to tell my story for context. I bolded the important things. I did some jungling for about 3 1/2-4 years when I aged out of foster care. I faced the reality of many youths that don't get adopted by their 18 birthday. Initially I floated around in men's shelters but learned extremely quickly how unsafe they can be. Despite being a bit of a safe place, you gotta realize local cops generally tend to throw mentally ill and other off people in these shelters to keep them off the streets. A lot of shelters have hierarchies that seem like something out of a gang or prison. I had tons of s**t I had with me stolen from shelter people who threatened me with crude shivs and clubs if I took back what they stole from me. It can be difficult at times to find a very safe shelter. Deciding that I didn't want to deal with the bulls**t from shelters and a**hole bully cops, I set out to leave the town I was staying in and head westward(as the weather is more forgiving there). I became a hobo as I migrated all over the country working jobs and laid my head anywhere safe and dry. Don't ever forget that a hobo is someone who is homeless and migrates for work; bums don't work or travel, and tramps travel but hardly work. I've worked all sorts of jobs like cattle ranch hand, paper delivery, vegetable/fruit picker, groundskeeper, grave digger, small game hunter(I kept coyotes, woodchucks and other critters off farm properties), and tons of more jobs. I've traveled all over the country, met fellow hobos and learned endless amounts of things through adventures. I will say one of the biggest rules people and myself swear by is "always keep yourself busy and looking clean as possible". A drunk homeless guy running around the popular town park naked screaming about Jesus is absolute poison for other homeless people. He's allowing people of the town to stigmatize all homeless people as drunk maniacs and only feeding the flames for cops to show unnecessary force. Never let yourself get to that point, moderate your alcohol intake, never get involved with serious drugs and do not prey on people. Keeping up your appearance separates you from the low life scum and allows you to be more approachable to people. Even if it's a job as basic as digging graves and trimmin bushes at a bone yard, nobody wants to hire the guy reeking of malt liquor and piss. It's important to utilize skills you have and always be willing to work. It allows you to win favor in the eyes of people, get some food in your mouth, allow you to have a job you can return to in the future or keep an opportunity open for a fellow homeless person. A very crucial rule many people on the streets live by is never exhaust handouts in a town". There will always be someone in worse shape than you are that will need that hand out to survive, you do not want that person to come to a town that completely ignores and spits on homeless people. My last rule is "don't cause any trouble when riding trains, never freeload and always be willing to lend a helping hand to the operators of the train". Trains are a crucial way of travel but not knowing how to catch one can have fatal results. Tying in with the keeping up busy rule, always be willing to help out on a train if any of the crew members encounter you. If they happen to kick you off despite explaining how you can help, just get off and continue your trek by other means or get to an area where you'll be able to get on a different train. It ain't worth getting beat up by some bubba train worker with an attitude problem and the brain of a peanut. Generally rail workers will be less likely to get authorities involved if you're able to help them lighten their work duty loads.
Homeless-People-Unwritten-Rules-Reddit
A few things, most of which have already been said: Contrary to what some others have said, carrying a weapon is bad news; you think it will protect you, but it will only invite trouble. The police and citizens will harass you. Unless you can keep it well concealed, don't pack. Don't carry drugs around. There is a reason homeless people buy and shoot up quickly, and though it's often just for convenience, you also don't want to be wandering around with a lot of drugs on you. If you aren't on drugs, stay off them. It was the only reason I made it out of that life. Help each other out. Be friendly, it goes a long way. Share info on where to get food, dive, sleep, etc. On a related note, share what you can, don't be obviously greedy. Cops hate the homeless, stay away. Mental health agencies are a gamble; if you actually have issues, they may report you to police. If you don't, they still might report you to police. Most homeless take advantage of the free resources offered by these agencies, so they go to them, but they are often bad news. Just take the resources and run. You will find may new uses for condoms (non-sexual uses, that is). They are free and very useful; a survivalists best friend. Protect your identity. Don't sell your ID. Seriously, some people want it. Drunks who pick fights are "top heavy". This goes for anyone confronting an intoxicated person. Don't try to block their blows; get out of the way and push them or take them out below the waist. They'll fall over. Get away as quickly as possible after that. Thank god for public libraries. If another person vomits or bleeds (a lot of them punch walls due to mental illness, I never figured out why that was so common), don't touch them, just get help. One word; AIDS, which will severely restrict your access to community health care. If you are native, a youth, a victim of abuse or have any outstanding aspects, they probably give you a better chance at getting a shelter bed or a place in transitional housing. Use these to your advantage. As already posted, check out anything you receive. There are lots of spiteful people. Kind of taboo, and I'm sure I'll get downvoted, but a lot of social workers with charities or the city are stupid; people who couldn't figure out what