When I was visiting San Francisco a few weeks ago
I was in line for the cable cars on Powell Street. A sizeable queue was forming, and I was at the back of it.
A lovely young homeless chap with the cutest dog was selling newspapers - the SF equivalent of the Big Issue I guess. Most people were downright ignoring him, and the couple behind me were tutting and muttering. I looked at the homeless guy - no evidence of drug use or alcohol abuse so I asked him his story.

He had HIV, lost his job because of it, he had lost his boyfriend to AIDs and could no longer afford his house payments so he shifted to the streets. He was paying for his own medication and was going through counselling and doing what he could to get back into "real life" as he called it.
I promptly handed him $10.....and the couple behind me who had overheard his story did the same thing.
Meanwhile, there was chinese whispers going down the line and everyone was turning around to give the guy money - a dollar here, $5 there....I think the guy made off with around $100 and he came back to me and thanked me for giving him the chance to tell his story!
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 16:59, 2 replies)

the other mad tramp
did you see the other completely insane tramp who sits outside the GAP store there? she was fucking insane, screaming all sorts of bollocks at the top of her lungs.
(CaptainCuntyBollocks the man who can with a frying pan full of lamb, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 22:41, closed)

No, I didn't
but next time I'm up there I'll look out for her!
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 3 Jul 2009, 23:36, closed)