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[entremet]

http://www.newsweek.com/homeless-millennials-are-transforming-hobo-culture-323151

On Reddit, he’s /u/huckstah, an administrator on /r/vagabond, a subreddit with nearly 10,000 members—many of them identify as “homeless”—who trade skills and stories. On “the road and the rails,” he’s Huck, and even after we speak twice by cellphone, he tells me he’d prefer I don’t print his real name. “People say, ‘Well, you chose to become homeless.’ But that’s wrong,” he says. Huck says he’s been a hobo for upward of 11 years and started hopping trains and hitching rides at 18. “I did not choose to become homeless. If you want to say I chose to become homeless and sleep on the streets, really all I have to say is fuck you. You’ve never experienced it.”

Or maybe you have experienced it, thanks to the recent Great Recession that caused a spike in homelessness—especially for families—with its tidal wave of foreclosures. And if you have, there’s a good chance you were probably one of the many homeless with a mobile device, a sight that has become increasingly common. The ubiquity of cheap phones and even cheaper data has prompted even longtime homeless to join the growing ranks of people with a cell connection but no house. “The day I started on the road, I had a flip phone, an iPod, a TomTom GPS, an atlas, a laptop, and free Wi-Fi wasn't very easy to find,” says a medic who’s been a hobo for four years and asks me to identify him as “Nuke.” (“I have a pretty decent amount of training and experience in treating combat trauma.”) He now lives out of a ’91 Ford pickup and says, “I have a smartphone, a laptop, and free Wi-Fi is everywhere.”

The rise of the mobile Internet has made a hobo’s life easier, Nuke says. But when I ask Huck about how he and fellow travelers use their smartphones, I get the sense that even for the digitally connected homeless, life is far from easy. “I keep my phone off a lot, or in airplane mode,” he says, “because we can only charge up for a short time—maybe once a day, or sometimes it will be two to three days between charges, maybe an hour of charge.” For Huck and his fellow itinerants, smartphone usage is measured in instants. “We check Google Maps and then we turn it off, or we make a quick phone call and then we turn it off.

Man, I didn't know it was that rough for my generation out there.

 

[BigAT]

I sincerely thought this was going to be ClickHole article based on the title.

 

[Deified Data]

Why would people say he "chose to be homeless"? Is he just strawmanning or is he responding to accusations that weren't printed in the article?

 

[entremet]

Why would people say he "chose to be homeless"? Is he just strawmanning or is he responding to accusations that weren't printed in the article?

Choosing to be homeless is common criticism towards homeless people. Never heard it?

 

[CrimzonSamurai]

Why would people say he "chose to be homeless"? Is he just strawmanning or is he responding to accusations that weren't printed in the article?

I've met kids at music festivals who actually do choose to be homeless. It's not really like "live on the street homeless" it's couch around or go from festival-to-festival all the time. So, I imagine he's trying to distance himself from whatever movement that is.

Those kids just don't want to stop taking hallucinogens every day, though. They sell drugs and solicit canned goods from people leaving the festivals to get by.

Not saying he's one of them but I have met/seen several of these people.

 

[akira28]

Why would people say he "chose to be homeless"? Is he just strawmanning or is he responding to accusations that weren't printed in the article?

there are workhouses, poor houses, homeless shelters, and the military. If you have no home it's because you choose to have no home.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

Why would people say he "chose to be homeless"? Is he just strawmanning or is he responding to accusations that weren't printed in the article?

I've heard that so many times from people that I'm going to argue it's something people say so they can keep their self-image intact instead of having to say "lost my job, lost my home, lost my everything, please kill me now".

Having to beg is an insult most of us are not willing to bear. It's the literal bottom of the social ladder.

edit: oh, and yeah, when said by other people: because they're dicks and it's easy to kick someone who's already down. Pecking order!

 

[temp]

I don't know if I'm going to get anyone else to go along with this, but does the girl's backpack look like a zombie George Washington doing a metal yell to anyone else?

 

[Indrid Cold1]

there are workhouses, poor houses, homeless shelters, and the military. If you have no home it's because you choose to have no home.

Lol

Fucking Ebenezer Scrooge over here

 

[Deified Data]

Choosing to be homeless is common criticism towards homeless people. Never heard it?

Oh, of course, just wasn't sure if there was a controversy surrounding this particular guy - he seemed defensive about it.

 

[temp]

Lol

Fucking Ebenezer Scrooge over here

Hahaha

 

[akira28]

I don't know if I'm going to get anyone else to go along with this, but does the girl's backpack look like a zombie George Washington doing a metal yell to anyone else?

no, it looks more like a drunk zombie George Washington doing a rebel yell. and he's wearing eye-shadow.

 

[obin_gam]

there are workhouses, poor houses, homeless shelters, and the military. If you have no home it's because you choose to have no home.

Are there no prisons?

 

[genjiZERO]

They might be a little different than the people described in this article, but I find gutter punks really irritating. We'll get waves of then now and then. I'm not sure what their deal is, but they don't seem to look like they have a legitimate reason to be homeless and begging for money to me.