they wanted to do with their lives after high school, so they decided "oh, I'll be a martyr and help the homeless". They look down on you and have lots of preconceived notions that all homeless are schizophrenic, otherwise delusional or just plain dumb. This can be used to your advantage to get extra food, quicker processing into housing applications and access to other public services like health care, transit passes or hair cuts. I'll add more as I think of them. EDIT: - If you are in a transitional housing unit, always close the door behind you and make sure no one who you don't recognize makes it into the building. Most shelters are unmarked for a reason; if anybody asks what the building is used for, say it's a "condominium", a "friend's place" or something similar. Be amicable with other homeless. If you see each other in public, a simple nod of acknowledge is fine, but don't "out" them as homeless. Guys from men's shelters try to pick up girls from women's shelters. I'm serious. This is risky business; if you really want to "stick your d**k in a crazy", this is how you do it. Don't identify yourself to others other than your first name. Inform shelter workers as little as possible about your personal history; yes, they are there to help you, but they also want to protect themselves. If you, for any reason, make them feel uncomfortable, they may try and get you out of their shelter. It's amazing how many emotionally unstable, sensitive, bleeding heart short ladies work at shelters that are scared s**tless of the homeless they are employed to protect. Never mention someone you knew from the streets or in a shelter. Just common courtesy. Someone mentioned grabbing trains to getHomeless-People-Unwritten-Rules-Reddit
I apologize for wall o' text, I have to tell my story for context. I bolded the important things. I did some jungling for about 3 1/2-4 years when I aged out of foster care. I faced the reality of many youths that don't get adopted by their 18 birthday. Initially I floated around in men's shelters but learned extremely quickly how unsafe they can be. Despite being a bit of a safe place, you gotta realize local cops generally tend to throw mentally ill and other off people in these shelters to keep them off the streets. A lot of shelters have hierarchies that seem like something out of a gang or prison. I had tons of s**t I had with me stolen from shelter people who threatened me with crude shivs and clubs if I took back what they stole from me. It can be difficult at times to find a very safe shelter. Deciding that I didn't want to deal with the bulls**t from shelters and a**hole bully cops, I set out to leave the town I was staying in and head westward(as the weather is more forgiving there). I became a hobo as I migrated all over the country working jobs and laid my head anywhere safe and dry. Don't ever forget that a hobo is someone who is homeless and migrates for work; bums don't work or travel, and tramps travel but hardly work. I've worked all sorts of jobs like cattle ranch hand, paper delivery, vegetable/fruit picker, groundskeeper, grave digger, small game hunter(I kept coyotes, woodchucks and other critters off farm properties), and tons of more jobs. I've traveled all over the country, met fellow hobos and learned endless amounts of things through adventures. I will say one of the biggest rules people and myself swear by is "always keep yourself busy and looking clean as possible". A drunk homeless guy running around the popular town park naked screaming about Jesus is absolute poison for other homeless people. He's allowing people of the town to stigmatize all homeless people as drunk maniacs and only feeding the flames for cops to show unnecessary force. Never let yourself get to that point, moderate your alcohol intake, never get involved with serious drugs and do not prey on people. Keeping up your appearance separates you from the low life scum and allows you to be more approachable to people. Even if it's a job as basic as digging graves and trimmin bushes at a bone yard, nobody wants to hire the guy reeking of malt liquor and piss. It's important to utilize skills you have and always be willing to work. It allows you to win favor in the eyes of people, get some food in your mouth, allow you to have a job you can return to in the future or keep an opportunity open for a fellow homeless person. A very crucial rule many people on the streets live by is never exhaust handouts in a town". There will always be someone in worse shape than you are that will need that hand out to survive, you do not want that person to come to a town that completely ignores and spits on homeless people. My last rule is "don't cause any trouble when riding trains, never freeload and always be willing to lend a helping hand to the operators of the train". Trains are a crucial way of travel but not knowing how to catch one can have fatal results. Tying in with the keeping up busy rule, always be willing to help out on a train if any of the crew members encounter you. If they happen to kick you off despite explaining how you can help, just get off and continue your trek by other means or get to an area where you'll be able to get on a different train. It ain't worth getting beat up by some bubba train worker with an attitude problem and the brain of a peanut. Generally rail workers will be less likely to get authorities involved if you're able to help them lighten their work duty loads.Homeless-People-Unwritten-Rules-Reddit
