Homeless People with Mobiles

adonis · 01-02-2006 4:26pm #1

Ok,
so im gonna sound like a nazi...but do you think that homeless people / beggars should have mobile phones?
i mean its a luxury item really, and over the last two days i have seen to irish guys sitting down begging on their mobile phone!!!! its a little rich in my eyes...
surely they could put the money towards getting themselves a foothold in society as we know it, and not be begging on the street?
or maybe it just goes to prove that homelessness / begging is actually a state of mind and not a compulsion!

biko · 01-02-2006 4:31pm

Yes, they should have mobiles and yes, you do sound like a nazi.

Homeless people need to ring their mates too...

Cianos · 01-02-2006 4:31pm

The situation is far from the black and white in which you are seeing it

i71jskz5xu42pb · 01-02-2006 4:33pm

adonis wrote:

Ok,do you think that homeless people / beggars should have mobile phones? i mean its a luxury item really

Having a mobile and being homeless seems paradoxical but most homeless/beggars people are not homeless because the cannot afford a place to stay rather because they spend their money on drugs/booze (both luxury items you'd agree) or have mental health issues. So yes they would be better putting the phone credit toward a roof over their head but they are not exactly thinking straight.

This does not make them any less deserving of sympathy or assistance (although personally I'd give the money to a recognised charity instead of direct to the individual).

MarinoMark · 01-02-2006 4:36pm

I have always wondered how homeless people charge up their phones

Blue Peter · 01-02-2006 4:41pm

They find it hard to get landlines

toffeapple · 01-02-2006 4:41pm

These people are know as "tappers"... even amongst junkies this is seen as the lowest thing to do...they dont tend to be homeless just junk bags who couldnt be bothered stealing...real homeless people despise them

BaZmO* · 01-02-2006 4:45pm

Blue Peter wrote:

They find it hard to get landlines

To the OP. Every homeless person's situation is different so you can't really generalise. If you've got a problem with a homeless person with a mobile phone, it's actually none of your business.
However, if you've got a problem with a beggar with a mobile phone there's a simple solution to that one......just don't give them any money.

Hitchhiker's Guide to... · 01-02-2006 4:46pm

maybe they were given the mobile phone from family or charities so that they can be contacted...

Hitchhiker's Guide to... · 01-02-2006 4:47pm

adonis wrote:

Ok,
so im gonna sound like a nazi...but do you think that homeless people / beggars should have mobile phones?
i mean its a luxury item really

no it isn't a luxury item ... you are SO 1980s

SouperComputer · 01-02-2006 4:48pm

When I was in Jamacia a couple of years ago it was pretty wierd to see seemingly impoverished people living in shanty towns but with mobile phones.

Entertaining nonetheless.

e38418 · 01-02-2006 4:52pm

BaZmO* wrote:

To the OP. Every homeless person's situation is different so you can't really generalise. If you've got a problem with a homeless person with a mobile phone, it's actually none of your business.
However, if you've got a problem with a beggar with a mobile phone there's a simple solution to that one......just don't give them any money.

what he said:)

adonis · 01-02-2006 4:59pm

id consider it a luxury item if i was sitting on a street with a paper cup in my hand definitely!!
i dunno if they are homeless/ not homeless...but they arent deserving of a share of my weekly dole allowance!
im gonna start giving money to those romanians!!!

Blisterman · 01-02-2006 5:02pm

Why do beggers always have Starbucks cups?
Surely they could buy their coffee somewhere cheaper.

adonis · 01-02-2006 5:03pm

i am yet to see a beggar drinking coffee ---
generally they have bewleys cups which i think they get from centra's free...
i dont for one minute believe they buy coffee!

MarinoMark · 01-02-2006 5:03pm

BaZmO* wrote:

To the OP. Every homeless person's situation is different so you can't really generalise. If you've got a problem with a homeless person with a mobile phone, it's actually none of your business.
However, if you've got a problem with a beggar with a mobile phone there's a simple solution to that one......just don't give them any money.

