That couple is nauseating. If you can truly do without money, then DO without money. Don't beg. Go live in a farm and grow your own food. There are people who are doing it.
SBEFOREHAHAN Yes in Germany and Italy many millenniums are leaving the stressful life in the city and they are moving back to small towns and farm, I love it, besides I eat healthy and I am the boss of myself😉
how you gonna buy a farm with no money? all the land is owned by someone you cant just find a piece of land you like and build a house and a farm on it without purchasing the land first and paying property taxes.
SBEFOREHAHAN and you know they got that ebt and obamacare that other people's taxes are paying for and their parents are probably giving them money here and there all the time.
SBEFOREHAHAN yup making a house right now all by me self at age 67 with muy poquito dinero and growing papayas, veggies and starting a few trees. Maybe I should do a RUclips channel lol
Ramona Ray that's awesome! If you do I'd love to subscribe and see how you're doing it. I can't for now but in the future would love to grow my own garden and minimize expenses
+Paul Mulligan lol, i thought the same thing. Once winter hits they will move to Venice beach, California. They arnt even kids too. News flash almost everyone hates their job. People give them dirty looks because their looking for handouts instead of working, deal with it.
+John S They could easily get jobs modelling. Homeless people where Im from look, erm, homeless. I'm not denigrating homelessness its just that this piece does nothing for homeless people.
i thought this was going to be about working-class millennials, who are gravely underrepresented in the popular narrative of this generation. nope - just more comfortably middle-class hipsters slumming it for art cred. whatever.
_sirens/silence_ Right? Wtf. I thought millennials were supposed to be lazy bums, and so showing us lazy bums is supposed to be the "other" millennials? While I'm welding full-time trying to make a living.
_sirens/silence_ ya i know. Wtf is this garbage?? I'm working three jobs and trying to get ahead, i was hoping to hear about other people in my generation like that. But nope, of course these extreme hipster bums get the highlight again.
I'm a disabled Army vet. Served 2005- 2013. I'm 33 so I guess I'm a millennial. I've been homeless. For almost a year. It took me swallowing my pride and asking for and accepting help to get back on my feet. I'm still getting back on my feet. I'm not materialistic, never have been. There's a difference between being non materialistic, with being content with little to nothing and being homeless. People generally don't choose to be homeless. Those who do generally have a mental health issue or personality disorder. As others have said the people in this video seem to have romanticized the ideal of being homeless.
Keep at it troop. They don't know what its like coming back into the civilian world, its a tough, brutal place. Good on you for getting back on your feet. i wish the best for you.
(outgunned, out manned and surrounded. must be airborne.) stay loose amigo. keep moving, keep making friends and eat right. go easy on the booze and cigarettes, you'll see it all there for you. I learned to meditate in a Homeless Shelter in Kingman AZ and have never regretted it.
Ok. Let's talk about the Millennials who are not homeless by choice. These kids shown here are a bad example of what it means to be homeless, one even saying "I have a home I'm welcome in". These kids have an amazing amount of privilege and don't even realize it. There are plenty of Millennials who struggle every day, are working full-time jobs and trying to go to school and make a life. Let's talk about them. As a Millennial who has had to struggle my entire life without parents to fall back on, I feel like we don't have a voice today. This is the same story as every other privileged person my age who wants to "find myself" and go on "adventures". Please for the love of god, let's talk about the Millennials who aren't burying their heads in the sand trying to find their own ass.
That girl was saying her parents just lost their house. A lot of really poor people have good attitudes and it doesn't mean they have family money to fall back on. This is a portrait of a certain lifestyle not a portrait of who is suffering in the most inspirational way
Maya S priveledged kids have a tendency to romanticize the struggle. And it's a slap in the face knowing where they came from and the opportunities they have when you have none and were born into poverty.
And a lot of those kids were saying they were homeless by choice. I realize there are people of my generation actually struggling. Which is why I wish they'd focus more on the girl you were referencing, and others like her, than the others they interviewed who still had everything, they just willingly left it all behind.
I ran away and did the homeless thing for a couple weeks a few years back, I was young, not coping with my failures as a result of mental illness having dropped out of university a couple months previously and desperate to escape. But I had $150 to live off. I met real homeless people and heard their stories and I knew I couldn't and shouldn't beg because they needed it more so when I had just enough money left for a bus home I left the city. I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable living a conventional life but I've got a roof and a good job now which gives me time to think. Even if I want something more simple and free it won't be at the expense of people who really need help.
Good for you. Even through your own hardship you saw and acknowledged what others go through and didn't take anything that wasn't your own. I hope you can always feed off of knowing you have a kind heart and a good soul.
This is literally the 60s hippy movement repeating itself. Much the same lifestyle, same attitudes, many of the same cultural and global issues as contributing factors, and the exact same societal debate about whether they're onto something, crazy, or just lazy.
The sad part Is a lot of those 60's hippies didn't do so well after the fact. I hope I'm wrong but I see a big spike in the suicide rate coming for this Gen.
