Homeless paid in pizza
Pizza Schmizza in Portland, Oregon is hiring homeless people to hold sandwich board advertisements and paying them with pizza.I'm torn. On one hand, giving bums something to do other than bothering me for change is a good idea, but making them more visible is a definite nuisance.
Andre Jehan, founder of Pizza Schmizza came up with the idea as follows:
"I got tired of not being able to make eye contact with these people. I thought, `What skills could they have?' Holding a sign was an obvious one,'' he said.
Haha, yeah, true, ...but I have no problem averting their eyes. In fact, it is a crucial part of the "ignoring the bums" ritual I must face nearly every time I go out.
Don't look at them. Don't listen to their stupid made up story. Keep walking. Say "No". Don't look back. Don't answer their repeated attempts to converse. Just a simple and firm "no" followed by complete indifference is usually enough to make them give up.
For those offended that I use the word "bums", ...well I guess I am only referring to the majority of the homeless that I see. They are alcoholics, rude, usually able-bodied, under 35, and completely annoying. Truly needy people who have had a tough break in life aren't necessarily "bums", so I'm not talking about them. For a good example of a "bum", check out the image linked to the story.
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