Monday, October 26, 2009

Boston Globe Reporter Goes Begging

"The novel pitch for help is part of a new phenomenon among the homeless: digital panhandling.... Internet begging’’ .... need spurs ingenuity...."

At least the reporter won't have to worry about the cops.

"
Earlier this month, police wrapped up a 30-day sting involving plainclothes officers mimicking tourists and other pedestrians. Once they were panhandled, they essentially became victims guaranteed to show up for a trial"

Related:
Globe Employees Applaud a Rapist

Jobbed By the Boston Globe

Yeah, I HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE on the STREETS after THIS INSULTING GARBAGE, you ELITIST SCUMS!!!!!!!!!!


"Panhandlers move from street to Internet; Online sites offer a fertile venue for some in need" by David Abel, Globe Staff | October 26, 2009

In the two years since he lost his job as a cook at an MIT fraternity house, Kevin Boudreau has learned the subtle art of how to ask strangers for money.

What, is he a congressman now?

But now, with winter approaching and an aversion to shelters, the homeless man with the grizzled goatee and skull tattoos covering both arms needs more than spare change.

So Boudreau, 42, has traded his scribbled cardboard signs for a keyboard.

In recent weeks, in an effort to acquire warm clothes, camping gear, and other necessities for living outdoors, Boudreau has posted ads on Craigslist under the heading, “Help Me Winter in Woods.’’

“I’ve always looked on Craigslist for odd jobs, so the idea to post a classified ad was just there,’’ said Boudreau, as he demonstrated his computer savvy on a recent afternoon at a South End medical facility, one of several places, including libraries and shelters, where he logs on. “I needed equipment.’’

Related: Craig's List Will Drive You Crazy

The novel pitch for help is part of a new phenomenon among the homeless: digital panhandling.

Really, I HAVE ABOUT HAD IT with the INSULTING BULLSHIT!

See: Taking a Look at Detroit

Yeah, we got another SMILEY FACE on a HUGE, STEAMING, STINKING TURD!!!!!

Some homeless people now have blogs where they seek donations. There are web forums where the homeless exchange ideas, sites where people can donate money, and bulletin boards where penniless artists and foreclosure victims ask for cash. There’s even a Wikipedia entry for “Internet begging,’’ which is one of more than 3 million websites listed by a Google search of the term.

Neil J. Donovan, executive director of National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, said he isn’t surprised more homeless people are looking for help online, noting how need spurs ingenuity.

“When you’ve hit bottom - homelessness - every viable avenue up begins to look good and make sense,’’ said Donovan, who has learned from his staff, many of whom were homeless, of the growing use of what has been also called cyber-begging and Internet panhandling. “So in a bad economy, when you combine reduced giving through typical panhandling with computer training for homeless jobseekers, it’s surprising the practice didn’t start sooner. . . . Don’t blame them for coming up with creative ways to tread water.’’

On Homelessforums.org, thousands of people post questions and comments about everything from how to stay safe on the streets to where to camp for free. There are pleas for money on CyberBeg.com, which compares itself to a lottery, and Begslist.blogspot.com, which describes itself as a “source for free . . . e-panhandling, online donations, debt help, finding financial resources, and a great place to ask for financial help from the kindness of others.’’

Oh, look, the GLOBE has FINALLY DISCOVERED BLOGS!

PFFFFFFFFFFTTTTT!!!!!!

The Wikipedia entry for “Internet begging’’ describes the phenomenon as the “the online version of traditional begging’’ with “the clear advantage to street panhandling, in that it can be practiced with relative anonymity, thereby eliminating or reducing the shame and disgrace of begging in public.’’

This is SO OFFENSIVE to ANY CARING, THINKING PERSON!!

Well, when NEWSPAPERS COMPLAIN about their losses and WANT GOVERNMENT BAILOUTS or to CHARGE ONLINE, that is NOT BEGGING, huh?

When ONE THINKS about POLITICIANS and BEGGING one is THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED!

You know, MAYBE THOSE BANKS who have MADE BILLIONS off TAXPAYER DOLLARS could PITCH IN, huh?

They didn't seem TO EMBARRASSED about BEGGING, you POS PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!

The entry says digital panhandling started to spread in 2002, when Karyn Bosnak, a laid off TV producer who was mired in $25,000 in debt as a result of a shopping addiction, created SaveKaryn.com and raised money to pay her bills. Her success led to media exposure and a book, “Save Karyn: One Shopaholic’s Journey to Debt and Back.’’

Oh, so the IDEA was born out of SOME SICK, CREDIT-CARD ADDICTED SHOPPER, huh?

Am I EVER GLAD I DO NOT SPEND MONEY ANYMORE except for FOOD and my morning Globe.

And TOMORROW, ONE of those costs is GOING AWAY!!!

GOOD-BYE, GLOBE!!!!!!

This DOES IT!!! This INSULTING CRAP is the STRAW that BROKE the $1.50 a day back!!!

FUCK YOU, you FUCKING INSULTING SHIT-SHOVELER!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry, readers, but THEY DESERVE the VITRIOL and SCORN for writing and publishing such slop!

