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Not my experience, either; I've had plenty of interesting conversations with complete strangers.
Consider this: The common denominator in all these instances is you.
Oh, so now it's my fault I'm hassled by scum-bags?! I live & work in a major metropolitan city with a lot of homeless junkies/panhandlers. So, it's my fault I live here?!
Have you ever taken public transportation every day to go to work & been surrounded by the mentally ill, junkies going through withdrawal, people that reek of pi$$ & B.O., people fighting, etc.?! Well, I have. If you haven't had to do this, you're fortunate.
I also know other people in my area who are accosted by these P.O.S'.s on a regular basis as well. So it's not just me.
Why don't you think before you post?! Just because you haven't been hassled by these people as much as I have, that doesn't mean that they target me in particular for some reason. If you do think that, then you're delusional.
You have NO CLUE what I have to go through every day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stan4
I've been approached by crazy people, panhandlers, scam artists, etc.
And somehow didn't turn into an unfriendly dick.
Sometimes being an "unfriendly dick" is the only way to keep from getting hassled. If that's what it takes, so be it. Though I do get hassled by these people, if I were friendly I'm sure it would happen a lot more. I have had some of them look like they're about to ask me for money at times, then think better of it.
And, to those other people who don't have the misfortune to live in an area where aggressive panhandling is an issue, here are some articles to prove my point - I am NOT making this up:
Also I've heard of incidents in Times Square where the "free hug" people and those who dress up as characters have physically assaulted people when they didn't pay up for the "free" photo.
There have also been a few rare instances where I have moved subway cars to get away from people I perceived to be mentally ill and unstable, but in most or all cases, those people weren't actually asking for money. They were just ranting and raving.
This happens to me on an almost daily basis. Public transportation seems to draw people like this, probably because they can't drive.
Last edited by The Big Lebowski Dude; 05-28-2016 at 09:38 PM..
Seems to me this "chatting" can fall into one of two categories. One is the conversation that isn't intended to last more than a minute or two - like strangers in an elevator, or two people at a crosswalk commenting on an erratic driver. But the other kind, which can be really fun, is when two total strangers get into an actual conversation, maybe because they happen to be leaving a movie at the same time and then starting commenting on it. I was leaving an event recently and fell into conversation with someone else, walking in the same direction for about ten minutes, and we started talking about economics.
I think there may be regional differences. I'm in New York City and it seems to happen often here.
If strangers in American talk to you, do you like it or, with your upbringing in Sweden, do you find it annoying and intrusive?
Oh, so now it's my fault I'm hassled by scum-bags?! I live & work in a major metropolitan city with a lot of homeless junkies/panhandlers. So, it's my fault I live here?!
Pretty much. If you don't like all that goes along with the urban environment, you should vacate it immediately.
Quote:
Have you ever taken public transportation every day to go to work & been surrounded by the mentally ill, junkies going through withdrawal, people that reek of pi$$ & B.O., people fighting, etc.?!
Nope. I've encountered very little of that on public transportation.
Quote:
Why don't you think before you post?! Just because you haven't been hassled by these people as much as I have, that doesn't mean that they target me in particular for some reason.
I could say the same about you. Just because you encounter people who don't measure up to your lofty standards on a daily basis does not mean everyone else does.
Quote:
You have NO CLUE what I have to go through every day.
As I said before, the only common denominator in your tales of woe is ... you.
Pretty much. If you don't like all that goes along with the urban environment, you should vacate it immediately.
Nope. I've encountered very little of that on public transportation.
Well, I can't just "leave" my urban environment because I have a job, and need to make a living. I'm not a spoiled, entitled brat who can just leave my job at the first sign of difficulty - I'm sure this is beyond your comprehension, however.
Must be nice - I have to go through this every day on public transportation. And, by admitting that you don't go through what I have to every day, you've just proved my point for me - Thanks - you've been extremely helpful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm 100% sure that you would not be able to handle what I deal with on a daily basis.
Last edited by The Big Lebowski Dude; 06-02-2016 at 07:32 PM..
Well, I can't just "leave" my urban environment because I have a job, and need to make a living. I'm not a spoiled brat who can just leave my job at the first sign of difficulty - I'm sure this is beyond your comprehension, however.
Must be nice - I have to go through this every day on public transportation. And, by admitting that you don't go through what I have to every day, you've just proved my point for me - Thanks - you've been extremely helpful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm 100% sure that you would not be able to handle what I deal with on a daily basis.
Just saw this thread and I must say that many, many people out there truly have no comprehension of how gritty, harsh & disgusting some parts of the major cities can be.
There's no describing it to people who live in cookie cutter little towns.....
I do know you're not exaggerating.
Just saw this thread and I must say that many, many people out there truly have no comprehension of how gritty, harsh & disgusting some parts of the major cities can be.
There's no describing it to people who live in cookie cutter little towns.....
I do know you're not exaggerating.
Thanks! If I could rep you 100 times I would!!! Glad to hear at least some people know where I'm coming from on here. Not everyone can afford to live in the expensive suburbs. Some of us have to live & work in the big city.
A while back, a guy on the train I take was attacked for no reason. Public transportation can be dangerous in certain areas - you do have to be careful & aware of your surroundings at all times.
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
26,700 posts, read 41,742,544 times
Reputation: 41381
Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfessorEx
Just saw this thread and I must say that many, many people out there truly have no comprehension of how gritty, harsh & disgusting some parts of the major cities can be.
There's no describing it to people who live in cookie cutter little towns.....
I do know you're not exaggerating.
Honestly thank you. It seems some here can't get it through their head not everywhere is their little peaceful suburb of Mayberry. While I've been fortunate to not have any panhandlers put me in a dangerous situation, I completely understand, as someone who goes out in DC and Baltimore all the time, why it would be a reasonable idea to not engage with strangers.
Honestly thank you. It seems some here can't get it through their head not everywhere is their little peaceful suburb of Mayberry. While I've been fortunate to not have any panhandlers put me in a dangerous situation, I completely understand, as someone who goes out in DC and Baltimore all the time, why it would be a reasonable idea to not engage with strangers.
As someone who grew up & went to college in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. metropolitan area, I completely understand what you mean.
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