American Fear

[Greedybogle]

I was sitting with my girlfriend in a city parking lot the other night, when a man walked up to the car. Through the closed window, he said, "Can I ask you a question?" I looked at my girlfriend questioningly, wondering if we shouldn't just leave. She nodded to me, though, and motioned for me to roll the window down.

I did. I shook his hand, and had to apologize for being so rude. I had a long chat with him - he was a con artist looking for money, of course, but he was damn charming, so I gave him some.

I realized then that I had just supported a street performer of sorts. In a way, it was the most simple transaction. I knew his story was a load, but that didn't matter - I paid him because I liked him.

It still bothers me though, that my first instict was to drive away. I wasn't really afraid, but I've always been told not to talk to strangers, and that dangerous creeps are everywhere.

This is my new resolution: No more fear, no more of the mistrust and other crap that comes between two strangers.


"Dangerous creeps are everywhere, in the Kingodm of Fear.
You're a whole different person when you're scared."
~Warren Zevon

[Evan Young]

Sure sure, but you really can't trust people who carry guns... like cops.

cops walk around looking for people who are committing crimes, most of which are victimless, and they think they need guns for that... they talk down to you and say the stupidest things, but if you point out their ignorance they get mad at you... And then they wonder why people don't respect the law... All cops do is make more criminals.

[Chance]

Why call it "American" fear? The concept you are describing -- either of a con looking for marks, or how the public might shun contact with him -- is universal. This can be found in every country and culture.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

In the mid eighties, I was on the Ben and Jerry's travelling show with the Flying Robertini and Jeannie Wall. One morning, we were doing shows in NY and parking in Jersey. I got up at 5 to get to a commercial audition in the city. On my way to the audition, a huge, healthy looking guy asked me for some money for breakfast. I said no. I think most handouts are condescending, and do more harm than good.


I recently had a bum look up at me from his seat on the sidewalk. He was wearing old clothes, and looked the part, with a phone next to him: clearly a dumpster score, unpluggled.

"Give me a buck, willya? I'm waiting for a call."

The bill left my wallet of itself. I have a side rule. Anyone who makes me laugh gets a buck.

[Peter G]

Last year as I strolled the streets of the NYC I saw a homeless guy sitting cross-legged on one of the wide sidewalks of midtown, wearing a vietnamese widebrimmed hat, next to a sign that read, "Tell me off. $2 "

I didn't chew him out, just paid him and moved on.

I still remember him and the sign; the two bucks was a bargin.

PG

[le pire]

It never ceases to amuse me that homeless people in America are expected to "look the part." Filthy rags, foul odor, bottle bag-- without which, you're not really a bum.

Many of the French people who beg on the metros and on the streets of Paris groom and where proper clothes. The men wear ties and jackets, the women fix their hair and wear make-up. Just because your hitting up strangers for money doesn't mean you can't have dignity.

étienne

[Rich Potter]

In early 1989, I was hanging out in New York City quite a bit, and one night I went out for dinner after the Carmine Street Juggling Club with a group of some of those people.

We're walking toward an Indian restaurant on 12th (?) street around the Village when we hear a booming voice from behind us:

Look! Up in the sky! It's a pigeon! No -- it's a rat! No --

IT'S HOMELESS MAN!

We turned around to see a disheveled black man wearing an old army jacket with a scraggly beard and a gleam in his eye.

7 or 8 of us had our wallets open immediately. He probably got 5-10 bucks from us right there. I held off and demanded to see the big red "H" on his chest. Without batting an eye, he smiled and replied, "I'm not wearing it now -- I'm in my secret identity!"

Cha-ching! I forked over, too.

If you do the math, if he throws that line out 10 times in an hour, he's making easily 50-100 bucks. Imagine making that sort of money with no props, no show, and just one line!

--Rich

[ 04-21-2003: Message edited by: Rich Potter ]</p>

[Rich Potter]

[ 04-21-2003: Message edited by: Rich Potter ]</p>

[Butterfly Man]

I once read about a wino who lived underneath the Shelby Street bridge in Nashville, TN. His name was Cletus J. Hawker. He use to bum change at the nearby Greyhound bus terminal.
He was lucky if he made $11 a day.

One day Cletus hurt his foot and had to go see a doctor. Luckily, he was a veteran, so he got free treatment at the VA Hospital.

After his treatment, they wanted him admitted overnight for observation, but Cletus didn’t want to stay overnight.