Kevin Boudreau has more humble ambitions. The son of a Woburn welder, who has lost touch with relatives and struggles with alcoholism, is just hoping for a tent, sleeping bag, a few tarps, and maybe some nonperishable food.

Homeless? In "liberal" Massachushitts?

We have VETERANS living on the street!!!

Related: Camping Out in Cambridge

Bedding Down With the Boston Globe

Buying the Homeless a Cup of Coffee

Hating the Homeless

It's Not Your Father's Homeless Anymore

WTF, the state can't find any money, huh?

Local homeless advocates from the city’s Emergency Shelter Commission to Rosie’s Place said they have never heard of anyone posting a similar kind of ad. Craigslist officials didn’t respond to questions about whether such ads are allowed on their site.

“It’s unique, but I guess it shouldn’t be surprising,’’ said Dr. James O’Connell, president of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, who has helped care for Boudreau and provided him a temporary bed at his South End medical facility. “It always amazes me how creative people will get when they’re trying to survive.’’

When Boudreau began posting his ad on Craigslist early this summer, in which he asked for blankets, batteries, a radio, and “some assistance with equipment for building shelter,’’ he began receiving a mix of obnoxious e-mails and others questioning whether he was perpetrating a hoax. “Put a blanket over your head, . . . and there you have your oven!’’ wrote a man named Mark.

Well, the GLOBE would know ALL ABOUT THOSE!

Also see: Globe Hoaxes of the Day

But over time people sent e-mails offering help, many of which he shared. Paula Sullivan of Wrentham wrote to him, saying she had a two-room tent, cots, and other old camping supplies. Another woman sent an e-mail asking his shoe size and noted she had boots to offer. And someone else offered a small propane grill.

Richard Comeau of Haverhill, who wrote offering to help him find shelter, said in a telephone interview he may have been more open to helping because the exchange was over e-mail, rather than on the street. “I had more time to speak to him, and it was on my own time,’’ Comeau said. “When you see someone panhandling, they’re not exactly wearing a suit and tie, and you form an opinion. When they’re doing it digitally, you don’t form the same kind of opinion. It makes it easier to be open-minded.’’

Translation: He is a SHALLOW, PREJUDICED ELITIST that judges books by their cover!

Is that paragraph not exceptional or what, America?

NO WONDER SO MANY AmeriKans fall VICTIM to SCAMS!!

No, I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO is LOOTING MY MONEY ON LINE, and I SURE AS HEEL WOULDN'T WANT TO MEET the person I am helping, huh, guy?

And is he saying he would GIVE MONEY to a LOOTER in a SUIT because he LOOKS GOOD? So this guy was IN FAVOR of the BANK BAILOUT, huh?

What an INSULTING PIECE of RUBBISH this FRONT-PAGE ARTICLE is!!!!!

Then again, THIS IS YOUR FUTURE, America!

But Boudreau, who has been recovering from an assault, has yet to collect any supplies. He has written back to the dozens of people who have e-mailed him and asked for their patience. He said he won’t have any place to store what he needs until he leaves the medical facility this week.

He has turned down offers to stay at shelters, he said, because he finds them more dangerous than living outside. He said he has been robbed at shelters and has found it safer to sleep on benches around City Hall Plaza.

That comment is the VERY DEFINITION of FAILURE, state!

In an ideal world, he said, he would like to get his job back as a cook at MIT’s Sigma Phi Epsilon in the Back Bay, where he said he worked for 12 years until it lost its charter. The fraternity has since regained its charter, but officials there didn’t return messages.

“More than anything else, I’d rather go back to work,’’ he said. “The thing is, being on the streets it’s like impossible to get a job . . . but you can’t find a home if you’re jobless, and you can’t find a job if you’re homeless.’’

Hey, look on the bright side: at least you have a LOT OF COMPANY, huh?

--more--"

So WHERE COULD WE FIND MONEY to TAKE CARE of these people?

The State Budget Swindle

Governor Guts State Services

Pigs at the State Trough

Biotech Giveaway Was Borrowed Money

Massachusetts Residents Taken For a Ride

UBS Picks Up Pike

Slow Saturday Special: Day at the Movies

The Hollywood Heist of Massachusetts

Why Massachusetts Needed to Raise Taxes

Massachusetts' New Nickel Tax

Massachusetts' Business Tax Increase Was a Corporate Tax Cut

Tax Increase Fails to Save Massachusetts Services

Blood All Over Massachusetts State Budget

Green Jobs Going Global

Slow Saturday Special: Evergreen Turns Brown

State Government On Probation

Gee, it seems like THAT $$$ would pay for a LOT of HOUSING!!

Also see:
Buying the Homeless a Cup of Coffee

You MAY BE OUT THERE sooner than you think, Globe shitter:

U.S. newspaper circulation plunge accelerates

The plunge in U.S. newspaper circulation is accelerating, according to the latest figures released on Monday, as more people cancel their subscriptions and publishers cut distribution and sales of discounted copies....

:-)

Would you LIKE to share my BOWL of SHIT, Dave?