A few things, most of which have already been said: Contrary to what some others have said, carrying a weapon is bad news; you think it will protect you, but it will only invite trouble. The police and citizens will harass you. Unless you can keep it well concealed, don't pack. Don't carry drugs around. There is a reason homeless people buy and shoot up quickly, and though it's often just for convenience, you also don't want to be wandering around with a lot of drugs on you. If you aren't on drugs, stay off them. It was the only reason I made it out of that life. Help each other out. Be friendly, it goes a long way. Share info on where to get food, dive, sleep, etc. On a related note, share what you can, don't be obviously greedy. Cops hate the homeless, stay away. Mental health agencies are a gamble; if you actually have issues, they may report you to police. If you don't, they still might report you to police. Most homeless take advantage of the free resources offered by these agencies, so they go to them, but they are often bad news. Just take the resources and run. You will find may new uses for condoms (non-sexual uses, that is). They are free and very useful; a survivalists best friend. Protect your identity. Don't sell your ID. Seriously, some people want it. Drunks who pick fights are "top heavy". This goes for anyone confronting an intoxicated person. Don't try to block their blows; get out of the way and push them or take them out below the waist. They'll fall over. Get away as quickly as possible after that. Thank god for public libraries. If another person vomits or bleeds (a lot of them punch walls due to mental illness, I never figured out why that was so common), don't touch them, just get help. One word; AIDS, which will severely restrict your access to community health care. If you are native, a youth, a victim of abuse or have any outstanding aspects, they probably give you a better chance at getting a shelter bed or a place in transitional housing. Use these to your advantage. As already posted, check out anything you receive. There are lots of spiteful people. Kind of taboo, and I'm sure I'll get downvoted, but a lot of social workers with charities or the city are stupid; people who couldn't figure out what they wanted to do with their lives after high school, so they decided "oh, I'll be a martyr and help the homeless". They look down on you and have lots of preconceived notions that all homeless are schizophrenic, otherwise delusional or just plain dumb. This can be used to your advantage to get extra food, quicker processing into housing applications and access to other public services like health care, transit passes or hair cuts. I'll add more as I think of them. EDIT: - If you are in a transitional housing unit, always close the door behind you and make sure no one who you don't recognize makes it into the building. Most shelters are unmarked for a reason; if anybody asks what the building is used for, say it's a "condominium", a "friend's place" or something similar. Be amicable with other homeless. If you see each other in public, a simple nod of acknowledge is fine, but don't "out" them as homeless. Guys from men's shelters try to pick up girls from women's shelters. I'm serious. This is risky business; if you really want to "stick your d**k in a crazy", this is how you do it. Don't identify yourself to others other than your first name. Inform shelter workers as little as possible about your personal history; yes, they are there to help you, but they also want to protect themselves. If you, for any reason, make them feel uncomfortable, they may try and get you out of their shelter. It's amazing how many emotionally unstable, sensitive, bleeding heart short ladies work at shelters that are scared s**tless of the homeless they are employed to protect. Never mention someone you knew from the streets or in a shelter. Just common courtesy. Someone mentioned grabbing trains to get
For Those Afraid To Tell Their Doctors Their Sexuality. We Are Taught To Treat Everyone And Keep Our Opinions To Ourselves
Show All 12 Upvotes
ravn • commented on 2 posts 3 months ago
This Panda hasn't posted anything yet
ravn • submitted 2 list additions 10 months ago
ravn • submitted 2 list additions 1 year ago
ravn • commented on 11 posts 2 months ago
ravn • commented on 9 posts 3 months ago
ravn • upvoted 17 items 2 months ago
Things-Not-To-Do-Visiting-Canada
If you're driving and someone slows down to let you into traffic, give them a little wave. It might not be as common in big cities, but it is most definitely a thing is most areas.Homeless-People-Unwritten-Rules-Reddit
I apologize for wall o' text, I have to tell my story for context. I bolded the important things. I did some jungling for about 3 1/2-4 years when I aged out of foster care. I faced the reality of many youths that don't get adopted by their 18 birthday. Initially I floated around in men's shelters but learned extremely quickly how unsafe they can be. Despite being a bit of a safe place, you gotta realize local cops generally tend to throw mentally ill and other off people in these shelters to keep them off the streets. A lot of shelters have hierarchies that seem like something out of a gang or prison. I had tons of s**t I had with me stolen from shelter people who threatened me with crude shivs and clubs if I took back what they stole from me. It can be difficult at times to find a very safe shelter. Deciding that I didn't want to deal with the bulls**t from shelters and a**hole bully cops, I set out to leave the town I was staying in and head westward(as the weather is more forgiving there). I became a hobo as I migrated all over the country working jobs and laid my head anywhere safe and dry. Don't ever forget that a hobo is someone who is homeless and migrates for work; bums don't work or travel, and tramps travel but hardly work. I've worked all sorts of jobs like cattle ranch hand, paper delivery, vegetable/fruit picker, groundskeeper, grave digger, small game hunter(I kept coyotes, woodchucks and other critters off farm properties), and tons of more jobs. I've traveled all over the country, met fellow hobos and learned endless amounts of things through adventures. I will say one of the biggest rules people and myself swear by is "always keep yourself busy and looking clean as possible". A drunk homeless guy running around the popular town park naked screaming about Jesus is absolute poison for other