So, wearing only his hospital garb, he bolted as soon as he was alone.

The next day Cletus was back at his usual spot at the bus terminal ... only this time he was wearing a blue work shirt with the top button buttoned and a pair of VA pajama bottoms.

He made over $300 that day, just asking for change to get back to the VA hospital.

At the end of the week, Cletus had collected over $1500 dollars.

So he bought 6 cases of wine and had a big party for all the wino’s. Twenty-three wino’s showed up and partied all night with Cletus underneath the Shelby Street bridge.

A local photographer got wind of what was going on and took a picture of Cletus and all his friends. It was printed in the Nashville Banner along with a story about Cletus and his windfall.

The next morning when Cletus got up and went back to the bus terminal. There were 11 wino’s already there, all wearing blue work shirts with the top button buttoned and VA pajama bottoms.

[Stretch]

A couple of years ago, in Denver, a begger was in an
accident and ended up in the hospital. They put a "halo" around his head. The kind that screws right through the skin, into your skull to keep your broken neck suported while it heals. After a bit he was released with instructions to return in a few days or weeks, to have it removed. Needless to say he was very late in getting it removed as it was ever so helpful in his occupation!

[Rex Boyd]

I am enjoying the beggar stories but just to pull it back to the original topic of "American Fear" I would like to urge everyone to see "Bowling for Columbine" if you haven't already. A large part of that movie addresses the way America does play up fear of strangers to a much higher degree than other countries. Thinking about the topic it does remind me that when I used to busk in the States ( I haven't done so in many years ), I was often confronted with the situation of trying to convince my sheltered suburbanite audience members that I myself was not a beggar or conman or drug addict or general scary sideshow freak. The irony is that I myself grew up completely in that same sheltered suburban mentality that makes you distrust strangers. I'm grateful that I managed to escape and learn a bit about the world outside the suburbs. We performers need to keep bringing our excitement and differences to those people who only ever know what they are forcefed through the television. Maybe a little interaction with strangers can help alleviate a little fear, prejudice, hatred, war, etc., etc.

Rex

[Stretch]

&gt;addresses the way America does play up fear of strangers to a much higher degree than other countries.&gt;

I find generalisations to be frought with truth and error. BOTH times I stilt walked the Dublin Ireland marathon I was pelted with rocks by kids. Despite stilt walking many many more miles here in the states, that has only happened here once. By older "kids". Both times by those who have little to lose, economicaly or otherwise. So far the pants pulling down attempts are running even: once in Dublin, once in the states.

Re: "sheltered suburbanite audience " My opiniun is that the middle class works very hard to get where they are, and so are fearful of percieved threats. The lower economic and education classes (with less to lose) to generalise have a strong streak of "if it is different kill it".

And as referenced earlier, age, or lack of it comes into play as well.
And not just the age of your audience either. YOUR percieved age comes into play as well.

America has greater economic mobility - in BOTH directions - than what you are apt to find elsewhere. In part BECAUSE of a willingness to adapt new ideas and others. Like Sydney, Denver has 200 ethniciities
represented in our populous. And despite what you might judge from MY spelling ;&gt [img]wink.gif[/img] , the highest education rates in the nation. And the thinnest!

If I were to judge any other nation by a MOVIE !!!! what would I be accused of? Narrow mindedness at the least.

[Kim]

I wonder, is CNN a bit like a movie?

[quote]Originally posted by Stretch:
<strong>If I were to judge any other nation by a MOVIE !!!! what would I be accused of? Narrow mindedness at the least.</strong><hr></blockquote>

[Stretch]

The most memorable lesson taught me by my father was when he asked me:
"do you believe everything you read?" This was at age 5 or 6. Later in 8th grade when writing a paper, my teacher emphasized the importance of using multiple sources to research my topic. I learned first hand that not all authorities may agree to the facts. This lesson has continued to be reinforced. One example:

It seems CNN has allegedly been silent on many of the abuses of the former Iraqi regime.

Everyone has an ax to grind. Are you going to believe everyone? Sometimes what is NOT told is more important than what IS told.

[Butterfly Man]

Fearless Fostix was my hero

Mananged to borrow a "9-11 Never Forgotten!" t-shirt from Robertini while in NYC ... perhaps I'll wear it while overseas and see what the locals have to say ... if you don't hear from me again, you'll understand.


"I don't want to live in fear"
-Jango Edwards

[ 04-24-2003: Message edited by: Butterfly Man ]</p>