I am a self-employed carpenter/computer tech. I have an above knee artificial leg. I work every day.
I am doing a carpentry job in the “bad part of town”. I have people come by every hour bumming smokes, trying to sell shit, whatever.
That’s fine, I know some people are down on their luck. But this dude came by the job today and said “Hey man, I am trying to get to wherever, and need a few bucks, can I do some clean up for you?”
I said “Sure, I’ll give you twenty bucks to throw that pile of lumber scraps in the back of the truck”. This might have taken a half hour, and saved my one-legged ass some work.
But the dude said, “Fuck man, I need money man, thats too much work!” I then told him to fuck off, and get the fuck away from me.
He walked off cussin.
So fuck him, and fuck these assholes that make a living begging on the side of the freeway, and all those worthless scumbags that scam cash off of working people. If I can get my “crippled” ass out there and work, you can too, you sorry lazy assholes!
Myself, I don’t understand not working. I couldn’t “not work”, I can’t imagine retirement. Especially when you offer someone a chance to make $40 an hour, and he turns it down. Where the hell can you make $40 an hour cash just for showing up?
Carpentry with an artificial leg. You, dude, are a total stud. I’m in awe.
b.
And Coldfire: Shouldn’t that be “the lintel over my monitor”? He didn’t say he was a computer tech/shrubber.
Yeah, yeah, mock the furrener. Huh. I always thought “shrubbery” was a cover-all term for small fences of any denomination. Turns out they have to be plants.
OK. Come fix the baseboards on my printer already, then.
Good god! You mean you offered the guy $20 for 30 minutes of work and he passed it up? Who can afford to pass up an extra $20? Here’s a hint: No one. Even rich people don’t pass up $20 if they can get it…that’s why they’re rich.
He must have been a blithering idiot.
And even though it’s not really pit material, I have to give you a pat on the back. It was really nice of you to offer the guy a job in the first place. Had he been a REAL human being and not some slovenly toad of a man, he would have felt better knowing he had a purpose for a brief time…people always value money more when they have the pride of knowing they worked for it. You were great to offer him that opportunity.
Some people can overcome any obstacle and some people can’t overcome anything. Sounds like two guys at opposite ends of the spectrum crossed paths.
In spite of his lifestyle, this man is still a REAL human being.
Also, I very much agree with the disgust of the OP, however, I would just like to remind everyone to NOT paint all beggers and homeless with the same scammer/lazy/addict brush. A large percent of these REAL humans suffer from mental illness.
I recently looked in to the definition, as per Social Security, of " disabled". Fascinating reading. Social Security Disability Planner Site is very comprehensive, and clear.
I broke my back. I am not disabled. I can be retrained into another career. I have no rights ( and , no interest ) in going on the permanent public dole. I do not qualify.
The definitions of disabled are so intricate- and that is PHYSICAL disability. What of Mental???
I’m not awe struck that you lost part of a leg and still work. You work- THAT’S WHAT YOU DO. You get up, adjust the straps, and get crackin’. You’re physically challenged but it sounds like you’re mentally a bear ! That person who went off on you might not have those pleasures.
They may have looked to be in good shape, but might have suffered any number of mental ills.
