So far, in the last two weeks or so... Broadway and Osborne; River and Osborne; Kenaston Common area; Bishop Grandin and River Road; And a couple others that I can't recall...
"unemployed, would rather beg then starve"<br><br> Would rather beg THEN starve... so first he begs, and then he starves.<br><br> If the sign had said "unemployed, would rather beg than starve" then that would make sense.<br><br> --Grammar Police
I have no problem with squeegee kids, if that's how they want to spend their time to make money then let them. It's not hurting anybody. Chances are if you find it a nuisance or it inconveniences your day so much that you need to post about it then the word uptight complainer pops into my mind. If you tell a squeegee kid "no" though and he goes ahead and washes your window anyways then give him hell just don't sit there like a pacified yuppy and then complain about it afterwards on a messageboard:) "Oh the nerve", haha. Sorry I just found that funny. Give them money or don't give them money, it's as simple as that. No obligations. If they're not hurting anybody who cares.
I know a few squeegee kids and the ones I know are good people. They're not homeless either, they just choose to squeegee. I almost envy them cause they get to spend lots of time outside during the summer and hang out with friends while making money. They're probably happier than somebody sitting in an office that hates his/her job.
Most people give squeegee kids loonies and toonies, do the math. Not a bad living.
When I lived in Brazil people would come up to cars with cardboard boxes selling stuff. Things like fruit, drinks, necklaces, t-shirts, masks, etc. Sometimes I found some cool stuff to mail home.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Starblubber</cite>I have no problem with squeegee kids, if that's how they want to spend their time to make money then let them. It's not hurting anybody. Chances are if you find it a nuisance or it inconveniences your day so much that you need to post about it then the word uptight complainer pops into my mind. If you tell a squeegee kid "no" though and he goes ahead and washes your window anyways then give him hell just don't sit there like a pacified yuppy and then complain about it afterwards on a messageboard:) "Oh the nerve", haha. Sorry I just found that funny. Give them money or don't give them money, it's as simple as that. No obligations. If they're not hurting anybody who cares.</blockquote>
Not everyone has the confidence to yell at a squeegee kid when they said they didn't want their car touched. Just like not everyone is going to tell an aggressive panhandler to get lost either. Some 4'11 mom with 2 little kids in a minivan isn't about to get into a yelling match with a 6'2 male squeegee "kid" in their 30s because he decided to smear dirty water all over her freshly washed vehicle.
So just because you feel confident enough to yell at an aggressive panhandler or squeegee kid doesn't mean everyone else has to put up with it or be termed a "pacified yuppy".
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: smjpilot</cite>"unemployed, would rather beg then starve"
Would rather beg THEN starve... so first he begs, and then he starves.
If the sign had said "unemployed, would rather beg than starve" then that would make sense.
--Grammar Police</blockquote>
This fellow you're talking about I know him well, Kenneth C. is his name. Many moons ago he was a truckdriver for Gardewine Transport. A DUI ended that job, two weeks later driving impaired again and this time without a license, he T-Boned another car and nearly killed the other driver.Since he had no license MPI sent him a bill for nearly 17,000, I don't believe hes ever paid a penny of that debt.....the minute he would get a legit job MPI would garnish his wages, hence the begging on Regent. I hope none of my fellow posters here ever gives this guy a bloody dime, would be a total waste on alcohol or pot. I know Ken's story and I wonder how many others are like him...........
Good to know EastSider! And that is exactly the reason why I'd rather give to organizations where I know it is going towards food and shelter, instead of some unknown expense.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Starblubber</cite>I have no problem with squeegee kids, if that's how they want to spend their time to make money then let them. It's not hurting anybody. Chances are if you find it a nuisance or it inconveniences your day so much that you need to post about it then the word uptight complainer pops into my mind. If you tell a squeegee kid "no" though and he goes ahead and washes your window anyways then give him hell just don't sit there like a pacified yuppy and then complain about it afterwards on a messageboard:) "Oh the nerve", haha. Sorry I just found that funny. Give them money or don't give them money, it's as simple as that. No obligations. If they're not hurting anybody who cares.</blockquote>
I'm assuming you didn't read my complete post. I did tell him no and I was about to do something about it when the light turned. It's a great little job if you want to be aggressive because people are forced to move on every minute to two minutes. Pacified yuppy? Do you even know who I am or what I do for a living or am I a pacified yuppy because I have a job and I contribute to society? I'm sure it's a great job working outside everyday and I'm envious too. No boss to answer to. Get up when you want. No responsibilities. Getting sun. Unfortunately I can't guarantee that I will be able to pay my rent, phone bill, insurance and the rest of it on time if I were working in traffic, selling a product that people didn't need or want. Face it, squeegge kids make their money by guilting people into paying for their useless service. If I have dirty windows I'll fire up my windshield washer or pull into a gas station...I don't need some kid throwing his dirty water all over my car.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: defiantscribbler</cite>One of these days you'll see me at an intersection with a neatly-printed cardboard sign, " Well-heeled Suburban Mom needs Pedicure "</blockquote> hee-hee... too much punnage!