I cant stand these crusties. They treat poverty like its an "adventure" which is insulting to the many REAL folks out there who have nothing. Once the weather gets cold, they go back to mom and dad in Westchester County or Connecticut, Broad City had a hilarious episode addressing crusties on their 'St. Mark's" episode
The problem with this comment is the fact that shouldn’t we encourage ppl who are privileged to experience what it’s like to be homeless even then why tf would you judge someone’s life choice on what we do. Maybe having a “comfortable” lifestyle isn’t really a good thing for the human psyche
Ladies...... I can't believe that you've never worked a dead-end job to maintain the "acceptable" American lifestyle and just thought to yourself, "fuck it! Imma live like those people!". Endless materialistic hedonism isn't satisfying and it's not sustainable. They may be on to something here. There's also nothing wrong with benefiting from the generosity of people who have different ideas than you do. I think that most people hate the majority of those they directly serve in their occupation
Ben Merzouk This is so true. Most emergency rooms/ hospitals don't have dental clinics. I knew a homeless kid with an abscessed tooth here in Seattle, he went 3 or 4 times to the emergency room just to be given some ibuprofen and antibiotics.. It was over the course of a year (and alot of suffering) before he finally got it taken out at the University of Washington teaching hospital, the only hospital in the city that actually has an emergency dental clinic.. I bet that kid would've loved to have a family or a place to go, or just have someone to care for him, he couldn't eat sometimes, definitely couldn't sleep either..
You know what? My brother and his gf are like this but the big difference is that they treeplant for 3 months in the summer and live off of it during the year. He'll hang out with homeless people and never begs. That's the difference between a hipster and hippy millennial. It's not cool to be homeless, it's down right terrifying. 😐
The 9 to 5 offers less and less of an incentive every decade. And millennials don't want that fate. The fate that puts your hard work in your boss's mansion when you can barely pay the rent for your tiny studio walk up. If you're going to spend 40+ hrs a week doing anything repetively, it better be worth it. It can't just be for the money because time is obviously more precious. I can see why this way of life is growing.
Get a job you enjoy or learn to enjoy your job because you sure as heck aren't getting paid enough to be miserable at a job you hate. I work with kids and I squeak out enough to live on. It's actually a pretty rewarding profession. Choosing to check out? Yeah, what good are you?
Sky Blyevin - Sure, you are welcome to make this argument but you cannot turn around in the same breath and complain about your financial situation. The fact of the matter is there are a number of rewarding and exciting careers out there but the work you do while you are still learning will often be repetitive, boring and not particularly well paid. Millennials behave as if they are the only generation that has had to deal with low paid, low skill jobs. Get over yourselves.
living off the kindness of others. i guess if no one gave them $ theyd have to figure it out another way... thats why they should make things to trade for $ like braclets or some shit so atleast they are doing somthing
thats the wrong thing, im not a homeless, but i travel like that often with friends, whenever we need money, we sell artesanies, we play guitar at bars or we exchange work for a night/food.
What!? "I just want to enjoy myself..." and seriously doing so by leaching on other people's earnings, writing soap operas on pieces of cardboard coz this is an "adventure". Even if the nice thing to say is that it's their life and so they should live how they feel best, these choices their making are impacting other people in society because we are ALL interconnected. Taking responsibility isn't boring neither does it lack adventure. It's simply the best and right way to live.
So self-pitying. No one has it worse than them. Oh except for true homeless people that do not have a mommy and daddy as a plan B. Why not put a spotlight on kids that had to run away from home because of abusive parents or were kicked out for their sexual orientation? They truly deserve our attention and support, not these cynical self-absorbed fools.
i don't remember them claiming to have it worst than anyone. the video served a purpose though: it showed that some people choose to be homeless, and then scam others to survive. it keeps liberals like myself from falling into the trap of thinking that homelessness is always forced on people.
AG it seems that the girl history wasnt beautiful at all , but she does not say too much ... It seems like she Is running away from some shit home thing ... It seems to me ..
AG actually you would be amazed at how many "true" homeless people actually have or had a support system they just walked away from. Some were unsupervised and just quit taking meds and wondered off the reservation. The city I work for has cops that actually try to help these people, find families, refer them to a social service and get them help instead of putting them on a bus with a one way ticket like some awesome liberal cities do ie. Oakland, San Francisco, Alameda, Berkley......they should be ashamed!
Ezra Wolfe yeah but it implies that there's a large population of millennials doing this, which isn't true at all. And it also implies that only millennials did it. Didn't some of the boomers (hippies) do something similar to this in the 60s?
They say you give up a bit of your freedom in exchange for some sort of social status, and it's true. These people aren't really tied down to anything at all, it's the true definition of a nihilistic culture. I don't think it's good however, it's not my choice to tell them how to live their lives, and visa versa.
Yet you can demonstrate the negatives of such a life. You can clearly detail how day-to-day living off of others leads to instability and vulnerability. You can recall Aesop's fable of the grasshopper and ants. They have the freedom to choose their lifestyle, yet we can point out the likely pitfalls.
Trouble is where they get older living on the streets won't be so easy, especially if they get health issues. Then it will be too late to change. Normal people want to achieve things, they want to DO something besides wander around with a backpack and a dog.
