Conversing with Junkies

Fukuyama

I hate having to speak to junkies! They're a very social bunch and always seem to want to talk to almost anyone who happens to be around.

No less than an hour ago I was standing on Dame Street waiting ages for a bus to come. There were a few other people at the stop. Along waddles this junkie and announces he's waiting for a 77.

He started spouting all types of crap to people further down the cue. I thought 'grand, at least I don't have to put up with his crap'. A bus came along a few seconds later and then there was two; me and him.

He started talking to me so I turned off my music. Just random crap, the odd racist slur, bitching about 'Da Queeaan' etc... I could see other people looking at me being all smug >:( On top of having to put up with his crap he made me miss my bus because I hadn't noticed it fly by what with him distracting me.

I thought about telling him to **** off. He was a small chap, bending at the knees and not to good at balancing. So even if he tried anything couldn't have been much. But he could also have a needle/knife whatever so I decided I'd just put up with his crap...

Why o' why are junkies so friendly!

Kanoe

no boundaries?

cosmicfart

you obviously were talking to ones who were stoned. non stoned junkies are a different story.

OutlawPete

Dean0088 wrote: »

Why o' why are junkies so friendly!

Cause most of 'em are on drugs.

fakearms123

you got a good one, consider yourself lucky.

Fukuyama

cosmicfart wrote: »

you obviously were talking to ones who were stoned. non stoned junkies are a different story.

True dat!

Hi face was messed up. Apparently he pulled a knife on his brother and subsequently had his ass handed to him. He also seemed very high.

It's just annoying as hell that they have no boundaries. I didn't know him at all and yet he was all up close and personal - so I could see how the methadone was rotting his teeth.

Their stance is funny though. Knees slightly bent arms outstretched, head bopping forward. They look like little junkie penguins!

Duggy747

Junkie was probably on a love buzz and wasn't in the form to steal your shoe laces.

The usual craìc with the other kind are:
"'Scuse me, buuud. Wha toime is it on yar wallet?"

bonerm

Maybe get a bus somewhere else?

Dame St (starting at Central Bank) along to College Green, Westmoreland Street, and then along the South Quays seems to always be their patch. Ironic that it's pretty much the boundary to Temple Bar. You'd think the powers-that-be would want to keep junkies as far away from tourists as possible.

Fukuyama

bonerm wrote: »

Maybe get a bus somewhere else?

Dame St (starting at Central Bank) along to College Green, Westmoreland Street, and then along the South Quays seems to always be their patch. Ironic that it's pretty much the boundary to Temple Bar. You'd think the powers-that-be would want to keep junkies as far away from tourists as possible.

Sure they're all over town. There's no way to stop them really. I would like to personally meet the idiot who decided the best place for a methadone clinic was Abbey Street... :rolleyes:

Anyone any stories from forced conversations with our less evolved cousins?

Zombienosh

pretend you're foreign

genericguy

OutlawPete wrote: »

Cause most of 'em are on drugs.

I love how you never generalise petie!

genericguy

Dean0088 wrote: »

Anyone any stories from forced conversations with our less evolved cousins?

a particularly minging one once asked me on the bus to hold her baby while she rolled a joint. I'm normally big into ranting and confrontation but I was rendered speechless by that.

krudler

OutlawPete wrote: »

Cause most of 'em are on drugs.

If a junkie wasnt on drugs would he still be a junkie?

Pauleta

OutlawPete wrote: »

Cause most of 'em are on drugs.

Thats a terrible generalisation

Oh_Noes

Junkie = someone with no car,

Therefore,

You = junkie.

Get a car, junkie!

SEPT 23 1989

there but the grace of God go i

and all that

FinnLizzy

krudler wrote: »

If a junkie wasnt on drugs would he still be a junkie?

If a tree fell over, onto a junkie, would anyone care?

Fukuyama

FinnLizzy wrote: »

If a tree fell over, onto a junkie, would anyone care?

No.

Spunge

I hate when alcohol addicts talk ****e to me too.

prinz

There's one particular zombie who specialises in hassling people at the bus stop, always with some sob story about needing 20c for the bus. Nearly fell for it the first time, was going to give him his 20c, took out a handful of change and the tit tried to grab for it 'you have €2 there gimme that' after that I told him to piss off. Have had the same spiel off the same lad countless times since on O'Connell St, and around Connolly Station. The funniest is when he goes through his whole story, you tell him no, he gives the same to about five more people and in under two minutes he comes back to where he started and gives it to you again. Twat has the memory of a goldfish.