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: smjpilot</cite>am I a pacified yuppy because I have a job and I contribute to society?
Isn't that the very definition of the term?
</blockquote>
Yuppy:
an ambitious young adult, usually college-educated, living in or near a large city, with a professional career and an affluent lifestyle. The "u" in the word is sometimes interpreted as meaning "upwardly mobile".
I have a professional career attained through years of hard work. I live simply in a 1 bedroom apartment. Don't even have a TV OR an Xbox. I shot a travel documentary a year ago, worked as a crab fisherman last year and now I'm back to working in IT. I'd hardly consider myself a yuppy, so no, having a job and being responsible doesn't make you a yuppy and I am no more a yuppy than the guy who changes your oil is. I do, however, find work when required. I've lived in Vancouver, Cold Lake and now Winnipeg over the last year and have never had to resort to begging or running a squeegee to make a buck. After crab fishing I had some time to kill so I walked down to the local Manpower place. I worked my ass off and was paid at the end of the day for my work. There's always a lot of work around, especially in this privelaged country. As a white male born in Canada there is no excuse for me not to succeed and excel and I have no one to blame but myself if I don't. Funny, I don't see a lot of immigrants out pushing squeegees.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: defiantscribbler</cite>I am out to prove anyone can ask for money; why not me, especially if I give people a laugh while doing so?</blockquote>
I'll join you. "single white male needs money for new wireless router".
Relax there guy, I don't know you from didly squat. Sorry if I offended you. Reading your first comment though complaining on the internet about some squeegee kid getting your car window dirty does sound kind of yuppyish. Sorry it had such a negative experience and impact on your daily life, so much so you needed to post about it here. Life is tuff. Somebody at McDonalds didn't put extra mayo on my burger after I specifically asked him to, maybe I should make a post and complain about that and every other <u>trivial</u> thing that happens in my life. You're a "grumpy bastard" and I'm a sarcastic wanker, lets be friends:)
Cool that you shot a documentary. What was it about?
How does one go about working as a crab fisher? Working on a fishing boat for at least one season is something I've always wanted to do.
It's unbelievable that they haven't banned squeegee kids yet. Several times I've been walking down the village, and watching drunken or high squeegee people (most are NOT kids) harrass and intimidate motorists. I've seen several instances of people trying to virtually run red lights just to avoi these idiots. I'm all for giving money to people if they are polite and respect your decision. However, I've witnessed many single women scared s**tless while some 20-something punk laughs as he slowly circles her vehicle. I've almost been tempted to confront them, but they usually hang around in groups..
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Starblubber</cite>Relax there guy, I don't know you from didly squat. Sorry if I offended you. Reading your first comment though complaining on the internet about some squeegee kid getting your car window dirty does sound kind of yuppyish. Sorry it had such a negative experience and impact on your daily life, so much so you needed to post about it here. Life is tuff. Somebody at McDonalds didn't put extra mayo on my burger after I specifically asked him to, maybe I should make a post and complain about that and every other<u>trivial</u>thing that happens in my life. You're a "grumpy bastard" and I'm a sarcastic wanker, lets be friends:) </blockquote>
Funny thing is, I'm a really laid back, easy going guy. Sorry if my post came off a bit harsh I just don't take kindly to being called something I'm not. When I made the initial post I was pissed off, just like most people who have a good rant. Either way, it must hold some interest to people considering the amount of posts made on the subject. I did see a healthy thread on the pittance of mayo afforded people on their big macs as well though. :)
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Starblubber</cite>Cool that you shot a documentary. What was it about?</blockquote>
I shot a travel doc on the United States (west coast, southern U.S.) from a 1973 VW bus, drove about 12,000 miles. Just editing it right now. It was a good time.
<blockquote><cite>Posted By: Starblubber</cite>How does one go about working as a crab fisher? Working on a fishing boat for at least one season is something I've always wanted to do.</blockquote>
After traveling through the U.S. I decided to head to northern Alberta to work in the oil patch but there wasn't a lot of hiring going on at the time. A friend in Vancouver knew someone who owned a crabbing boat and needed an assistant so off to Vancouver I went. Stinky, dirty, hard work. My job was to empty and rebait the jars, stack the traps and then turf them overboard again. Work started at 6AM until 6PM and went for about 35 days straight before the season slowed down. I don't think I've ever worked a harder, more disgusting, dirty, filthy, smelly job but...when you see a pod of killer whales roll through your office then it's all worth it. :)