I’d say they’re less free if all they do is wander the streets of new york and ask for money. They’re tied down by still living in the city’s infrastructure. If they would really like to be free they should have backpacked to a part of the US that is untouched.. live by a water stream and hunt and stuff..
im homeless by choice as well, but really, eating at restaurants and drinking fancy lattes?? cmon now...youre wasting the money people gave you. if you choose to live humbly, its an all or nothing deal.
if the new yorker did buy them a meal, though, it probably wouldn't be the best move to include it in the video as it makes the viewers assume they bought it themselves? i feel like thats just a daily meal for them
its hard to tell either way - 2 relatively clean cut people like them could really rake in the money in the city if theyre flying a sign most of the day. i hope whatever theyre doing its in good conscience, but at the same time clearly they could be working an "unsatisfactory" job for a few hours a day to get money for food but they seem uninterested in doing so when they can just get money for doing nothing, which might say otherwise about their character. but hey, i dont know so im not going to make a judgement call about what theyre doing.
Maybe that's really the point of the whole video? Maybe the producer is trying to subtly show the absurdity of this phony ideal of "I choose to be homeless"... NO ONE CHOOSES to be homeless.... I know this from experience... and it sucked. Thank god it sucked... because it forced me to make some real decisions and get my shit together... I was able to take advantage of what I viewed as an opportunity at the time and made the most of my life since then.
As someone who had to go on disability and receive food stamps for a while, and was still unable to afford rent, toiletries, AND enough food to eat, this makes me ill.
Why does it make you ill? Because they are choosing to live their lives differently? What about all the people living in the suburbs in their oversized houses? That's okay, but this isn't? Why does it matter how someone else chooses to live their life?
I'm watching these videos because since I started traveling and living in developed countries (NZ, Aus, Canadá) it has called my attention that so many young people are begging on the streets. I know one of the main reasons might be drugs issues, but still. Man, I can agree with some things or philosophies of living. I don't have much interest in money, I like to live simply without a lot of possessions, I love traveling, independence and freedom, but I couldn't be able to beg for money (unless I was really fucked up) when I'm totally physically and mentally able to work. I currently do the most odd jobs (usually the ones most people are not willing to do-cleaning, demolitions, etc.) to sustain myself and to save some for keeping myself on the road, even if that means to work more than 60 hrs in a week from time to time. And I'm still happy with my lifestyle. I'm doing different things all the time and proud of being able to make a (simple) living with my own hands. I might be wrong or judgemental, but I think one of the main problems with some of these guys (obviously leaving big issues aside) is that they're born taking everything for granted and not valuing what they have.
I had a friend that moved around by doing odd jobs. And like you, he worked. He took sometimes crummy jobs because he knew he would wouldn't have them long or the work was seasonal. This doesn't seem like that. Begging is not cool unless you're really in a pinch.
Yassss👏 These people in the video could work, "i could work but that wont satisfy me" but theyre just like screw it, ill beg, thats hard to do, it constitutes as "work" for them. One of the most honorable things to do is to work hard to maintain yourself, even on a basic level, and to work hard for success, that's what these people could do. But other people are taking that place of the work they should be doing. Im all for less is more, not being materialistic, and living simply, but you have to have some amount of income.
We a are living in a world where we have the capacity to provide enough food for every human being and still have thousands of children dying of starvation each day. The US are the wealthiest country on this planet but still has the highest inmate rate, ghettos in every big city and millions of homeless people while others spend money on 200 million $ yachts, thousands of wealthy families live of the wealth of their family fortunes and treat their pets better than other human beings. You wanna talk about ethics?
christina dickinso Hello Christina, thanks, thats pretty deep. I agree van life isn't all it's cracked up to be especially if you're a couple and can't bathe and wash when you need to. I have a feeling very very few people what have the fortitude to do what these folks are doing. I couldnt
randomuploadsism I would talk to them first. But not every young homeless person is like these Dipshits. Ask them what happened, if they'd like some help, maybe something to eat.
randomuploadsism also we don't need your money, each of us have our own ways of making money. Panhandlers make up a small percentage of the traveler's culture
Homeless doesn't always mean living on the streets smelling like pee. That's usually the mentally ill homeless. I've worked with many homeless people. They usually have part time. Jobs but can't afford housing. They also live in homeless shelters. Some lived on the street by chose. There's no one way to be homeless. By definition it just means you don't have a homeless and not that's you're dirt poor. People have this TV idea of what homelessness looks like but that's not it.
BMXking 658 most people hop on a train and move south for the winter. Look into the Beat Generation my friend. This a like an American version of zen, I call them Dharma bums...
J Tenn these aren't homeless people they are doing by choice. Dropouts, Barcelona is full of them. Rich kids taking a year out, before getting a suit and getting a finance job.
They're choosing to have that instead of a home. You can do the same thing if you think having a marmot jacket is better than having a house or apartment. Do you? Go get that jacket. If your rent is $1200 you can get so many marmot jackets all the time
I was homeless for a year in Richmond,Virginia and I will tell you that was the roughest part of my life. This video does not talk about being homeless and the downs to it and there are plenty of that. Not to mention the dangers to being homeless....especially for a woman.