Alter-Ego

FinnLizzy wrote: »

If a tree fell over, onto a junkie, would anyone care?

We could lure one into Stephens Green and find out...

littlejp

Dean0088 wrote: »

He started talking to me so I turned off my music.

That's where you went wrong.

SJM

Just say "Please go away junkie" I am sure he'll understand!

Dangerous Man

Junkies. Fucking junkies.

I remember many years ago getting the bus into town from Ballyfermot. I used to go to college there - Senior College Ballyfermot - a great place, many fond memories.

I got onto the 78A - single decker - and made my way to the first available seat which, unfortunately, was towards the back of the bus. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and I was looking forward to getting into town, having a few beers with friends.

I sat down, and tried to ignore the hive behind me. I could hear some noises - the assaultive, acerbic tones of the skanger Dublin accent. And then click - a lighter. I presumed that they were either going to smoke a cigarette or a joint. They regularly burn their hash on buses with zero regard for their fellow passengers. However, the smell was far more noxious, dirty, it was heroin. I turned around and there were two of them smoking this crap from a piece of tinfoil. On a bus. On a bus in broad daylight. On a bus with children present. No shame. No sense of self-respect or respect for others.

I told the driver. He did nothing. He could have used his radio to call the police but chose not to. (I couldn't call them as it was a long time ago - no mobile phone then.)

I have to say that I find the tolerance for these people absolutely staggering. They pretty much are zombies except that they don't want brains, they want heroin, and we aren't legally allowed to kill them.

I now have two items on my agenda for power. One - an end to casual Friday. Two - new categorization of junkies as zombies - and the legalized killing thereof.

the_syco

Zombienosh wrote: »

pretend you're foreign

This works a charm. Was on Dame St, next to the Central Bank, waiting for a bus, and 3 junkies (2 guys and a girl) came up.

"Do you have two euro, mate?"
"Nawh"
"Are you from Dublin"
"Nawh"
"Do you speak english"
"Nawh"

One of them then tugs my beard. Why, I do not know, but I was sitting down, two of the junkies looked like they had lean muscles, but with that gaunt stare that the "built" junkies seem to have, so i just let it go, and they walked off.

the_syco

Dangerous Man wrote: »

I told the driver. He did nothing. He could have used his radio to call the police but chose not to. (I couldn't call them as it was a long time ago - no mobile phone then.)

The driver knows. He knows he has to drive the bus every day. He knows the junkie will probably be out in a few days, and that he'd have to watch his back. He fears that they'll jab him with a needle, so he just stays quite.

Michael 09

I don't want to start a huge row here, but they're somebody's son/brother. I'm not saying that you have to be their best pal but unless they attack you in any way I don't think it would hurt any of use to treat them as people. I know that they invade personal space etc etc but they're sick (I know self inflicted blah blah). Just walk off, or ask them to leave. You don't have to abuse them.

Dangerous Man

the_syco wrote: »

The driver knows. He knows he has to drive the bus every day. He knows the junkie will probably be out in a few days, and that he'd have to watch his back. He fears that they'll jab him with a needle, so he just stays quite.

You're probably right but I think he could have discreetly called the cops on his radio, and have them waiting at some bus stop for them. The thing is, if this doesn't happen - they get away with it time and again; that's part of the reason we have these 'people' wandering around the streets hassling everybody. They can get away with it.

Here's another example. I was waiting for a friend at Central Bank about three years ago. While waiting I saw a junkie go up to people and hassle them for money. It wasn't the typical cap-in-hand, feel sorry for me approach but rather a more agressive, in-your-face tactic. He was going up to people, standing right on top of them and pretty much demanding money. When he came to me I just said 'no.' He eyeballed me, I eyeballed him back, and he went up to someone else.

I called the police and explained what was happening. Two Guards arrived after about a minute and went straight to him; his behaviour was an obvious signpost. They told him about the complaint and then ordered him to 'move on.' This he did and the two guardians of the peace had a quick look about, with their hands cheerily tucked inside their vests, then went on their way.

He came back after five minutes and continued to bother people. He should have been arrested. But he wasn't and was free to go about hassling more people. Why? Because nobody, including the police want to do anything about it.

prinz

Dangerous Man wrote: »

I called the police and explained what was happening. Two Guards arrived after about a minute and went straight to him; his behaviour was an obvious signpost. They told him about the complaint and then ordered him to 'move on.' This he did and the two guardians of the peace had a quick look about, with their hands cheerily tucked inside their vests, then went on their way. He came back after five minutes and continued to bother people. He should have been arrested. But he wasn't and was free to go about hassling more people. Why? Because nobody, including the police want to do anything about it.

