Today, I was doing a study on homeless people and how they manage to stay alive on the streets. Turns out the one I was studying today was given more money than I make in a week. FML
I agree, your life sucks (16588) - you totally deserved it (1289)
On 12/11/2009 at 2:23am - money - by Anonymous (man) - Australia (Queensland)
(0)This is a horrible FML if you're unemployed..haha..
#1 - On 12/11/2009 at 10:02am by ParaplegicPony
(+1)suprisingly, you can make a lot of money begging in america. actually. the average hobo makes more money per hour begging than someone would make working a minimum wage job.
#43 - On 12/11/2009 at 8:25pm by Scotticus117
(+1)If they spent it wisely they'd be well off. A lot of them are schizophrenic so can't be entirely blamed, but it's still ridiculous.
But this is Australia, not america scotticus.
(0)well,I'm guess you have a home and they don't so the money is more tight with them..what do u use your money on?
(+1)Most are addicted to something (alcohol, drugs, etc.). About 1/3 have mental illness. But it's a common misconception that they're poor (unless they're severely mentally ill). Most can pull in $300 on a good day. OTOH, there are also some people that prefer that lifestyle and will actually work for 3 months to earn $30,000 or so to live on for the rest of the year.
(+1)Wow, what average person makes 30,000 dollars in three months? I can just picture a homeless person downtown leading a double life as a business executive, lol!
#25 - On 12/11/2009 at 1:28pm by leggitwist
(0)that's a great point in your study! that homeless people make the same amount as a regular person, but must have bad spending habits!
#5 - On 12/11/2009 at 10:11am by theluckygirl28
(0)YDI for being jealous of a homeless man; you'd seriously rather trade places?
#6 - On 12/11/2009 at 10:11am by greatnt249
(+4)Location, location, location.
BTW, a prostitute probably makes more than you as well. I am still not sure I would be envious of her or the homeless...
(+2)This one literally 'little fucker' in the last city I lived in was rumored to clear close to 100,000 a year. I don't know if that's true but I did see him at the place I worked at the time, taking his midget ass into the gov't benefits building. Now I don't like repeating that story because I think he had a rare scam and most homeless people are destitute, but this is a valid FML.
(0)I wonder what is a bigger drag on society: homeless, panhandling parasites or the people who study them?
(+2)Third option: you. I'll consider the latter more relative.
#26 - On 12/11/2009 at 1:32pm by leggitwist
(+2)In the USA, you don't have to beg. Just hold up a clever sign and people will give you a dollar.
(+1)Don't compain. You have food, clothing, and a roof over your head
#12 - On 12/11/2009 at 10:48am by pierre_legendre
(+2)most homeless people get more money in a year than most working people make. heck I spent a day in the mall with my car keys asking for gas money and got over 100 bucks in 2 hours.
#13 - On 12/11/2009 at 10:54am by AnthonyD86
(+1)A woman did a study on this awhile back, and found that if you stood at a stop light, in an 8 hour day, it changed 280 times, and if you got a dollar, each time it changed, or say only 200, not 280, it was in a 5 day week, 1000 a week, times 52 weeks a year, for 52,000 tax free for the year. Some days you'd get more, some days, less, but with a kid, or a dog? Probably lots more. This is why I never give them money. I make less than they do, and have been at my job for 25 years. When I retire though? Guess what my new job is gonna be?
(+1)Just because someone is panhandling, doesn't mean they're homeless. Does anyone recall Toronto's "Shakey Lady" who's son would come pick her up off of her begging corner in their mini-van and drive her back to the apt. they shared. Apparently, her shaking disease vanished the moment she left "work" for the day, and according to reports, she cleared about $80 000 a year.
