[regis]

I think many people choose being homeless over giving into the pressures of our society like having to sustain a job in order to pay rent and go out for dinner etc... and all that stuff that 'normal' people desire. I've met homeless people that split their time between SF and some hills near Santa Cruz and only come into the city to sell some hash or hang out ith friends for a couple of days... but yes there are also many people on the streets who don't want to be there too.

[misc_closet]

Are you aware that we live in a period of peak unemployment?

There are literally millions of people who want jobs. The jobs were all made obsolete by Silicon Valley. The safety net was shredded by Silicon Valley-style neoliberal ethics based on Ayn Rand.

[regis]

Yeah I am aware of that, but that doesn't mean that there aren't also people who don't want to work. I would love to not work and just enjoy life while I can, but I can't because I have bought into this idea that having extra money for shelter, food and other junk makes life more enjoyable... some people haven't bought into this that are struggling to enjoy their lives outside of the crazy whirlwind of packaged desires.

[pessimizer]

You're projecting your desires for a bit of freedom from the rat-race onto the homeless.

[regis]

Perhaps a bit, but these comments are also based on real conversations with homeless people in SF.

[pessimizer]

You can project onto people you're having conversations with.

[misc_closet]

They're trying to preserve their dignity.

If someone offered them a rat race job and they had the appropriate education, cultural norms, social skills, and were mentally healthy, they would take it.

People don't choose to be homeless. It may be the best option available to them, but that doens't mean they chose it, it means they have very very few options. Their opportunity is limited by the rich people pushing austerity and gutting basic humanitarian services.