If they have an apple in their hand...they are not hungry..dont give them any money....If they are in a porch they are not homeless...Dont give them any money....Jesus prepaid mobiles are easy to get, maybe you dont have credit but most hostels/agencies have a freephone number to get you a bed for the night....That has to be the most selfish uneducated remark I have read on boards in a long long time...Sad !

adonis · 01-02-2006 5:10pm

seriously, you think its cool for people to beg if they are able to afford mobile phones? i dunno, next thing u know it will be psp's..
it just ruins it now for the actual guys who are deserving of charity..thats all

MrSinn · 01-02-2006 5:15pm

Some of the ringtones homeless people might have

Momma im coming home - Ozzy Osbourne
Bring it on home - Led Zepplin
Please take me home - Blink 182
Nobodys home - Avril Lavigne
Sweet home Alabama - Lynard Skynard
Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant

adonis · 01-02-2006 5:20pm

lol @ mr sinn..
but its not nice to condescend...

would you give a guy money if he was sitting in a north face sleeping bag, in an armani suit with a briefcase beside him??
im not saying they should be denied mobile phones... but to be sitting there, on the phone yapping away with a cup in your other hand..its taking it too far.

judas101 · 01-02-2006 5:23pm

MarinoMark wrote:

I have always wondered how homeless people charge up their phones

this should be a question in the mysteries thread

MrSinn · 01-02-2006 5:26pm

If they dont have phones how are they supposed to get their drugs in a hurry?

adonis · 01-02-2006 5:29pm

i dont think this is being taken as seriously as i would like it to be...

John R · 01-02-2006 5:36pm

adonis wrote:

i dont think this is being taken as seriously as i would like it to be...

<Throws 50c at adonis>

Go buy yourself a sense of humour mate.

adonis · 01-02-2006 5:40pm

some things cant be bought.... :-(

Executive Steve · 01-02-2006 5:42pm

well i used to know a guy who begged and slept rough. he had a mobile his mother gave him so he could at least stay in touch.

as far as i could gather however she wouldnt have him back in the house.

as far as the mystery of how they charge their phones, well, i used to go into mobile phone shops at lunchtime, smile at the pretty girl behind the counter, say i was a cycle courier and had to charge my phone but had forgotten my charger and could she please charge it for me? <insert charming smile>

and op grow up, mobile phones havent been a "luxury item" since they were only owned by the sort of people who owned helicopters etc... 25 years ago iirc...

ronbyrne2005 · 01-02-2006 5:50pm

if you only turn on your mobile to make the odd call then you would get days outta a battery. then you can get it charged in the hostel you stay in.
i know a few homeless people with mobiles,some use them to call hostels and family/friends and some call dealers.a second hand mobile can be attained free or for little money and you can put a fivers credit in once a week or less. one guy i know got a mobile from his social workers as they couldnt find him on the streets.

adonis · 01-02-2006 5:52pm

[cm]tyranny wrote:

well i used to know a guy who begged and slept rough. he had a mobile his mother gave him so he could at least stay in touch.

as far as i could gather however she wouldnt have him back in the house.

as far as the mystery of how they charge their phones, well, i used to go into mobile phone shops at lunchtime, smile at the pretty girl behind the counter, say i was a cycle courier and had to charge my phone but had forgotten my charger and could she please charge it for me? <insert charming smile>

and op grow up, mobile phones havent been a "luxury item" since they were only owned by the sort of people who owned helicopters etc... 25 years ago iirc...

hey i dont mean a luxury item like diamonds or caviar, but surely they could spend their money on something better for themselves..
just in my case, if i was begging or homeless i know that a mobile would be one of the last things on my list...

just to point out a luxury is defined as:
# Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort.
# Something expensive or hard to obtain.

So what i am saying is that these guys/girls, maybe they want to be homeless..thats its actually a choice that they have made, like your friend.. and that they are comfortable living like this..

John R · 01-02-2006 6:01pm

adonis wrote:

hey i dont mean a luxury item like diamonds or caviar, but surely they could spend their money on something better for themselves..

Exactly what business of yours is it what they spend their money on?

adonis wrote:

just in my case, if i was begging or homeless i know that a mobile would be one of the last things on my list...

just to point out a luxury is defined as:
# Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort.
# Something expensive or hard to obtain.

FFS a new phone can be got for €50, a second hand or stolen one for a tenner. An o2 sim can be kept live indefinitely without buying any credit.

adonis wrote:

So what i am saying is that these guys/girls, maybe they want to be homeless..thats its actually a choice that they have made, like your friend.. and that they are comfortable living like this..

