Economically disadvantaged – it really is the new politically correct term for “homeless people” or “welfare bums”. Please. Most people my age living in NYC would consider themselves economically disadvantaged.
I’m not judgmental when it comes to homeless people. I don’t believe they are all lazy or that they are all addicted to drugs or alcohol. It’s sad to see so much of it on the streets of NYC.
What I don’t understand, however, is when and why homeless people began to act so entitled – to my money. Last week, two of my co-workers came into work irate over two separate incidents that had just occurred in front of our building. One “economically disadvantaged” woman harassed my co-worker as she came out of Dunkin’ Donuts. When she did not offer up any spare change, the woman spewed at her, “I know you got money – you can afford to buy coffee and breakfast but you can’t give me any money? You make all this money and you can’t give me nothin’?” A similar comment from an “economically disadvantaged” man was made to another co-worker. He was insulted that she was going into a “big fancy building where you must make a lot of money” and she couldn’t spare any for him.
Like I said, my co-workers were pissed when they came in. One of them said, “Yeah, I have money and it’s because I work hard for it. Why should I feel like I have to give out change just because I can afford to buy a cup of coffee every morning? What makes them entitled to my money?”
It’s an interesting method to try to get money – are these “economically disadvantaged” people appealing to our guilty conscious? Like, if they make us feel guilty enough about having money, we’re going to give it them? Maybe it works for some people – but for me and my co-workers, it just pisses us off.
I appreciate people who don’t make me feel like I owe them anything, but instead, those who have creative methods – like this guy who sets up shop in the corridor between Port Authority and Time Square station.
I’ve never felt the desire to tell him off – but I do enjoy giving him my change.
Posted by cher on Sunday, January 20th, 2008 at 2:20 pm.