It isn't easy being homeless

[notabum.livejournal.com]

Many of you may know me by sight as I spend part of my day at Au Bon Pain next to the T stop.

I have started a blog about my plight.

http://cambridgestreets.blogspot.com/

on the blog today I explained how I got into this situation.

I never thought it could happen to me.
 

Comments

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Panhandling has gone high tech. Kudos to you!

[jadelennox]

It's not panhandling if we get a good story out of it, or not any more than any blogger's tip jar is panhandling.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

The Boston shelter system is horrid. I don't know how much experience you've had, but there are some very reasonable people who may not be on your radar yet, and who might be able to offer some assistance in finding alternatives to the over-taxed shelters.

Check out http://www.breadandjams.org/ - they're in Harvard Square, they do good work, and they are tapped into the community fairly well and can hopefully open some doors you might not have been aware of.

[ron_newman]

You may also want to talk to the folks at Somerville Homeless Coalition.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

So why was the other homeless post that had nothing to do with Davis Square deleted and this one wasn't?

Moderate consistently.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

Possibly because the OP specifically said that he hangs around the ABP in Davis. Possibly. JUST POSSIBLY.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

Actually, he doesn't mention Davis. He says:

"Many of you may know me by sight as I spend part of my day at Au Bon Pain next to the T stop."

His blog is called "On The Streets of Cambridge" and is subtitled "The day to day journal of trying to survive in Harvard Sq being homeless." As you may (or may not) know, there's a large Au Bon Pan next to the Harvard stop.

The OP did not "specifically said that he hangs around the ABP in Davis." You could argue he implied it. You inferred it. But it is (in my eyes) no more on topic than the previous and recent post on homelessness in the area.

What I'm asking about is consistency in moderation. There was a previous poster asking about what (she?) could do about homeless in Boston, but the post got deleted (specifically?) because said poster said (she?) didn't want to post to b0st0n, instead of disguising it as a post about homeless in Davis.

[ron_newman]

Hmm. I had also assumed the OP was referring to our Au Bon Pain.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying he's never been there. I'm not saying he didn't mean to say that he hung out in Davis all the time. I'm just saying that he didn't say any of that, and his "real blog" says he doesn't.

I'm not agitating to have this post deleted. I'm just trying to understand how moderation works. The previous poster was asking for tips on what she could do to help the homeless, and her post disappeared. My assumption (possibly incorrect) is that it was moderated. This poster is actually asking for money and seems to be in no danger of being moderated.

That's the disconnect in my head. FWIW.

[ron_newman]

I did not delete the other post.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

But one of the moderators did, yes? So why that one and not this one?

[ron_newman]

I had assumed that the OP deleted her own post, but I could be wrong.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I assumed the OP meant the ABP in Davis. If I'm wrong, I'll delete it.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

The poster's blog at http://cambridgestreets.blogspot.com/ says that he's in Harvard Sq and mentions someone he sleeps next to outside the Harvard Coop, so it does sound like he's not in Davis.

Personally, I don't care that much -- I don't mind seeing posts about other local places in the community even if they're not Davis qua Davis, and this seems to have more local relevance than a generic "what can I do to help the homeless?" query. But just FYI.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

I don't mind seeing posts about other local places in the community even if they're not Davis qua Davis, and this seems to have more local relevance than a generic "what can I do to help the homeless?" query.

Because Harvard's closer than South Station?

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

So did you delete the other homeless post?

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I did. See my reply to notabum below.

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

OK. So the rule is that if you name check a spot in Davis, that makes it a protected post, whether or not it has Davis content?

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

No, she thought that the poster was homeless and based in Davis Square.

As she says above, she may delete the post if the poster is not.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

He confirms below that he did mean the Davis ABP. (same reply where he references having lived on Kidder Ave.). I'm going to meet with him there to give him a donation.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

You are a pain in the butt. What gives?

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

The sock puppet thing is so twentieth century. Why don't you do something original, like make a blog saying you're a homeless person and then panhandle through LJ?