Did you approach them on the scene, identify yourself and make your complaint and basically ask that he be arrested? They can't arrest people because of phone calls alone.

bonerm

I think junkies are actually employed by Dublin Bus to discourage passengers from using the buses and then the routes can be limited or shut down completely as a result.

/sarcasm but possibly true

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

ArtyM

Talk to them about Jebus - tends to bring an end to most conversations.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

The Scientician

Dangerous Man wrote: »

Junkies. Fucking junkies.

I remember many years ago getting the bus into town from Ballyfermot. I used to go to college there - Senior College Ballyfermot - a great place, many fond memories.

I got onto the 78A - single decker - and made my way to the first available seat which, unfortunately, was towards the back of the bus. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and I was looking forward to getting into town, having a few beers with friends.

I sat down, and tried to ignore the hive behind me. I could hear some noises - the assaultive, acerbic tones of the skanger Dublin accent. And then click - a lighter. I presumed that they were either going to smoke a cigarette or a joint. They regularly burn their hash on buses with zero regard for their fellow passengers. However, the smell was far more noxious, dirty, it was heroin. I turned around and there were two of them smoking this crap from a piece of tinfoil. On a bus. On a bus in broad daylight. On a bus with children present. No shame. No sense of self-respect or respect for others.

I told the driver. He did nothing. He could have used his radio to call the police but chose not to. (I couldn't call them as it was a long time ago - no mobile phone then.)

I have to say that I find the tolerance for these people absolutely staggering. They pretty much are zombies except that they don't want brains, they want heroin, and we aren't legally allowed to kill them.

I now have two items on my agenda for power. One - an end to casual Friday. Two - new categorization of junkies as zombies - and the legalized killing thereof.

Compassionate sort, aren't ya?

pragmatic1

Michael 09 wrote: »

I don't want to start a huge row here, but they're somebody's son/brother. I'm not saying that you have to be their best pal but unless they attack you in any way I don't think it would hurt any of use to treat them as people. I know that they invade personal space etc etc but they're sick (I know self inflicted blah blah). Just walk off, or ask them to leave. You don't have to abuse them.

True and I do have some sympathy for them, but they're selfish and often dangerous cnuts. They make life that little bit harder for everyone else.

gazzer

bonerm wrote: »

I think junkies are actually employed by Dublin Bus to discourage passengers from using the buses and then the routes can be limited or shut down completely as a result.

/sarcasm but possibly true

No I think that role is filled by people shouting loudly into their mobile phones and scangers loudly playing the latest Cascada song

bitter_lemon

Dean0088 wrote: »

True dat!
Their stance is funny though. Knees slightly bent arms outstretched, head bopping forward. They look like little junkie penguins!

ha ha. you made me laugh uncontrollably for at least 3 minutes
very funny!

Dangerous Man

prinz wrote: »

Did you approach them on the scene, identify yourself and make your complaint and basically ask that he be arrested? They can't arrest people because of phone calls alone.

Nope - I didn't have to. When they arrived they saw what he was up to; he didn't notice them as he was too busy hassling people. The guards were intelligent enough to realize that he was the subject of the complaint.

Not that it actually mattered; they could have arrested him because they actually saw him attempt to use intimidatory tactics to elicit money from people. They chose not to do so.

Dangerous Man

The Scientician wrote: »

Compassionate sort, aren't ya?

Clearly I'm not.

mattjack

genericguy wrote: »

a particularly minging one once asked me on the bus to hold her baby while she rolled a joint. I'm normally big into ranting and confrontation but I was rendered speechless by that.

ah yes..the old "hold me baby ..." trick...forever in her debt....

Gavman84

Dean0088 wrote: »

Their stance is funny though. Knees slightly bent arms outstretched, head bopping forward. They look like little junkie penguins!

Like this fella! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEz5GfZUnBU

xoxyx

I live fairly close to a methodone clinic and am always passing by people off their faces on drugs / drink. Most of them know me at this stage and I've never had any hassle, but, damn, some of them love to talk!

There's one fella who's been around for a good few months, and he's often out when I'm on my way back from work. Without fail, he always shouts over and asks me my name.

I used to just tell him, but he never remembers, so I've tried to get a bit more inventive...

"Anna Banana"

"Bippity Bop"

"Flippery Fred".

I don't think he listens to a word I say, 'cause he always just replies, "ah, that's a lovely name love".

