Just noted this posting on http://overheardinnewyork.com/ under the title "No, Actually Just He and the Plant Are Working Together". It goes
Tourist, pointing at hobo: You stay right there. I'll be back; you have my word.
Friend #1: What are you doing?
Tourist: I'm going to give this guy some money, but I don't have any on me.
Hobo: Bless you.
Friends all open their wallets.
Hobo: Bless you, guys. See, we're all working together!
--7th Ave between 8th & 9th, Park Slope
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Wed Aug 30, 06 9:03 am EST
I'm wondering what's behind this new trend of calling panhandlers "hobos".
Talk to some old people (sorry, senior senior citizens) - there's a difference.
No self-respecting hobo would take money for nothing.
kosherdave The Kosherist
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 988
Wed Aug 30, 06 10:20 am EST
I just spent the last 45 minutes reading that website with all the overheard postings. thanks! I needed a distraction (from what, brooklynian? I'm certianly not getting any real work done this morning) ok, back to that website to read some more!
Thanks!
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13566 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Wed Aug 30, 06 10:29 am EST
I thought that traditionally what distinguishes hobos from other types of homeless people is their migratory nature (historically by jumping trains).
meanderthal Regular
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 68
Wed Aug 30, 06 10:35 am EST
Drano wrote:
I'm wondering what's behind this new trend of calling panhandlers "hobos".
Talk to some old people (sorry, senior senior citizens) - there's a difference.
No self-respecting hobo would take money for nothing.
I wondered the same thing. I guess we're just so far from those days that the word now wears different clothing. From what I've read, hobos turned up on your doorstep hoping to do odd jobs in return for a meal. Hobos would mark the curbs of homes that were particularly hospitable so that others would know they stood a good chance too. The Depression Era was definitely a different world, but though it was one of very hard times, we sometimes today catch ourselves viewing it wistfully.
meanderthal Regular
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 68
Wed Aug 30, 06 10:40 am EST
kosherdave wrote:
I just spent the last 45 minutes reading that website with all the overheard postings. thanks! I needed a distraction (from what, brooklynian? I'm certianly not getting any real work done this morning) ok, back to that website to read some more!
Thanks!
Yeah, Dave, it took quite a piece out of my day too. There used to be a funny column in the NY Times called Heard on the Street that was the same kinds of stuff sent in by readers. Anyone know if they still run it?
kosherdave The Kosherist
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 988
Wed Aug 30, 06 10:49 am EST
I often see bums on the train, sleeping. I guess they'd almost qualify as hobos... at least they're going somewhere... well, depending on how you look at it.
Carnivore Brooklyn Snark
Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 13566 Location: St Johns Pl and Underhill
Wed Aug 30, 06 10:56 am EST
meanderthal wrote:
Yeah, Dave, it took quite a piece out of my day too. There used to be a funny column in the NY Times called Heard on the Street that was the same kinds of stuff sent in by readers. Anyone know if they still run it?
Metropolitan Diary. It's in the Metro section.
Livetotravel Rent Stabilized
Joined: 11 Nov 2005 Posts: 1630 Location: A block from the Park
Wed Aug 30, 06 11:53 am EST
Hobo - One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood.
Panhandler - One who begs habitually or for a living _________________ But that's impossible.
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 4389 Location: In the Groove
Wed Aug 30, 06 12:19 pm EST
Livetotravel wrote:
Hobo - One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood.
Panhandler - One who begs habitually or for a living
Fantastic! But can we clarify a little more?!
Hobo is a subcategory of homeless, where as panhandlers are not necessarily homeless (), although some certainly are. Why some people insist that every panhandler is also homeless is beyond me...
quijibo Crooklyn Ninja
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 2028 Location: taintalicious!
Wed Aug 30, 06 12:28 pm EST
WhyFi wrote:
Livetotravel wrote:
Hobo - One who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or a means of livelihood.
Panhandler - One who begs habitually or for a living
Fantastic! But can we clarify a little more?!
Hobo is a subcategory of homeless, where as panhandlers are not necessarily homeless (), although some certainly are. Why some people insist that every panhandler is also homeless is beyond me...
so can baristas be officially classified as panhandlers? _________________ I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that! -- Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Livetotravel Rent Stabilized
Joined: 11 Nov 2005 Posts: 1630 Location: A block from the Park
Wed Aug 30, 06 12:32 pm EST
I think all waitstaff also, and actors, _________________ But that's impossible.
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 4389 Location: In the Groove
Wed Aug 30, 06 12:47 pm EST
quijibo wrote:
so can baristas be officially classified as panhandlers?
Wellllll... in theory, they (baristas) should be providing you a service, but I guess that's not always the case...
Stella Regular
Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 139
Thu Aug 31, 06 3:20 pm EST
This reminds me. Two weeks ago, I found myself at the Tea Lounge again. On the way there, this man came up to us and told us that he feels bad for saying anything, because we are half his age, but then he told us he isn't homeless but that he needs to feed his daughter. Then he started crying. How awkward is that. We handed over some dough and walked away.
quijibo Crooklyn Ninja
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 2028 Location: taintalicious!
Thu Aug 31, 06 3:23 pm EST
Stella wrote:
This reminds me. Two weeks ago, I found myself at the Tea Lounge again. On the way there, this man came up to us and told us that he feels bad for saying anything, because we are half his age, but then he told us he isn't homeless but that he needs to feed his daughter. Then he started crying. How awkward is that. We handed over some dough and walked away.
that guy tried the same shit on me a few weeks ago
i'm like "biatchhh!!!! go be a barista!" _________________ I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that! -- Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Stella Regular
Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 139
Fri Sep 01, 06 1:33 pm EST
quijibo wrote:
Stella wrote:
This reminds me. Two weeks ago, I found myself at the Tea Lounge again. On the way there, this man came up to us and told us that he feels bad for saying anything, because we are half his age, but then he told us he isn't homeless but that he needs to feed his daughter. Then he started crying. How awkward is that. We handed over some dough and walked away.
that guy tried the same shit on me a few weeks ago
i'm like "biatchhh!!!! go be a barista!"
We figured even if he was pretending, it looked so real, he earned a few bucks for it.
Drano Meow Wars Veteran
Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1559
Sat Sep 02, 06 1:51 am EST
You know, in retrospect I'm sorry I got this whole thing going - I was in a McDonald's in Montreal (don't worry, I had some good food, too) and I just dashed off my comments about hobos vs. panhandlers/whatever. Anyhow, my grandfather insisted there was a very important difference between a "hobo" and a "bum" (as he woulda said, and I guess I would too depending on my mood) and I'm looking to keep his defintions alive. He was a good guy.
meanderthal Regular
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 68
Sat Sep 02, 06 1:04 pm EST
Drano wrote:
You know, in retrospect I'm sorry I got this whole thing going - I was in a McDonald's in Montreal (don't worry, I had some good food, too) and I just dashed off my comments about hobos vs. panhandlers/whatever. Anyhow, my grandfather insisted there was a very important difference between a "hobo" and a "bum" (as he woulda said, and I guess I would too depending on my mood) and I'm looking to keep his defintions alive. He was a good guy.
Good thought; glad you brought it up. It is good to protect and nurture our language. It's turning into mall-talk way too fast.
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), although 
Wellllll... in theory, they (baristas)