 

[Opiate]

I've heard that so many times from people that I'm going to argue it's something people say so they can keep their self-image intact instead of having to say "lost my job, lost my home, lost my everything, please kill me now".

Having to beg is an insult most of us are not willing to bear. It's the literal bottom of the social ladder.

edit: oh, and yeah, when said by other people: because they're dicks and it's easy to kick someone who's already down. Pecking order!

It's not just that, although I agree with what you've written. In addition to that, this issue runs in to the same cognitive dissonance that widespread racism: admitting to widespread racism suggests there could be fundamental, systemic flaws in our market system that are not naturally corrected.

If you strongly believe in libertarianism or have a deep faith in the free market system, then systemic failures, such as persistent, large scale racism or homelessness are frequently downplayed. Rather than being failures of the system, it must be failures of the persons involved. For instance, many people of libertarian persuasion suggest that lower performance by African Americans is not a consequence of the market failing, but a "culture" among black people in America which does not promote hard work or academic accomplishment. Similarly, widespread homelessness is not a problem with the market, but simply a sign that some people choose not to work, and this is the price they pay -- or even arguing that homelessness has a trendy/hipsterness to it.

 

[Suite Pee]

I mean, I know a lot of people who do the whole train-hopping, country-crossing thing, but that's like a homeless vacation. Actual, persistent homelessness is awful.

 

[Skellig Gra]

there are workhouses, poor houses, homeless shelters, and the military. If you have no home it's because you choose to have no home.

What about people with mental issues who have no families?

 

[Nekofrog]

What about people with mental issues who have no families?

shhh thats not part of the narrative!

on topic doe, i totally knew a guy who chose to be homeless. he was a sane, fairly smart guy. he just didn't want to work. ever. i think reality kicked in after 6 months of his chosen homeless lifestyle and he got his ass in gear

 

[Manmademan]

I mean, I know a lot of people who do the whole train-hopping, country-crossing thing, but that's like a homeless vacation. Actual, persistent homelessness is awful.

Same here. it's definitely a lifestyle choice for a certain subsection of young millenials. they'll work a bartending or restaurant job long enough to say, build up some cash or repair a vehicle, then it's doing the hobo thing across the country for months on end and updating via social media.

obviously there are people who aren't homeless by choice and hate begging, but these people exist.

 

[AndyD]

He is quoted at the end:

I’ve found a way to be homeless without starving or begging or sleeping in ditches,” he says. “I’ve become a professional vagabond, and this is the lifestyle that I love.

Interesting. I think I might check out the subreddit as it's a fascinating culture. Sad for many who can't control their circumstances, but he seems to enjoy it and it's a lifestyle he does not seem to actively try to change. So choice for some, but not for all?

I also never knew the name of the doctor's logo, or its significance in the culture.

 

[horsebird]

Just an FYI to those who may not know, that's Kevin Russ pictured in the OP and his photography is pretty breathtaking.

 

[gimmmick]

Lazy mofoes that think doing a job is way below them. I hate my generation. It's stupid that I have to be associated with these idiots because I was born in 1984.

No one chooses to be homeless, it's pretty much the last resort when all else fails. Anyone that has ever had to raise a child in this life will do a job even if they don't like just so they can provide for them.

 

[number47]

Their choice to be nomads. Good for them. More jobs for me.

 

[rexor0717]

I don't know if I'm going to get anyone else to go along with this, but does the girl's backpack look like a zombie George Washington doing a metal yell to anyone else?

I can see it.

 

[perfectchaos007]

Why does the girl have a cardboard sign for El Paso? That's the last place I would want to be homeless in

 

[Rabbi_Vole]

I blame Portland Oregon

 

[entremet]

I blame Portland Oregon

lol.

 

[unholyrevenger72]

Why would people say he "chose to be homeless"?

Cuz

 

[unholyrevenger72]

Lazy mofoes that think doing a job is way below them. I hate my generation. It's stupid that I have to be associated with these idiots because I was born in 1984.

The job isn't below us, the pay is. You ask a millenial and they'll say they'll stock shelves, flip burgers or shovel shit for a living if it pays a living

 

[Facism]

I don't know if I'm going to get anyone else to go along with this, but does the girl's backpack look like a zombie George Washington doing a metal yell to anyone else?

.............

Now that you mentioned it, yes lol. Like he's licking the neck of a guitar during an intense solo.

 

[FO-totality]

Are there no prisons?

No treadmills?

 

[SillyEskimo]

Rover, Wanderer, Nomad, Vagabond, call me what you will.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

I blame Portland Oregon

I work here so I know what you mean.

 

[FlyingSaucer]

I don't understand why the younger generations haven't rised yet and throw the criminal oligarchy out of the system and into jail.

Interesting read, thank you. I'm always glad to see tech serve legit aims and really help people that are the most in need and who suffer the most painful conditions.

 

[King Gilga]

If I was in a position where I was homeless and nowhere to go I'd probably commit a crime and try to get jailed.

Just having no where to go, no where to sleep, nowhere to wash seems so fucking scary.