The thing I hate is that I live next to union square and these people are rude and abusive. I live near Saint marks and if you don't give them a dollar or help get them beer or offer them a cigarette they hurl insults. There are a ton of these gutter punks who drink all day and night and start fights. I have met a few nice ones who don't drink and whose lives have been affected by deaths or abuse. And I feel genuinely bad for them. the guy with the rat tail that walked by telling them to meet other kids is such an asshole and treats anyone not like him like shit. He was on my corner off Saint marks and second ave all fucking summer. He would drink, pass out, scream at folks, and generally just be an asshole. Anyways that was my rant lol
J.London nothing wrong with getting drunk man. Stop judging us alcoholics. As long as you buy your own alcohol and pay rent, car payments, student loans, food, insurance, tires and credit card payments and have money left over to party, then do it. I also only go out when I know I can tip 40%
Ive seen this first hand. My brother who's a few years older than me ran away to live with the rainbow family. He and his friends claim to be all loving good people. He has not talked to me or my parents in like a year. Im a teenager so Im live with our parents and it seriously is devastating that he doesnt say anything to them(he has a phone). And we have GOOD parents. seriously top notch people. idk where hes coming from, running from nothing bad. He pan handles for money, yet him and all these people claim that money is unimportant. The way I see it, you either contribute to society, and if you are capable get a job instead of begging for money from people that work hard for it OR leave society all together, join a commune that doesnt affect society/ live in the woods or something. That makes sense, living amongst people in cities and guilting them into giving you money doesnt. thats being a parasite.
Trash Panda that is im sorry to say is what they have devolved into. there is still a core group that lives different it sounds like he is with the A camp. The rest hopefully he will get involved in ( most do as they het older) learn skills to make money to travel construction cooking ect.. this and working in the camps as support.
"My parents said I can go and live with them anytime, but I'm my own person" boi.... ur telling me u have an open home where you can get settled for the time being and figure out how to get out of living on the streets but you chose not to take the offer....
It's funny just a few years ago when I was 18 I thought this is what life was about. I used to think the boho/hippy lifestyle was the path of the truly enlightened. Then I got into communism and started believing that nonsense. Soon I found myself dropped out of college and wanting to become a musician. I eventually became very depressed and I couldn't figure out why. Then it came to me one day. I realized I had more potential than I was telling myself. Soon I went back to school and got my associate's degree and now I'm working on my bachelor's in electrical engineering. I laugh at how these people are because I used to be sad like that. I used to think I was cool because I saw the cons of society. Well let me tell you it certainly beats being a beggar. Nihilism is not cool kids, it makes you a loser.
No, I grew up. Living like a child your whole life without responsibilities isn't cool. At least to me. I don't like depending on others for everything in my life.
No communism is not wrong, you just bought into being a pleb. I’m a member of the bourgeois and when the time is right, the factors of production will be seized, private property will be abolished, and things will be produced based upon needs, not profit. The bourgeois merely wait on the sidelines...
I appreciated reading this, but just want to mention that's not attached to actual communism. All forms of society still have people working, including communism.
"My job is not feeling guilty for taking other people's money when I don't have any problems" What??? I'm not bashing the homeless that are really and truly disadvantaged, but this guy seems to have zero legitimate reason for being on the street. Like it's a game to him. He has a family to go home to. He's a tourist and that's fucked up.
So they choose to be homeless yet gladly lie to people who get up and go to work so they will give them a handout? In this fashion they can use the system they are against to not have to live in the system they are against. If you are so against it then don't take anything that it offers you.
Christy me : that doesn't actually make sense. If you hate a system, the best way to beat it is to do exactly what you think these people are doing. You think about people in terms of GDP and profits. Well, that's your point of view. Thankfully not everyone is as soulless and hollow as you.
Ks Y, not pathetic just misinformed by not seeing the bigger picture. I once held similar views. Also, this rebellious nature can help counteract being underpaid.
He may want to just "live in the now" but the reality is that the world wants you doing something and staying updated in what you do. If you fail to be updated, you're obsolete and people that are obsolete are cast aside and never considered for anything.
fun fact, almost half of all NYC residents are living at or below the poverty line and 51% of US citizens are making less than $30K a year. Simply "getting a job" doesn't mean you'll be able to afford housing or food without Gov't assistance so it's really not a surprise that many young people are choosing to drop out of the system altogether.
Seems like making a better life is exactly what they're doing. Not everyone wants to live in an office for 40+ hours a week just so they can have an iphone to watch youtube on.
slong johnson that statement was....so wrong lmao. i love how on youtube ppl literally just get to say whatever they want---even if it's clearly opposite of correct.
LaShanda Parker there are these type of people from every race, from every country. Yes, white people included. Americans whites, polish whites, dutch whites, Norwegian whites, etc. go to ANY country in the world and you'll see that every country has these type of people who choose the sober street life ... of course i don't know why they choose this, i for one love netflix too much. but it's not just a white people thing (i'm saying this as a mexican btw) ...it's just a lazy people thing lmao
12 yrs ago I had 2 cars a 2 story house,wife,great job.... Never been so unhappy in my life. Left it all behind and began hitchiking. Never been happier
You clearly show very little understanding of the violence and stigmas people have about homeless people. That's why they have such a hard getting back to a "normal" life. We, as a society, treat them as like they're not normal, not humans, as if they're inferior. It can be hard to adjust back to a society that doesn't even want to accept you in it.