(0)i never give money to beggers..i dont feel pitty for them. they get alot of money panhandling, and its there fault there in that situation. most make more then the "working class" but still have nothing to show for it.. maybe insted of buying crack they should get a suit and try to get a job
#16 - On 12/11/2009 at 11:47am by uconchsucker
(0)It is never always their fault they are in that situation. If I didn't have a friend help me out last year, I would be in that situation this year. Why? - because my epilepsy came out of remission and I was unable to work for 3 months and used up all of my savings to pay on bills to see doctors while I searched for a doctor who would take my complaints seriously - when i finally found one willing to consider epilepsy, my EEG showed seizure activity so severe they were amazed I had been able to talk - its solely a matter of luck I didn't experience brain damage from the doctors being convinced that I was "just under stress from finishing my masters" and brushing off all of my concerns. I then had a diagnosis, but since it was summer, I was ineligible for any government aid (teachers aren't allowed aid in the summer). My medicine is $4,000/month and my insurance company said they wouldn't cover it until I had tried all the other options with them (options which I tried and failed in the past before I was covered by blue cross for various reasons, including life threatening allergies). Wasn't eligible for any charity plans to get my medication and needed hospital tests because I had insurance.
And with my health so bad (the medicine did not fully work), it is important that my diet be carefully controlled. One wrong meal takes 7 days to recover from and get back to being able to think and move normally. Do you have any idea how hard it is to eat a high fat, high protein, low carb diet when you never know when or where you'll next meal will be. No doubt I could never get off the street if I went on, simply because of the dietary restrictions I have. I still have about $30,000 in medical debt from last summer.
(-2)"It's never their fault?" Give me a fucking break. You make of your life what you want to make out of it. Excuses are like assholes...everyone's got one. The choices we make in our lives dictate where we end up. I don't feel sorry for the homeless, drug addicts, etc...the choices they made dictated their future. So should I feel obligated to help someone that makes shitty decisions in their life? NOPE!
#22 - On 12/11/2009 at 12:33pm by jandrews10
99.99999999% of the time it is their own fault.
Bums make bank! While a lot of them just spend all that money on drugs or liquor, and therefore stay homeless, plenty choose to live that way cause you can make a lot of money from suckers. If I don't ignore a homeless person I just bring them food, I never give them money. You make your own life, and some people who make good choices still sometimes get fucked and end up homeless, but not forever.
And about that sad long story...I find it hard to believe it took all that long for you to find a doctor to look at you. You clearly did not try hard enough at the first one. If you were epileptic before I don't see why multiple doctors would ignore your complaints. I would think that is extremely unproffesional. Did you explain to your insurance company that you had tried all those other methods? Or that trying them again could put your life in danger due to allergies? And as far as not getting aid, you chose to be a teacher who does not get aid during summer. No charities would help? Because there is plenty of other people without insurance with big medical problems too! You would not be the only bum on the street with medical issues, you don't deserve extra sympathy.
#24 - On 12/11/2009 at 1:17pm by KarasuFyre
(+1)THIS^^^^^^^ Also, I work in healthcare, and a doctor would NEVER refuse to do an EEG if you said you had had a seizure, let alone 3 doctors, or however many you saw. Even if they didn't believe you, not investigating further could cause them to lose their lisences for life if you had another seizure and died. Also, I work with insurance companies every day, and all you have to do to get them to cover a non-standard treatment is have the doctor's office call the insurance company and explain why that treatment is necessary for you instead of the standard treatment. I would say that 98% of the time the insurance company accepts the reasoning from the doctor and covers the medication.
(+2)I just want to point out #14 didn't say that it's never their fault, but it's never 'always' their fault, in reply to the person who said it's their fault they are in those situations.
But anyways, I agree with the homeless thing a lot of the time being a choice, mostly with alcoholics and druggies and stuff.
When I go to church, afterwards in the parking lot after everyone gets out there is always this women who begs for money. "Please, do you have anything to spare?" And after getting all her charity, she drives away in her Mercedes.
#35 - On 12/11/2009 at 3:47pm by averagexbecca
(0)You guys are retarded if you always think it's their fault. There are still people living in horrible situations like from the stock market crash of 1929. Like any single person can be held responsible for that, yet millions were in the poor house. Events that are beyond our control affect people every day. The fact that Canada cut welfare costs a few years back meant people had to choose between school and rent, clothes and food, electricity and medical bills. Canada also closed down many homes for the mentally ill, saying that they could heal if they were put in the outside world and became a "functional member of society". Oh, but like you said, it's always the peoples' fault. Now because of this there are people on the streets who couldve had a degree by now, and people on the streets who are seriously ill and need to be taken care of.