I was walking past a hobo today under a bridge and his blue jeans were so dirty they were almost black (before you say he should wash it in that river that river is dirty as fuck would probably make it dirtier, walking there at night [no lights an literally pitch black under the bridges] rather than being mugged/stabbed my biggest fear is tripping and falling into that nasty shit).

Fuck I'd stab someone if that's what it took.

I mean, if I lived in some tropical place with jungle and shit I'd probably feel differently, but in london? Nah.

 

[ItIsOkBro]

homeless, with a cell phone, cell phone plan.

 

[teruterubozu]

Why is everything called ________ Culture these days?
So many damn culture clubs.

 

[Slo]

The job isn't below us, the pay is. You ask a millenial and they'll say they'll stock shelves, flip burgers or shovel shit for a living if it pays a living

Those have never, ever been jobs that were meant to pay mortgage or feed a family.

 

[MechDX]

Those have never, ever been jobs that were meant to pay mortgage or feed a family.

Times have changed. Sadly the people in this country haven't

 

[Piggus]

I blame Portland Oregon

Yeah, the non-existent loitering laws in Portland and SF (and even in my little town in southern Oregon) makes it easy for them to just sprawl out pretty much wherever they want. As a result other cities have been sending their homeless to Portland and SF for years.

They might be a little different than the people described in this article, but I find gutter punks really irritating. We'll get waves of then now and then. I'm not sure what their deal is, but they don't seem to look like they have a legitimate reason to be homeless and begging for money to me.

This. It's pretty easy around here to get a job these days. The ones who truly struggle are those with mental disabilities who won't accept help.

 

[Ferrio]

Those have never, ever been jobs that were meant to pay mortgage or feed a family.

Except they did.

 

[Slo]

Times have changed. Sadly the people in this country haven't

I'm not so sure. I don't buy the "the only jobs out there are at McDonalds" sentiment that gets repeated so much on GAF.

 

[Slo]

Except they did.

Prove it. When was this magical time when you could pump gas and sweep floors for a living and live well?

 

[MechDX]

I'm not so sure. I don't buy the "the only jobs out there are at McDonalds" sentiment that gets repeated so much on GAF.

There are more jobs than just McDonalds, I agree. But the minimum wage in this country has not gone up in how many years? I do not want to get in a philosophical debate but it needs to be raised along with the rise in the cost of living. Just my opinion and nothing more.

Sadly when I go into a McDonalds now I see more and more seniors working there.

 

[Fatalah]

Really raising bar, Millennials.

 

[mmazurkiewicz]

Dudes probably camping out under a cell tower streaming netflix to his iPhone 6.

#Homeless

 

[PumpkinSpice]

Why does the girl have a cardboard sign for El Paso? That's the last place I would want to be homeless in

It's warm there. If you sleep outside the last place you want to be is somewhere cold.

 

[Ferrio]

Prove it. When was this magical time when you could pump gas and sweep floors for a living and live well?

Quick and dirty:

2 person minimum wage income in 1960: ~$4000
Average cost of a house in 1960: $12,700

Ratio: 1:3

2 person minimm wage income now: ~$21,100
Average cost of a house now: 188,900

Ratio: 1:9

Hell even with a current income of 70k which is considered decent nowadays you're looking at a 1:3 ratio which is comparable to what you'd have on minimum wage in the 60s. I know for a fact I could afford a house on 70k, so I don't see why someone couldn't afford it with the same ratio via minimum wage back in 1960.

Used this for the minimum wages for 1960 vs now
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/...You-Better-Off-Now-than-You-Were-50-years-Ago

Then took some average house prices from both eras from findings on google.

 

[Naked Snake]

I listened to the episode of Upvoted by Reddit podcast featuring him a few of weeks ago. It was great.

Listen to 011: Four Walls And A Roof by Upvoted by reddit on SoundCloud


Edit: Actually not sure it's "Huck", but it's by the guy who created /r/vagabonding

 

[Slo]

Quick and dirty:

2 person minimum wage income in 1960: ~$4000
Average cost of a house in 1960: $12,700

Ratio: 1:3

2 person minimm wage income now: ~$21,100
Average cost of a house now: 188,900

Ratio: 1:9

Hell even with a current income of 70k which is considered decent nowadays you're looking at a 1:3 ratio which is comparable to what you'd have on minimum wage in the 60s. I know for a fact I could afford a house on 70k, so I don't see why someone couldn't afford it with the same ratio via minimum wage back in 1960.

Used this for the minimum wages for 1960 vs now
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/...You-Better-Off-Now-than-You-Were-50-years-Ago

Then took some average house prices from both eras from findings on google.

I'll concede somewhat based on what you've posted. I double checked your facts because frankly I didn't believe that you could buy a house for $12k. Hell, I'm still skeptical but I found the same numbers you did. The dollar doesn't go nearly as far as it used to. A person with any job doesn't have as much buying power as they used to.

Where I still need convincing is that underemployment is a real thing. I see no evidence of this, even anecdotally. What I hear are stories of a person that went to college and didn't find a job in their field. This problem has always existed. We've always had failed doctors, failed lawyers, etc.