Living rough, better than a pad in the country any day. :rolleyes:

Enii · 01-02-2006 7:01pm

Who are you to judge what a homeless person has the right to spend their money on.

whiskeyman · 01-02-2006 7:11pm

a novel way to make more money...

Guy:Incognito · 01-02-2006 7:13pm

Enii wrote:

Who are you to judge what a homeless person has the right to spend their money on.

Who are they to harass me by sitting beside an atm begging while im taking out money. Im sure girls on their own feel pressured to give them money or would have to go out of the way to find somewhere else to take out money.

Giblet · 01-02-2006 7:16pm

Yeah jesus, for the price of a mobile phone you could buy a house or something...

MarinoMark · 01-02-2006 7:56pm

I see stekelly has george best as a sig...Anagram of same is "go get beers" or
"eg.get sober" Ironic or what ? Wonder did he have a mobile ? Probably sold it for a drink !!!

Rhyme · 01-02-2006 8:00pm

adonis wrote:

do you think that homeless people / beggars should have mobile phones?

To check their stock options?

Hitchhiker's Guide to... · 01-02-2006 8:09pm

SouperComputer wrote:

When I was in Jamacia a couple of years ago it was pretty wierd to see seemingly impoverished people living in shanty towns but with mobile phones.

supplied by our very own Denis O'Brien! (through his company called Digicel)

Kastro · 01-02-2006 9:24pm

BaZmO* wrote:

To the OP. Every homeless person's situation is different so you can't really generalise. If you've got a problem with a homeless person with a mobile phone, it's actually none of your business.
However, if you've got a problem with a beggar with a mobile phone there's a simple solution to that one......just don't give them any money.

tbh hes right.. im not afraid to say it but i was homeless for 3 yerars and im borderline again.. i had a fone.. it was to ring my mates and try get a floor to sleep on or to ring one of our fine homless units that do **** all.. i had it coz ive always had one and it helped me feel somewhat human.. i was a tapper as well but only off the goths round the bank.. at the end ot the day im a human being and i didnt do gear.. believe me not all gear heads are wankersss. some people you would be shocked coz they take the drug full stop n you wouldnt expect them to...
**** happens to the best of us and we just gotta get back up after being knocked down and keep going..

sturgo · 01-02-2006 10:27pm

adonis wrote:

Ok,
so im gonna sound like a nazi...but do you think that homeless people / beggars should have mobile phones?
i mean its a luxury item really, and over the last two days i have seen to irish guys sitting down begging on their mobile phone!!!! its a little rich in my eyes...
surely they could put the money towards getting themselves a foothold in society as we know it, and not be begging on the street?
or maybe it just goes to prove that homelessness / begging is actually a state of mind and not a compulsion!

It's actually none of your business whatsoever who has a mobile phone or who doesn't. Get over it.

Doctor Fell · 01-02-2006 10:27pm

Stekelly wrote:

Who are they to harass me by sitting beside an atm begging while im taking out money.

Hold on, we are talking about fellow humans here. People who are homeless are people who obviously need help, probably the most vulnerable group in society. It's amazing the way they are despised, judging by some of the comments. They need help, not scorn, and besides there is no reason to scorn or laugh at people who need help. Most of the comments are so idiotic and ignorant - like the above. Who are they? Who are u to be such a snob? And to answer OP, u do sound like a Nazi - in fact people like SteKelly, I wonder would they support some sort of Nazi-like round up of homeless people? Probably...
Oh yeah, and why should you decide what possessions they have? And besides, what are u doing to do about it??

Zebra3 · 01-02-2006 10:33pm

MarinoMark wrote:

I have always wondered how homeless people charge up their phones

Maybe at hostels?

sturgo · 01-02-2006 10:37pm

I saw a homeless guy begging on o' connell street playing an Xbox 360 (multiplayer) with his junkie mates.

starn · 01-02-2006 10:47pm

Roundtower2 wrote:

supplied by our very own Denis O'Brien! (through his company called Digicel)

DOB has almost run At&T out of town in jamacia. He has a unique bussiness model. Jamaca has very high emmigration,very high poverty and a landline penetration of 12-15%. But very few people in actually pay to run the mobiles. The majority of phones are topped up by Friends and family who have emigrated and have no other way of getting in contact with there family. It's all done over the net so next to no overheads.