#36 - On 12/11/2009 at 3:50pm by spiderman0606
(+2)I'm sorry, but if you can't get back on your feet after a crash EIGHTY YEARS AGO, it is definitely your own damned fault.
#39 - On 12/11/2009 at 5:14pm by Poundingsand
(0)Yes, they do refuse. Especially if a previous doctor has already decided the problem is "migraines" and not seizures. Also my seizures are complex partial in the left frontal temporal lobe - the most difficult kind to pick up on an EEG, which is why most patients are diagnosed on the basis of their symptoms, and not EEG results (which can never rule out epilepsy, only prove you have it.)
As for doctors who refuse to do EEG's regardless of your history of epilepsy (and at the time I didn't not have medical records due to past doctors retiring/moving and having had no reason to see a doctor for the past several years.) Here are some who will refuse to do an EEG regardless of your past and the description you tell them: Pushpa Kumari - Belle Vernon, PA (will also refuse a second EEG if the first is negative even though her tech is well known for messing up the results). I made my appointment in march, got into see her in May. The next soonest I could see a neuro was August.
*You have obviously never tried to make an appointment with a neurologist if you seriously think its rare for it to be 3 months after you complain about seizures to get an EEG. Most neurologists won't see you for at least 5 months unless a hospital assigns you to them because they have limited "new patient" slots. 3 months puts me at one of the quickest self-referrels you can get (and I only saw 3 neurologists, 4 general doctors, a cardiopulmnologist, and an endocrinologist before someone took me seriously - hospital swore to me that I was taking illegal drugs that just weren't showing up on their screening)
(+1)You're naive. Insurance companies have things called "quantity level limits" on drugs that are expensive and won't pay for any more than they want to, regardless of medical necessity or how many letters a doctor writes. Increasingly, insurance companies are dropping the facade of medical necessity and simply not paying for things just because they think it's too expensive.
(+1)Rx, Can you tell my neurologist that? I've been asking for another EEG since mid-August, because I know my AED's aren't working. She tells me they are because my dosage is higher than she put anyone else on, and apparently that means I have to be fully controlled.
And yes, I have made an appointment with another epi. Did so as soon as this one made it clear i wasn't going to get an EEG. He can see me in late february
(0)I'm with jandrews10, verrrry well said!! I got an education, and worked daaaamn hard to be where I am in life, and for my job, and I definetly deserve the money I make! I never give a cent to a bum or begger no matter what their 'story' is. My response is always the same, 'I've worked hard for what I have! Get a real job and make something of yourself!'
Regardless of 'how they got into that situation', it was their choices that got them there, and, they do not at all deserve to be given hard earned money from those of us that work our asses off to obtain it!
(0)The real FML here is that you're jealous of a homeless person.
#18 - On 12/11/2009 at 12:11pm by glasswater
(+1)There's an A. Conan Doyle-penned Sherlock Holmes story where a newspaper guy impersonates a beggar while researching for a story and realizes he can earn bigger bucks by panhandling than writing...so not a new concept, Anon.
#21 - On 12/11/2009 at 12:30pm by sistersestina
(-1)You have a computer and an education. When you stop living off your parents, then you can start whining.
#28 - On 12/11/2009 at 1:51pm by Dragonmouth
(+1)Thats why I don't give homeless people anything. First off, they don't deserve it. Second, the average homeless beggar can make upwards of $10-$20 an hour just by begging the gullible for change.
#32 - On 12/11/2009 at 3:14pm by RuralNinja
(+1)Adult children don't deserve anything from their parents either, but that doesn't stop them from expecting, housing, food, and loans when they go off to college (and no one busts their ass because they take it or ask for it from the parents)
(+1)To be honest, there's so few homeless people in Australia, seriously compared to other places around the world. They may make more money because of that. But it's no life. A lot of them have mental illnesses, no family and are outcast from society. Money isn't everything.
(0)Guys, this is from Australia--we here get welfare if we don't work, which is quite alot especially for aboriginal/torress straight islanders who can get up to $400 a week for doing nothing. There is no excuse for being homeless over here!
