Chatting to a local beggar I'm matey with today, he knows I'm a bit of a druggie and like me benzos. He told me today to stay away from brown, don't touch the stuff, and he wouldn't get it for me (I asked a few months ago). Have to say I respect him looking out for me like that. Since I asked him I've tried it a few times from other sources and found it underwhelming so not bothered to have another go at the shite anyway. But it's good of him to warn me away from it when he could easily have made some cash for himself by middlemanning it.
Same bloke does sell me the odd bit of Valium now and then though when he comes across it. Since he looked out for me today I asked him if he wanted a brand new smartphone for free. I sell them on eBay for side money so I had it to spare. He offered cash but I said nah mate keep your money you can have it. Still he promised to sort me out some Vallies as the least he could do. He seemed over the moon when I offered it to him. I reckon in this day and age everyone should have at least some basic level of internet access ya know?
It occurs to me the reason I feel for people like him and get along with him (and I really do, he doesn't ask me for anything and turns down any offers I make for food or money nor does he even ask me for drugs, he just likes to chat) is that the only real difference between us is I am lucky enough to come from a family who could afford to pay for mental health treatment when I was up shit creek, so turning to the streets for smack or something similar wasn't my only option. I was lucky enough to get some proper treatment which most people either don't get or have to wait years for on the good ol' NHS postcode lottery. If I grew up in poverty with the same mental health issues plus whatever extra ones that situation would cause me, I may very well be on the streets myself. It's all down to pure fucking luck at the end of it. But ultimately we're both humans and we have gone through mental illness and addiction just differing levels of support networks.
I don't really get why others don't at least hand out food to the homeless anyway. Doesn't cost us much, but for all the stories I keep hearing about beggars supposedly rejecting food, never has that happened in my experience. I often walk around with food in my bag, hand it out to any beggar I see, and the reaction I get is nothing short of a grateful smile and a thank you. For some reason people think I'm nuts to bother doing this. I see it as basic empathy for fellow humans who deserve some basic kindness. You can tell a lot by someone based on how they treat the lowest in society. And the hate against the homeless is absolutely fuelled by the "war on drugs" hysteria too. "Don't give them money they'll just buy drugs!" Yeah well mate how would you cope being on the streets? And as if my money wouldn't go towards drugs if left in my hands anyway...
Sorry went on a rant there didn't mean to, bloody speed.