I dont know if this is what is happening on the streets. But I do thing it's a luxery item, A friend of mine has been living rough of rthe last year. I have tried to get help him. But he wont have it. He just moves to a differant area where he thinks I wont find him. The one thing I've learned is not to give him miney it normally goes on drugs or booze, Instead I give him food directky or bring him to a hostel ehrn hr'll let me a pay for him for a few nights.

i71jskz5xu42pb · 01-02-2006 10:49pm

adonis wrote:

So what i am saying is that these guys/girls, maybe they want to be homeless..thats its actually a choice that they have made, like your friend.. and that they are comfortable living like this..

Are you serious? I'm finding it hard to believe that you actually believe the above and not just trying to rile people.

The Simon Community, who work with homeless people in Ireland, give the reasons as to why people become homeless. You'll note that a love of homelessness is not on the list. Granted Simon probably don't have your grasp of the problem - you should give them a call to share your deeper understanding of what's really going on.

Pigman II · 01-02-2006 10:49pm

Yes I would have thought homeless people were ideal candidates for needing a mobile phone. Just because you don't have an address doesn't mean you're no longer a human being.

MrSinn wrote:

Some of the ringtones homeless people might have

Momma im coming home - Ozzy Osbourne
Bring it on home - Led Zepplin
Please take me home - Blink 182
Nobodys home - Avril Lavigne
Sweet home Alabama - Lynard Skynard
Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant

Nah I think you'll find "Living in a Box" by "Living in a Box" is the only logical choice.

AARRRGH · 01-02-2006 10:54pm

Forget about the mobile phones - I want to know how they afford those lovely nike runners!

toffeapple · 01-02-2006 11:11pm

dublindude wrote:

Forget about the mobile phones - I want to know how they afford those lovely nike runners!

what the fack are you people going on about? are you envious of a guy cos he lives on the street and has Nikes?? what kind off twisted logic is this.
do you see someone driving a merc and wonder whether they deserve to own it?
if you disagree with begging dont give them money..dont question there lifestlye or their meger gatherings
I could say "hey those students shouldnt be drinking they need their money for books...isnt that what the grant is for?

Giblet · 01-02-2006 11:30pm

You guys make me laugh, to begrude homeless people with runners and mobile phones.

AARRRGH · 01-02-2006 11:36pm

Who is begrudging? Who is envious?

Stop trying to look for things that aren't there.

adonis is talking (obviously) tongue in cheek, and obviously it is ridiculous for a homeless person to be wearing runners which cost him €120.

Go on, call me a racist. I know you want to!!

toffeapple · 01-02-2006 11:46pm

dublindude wrote:

Who is begrudging? Who is envious?

Stop trying to look for things that aren't there.

adonis is talking (obviously) tongue in cheek, and obviously it is ridiculous for a homeless person to be wearing runners which cost him €120.

Go on, call me a racist. I know you want to!!

why is it ridiculous? why do you care? its not tongue and cheek either... i wouldnt say your a racist...just ignorant to these issues.

AARRRGH · 01-02-2006 11:48pm

toffeapple wrote:

why is it ridiculous? why do you care? its not tongue and cheek either... i wouldnt say your a racist...just ignorant to these issues.

LOL! How am I ignorant to the issues?? Because I think a homeless person should have his priorities straight and think more about getting off the street than wearing the latest fashion?

You sound a bit ridiculous to be honest...

MrSinn · 01-02-2006 11:49pm

Chill boys

Some of the ringtones homeless people might have

Momma im coming home - Ozzy Osbourne
Bring it on home - Led Zepplin
Please take me home - Blink 182
Nobodys home - Avril Lavigne
Sweet home Alabama - Lynard Skynard
Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant

AARRRGH · 01-02-2006 11:51pm

MrSinn wrote:

Chill boys

Some of the ringtones homeless people might have

Momma im coming home - Ozzy Osbourne
Bring it on home - Led Zepplin
Please take me home - Blink 182
Nobodys home - Avril Lavigne
Sweet home Alabama - Lynard Skynard
Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant

LOL

Is it my imagination or did you post this earlier??? (could be my imagination, I'm having a strange day...)

Homeless People with Mobiles

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