Park Slope panhandler makes http://overheardinnewyork.com/

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

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 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!

I thought that traditionally what distinguishes hobos from other types of homeless people is their migratory nature (historically by jumping trains).

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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 (:evil:), although some certainly are. Why some people insist that every panhandler is also homeless is beyond me...

WhyFi wrote: [quote=Livetotravel]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 (:evil:), 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 think all waitstaff also, and actors,

I just checked wikipedia.org. They have an informative piece on hobo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo[/url]

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...

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.

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!"

quijibo wrote: [quote=Stella]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.

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.

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.