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Indybay Feature
Homeless vs. Houseless
A brief explanation of why the word homeless
should be abandoned.
should be abandoned.
1) The word "homeless" is a subjective opinion. It is not an objective fact that a person who does not live in a house is "homeless".
2) The word "homeless" suggests that the person is part of an underclass of citizens. Everyone has an image of what a
"homeless" person is. The word houseless is a more neutral
term that only reflects on one's housing situation.
3) The word "homeless" ignores a diversity of living situations such as squatters, tent cities, people living
in vehicles or non-traditional shelters, and people living
outside by choice. These people may not consider themselves
homeless even though they don't have houses.
4) Most advocates for the "homeless" believe that the solution to our housing problems is to make sure that everyone lives in a traditional western house, pays rent or a mortgage, and works at a corporate job to earn money. Our
discussion of housing never considers the possibility that there are alternatives to living in a house such as squatting, or living in an alternative form of shelter.
5) The word "homeless" gives credence to the capitalist, private property agenda. By suggesting that there is something wrong with being houseless it lends support to
the criminalization of houseless people, the control of all
public space, and laws against squatting.
6) The word "homeless" suggests that we are not at home when we sleep outside and thus denies our connection to the
Earth and nature.
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IMC Network
the news of the people is not white talking heads
it is not scripted to "PROPER" english
it is in many languages
it informs of diverse opionions not seen in the corporate stew
it tells us how to be connected in the truth
it is words
it is sounds
it is emotion
it is connection to the tribal people of the world
the common ground
the commons
the town square
it includes the voices of women, and people of all colors and beliefs
You Newsie, don't understand that "professionalism" is another word for racisim, sexism, militarisim, greed and war.
Indymedia is for ALL the people who love the EARTH and believe in PEACE and JUSTICE FOR ALL...
Go watch NBC, ABC, CNN, CBS, PBS and all the others until your brain rots out, your voice drys up and your spirit cannot get out of bed...
The SF-IMC Newswire works on the principle of Open Publishing, an essential element of the Indymedia network that allows anyone to instantaneously self-publish their work on globally-accessible web sites. The Newswire encourages people to "become the media" by posting their articles, analysis, videos, audio clips and artwork directly to the web site. You can publish to the Newswire by clicking the "publish" link on any page and following the easy instructions. Indymedia relies on the people who post to the newswire to present their information in a thorough, honest, accurate manner.
all these being worked on by the autonomous collective. meeting next monday at 6:30pm at 2940 16th St #216 in the San Francisco Mission District.
#2- i sort of disagree. homeless is a bad word, but houseless just sounds like a politically correct experimentation on "homeless"
i like to say "people who dont have anywhere to stay right now"
What I don't like is "homeless" used as a noun. Use it as an adjective. Use "homeless man," "homeless woman," "homeless kid," or "homeless people" as nouns.
And the earlier comment was correct. This discussion is not news. There should be separate news and opinion sections. Maybe a humor section too.
You and your friend con her into having you upgrade her electrical fixtures - convincing the poor lady that you can do it.
Then you blackmail her into giving you two free rent for four years based on the fact that she believed you?
Please tell me that there is something to mitigate this and that what you did wasn't as cold as you discribed. I
at least you made some money out of it.
so, yes: DREAM BIG!
That is quite different from barter, rationalizing them doesn't make them the same thing.
As I said, though, its your ethics.
I always lilked your posts and am a bit disappointed.
Anyway, I don't want to argue land ownership - I"m more in your camp which is why I read Indy, although we may differ on what is needed to ensure adequate housing is erected on the people's land.
Regarding ethics (I use that term as a non-religious option to personal morality), that is between yourself and yourself but I am disappointed. You blackmailed someone to give you something for personal material gain and you allowed unsafe wiring that you knew about to exist in a building that I am assuming other people either lived in or visited. In other words you opted in on the landlord's con in order to get some financial gain. (free rent is financial gain even if not cash).
The land lord continued to collect rent from the other renters while providing unsafe wiring and you took a share of that in order not to tell the authorities (and even if you don't agree with authorities eventually they would have to provide some action if the right person is contacted - we're talking a land lord here, not ENRON, so I won't accept an argument that the authorities would do nothing)
Again, its your ethics and your struggle. Your ethics may be differant than mine, but you may be right.
Well, really there are 2 options:
1) You can demand that the rest of San Francisco's citizens give you money, shelter, food, bikes, etc... Of course, you & the rest of the liberal hippies some how figure that you DESERVE this.
or
2) Just get a job. Christ! It is not that difficult. Wouldn't you ever like to be INDEPENDENT. You could provide your own food, shelter, income, bikes, etc... without having to depend on others.
Not trying to be totally insensitive, there is nothing wrong with helping people through hard times. However, let's face it, there are alot of people that would rather take a hand out than provide for themselve.