I just lost all faith in humanity tonight.

This is probably bugging me more than it should, but here's what happened. 

I'm a college student (a senior at UNT) and I got off of a particularly long day of work and school and went to a bar to have a drink at around 1:30. Before I left, a homeless guy asked me if I could drive him to Denny's, about 15 minutes away. Not trying to make myself appear like Jesus, but I do like to help people when I can so I offered to help him out. I drove him all the way up there, and on the way he told me about how his jaw was swollen and that no hospital would help him. He also told me that before Obama was in office, he would be able to visit a clinic and get some help but since then he hasn't been able to. Can't vouce for that myself, but never the less, I listened and  agreed with him that America's health care system is extremely flawed. 

We get to Denny's, and he asks if I could buy him food so I do. He continues to talk about his troubles at homeless shelters and what-not, and I sympathize with him and try to talk about ways he could get his life around. He then asks me "give me one could reason I shouldn't cut my throat with this knife right now", and I tell him things can always get better, while promptly taking the knife out of his hand and putting it on the seat next to me. I even offer to help him find a job with a homeless program at my school, and at best he seemed indifferent about it. At the end of the night, he asks if he could spend the night at my house, to which I say "sorry, but I can't have you stay at my place". Call me rude, but with the things he talked about, I'd prefer him not know where I lived. 

He then goes crazy, saying "you f*cked up, you're pulling a NlGGER move here, you really messed up." I didn't even know what to say... he made his way away from my car, and continued to say "that's a NlGGER move". As he walked away, all I could think to say is "that's extemely racist", and then he went back into the Denny's with his giant backpack. 

I don't know why, but the whole situation got me so upset I started to shake... I know it sucks to be homeless, but I couldn't believe what I just went through. I don't even know what upset me, I still can't put it into words but I feel like I just lost all faith in humanity. It's 4:00 am, and I still can't put into words why I'm so upset. Don't even know what kind of discussion I'm looking for, I just really wanted to share this with anyone... all my friends are asleep, and I really just wanted to tell someone. Thanks for reading. 

Your first mistake was letting him into your car. Just be thankful you're not dead in a ditch somewhere.PernicioEnigma

Your first mistake was letting him into your car. Just be thankful you're not dead in a ditch somewhere.PernicioEnigma

Your first mistake was letting him into your car. Just be thankful you're not dead in a ditch somewhere.PernicioEnigma

Homeless people tend to be homeless for a variety of reasons, mental instability being one of them.

Don't let a homeless person into your car.

There is nothing worse then picking someone up with the hopes of having sex and then it not happening :(

So you lose all faith in humanity due to one homeless person who's very likely mentally ill? Makes. Perfect. Sense.drinkerofjuice

Dude might have not been right in the head. Don't let it get to you.

I have had similar experiences with homeless people. Some of them almost come off as having two personalities: friendly when you are helping them but act as if you have personally attacked them if you do not do everything they want. When trying to help people who are homeless you have to use a lot of discernment.

You have to know what to do in order to keep safe, you have to know how to help in a way that actually helps them and encourages them without enabling them to stay homeless, and you have to not let yourself become overwhelmed when they seem to almost reject actual help. Some simply need some encouragement before they begin to live more productive lives. Others are homeless by choice and have no desire to live any other way.

I've given the guys with cardboard signs some money but that's about it.

I wouldn't drive him to Denny's and buy them food or anything. Even though it was kind of you, I've heard stories like if you let him stay in your house, he might steal all your things you never know.

I wouldn't give it too much thought. You did even offer to set him up with a program to help in finding a job (something he probably never would've gone through with anyway, given his reaction). And of course, being a complete stranger, you had absolutely no reason to allow him into your home. Not quite sure what he was expecting...

And as has been said, people can end up homeless for a number of different reasons. But some will just refuse to help themselves. Not much you can do about it.

Homeless people tend to be homeless for a variety of reasons, mental instability being one of them.

Don't let a homeless person into your car.

SPYDER0416

Why lose faith in humanity because of a person who humanity already lost faith in?

it's a good thing that you like helping the others out, however your approach to the idea was so wrong. you must be aware of what pressure,stress and poverty can do a man's mind.

no good deed goes unpunished. 

It sucks, but there is a reason why people try to mind their own business.

There is nothing worse then picking someone up with the hopes of having sex and then it not happening :(

tenaka2

Your first mistake was letting him into your car. Just be thankful you're not dead in a ditch somewhere.PernicioEnigma

yeah, like others have said it probably wasn't wise to let the man into your car. It could have potentially become dangerous (him having a knife at his disposal certainly doesn't help). 

Homeless people tend to be homeless for a variety of reasons, mental instability being one of them.

Don't let a homeless person into your car.

SPYDER0416

This is the truth.

There are cases where a person literally just falls on hard times and gets screwed, but in most cases there is a reason those people are where they are.

Sounds like this homeless dude has a mental condition. You did good by going above and beyound for this guy and I'm sure the universe will reward you for that in due time. Don't let this bum you out (no pun intented), just learn from it, but don't start thinking every homeless person is going to be acting the same way.

I could have told you homeless people have a high percentage of mental illness combined with being highly armed (something sharp) due to the fact they carry their worldly possessions with them.

Buy them food and give it to them in a box never give them money and certainly never give them rides places.

You're a nice guy, he's a crazy guy. No need for you to feel bad. Worrying for your own safety is most definitely not selfish.

you give homeless people money, buy them food, heck throw them a blanket if it's cold out. Don't let them into your car.

should have american psycho'd that bum.xTheExploited

I have had similar experiences with homeless people. Some of them almost come off as having two personalities: friendly when you are helping them but act as if you have personally attacked them if you do not do everything they want. mindstorm

This is very true.

I've had so many annoying experiences with the homeless (tho nothing like the TC, no fvcking way I would let a homeless person into my car) that I tend to try to avoid them now (although I do still give them a bit of change occasionally). For some reason, some of them seem to feel really entitled to your money. When I was younger, I was going with my mom to cash her paycheck. In front of the bank (or wherever she chased the check), this lady asked her for some money. My Mom gave her a dollar or something like that and then the lady points to my Mom's paycheck and says, "Give me some of that!"

I would've told him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoqDYcCDOTg

wtf are you picking up homeless people for? Id say your lucky he didn't try to kill you. There's usually a pretty good reason for why they are homeless. Now im not saying you cant try to help people but there are better ways than picking up random homeless people. You could go volunteer at a shelter perhaps?

Your first mistake was letting him into your car. Just be thankful you're not dead in a ditch somewhere.PernicioEnigma

[QUOTE="drinkerofjuice"]So you lose all faith in humanity due to one homeless person who's very likely mentally ill? Makes. Perfect. Sense.WillisTron1

Most homeless people are mentally ill, better just act like they don't exists if you see one

People lose their faith in humanity far too easily. They also regain their faith in humanity far too easily.

Most homeless people are mentally ill, better just act like they don't exists if you see one

Zurrur

You should've ignored him from the start.Lonelynight

I glanced over the post at first and thought you said he tried to slit your throat, so I had to re-read it. Yeah, be glad you didn't pick up a person that would kill you.

I remember when I had an interaction with a homeless man back in 8th grade on some week-long Washington D.C trip. Me and some friends were at some mall at a food court. Some homless guy walked up so us and asked for money (for food I'd guess), everybody else justy kinda walked away, leaving me behind. he asked again, and I just slowly and awkwardly back away and caught up with my friends. Was certainly an unpleasant experience.

I felt very bad afterwards but at the same time was young and didn't really know how to handle the situation and just followed suit with my partners. That plus I didn't have much money left as it was.