What's really sad is that you're not even trying anymore. At least with your last sock puppet you added the last few posters as friends.

Make an effort! Show some creativity, or at least online savvy! What you're doing now is just sad.

The current theory is that you're anomie666 (or maybe two_stabs). That's your cue to start replying with a long string of profanity, btw.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Its not me. I'll give you my ISP, I have nothing to hide. I don't have sock puppet accounts and I hope I'd do a better job at trolling.

[notabum.livejournal.com]

I know about both Bread and Jams and Somerville Homeless.

Just a numbers game right now.

Amazing how many people in shelters are working full time but because of past credit problems or not being able to raise first month, last month and security they are stuck.

All the workers I have talked to say they have never seen it this bad.

[miraclaire.livejournal.com]

I don't know if Globe Santa is still taking applications, and it certainly doesn't help for housing, but it could help take the pressure off for Christmas. http://www.globesanta.org/requests.stm

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I would be glad to meet you at Au Bon Pain this week and give you a cash donation toward the laptop. (I don't like Paypal.) What times will you be there, and what can I look for to recognize you?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

FYI...

While there is a very long waiting list to get section 8 which is what you speak of, you CAN find housing on your own and work with the landlord to cooperate and allow section 8 there. My mother needed it for awhile and she found a gorgeous house in Swampscott right on the beach, explained her situation which was health related and the landlord decided to allow section 8 there. The wait list is so long typically because there are only so many apartment complexes, houses etc that accept the section 8. They dont lose any money by doing it...so really try to do some footwork and it could be a lot faster that you find a place.

[notabum.livejournal.com]

Just to clarify

I did indeed mean the Au Bon Pain in Davis.

Before I got married and bought a condo in the burbs I lived for many years on Kidder Ave and saw first hand the transformation of Davis Sq. I still get sad thinking about the long gone Supreme Deli.

I just want to thank the people who have posted both here and on my blog and some have already tried to help.

I should have a new blog entry by noontime today.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Hey, I still have $25 cash to give you (I wish it were more, but I'm between jobs), and I want to meet you at Au Bon Pain in Davis to give it to you in person since, as I mentioned, I don't care for Paypal. I'll buy us both lunch or dinner, too -- you sound like you could use some company. When is a good time to meet you?

You didn't answer me either here or on your Blogspot reply thread, so, ya know, I'm concerned about you...

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

In his blog he said:

"The one thing I want to avoid is being 'outed' in the blogger world. NOT because I care if anybody knows my situation but to protect my son. If his classmates found out they might tease him as that is what kids do."

That makes me think he wants to stay anonymous, rather than meeting with you in person. Though I could be wrong.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Meeting in person could still be anonymous, though. She's not asking for his name, just a face-to-face conversation.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Yes. I will give him my name, a physical description of me so he can find me, and will give him the cash without ever asking his name.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Uh huh. The very first sentence in the OPs LJ post is:

Many of you may know me by sight as I spend part of my day at Au Bon Pain next to the T stop.

So, apparently, I may know "him" by sight anyway. It shouldn't be a problem for me to hand over this money in person. I'd like to meet up at ABP to donate this cash, and have a meal together on me if notabum is up for it. I don't even know his son, nobody reads my LJ except my f'list, and I don't like Paypal.

I'll need to make a trip to the coinstar to do this, but I'm upping my donation pledge to $60. That's 10% of the cost of the laptop. If notabum will meet me.

[notabum.livejournal.com]

I am a little stunned by the offer ( have sent plumtreeboston a private message )

I have no problem meeting people as I am who I am...my only concern is to protect my son's privacy.

BTW I don't respond right away to messages as my computer time is limited for obvious reasons

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I got your message and replied. We can pick a specific time on the date you're available and I'll meet you at ABP in Davis. Since I won't know you, I'll send you a decsription of myself so you can find me (I'm pretty easy to spot). Looking forward to meeting you and helping you buy this laptop for your son. :-)