Pfft. He doesn't want to compromise himself to make money and claims to live without money, yet asks other people for the money that he actually does need. So basically, everyone else work(compromising themselves because he couldn't possibly do that to himself of course 😌), and then hand over the little bit of money that he does need, for free, so that he doesnt feel compromised by working a job that he is clearly capable of getting. Though as he kind of put it, his job is to swallow the shame of begging. Philosophically speaking there is an ideal here, but it's been warped to the tenth degree. An oddly romantised, flawed idealology. Not to mention the safety net he's got to further that romanticism. (these thoughts are towards this particular couple, as circumstances for being homeless are vast and some truly need help and kindness.
+Guilherme Goldman Wow I'm glad I don't live in that shit hole. Good luck m8 have fun getting shot for pocket change whilst we can ^shock horror^ walk around in public WITHOUT getting killed XD lol We don't know how good we've got it here in the first world. Ya know not being raped and murdered just for stepping outside and walking around in public with our stuff haha! IF this carries on too long in the first world we might even start thinking we _shouldn't_ be robbed as soon as we show any wealth. BTW OP, they are by definition _not rich_; they were out of money and looking to make money to buy a fucking bag... I bet you're hundreds of times richer than they are. Stop whinging about poor people
If anything I find their lifestyle selfish. I'm a student who can't even afford to pay attention unless attention was on a two for one sale. Yet I could never beg for other peoples money when I know I didn't absolutely need it. These two have homes to go back to, can eat Belgian waffles and starbucks, yet rely on people to give them money under the impression that they're homeless? Wow.
*why can't hard working people like me ever be shown? Just regular people with regular lives. I don't want to be materialistic and enjoy my life, but it's wrong to not contribute to society. Stop!*
This life is shit. The first girl is visibly depressed and need some help. The couple is stranded like a puppy dogs. There's nothing cool on it. You can have a simple and minimalist life doing part time jobs or something. Dude, there is a lot of people living simple life they're called poor.
tiago suhet Exactly. In fact a very large minority of the American population does not approach life like its a performance because they are legit poor and only wish they could have some small comforts.
When I read the title, I thought this would be about those millenials that dislike everything millenials are known for. Like taking pictures of everything (food, concerts, anything mildly interesting), sharing your life on social media, etc.
What will they do when they pop out a love pup? What will they do when they lose a leg to gangrene? What will they do when they're fifty? Life. It shuttles each of us past our own shortsightedness.
“Self exploration is only possible when you have a multitude of different experiences. If you're doing the same thing over and over again, you don't have any idea who you are in another place, doing another thing.” That's a great quote
I've never been real keen on the subtle insinuation that living within the confines of normality equals "squareness" or a lack of self. To assert that people who adhere to standard living makes them without a sense of who they are is the definition of hubris. The couple, the man PAN, he seems so unbearably arrogant, you don't want to be judged yet you're judging those around you who have homes and jobs etc. and I'm sorry, but if one doesn't NEED the money as he stated he shouldn't accept it. The woman with the dog seems to be more than simply homeless, she does come off as either an addict or someone with mental illness that hasn't been addressed :/ So Pan, god of mischief, go on being your own man by bumming off of strangers who are being exploited by your facade and their sympathy, it's as if you're mocking their kindness and compassion. Roque seems legit, she and the dog girl don't bother me too much, it's dangerous for a woman to live on the streets, it's probably not a choice for
Why be homeless when you have a family to go back to? Homelessness is something you endure when no one's willing to help out of your jobless predicament. It'd be one thing if these individuals had no family to go back to (or support you), but if your family is willing to give you shelter, you should probably take it. Only reason you shouldn't do so would be if you have no plans to get a job, but in that case, asking for change should be the last thing on your mind as well (if you're young that is).
I am being recorded for a video that will be broadcasted to everyone to see but pls don't take pictures of me? And why instead of asking for money on the streets they don't find something to do like playing a musical instrument and singing even if they sounded awful would be more dignifying than just sitting around unless this is part of their experience which I do not think it is... I agree with their idea of exploring the world pursuing happiness but begging I don't think is nice since they are not homeless in the first place...
Dilo Rodrigues well busking is a different thing than begging, especially when you're really skilled at something, you give people entertainment and they give you money for this, fair exchange
They’re essentially stealing from those who actually need that money. If you want to be homeless and poor, that’s cool, but don’t ask for money when there are thousands of other homeless people who are sick or dying or on the streets because they have no where else to go. How could you not feel guilty about that?
Soooo... you're saying that the only way to be happy is to live without money, but then the girl said: "We came here to try and make money for a new pack". So basically you DO want and need money.....you just don't want to contribute anything to society in order to get money. Gross.
Human Being of Planet Earth Then work odd jobs to earn enough money to get the pack. As I said in my other comment, I have a friend who works for 6 months out of the year and travels all over the world for the rest. I'm not "assuming" anything. The guy flat out says that he is not willing to compromise himself to get money WHILE he is begging for MONEY!!!! So I guess the word "compromise" here means "do anything that takes effort"
Not Me Get up at 5:30am, get the kids ready for school, bust your ass all day at work, pick up the kids, feed them, clean the house, pay your bills, use the 10min of free time you have left to take a shit, go to bed, then wake up and do it all again...see how long you last.
