Edit

I kinda made this post out of spite for the fact the most previous post in this community, whose title I quoted/copied, was getting so many downvotes… At the time I posted this, the previous post had about a 30% downvote rate, and it really, really made me mad.

I am relieved tho to see people in the comments here who have real, actual empathy for their fellow humans. Thank you for contributing here.

It blows my mind how normalized it is to hate on those who are struggling. Especially in 20fucking23 when so many of us now are on the verge of it ourselves. Let’s be better, everyone - to everyone. I beg you.

  • stabby_cicada@slrpnk.net
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    1 year ago

    What’s more important: a place to live or a recreation area?

    Our unhoused neighbors have no choice but to live in a public space because society has denied them any private space to live.

    People in need using the commons for their needs isn’t a tragedy. It’s the reason commons exist.

    The tragedy is that shelter isn’t considered a human right.

    • AnonymousDeity@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      In my view it’s not about accessing the recreation area - I’d rather that space be used temporarily for occupancy while we fix up society. Having said that, ad-hoc homeless camps have very real safety risks associated with them. Often crime rates near these camps rise, and it’s reasonable for residents to also want to feel safe in their neighborhoods.

      What we need is funding for real shelters with real long-term addiction and crisis counseling support. Blindly saying “any and all public spaces should be fair use for homeless camps” is not helpful to anyone.

      • Maeve@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Oh boy. You go spend a night in a homeless shelter. Seriously. Then say that.

      • blazera@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Its a bit silly to say crime rates around these camps go up, as they usually are illegal to begin with. Like marijuana, criminalizing otherwise benign things still brings other criminal elements.

        • Tb0n3@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          Break-ins, assaults, rape, robbery. You know. Benign things. Also shit and needles everywhere.

          • Maeve@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            So the obvious solution is create conditions for rampant desperation, criminalize despair, shove undeserved out of sight. The etymology of “bedlam,” comes to mind.

          • blazera@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            Those would be the other criminal elements. Drug dealers have had these issues too.

    • RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      It’s important that people don’t feel threatened just to move in the public spaces. That includes homeless and those with homes.

    • Maeve@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Thank you because I’m thinking the world is abundant, there is enough to provide more than the basics for everyone, but some humans are insatiable.