Ungrateful

I had an odd experience when I was out with my brother and SIL the other night that has been kind of eating at me the last few days and I feel compelled to share with you now. It began with an epic journey to try and score some Ben & Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk ice cream.


The only location was downtown on State Street. There technically is one in the airport, but as it is behind the security checkpoint, it really doesn't count. So we make the journey downtown, park the car, put money in the meter and set off to find us some ice cream. We pass Cold Stone and head further down State. My brother has the address and after a quick look at the building numbers ASSURES us that we are headed in the right direction. After a few minutes of walking and ending up at the end of State St. and no Ben and Jerry's in sight I check the addresses for myself and realize we have been going the wrong direction the whole time. That's what I get for trusting the PILOT with the GPS NAV on his phone. /sigh

We turned around and walked all the way back up State St. As we were walking there was a guy shaking his container with change in it and asking for money from everyone walking bye. I was talking with my brother at this time and not paying attention as we walked bye but my SIL was listening and she was shocked as the guy was apparently yelling at people who were not giving him money and even said something along the lines of "Well fuck you then." when we passed him without putting something in his jar. I was shocked, but let it go and we moved on.

We made it all the way to the other end of State St. and found the address. There was the sign, but there was nothing inside. Apparently it had closed recently. The building was up for lease. /sigh. So while I mocked my brother for leading us on a 20 minuted wild goose chase for nothing, we headed back to Cold Stone so we didn't have to go home without something to show for our efforts. My SIL and I got out little servings of ice cream and my brother gets some nasty cotton candy flavored milk shake.. bleh.

It was nice outside, so we decide to sit on the benches outside and enjoy the weather and the atmosphere of the area which is right in the middle of the UW campus. As we are sitting there enjoying our ice cream, a gentleman walks up to us and at first I assume he is just being friendly and we chit chat for a minute before he launches into his spiel. He tells this story about how he just bought a foot long sub at subway, ate half and was saving the other half for later and was just trying to get home, but didn't have enough money for the bus. It was a long and involved story and at the end, he of course asks for money. My brother is sitting across from me and graciously pulls out his wallet and gives the guy a buck.

Now if you are asking for money and someone gives you money.. one would think you would be at least a little bit grateful right? Not this guy. He starts going on about how that a buck isn't enough to catch the bus ride home and does he have any more money? He then turns to me and TELLS me that I must have money I can give him. I told him that I wasn't going to give him any money. He gets really indignant now and there is anger in his voice. However, he does finally leave.

I know.. I am a heartless bastard that doesn't help those in need. Well let me paint a picture for you. This guy was dressed in pressed khaki pants. A pressed button down shirt. A leather type jacket and an nice pair of sunglasses. He was clean and well groomed. He had on nice shoes. There were no stains on his clothes. This was not a guy that was sleeping on the street.

So maybe he is down on his luck like a lot of people are these days. I tell you what. If I only have 5 bucks to my name, and there have been weeks where that has been the case, I make sure that I buy gas for my car first and foremost so I can get where I need to go. I don't go out for dinner at subway. So here is a well dressed guy who just told me he spent his last 5 bucks on a footlong at Subway, but is now getting pissed and because my brother and I won't pay for a bus ride for him? Maybe you should have bought the 6 inch sub and had enough to get home. Or maybe you should have bought a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and had sandwiches for a few days and STILL had enough to get a bus ride home.

In this time period in our country I don't think anyone is unaware people are struggling. That people are hurting and there are many situations where people suddenly do need help. My problem with this situation was his attitude and the decisions he was making. If I was stuck downtown and needed bus fare to get home and had to go ask people to spare some change, I would sure as hell be humble and grateful for ANYTHING someone gave me. Only have a quarter in your pocket? THANK YOU. You have a dollar that you are willing to give me in exchange for nothing? THANK YOU.

This guy felt like we owed him something. He felt that he was being done an injustice because we weren't giving him more money. My brother is more patient and gracious than I am because after that little ungrateful outburst, I would have told him to give me my dollar back. Ungrateful sonofabitch. If someone holds a door for me, I say thank you and am grafetul they did. This guy is asking for free money and doesn't have the common decency to at least pretend to be appreciative? Fuck you then. Oh .. and the bus that you were 'waiting' for just stopped and you didn't get on even though I watched several other people hand you money. Guess it wasn't that important for you to get home after all was it?

I know it seems like I am a callous prick, but in a time when everyone is struggling and cutting back and trying to make ends meet, acting as he did when someone is trying to help him just floors me.