What does that have to do with this conversation? I mean, I have two jobs, and some other commitments on top of that. So my free time is already pretty limited. No kids, though. I'll leave that to you hard working people. Us lazy folk wouldn't know anything about that stuff. But seriously, you know that there are other ways to live that are hard, right? Like, you picked the most vanilla one. Congrats. Sounds like maybe you should have made better life choices if you're having such a hard time.
+James Crud I was responding to Not Me's comment "...see how long you last" which implied not doing anything and begging for money is harder work than actually working and having a life. I gave just one example of what a typical family would go through in a day which is much more difficult than sitting on a street corner all day doing nothing smoking weed. Anybody who does anything in life works a lot harder than kids in the video who voluntarily do nothing. That's what my comment has to do with this conversation. As for myself, I'm 47, self employed, no kids, paid off my home at 28, never had a mortgage. I made pretty good life choices early on.
I don't think you can achieve real freedom when you are taking advantage of others people work. I'm just picturing the chef preparing that nice dessert she ate, the waitress taking it to their table, the dishwasher cleaning their plates etc. And they really did nothing but sit around asking money from other working people to get it. I think bums always try to paint their life as amazing and free, and while no doubt there must be something nice about it I think there is way more awful things than pretty things, depression, diseases, cold, rejection, no direction, etc. I do hope though some day we can achieve balance and also not work all day like we are machines. It's just that imo this is not the way to do it.
They make a lot of good points but there something that doesn't sit right with me when you choose to sit on the ground hoping for handouts. Sure, you experience a lot and find yourself but I'd rather get off my ass and do something about my situation.
I remember this homeless man pulled out stacks of $20's once to tip me $10...they really be making bank, every dollar adds up and people don't realize that.
Im inspired. They made a blatant decision to not live traditionally. On this blind mission to find their place in society. One of true happiness, not this store-bought man-made happiness that many of us are lost in.
Is it really homeless when you have a home to go to? Or is it just having an "adventure". Being homeless with no home to go to sucks shit and if you make out alive...well...you never actually yearn for it again. Or maybe some do. I don't.
I kind of understand them. I always wanted that fancy loft and now I have it but it also means working all the time and literally, all my friends are the same. Before we've lived in crappy, but functional living communities/shared appartments and enjoyed life, now it's just about making money to afford the fancy lifestyle because you want to show people and especially your parents that you've made it. So they have my sympathy, they are also a cute couple.
Everyone needs to have a purpose. Their purpose is having no purpose. It's a faux purpose that they are passing off a real purpose. And the tone in their voice is one of disdain. Sure. A time to find your way. But this is not a purpose. It is parasitic. I hope they find their way. Also, being homeless by choice is complete arrogance and self absorption. Most homeless are completely destitute. They would never choose to be in that situation and would give anything to not be.
Lee Murray I chose to be homeless after graduating college and wound up delivering pizza for 60 hours a week and being able to rent my own place, finance a new car and pay bills and I still mail my family money as a thank you.
joshua-taylor stroeing They may have left because her dog is a pit bull type dog. I see that all the time - some people cross the street to avoid bully breeds. Either way, it's due to ignorance.
As someone who works in Union Square they left because they thought she might smoke or drink next to them. Or because they think she might smell. There are homeless people everywhere here and not all of them are nice or sane.
joshua-taylor i think it was the type of dog that she had. the media discriminated against pit bulls heavily thanks to that one football player who got arrested for illegal dog fighting
SooMuchMore Just last week a homeless guy begged me for a 5 dollars then as I walked away he started cussing me out and throwing rocks. They're either really nice, or mentally ill.
The text in the video needs to be much larger or narrated. I do not get the two "bohemian" "kids" who sound like they're doing this on a lark. I have been too close to being completely broke and homeless at one point. It is not a fun thing to do, nor is it some kind of protest against the system. Being poor or homeless is just plain horrible. What are these two going to do in the winter? Give up and join the workplace again and get an apartment? Probably. There's more to the story, and a journalist who's going to cover this ought to dig deeper to get to that. Otherwise, it seems like two Millenialist new hippies, but out to play, not seriously protesting or living a hippie life, or any such thing. -- That said, they also mention family issues, like one's parents losing their home. So there's more to this. These two young adults need to grow up, they need a path toward a balanced life. If they are unhappy with the materialist norm, fine, but find a productive way to live and counter that. In all seriousness, there are organizations that could use the help, and cohabiting or community housing, a modern iteration of the old communes or ashrams or whatever that hippies experimented with back in the day. (I'm not an ex-hippie, but I can respect what was worthwhile in their ideals, whether I agree with all of it or not. And as I get older, I find some of it might be worth trying again in a new way, because there are big flaws in our current mainstream system.) The young woman on her own with the dog is clearly troubled emotionally/mentally and may have an addiction problemm going. This is not to judge her, but to say she needs help to get out of her bad situation, get treatment, get help finding a steady job and keeping it, getting a place to live, a roommate who can live with her, and to restart her life. I sympathize. It sounds like she's overwhelmed and needs a way out, off the streets. Not good for her. But so far into the video, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be getting, what I'm to conclude from this video article / essay. I have nothing against the Millenial generation or the kids before or after them. They're facing bad odds in our very skewed economy. So are people in my generation and under and over, if things don't improve. Millenial "kids' aren't any better or worse than others just starting out, but they have the deck very much stacked against them in terms of debt, job prospects, income, and so on. So why not be friendly and supportive? We could be facing much the same thing soon. And hey, they deserve a chance to make it, so why not help them out? Me, I'm stuck and trying to get my own things going again, get a stable income going again, and get support so I can get medical care for vision-impairment (getting worse gradually) and dental work needed, which I can't get lined up without insurance. And so I'm fighting my spending impulses, yet still having to spend on some things to live. So I have some real sympathy for kids or young adults (or older folks) living out on the streets, or folks who can't find a steady job with a livable income to support themselves and their family. So...I expected more from this video essay than an impressionistic piece on, "Oh, isn't this odd and curious? Look what they're doing, dahling, how very quaint and bohemian of them;" which is what I'm getting from the piece. For a moody human interest story, I give it a B-. for a real, incisive journalistic piece on the economy or the state of the Millenial generation and the problems they face and why or how to deal with that, I give it a C-. I repeat, the journalist should have dug deeper, particularly for the young couple / friends. This should not be infotainment or a first-time film school effort. A pro journalist should do better. My apologies for being so critical, but that's my considered opinion. (Note: I'd expect more from a college student in classes, including myself when I was.) So this is meant in fairness, and not as a personal attack on the reporter / essayist / filmmaker.
