further thought...

Hey again, just posted about the vehicle stuff.

I'm with you on being present on the sidewalk too. In fact, last summer I actually stopped a B&E in progress, and the police got him.

Saw a guy breaking into a car a couple months ago too, but he was so 'cool' about it that it took me a while to clue in, and although I chased him down the street (I'm a woman, remember!) he totally escaped before I could get a decent description for 911.

I think in Tipping Point he discusses the phenomenon of non-involvement. Something like we all have a tendency, if we think others are looking, to stay detached, whereas if we're alone, we're more likely to act - counter intuitive, yes? Might be worth re-reading, but I'm sure there was some plausible explanation for it.

Can I gently challenge you on the homeless guy? Per above, I'm all for stopping crime. Sometimes though ... well, think of it this way. What if the above were a Jerry Seinfeld-style skit. Person with job, home, food and enough money for a latte turns to person who is sneaking out without paying and says, "dude. that's bad karma".

Theiving person, incredulous, turns to well-fed, well-housed guy who's had a good sleep but is still spending his money (that he recieved from a job) on coffee, and says,
Bad KARMA?

Bad KARMA?

You want to talk to ME about BAD KARMA??

I AMMMMM BAD KARMA!

Dude, I have a mental illness. My dad left when I was 2. I failed school 'cause I have dislexia and quit in grade 7. My mom couldn't handle me and I was in and out of 8 foster homes by the time I was 16. Then I went to the streets, and gaining social skills wasn't what I learned.

Last night I slept outside (where did YOU sleep?) and when I woke up my ID was stolen, so I couldn't get my welfare cheque. My tooth is killing me but there are no dentists for people like me, and dental work isn't included in welfare.

And by the way my life expectancy is 42 (ave. life span of homeless in Van) so that gives me 2 more years before I'm dead.

BAD KARMA?  I LIVE BAD KARMA.  I AM BAD KARMA!

There are a few people who are on the streets despite having everything going for them. The vast, vast majority though have truly had a pretty rough go. Some people have something inside them that surpasses their external limitations, and they succeed in life anyway. The spectres we see on the street didn't have that thing inside them.

Statistically, the thief probably really had the life above.

It's not one I want, and it's not one I could have surpassed if I'd been in their shoes.

So for the homeless thieves stealing food, I have a soft spot.

An alternative to thinking in terms of Karma, could be to think in terms of U2's song, 'grace' - which travels outside karma. What could grace have looked like in that story?

Take it or leave it...

I wonder about the possibility of turning tension into generosity- I wonder if I would have been able to, in that situation, to offer some of what I am so blessed to have, and bought the stolen food for the man... given him a gift in the midst of a likely thankless and oppressive day... something to think about ~ If it were me that's what I would wish for

I do not feel that the 'wrong' thing in this situation is the person trying to sustain their life by eating...so I would not stand beside you to shame them for it. I would want to do something though, and I would be inclined to try to rally people together to get to the root causes of things like homelessness. Shame does not ever get me anywhere - I have no use for it anymore. 

Thank you for all your comments and taking the time to gently share a different perspective and challenge how I think. I really appreciate the honesty shown here and it has made me rethink my actions. I agree with all of you that we need to deal with the root causes. I volunteered at Carnegie Centre and saw the challenges many people faced every day. But I also experienced first hand volunteering there how much an offer to buy food for someone would be turned down.

I guess I grew up in a household and an Asian society with foundations of Confucianism that has a perspective that stealing was one of the worst things to do in life. For many Asians, stealing is seen as detrimental to the fabric of society as it is seen as very impolite and extremely rude to take what is not yours. 

I was thinking.... would it make a difference if the store was not a corporate entity? How about an immigrant family trying to make a start in a new country with all of their life savings in that corner store? Or the person was stealing a pop versus the cinnamon straw?  I was thinking to myself, what would I have done if he had stolen a sandwich instead?  Just a change of perspective to consider, and a few thoughts that crossed my mind.

I agree with everyone that we all have to encourage change to make things better for us all, but I guess in my mind, that by being a bystander is not the way to go about it. We need to work together and help society remove poverty and the marginalization that some people face by taking the time to "participate" versus just being "present" like I know that many of you do here to make a  difference.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts.  Its helped me to rethink my perspectives and thanks to all of you for participating in change. ;-) 

Hmm - yup, I have to say I would feel differently if it were, say, Blakes (an independent cafe in gastown) rather than Starbucks. So I consider myself challenged back.   That is a very interesting question you posed.  I'll mull it over.

On a more immediate level, one thing that helps is if we start to inform ourselves of what resources people can be directed to.    I don't know much yet (and I should, living in gastown!) but am trying to learn.