(0)That is so the guy who plays Harmonica?!? He used to come in to my work buy a coffee and swap his change for notes - he would usually cash in about $200 per night!
(0)Wow, most of you ppl on here have NO clue about the "real world". There are lots of ass backwards things that go on in this world. Not all homeless ppl chose where they are, not all of them make bank while being on the streets. Not all homeless ppl lie, cheat, steal, prostitute, or panhandle... Some live off of Gov't checks/foodstamps and never ask for anything more, and by the time some ppl have gotten there they earned the gov't help because they paid taxes for years!!! OR and did you know how many of our service men (troops) come back just to be homeless??? How do I know this? because until recently I lived in the back of my truck (in an army town)!!! I ended up in that situation because I got mauled by a house cat... I am 24 years old and everyday since that has been a painful hell for me... That cat tore up my hands... I no longer have a 70wpm avg. More like a 15wpm avg. I was out of work for 6 months, no insurance no help... Finally after 8 months a family member decided to be kind and let me stay with them while I fight for SSD. I cant work a regular job when my hands cramp up or go completely numb... I have to admit though that even though I was homeless, I saw a couple on the side of the road hungry with a dog. I had just gotten my first month of food stamps, I went into that store and bought a bag of beef jerky for the dog and some food for them. I am a firm believer that the less you have the more you give and share... I have seen it too many times... So you asses that dont share and dont think ppl actually go hungry on the streets I say to you that I hope you never have to be in that situation because your weak minds would probably commit suicide or end up in jail from stealing because your too prideful. Yes some ppl dont mind being homeless but dont assume because that just makes you look like an ass. Not everyone thats homeless (especially lately) got that way because of drugs or alcohol. Some ppl have to choose whether to buy thier life saving meds or pay the fucking rent!!! My grandma is one of them!!!!!!!!!!!! So they lose their home... My best friend and her hubby lost their home when they both lost their jobs, they lived in their car for a week until his mom agreed to let them stay with her... If it wasnt for her they would still be on the streets! Come to think of it hell if the money was that good even in this economy why doesnt someone sign me up since I have already been denied for SSD once already... and no doctor will see me without $$ on hand, the clinics and free health dept. cant do anything for me because of lack of funding... all they can do is refer me to some place that wants $300 up front for physical therapy. Life is unfair sometimes... Deal with it and dont assume shit because its soooooooo annoying!
(0)You know what's annoying! Hearing ppl like U Complain because u can't type fast anymore, NOBODY CARES! There's a million other jobs you can have that don't involve fast typing, it's your fault that you are closed minded and you are too wrapped up in you fast typing ego to try a different job. I have a career working with severly Ill and injured animals, and when they are in pain, they reeeeally dont want to be touched. I get mangled by animals, more often cats, quite often, I also have bone damage in my right hand(and I'm right-handed) no thanks to an aggressive little dog, and several severred nerves in my right wrist, no thanks to a nasty cat, I had to be on very powerful antibiotics and pain meds for that one due to very severe infection that travelled up into my hand and slightly further up my forearm, AND I still do my job, it took some recovery time, but I still own a house and have a life.
Try not blaming a cat for your misfortunes, maybe you should have tried staying away from such a fracious feline. Now get off of your high-horse, and get a job.
(0)what the hell is a house cat and how big is it that it did this much damage? you mean a domestic cat? because i have two and while they have scratched me a few times its not that difficult to get a little kitty off you!! unless of course you're talking about a mountain lion or something! Im from South Africa and here we would call a house cat a domestic cat....im confused???
#62 - On 01/05/2010 at 5:20am by CharlieDaniels
(0)i had to do a similar assignment in college. my psych professor made us observe homeless people and weather men or women are more prone to give him change. i decided to make an awkward moment and sit on the ground 5 feet away from him with a note book and a pen out and just stare at him for two hours straight. ive never seen anyone so nervous and paranoid by a 18 year old girl before. it was quite amuzing.
#54 - On 12/14/2009 at 12:55am by skankihobag
(0)Ya, they pretty much all do, horrible isn't it? We pay bills with the money we have, yet they make more and still chose to live on the streets? WTF?!
(0)yup, them hobos make around 30k a year. I should get a xign that says that while standing next to one.