I'm starting to wonder if he's trolling me at this stage and not the other way around. I know other people walking by have given ME strange looks when he yells over at me and I shout "Gringery Gredward" back across the street.

Fukuyama

Gavman84 wrote: »

Like this fella! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEz5GfZUnBU

I actually know (I say know, I know OF him) this junkie. He may seem harmless in the video but he's actually quite a dangerous person with a string of violent crimes and convictions. He's also expecting his first child. Jesus wept.

Wheelie King

Dean0088 wrote: »

I hate having to speak to junkies! They're a very social bunch and always seem to want to talk to almost anyone who happens to be around.

No less than an hour ago I was standing on Dame Street waiting ages for a bus to come. There were a few other people at the stop. Along waddles this junkie and announces he's waiting for a 77.

He started spouting all types of crap to people further down the cue. I thought 'grand, at least I don't have to put up with his crap'. A bus came along a few seconds later and then there was two; me and him.

He started talking to me so I turned off my music. Just random crap, the odd racist slur, bitching about 'Da Queeaan' etc... I could see other people looking at me being all smug >:( On top of having to put up with his crap he made me miss my bus because I hadn't noticed it fly by what with him distracting me.

I thought about telling him to **** off. He was a small chap, bending at the knees and not to good at balancing. So even if he tried anything couldn't have been much. But he could also have a needle/knife whatever so I decided I'd just put up with his crap...

Why o' why are junkies so friendly!

Waiting for a bus. lol. Peasant.

3rdDegree

Spunge wrote: »

I hate when alcohol addicts talk ****e to me too.

I love you!

Mike 1972

Dean0088 wrote: »

I would like to personally meet the idiot who decided the best place for a methadone clinic was Abbey Street...

IIRC it was the only place which didnt generate a flood of NIMBY objections ?

strokemyclover

I think they prefer to be called Junqois

Donal Og O Baelach

pragmatic1 wrote: »

True and I do have some sympathy for them, but they're selfish and often dangerous cnuts. They make life that little bit harder for everyone else.

That's exactly what the Roman's used to say about the Christians...

languagenerd

I got a great lesson in all the different drugs available in Amsterdam the other day on the 77. "Der's dis bleedin massif one, righ it's called... oh, well, it begins wi' a K in anyways... an I took ih by accident like, but don't buy it in Morrocco, cause dey'll bleedin follow yeh".

Then her and her partner had a row because she said "pot callin the kettle black" and he couldn't understand her because she was "speakin metaphoricalleeee".

Another time on the Luas, two junkies decided "they'd brighten up everyone's day" by singing for us, cause "Dat bleedin Greek fella is still on de X-Factor - we shoulda auditioned, we woulda won ih!"

Free entertainment with every bus and Luas ticket!! :pac:

Agonist

They mightn't be all that friendly. I don't know if a junkie was responsible for this.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0520/breaking51.html


A 40-year-old man has died in hospital after he was assaulted on the quays in Dublin this afternoon.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries after he was attacked on Wellington Quay at the junction of Fownes Street at about 4pm, a Garda statement said.

He was taken to St James's Hospital where he died from his injuries tonight.

A-34-year old man was arrested at the scene and is detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Pearse Street Garda station.

the_syco

Michael 09 wrote: »

I don't want to start a huge row here, but they're somebody's son/brother.

And most likely disowned. Hard drugs destroy families, and the family often has to kick out the junkie to protect the rest of the family from them.

Michael 09 wrote: »

I'm not saying that you have to be their best pal but unless they attack you in any way I don't think it would hurt any of use to treat them as people.

They'll intimidate people to get money.

Michael 09 wrote: »

but they're sick (I know self inflicted blah blah). Just walk off, or ask them to leave. You don't have to abuse them.

If they get in my face, I'll tell them no, f**k off, or "jabba fon cebby", depending on my mood.

Agonist wrote: »

They mightn't be all that friendly. I don't know if a junkie was responsible for this.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0520/breaking51.html

You get money in four of three ways:
You work for it
You get it from the state
You can beg for money
You steal other peoples money

The first, people do, and but they need to work 5 days a week
The second, people do, but you only get limited funds, so to get more, you steal other peoples money to fund your own habit. As junkies seem to be out of their heads all day, it rules out the first one, as they seem to have a lot, I wouldn't think they get all that much from the state, it only leaves them with one option.

As for the beggers, most of the beggers don't seem to be out of their heads all the time, so I've left them out of the above rant.