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A Feel Good story for the Festive season - New York Cop buys homeless man some shoes

2

Comments

  • #32
    RGDATA!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,324 ✭✭✭RGDATA!


    AudreyHepburn wrote: »
    A little surprised at the cynicism on display here.

    Can we not just see this for what it is....a small act of kindness in a world and a time where most people are only interested in themselves and their problems and willingly ignore those far worse off than themselves.

    nice gesture on behalf of the cop, but hard not to be a wee bit cynical when the guy is still walking around barefoot.


  • #33
    AudreyHepburn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭AudreyHepburn


    Duggy747 wrote: »
    Not to be too cynical, what the cop did was good-natured but I've often heard of homeless people pulling these sort of stunts by not wearing any shoes, as well.

    But should that be allowed to take from Officer De Primo did?
    I'm sure American cops need an image like this, considering the past few years have been unrelenting videos of police individuals battering people / over-excessive force and getting into trouble.

    Ah now I highly doubt he did for publicity.

    Policemen and women can just be good people you know...and for no reason other than...they're just good people.


  • #34
    AudreyHepburn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,673 ✭✭✭AudreyHepburn


    RGDATA! wrote: »
    nice gesture on behalf of the cop, but hard not to be a wee bit cynical when the guy is still walking around barefoot.

    I know but again how the others involved acted should be allowed to take from the cop's act of kindness.

    It doesn't make any less of what he did for that man.


  • #35
    Duggy747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,295 ✭✭✭✭Duggy747


    AudreyHepburn wrote: »
    But should that be allowed to take from Officer De Primo did?

    I said it was good-natured, what's there to take away from that? :confused:
    Ah now I highly doubt he did for publicity.

    Policemen and women can just be good people you know...and for no reason other than...they're just good people.

    Taking my post completely out of context, didn't even say the cop personally did it as a publicity stunt.


  • #36
    HeyThereDeliah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 967 ✭✭✭HeyThereDeliah


    AudreyHepburn wrote: »
    I know but again how the others involved acted should be allowed to take from the cop's act of kindness.

    It doesn't make any less of what he did for that man.

    It doesn't take away from the cops act of kindness at all, we all do things sometimes even though we know it will not be appreciated but what the hell, will not stop us doing it again I'm sure.


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  • #37
    Hannibal Smith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,893 ✭✭✭Hannibal Smith


    Madam_X wrote: »
    Not saying this in a "Look at me I'm so jaded and cynical and cool" way but I heard it was a stitch-up - that the homeless guy is known for pulling stunts like this for tourists.

    Funny you say that...there was a guy around Dublin doing it a few years ago. I first saw him begging on dame street in the freezing snow in 2010...freezing and crying...I didn't know what to do...other than give him money and I rang pearse street garda station to see if there was anything they could do....even to take him in off the streets and the garda told me he knows about him...he does it for the pity effect to get more money and he in fact is sitting on his shoes !

    That's the first thing that came to mind when I heard this story...I wondered was the guy in the story working the same angle.

    So people may throw a word like cynicism around but take off the rose coloured specsand you'll see the big sly world out there.

    That said...whatever about the hopeless dude...the cop did a really lovely thing.


  • #38
    Wicklowrider
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,029 ✭✭✭Wicklowrider


    The winner here is the cop. He did a genuinely good thing. If the homeless man is pulling a stroke that isn't important. The cop has advanced himself by developing his own humanity and character. He is a better person for doing what he did. He has also promoted a good image for his force by demonstrating a humane and caring side to the Police Dept. All the naysayer's are, on the other hand, eroding their own humanity and lessening their own character. Take a leaf from the cop's book - go do a good deed. You will be surprised how much you will benefit.


  • #39
    BUBBLE WRAP
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,186 ✭✭✭BUBBLE WRAP


    It would have been cooler if the cop bought the homeless chap a set of beats. :cool:


  • #40
    RGDATA!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,324 ✭✭✭RGDATA!


    AudreyHepburn wrote: »
    I know but again how the others involved acted should be allowed to take from the cop's act of kindness.

    It doesn't make any less of what he did for that man.

    not saying it does. however, i see people do naive things all the time with the best intentions, but that doesn't make me "feel good" personally.


  • #41
    Plazaman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,037 ✭✭✭Plazaman


    risteardb wrote: »
    What this story really is, is kind hearted cop taken for a fool when he came across this man wearing no shoes, the Cop did the charitable thing and spending his own money on a con man, and that's all the homeless man was..... after this story broke, this (homeless man???) was found again with no shoes pulling the same stunt again....

    This is absolutely shameful, seems that some people take advantage of decent people who do want to help people low on luck..... "Wonder how many pairs of shoes has this homeless man accumulatedy by now?"

    I hear ya and rumour, that I just started, has it that the guy has opened a shoe store down the street with all the shoes he has.

    I think the same guy has a box of kittens that he rotates every second day cause everyone who sees homeless person with an animal gives them more money for pet food (well except for this cnut)

    /cynicism


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  • #42
    movingsucks
    Closed Accounts Posts: 534 ✭✭✭movingsucks


    Was his name Mr Wendall?