So rich they can afford to be "poor". A financial cushion called "dad and mom's wallet" when their little adventure fails. I suggest you try living in a real third world country (like from where I am) for a week and let's see if you will survive.
I'd be a homeless millennial if it wasn't for my nana & dad passing away in the same yr. Inherited millions in savings, life insurance & a few homes/condo's. I'm fortunate & donate a considerable amount to various charities.
Ok these are like two very unusual folks that really don't represent the majority of people experiencing homelessness or a significant subset of millennials
I was homeless for years all over America. It was degrading to ask for money and "fly signs", so most of us chose to make art, or fold palm leaves into flowers and sell them. These kids don't represent the struggle us actual homeless millennials have gone through. I live in low-income housing now and still struggle against homelessness every month.. That couple is on vacation.
That couple is nauseating. If you can truly do without money, then DO without money. Don't beg. Go live in a farm and grow your own food. There are people who are doing it.
SBEFOREHAHAN Yes in Germany and Italy many millenniums are leaving the stressful life in the city and they are moving back to small towns and farm, I love it, besides I eat healthy and I am the boss of myself😉
how you gonna buy a farm with no money? all the land is owned by someone you cant just find a piece of land you like and build a house and a farm on it without purchasing the land first and paying property taxes.
SBEFOREHAHAN and you know they got that ebt and obamacare that other people's taxes are paying for and their parents are probably giving them money here and there all the time.
SBEFOREHAHAN yup making a house right now all by me self at age 67 with muy poquito dinero and growing papayas, veggies and starting a few trees. Maybe I should do a RUclips channel lol
Ramona Ray that's awesome! If you do I'd love to subscribe and see how you're doing it. I can't for now but in the future would love to grow my own garden and minimize expenses
looks great being homeless in this. Show me winter and this footage again..
+Paul Mulligan lol, i thought the same thing. Once winter hits they will move to Venice beach, California.
They arnt even kids too. News flash almost everyone hates their job. People give them dirty looks because their looking for handouts instead of working, deal with it.
+John S yea, well.. That's just like your opinion man.
+John S They could easily get jobs modelling. Homeless people where Im from look, erm, homeless. I'm not denigrating homelessness its just that this piece does nothing for homeless people.
+Paul Mulligan I believe it said they go to California in the winter.
Rose Knapp jesus, really? so adventurers as opposed to HOMELESS
i thought this was going to be about working-class millennials, who are gravely underrepresented in the popular narrative of this generation. nope - just more comfortably middle-class hipsters slumming it for art cred. whatever.
_sirens/silence_ Right? Wtf. I thought millennials were supposed to be lazy bums, and so showing us lazy bums is supposed to be the "other" millennials? While I'm welding full-time trying to make a living.
YES. Louder!! I thought the exact same thing.
Maybe we can create an app that outsources hard manual labour to these people.
_sirens/silence_ ya i know. Wtf is this garbage?? I'm working three jobs and trying to get ahead, i was hoping to hear about other people in my generation like that. But nope, of course these extreme hipster bums get the highlight again.
_sirens/silence_ 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
They don’t care for money but yet they ask for money while sitting on the ground
I dont care for needles but I got vaccinated just the same.
alolipa right.
Bunch of baristas
I think what they mean is they aren't materialistic but everyone has to eat, regardless if i were them id be asking for a job if i were them not money
you have to adjust what you're saying to "some money." they don't ask for much
I'm a disabled Army vet. Served 2005- 2013. I'm 33 so I guess I'm a millennial. I've been homeless. For almost a year. It took me swallowing my pride and asking for and accepting help to get back on my feet. I'm still getting back on my feet. I'm not materialistic, never have been. There's a difference between being non materialistic, with being content with little to nothing and being homeless. People generally don't choose to be homeless. Those who do generally have a mental health issue or personality disorder. As others have said the people in this video seem to have romanticized the ideal of being homeless.