homeless people. He's allowing people of the town to stigmatize all homeless people as drunk maniacs and only feeding the flames for cops to show unnecessary force. Never let yourself get to that point, moderate your alcohol intake, never get involved with serious drugs and do not prey on people. Keeping up your appearance separates you from the low life scum and allows you to be more approachable to people. Even if it's a job as basic as digging graves and trimmin bushes at a bone yard, nobody wants to hire the guy reeking of malt liquor and piss. It's important to utilize skills you have and always be willing to work. It allows you to win favor in the eyes of people, get some food in your mouth, allow you to have a job you can return to in the future or keep an opportunity open for a fellow homeless person. A very crucial rule many people on the streets live by is never exhaust handouts in a town". There will always be someone in worse shape than you are that will need that hand out to survive, you do not want that person to come to a town that completely ignores and spits on homeless people. My last rule is "don't cause any trouble when riding trains, never freeload and always be willing to lend a helping hand to the operators of the train". Trains are a crucial way of travel but not knowing how to catch one can have fatal results. Tying in with the keeping up busy rule, always be willing to help out on a train if any of the crew members encounter you. If they happen to kick you off despite explaining how you can help, just get off and continue your trek by other means or get to an area where you'll be able to get on a different train. It ain't worth getting beat up by some bubba train worker with an attitude problem and the brain of a peanut. Generally rail workers will be less likely to get authorities involved if you're able to help them lighten their work duty loads.Homeless-People-Unwritten-Rules-Reddit
A few things, most of which have already been said: Contrary to what some others have said, carrying a weapon is bad news; you think it will protect you, but it will only invite trouble. The police and citizens will harass you. Unless you can keep it well concealed, don't pack. Don't carry drugs around. There is a reason homeless people buy and shoot up quickly, and though it's often just for convenience, you also don't want to be wandering around with a lot of drugs on you. If you aren't on drugs, stay off them. It was the only reason I made it out of that life. Help each other out. Be friendly, it goes a long way. Share info on where to get food, dive, sleep, etc. On a related note, share what you can, don't be obviously greedy. Cops hate the homeless, stay away. Mental health agencies are a gamble; if you actually have issues, they may report you to police. If you don't, they still might report you to police. Most homeless take advantage of the free resources offered by these agencies, so they go to them, but they are often bad news. Just take the resources and run. You will find may new uses for condoms (non-sexual uses, that is). They are free and very useful; a survivalists best friend. Protect your identity. Don't sell your ID. Seriously, some people want it. Drunks who pick fights are "top heavy". This goes for anyone confronting an intoxicated person. Don't try to block their blows; get out of the way and push them or take them out below the waist. They'll fall over. Get away as quickly as possible after that. Thank god for public libraries. If another person vomits or bleeds (a lot of them punch walls due to mental illness, I never figured out why that was so common), don't touch them, just get help. One word; AIDS, which will severely restrict your access to community health care. If you are native, a youth, a victim of abuse or have any outstanding aspects, they probably give you a better chance at getting a shelter bed or a place in transitional housing. Use these to your advantage. As already posted, check out anything you receive. There are lots of spiteful people. Kind of taboo, and I'm sure I'll get downvoted, but a lot of social workers with charities or the city are stupid; people who couldn't figure out what they wanted to do with their lives after high school, so they decided "oh, I'll be a martyr and help the homeless". They look down on you and have lots of preconceived notions that all homeless are schizophrenic, otherwise delusional or just plain dumb. This can be used to your advantage to get extra food, quicker processing into housing applications and access to other public services like health care, transit passes or hair cuts. I'll add more as I think of them. EDIT: - If you are in a transitional housing unit, always close the door behind you and make sure no one who you don't recognize makes it into the building. Most shelters are unmarked for a reason; if anybody asks what the building is used for, say it's a "condominium", a "friend's place" or something similar. Be amicable with other homeless. If you see each other in public, a simple nod of acknowledge is fine, but don't "out" them as homeless. Guys from men's shelters try to pick up girls from women's shelters. I'm serious. This is risky business; if you really want to "stick your d**k in a crazy", this is how you do it. Don't identify yourself to others other than your first name. Inform shelter workers as little as possible about your personal history; yes, they are there to help you, but they also want to protect themselves. If you, for any reason, make them feel uncomfortable, they may try and get you out of their shelter. It's amazing how many emotionally unstable, sensitive, bleeding heart short ladies work at shelters that are scared s**tless of the homeless they are employed to protect. Never mention someone you knew from the streets or in a shelter. Just common courtesy. Someone mentioned grabbing trains to get ravn • upvoted 3 items 3 months ago
This Panda hasn't followed anyone yet
ravn • 47 followers