  • #43
    TPD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,813 ✭✭✭TPD


    BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »
    I hope they aglet him wear them now..

    EDIT: Nobody gets my pun? :(

    It is a pretty crappy pun to be fair.


  • #44
    Gummy Panda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,919 ✭✭✭✭Gummy Panda


    I saw something similar before. That Roma who begs barefoot was given a pair of shoes by an OAP. When she walked off he threw them in a bin. He isn't homeless. Just a conman.

    As soon as he sees any garda he is on the move.


  • #45
    BUBBLE WRAP
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,186 ✭✭✭BUBBLE WRAP


    TPD wrote: »
    It is a pretty crappy pun to be fair.

    Do you not get it!? :eek:


  • #46
    HeyThereDeliah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 967 ✭✭✭HeyThereDeliah


    BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »
    Do you not get it!? :eek:

    I don't get it at all.


  • #47
    BUBBLE WRAP
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,186 ✭✭✭BUBBLE WRAP


    HeyThereDeliah wrote: »
    I don't get it at all.

    an aglet is the plastic part of a shoe lase. aglet/let


  • #48
    Hippies!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 555 ✭✭✭Hippies!


    Hey will you take a pic of me as I buy this homeless guy some shoes, you know so the wimmens will think I'm nice and I can get laid


  • #49
    Wompa1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,360 ✭✭✭Wompa1


    A few years ago in Galway I went into Supermacs and got 2 cheeseburgers for a homeless guy and a girl claimed I was fake and cursed me out. Some girl I didn't know gave me a b0llockin for giving a homeless guy food...f'kin w@nk stain...


  • #50
    TPD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,813 ✭✭✭TPD


    BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »
    an aglet is the plastic part of a shoe lase. aglet/let

    I'm sure the thanks will roll in now that you've enlightened everyone.


  • #51
    steddyeddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,565 ✭✭✭✭steddyeddy


    New York is incredibly cold in winter so I can imagine how the man was walking around without shoes for long. Fair play to the cop for doing that it doesnt only help the homeless man but will build a greater trust between the cops and community.


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  • #52
    dub_skav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,530 ✭✭✭dub_skav


    BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »
    an aglet is the plastic part of a shoe lase. aglet/let

    But aglet is not very similar to let at all, so its not a good pun and therefore not very funny


  • #53
    Thrill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,485 ✭✭✭Thrill


    movingsucks wrote: »
    Was his name Mr Wendall?

    Mr.Wendal, that's his name,
    no one ever knew his name cause he's a no-one


  • #54
    HeyThereDeliah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 967 ✭✭✭HeyThereDeliah


    BUBBLE WRAP wrote: »
    an aglet is the plastic part of a shoe lase. aglet/let

    I know but I still don't get it, maybe its hard to amuse me.


  • #55
    HeyThereDeliah
    Closed Accounts Posts: 967 ✭✭✭HeyThereDeliah


    TPD wrote: »
    I'm sure the thanks will roll in now that you've enlightened everyone.

    That me laugh, teach bubble wrap how to amuse me.


  • #56
    Thrill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,485 ✭✭✭Thrill


    TPD wrote: »
    I'm sure the thanks will roll in now that you've enlightened everyone.

    Don't be such a heel.

    /Tiptoes out of thread.


  • #57
    Scioch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,249 ✭✭✭Scioch


    Emeraldy Pebbles wrote: »
    Wha'? :confused:

    Joke, you get jokes right ? Right ? Nevermind.


  • #58
    Emeraldy Pebbles
    Closed Accounts Posts: 787 ✭✭✭Emeraldy Pebbles


    Scioch wrote: »
    Joke, you get jokes right ? Right ? Nevermind.

    I get funny jokes.


  • #59
    Scioch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,249 ✭✭✭Scioch


    Emeraldy Pebbles wrote: »
    I get funny jokes.

    Cant win em all.


  • #60
    Thrill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,485 ✭✭✭Thrill


    "Homeless man" not homeless -- lives in rent-free apartment

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57557102/homeless-man-not-homeless-lives-in-rent-free-apartment/


    Extract
    The barefoot homeless man who was photographed being given a pair of winter boots by a New York City police officer on a cold November night has actually been living rent-free in an apartment since late last year, the city said Tuesday.


    Homeless Services Commissioner Seth Diamond had no doubt that the man captured in a tourist's picture receiving the boots from NYPD Officer Larry DePrimo was the same Jeffrey Hillman who had been on the city agency's radar for a while.


    "We're sure because we've had such a sustained engagement with him for so many years," Diamond said.


    That engagement started in the summer of 2009, when Hillman was first moved off the street and offered one of 900 beds that provide more specialized services than the agency's more traditional shelters, Diamond said.


    "We keep offering, continuing to offer him services," Diamond said of Hillman. "Unfortunately we've had some setbacks along the way."


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  • #61
    Scioch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,249 ✭✭✭Scioch


    Free apartment just off times square. Guaranteed benefits for the rest of his days due to being a military vet. Guy's just a bit mental.


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