Keep at it troop. They don't know what its like coming back into the civilian world, its a tough, brutal place. Good on you for getting back on your feet. i wish the best for you.
One thing i dont understand about usa is that... how can they freely give housing and money to lazy bums and not to veterans?
I hope you use the VA, they treat us with respect, go get some clothes, food etc.
(outgunned, out manned and surrounded. must be airborne.) stay loose amigo. keep moving, keep making friends and eat right. go easy on the booze and cigarettes, you'll see it all there for you. I learned to meditate in a Homeless Shelter in Kingman AZ and have never regretted it.
If you disabled don't you get some kinda check or something?
I like how they make it seem like millennials are eithwer hipster artisan coffee drinkers or homeless
Ikr
Nigga did u respond to ur own comment 😂😂
Elijah Evans No. Oh contrare-it is called "The OTHER milliniels"
anna Theamazing Hahahaha!!!! You ARE amazing!! I have been laughing about your comment for ten minutes now!!!
Elijah, are you schizophrenic, by any chance?
Ok. Let's talk about the Millennials who are not homeless by choice. These kids shown here are a bad example of what it means to be homeless, one even saying "I have a home I'm welcome in". These kids have an amazing amount of privilege and don't even realize it. There are plenty of Millennials who struggle every day, are working full-time jobs and trying to go to school and make a life. Let's talk about them. As a Millennial who has had to struggle my entire life without parents to fall back on, I feel like we don't have a voice today. This is the same story as every other privileged person my age who wants to "find myself" and go on "adventures". Please for the love of god, let's talk about the Millennials who aren't burying their heads in the sand trying to find their own ass.
Maya S THANK YOU
That girl was saying her parents just lost their house. A lot of really poor people have good attitudes and it doesn't mean they have family money to fall back on. This is a portrait of a certain lifestyle not a portrait of who is suffering in the most inspirational way
Maya S priveledged kids have a tendency to romanticize the struggle. And it's a slap in the face knowing where they came from and the opportunities they have when you have none and were born into poverty.
And a lot of those kids were saying they were homeless by choice. I realize there are people of my generation actually struggling. Which is why I wish they'd focus more on the girl you were referencing, and others like her, than the others they interviewed who still had everything, they just willingly left it all behind.
Maya S is on point. These kids made it feel like this is all for shits and giggles. Really irresponsible narrative.
I ran away and did the homeless thing for a couple weeks a few years back, I was young, not coping with my failures as a result of mental illness having dropped out of university a couple months previously and desperate to escape. But I had $150 to live off. I met real homeless people and heard their stories and I knew I couldn't and shouldn't beg because they needed it more so when I had just enough money left for a bus home I left the city. I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable living a conventional life but I've got a roof and a good job now which gives me time to think. Even if I want something more simple and free it won't be at the expense of people who really need help.
Allie Doak live in peace
You should get into backpacking
I did the same , and realised the same things . Amen to that
The Kyles for what?
Good for you. Even through your own hardship you saw and acknowledged what others go through and didn't take anything that wasn't your own. I hope you can always feed off of knowing you have a kind heart and a good soul.
This is literally the 60s hippy movement repeating itself. Much the same lifestyle, same attitudes, many of the same cultural and global issues as contributing factors, and the exact same societal debate about whether they're onto something, crazy, or just lazy.
The sad part Is a lot of those 60's hippies didn't do so well after the fact.
I hope I'm wrong but I see a big spike in the suicide rate coming for this Gen.
Its already happening
I cant stand these crusties. They treat poverty like its an "adventure" which is insulting to the many REAL folks out there who have nothing. Once the weather gets cold, they go back to mom and dad in Westchester County or Connecticut, Broad City had a hilarious episode addressing crusties on their 'St. Mark's" episode
they have no idea what it's like to be homeless as a young child
Portlandia also has a great parody of rich kids slumming it lol
The problem with this comment is the fact that shouldn’t we encourage ppl who are privileged to experience what it’s like to be homeless even then why tf would you judge someone’s life choice on what we do. Maybe having a “comfortable” lifestyle isn’t really a good thing for the human psyche
This kind of pisses me off.... choosing to be homeless, yet mooching off of people who choose the lifestyle they are against.
Love this!
Natalie Jimenez I was just thinking that!!!
Ladies...... I can't believe that you've never worked a dead-end job to maintain the "acceptable" American lifestyle and just thought to yourself, "fuck it! Imma live like those people!".
Endless materialistic hedonism isn't satisfying and it's not sustainable. They may be on to something here. There's also nothing wrong with benefiting from the generosity of people who have different ideas than you do. I think that most people hate the majority of those they directly serve in their occupation
Natalie Jimenez
No one is forcing anyone to give money
then don't work a dead end job. Start a fucking business and be productive. Be self employed
It's fun for a year, but just wait until they get a tooth ache.
TheCrusaderRabbits 😆
TheCrusaderRabbits Actually, all you have to do is go to a hospital and they have to treat you. It's required by law.
What do you think the bike tools are for?
Ha! Preach.
Ben Merzouk This is so true. Most emergency rooms/ hospitals don't have dental clinics. I knew a homeless kid with an abscessed tooth here in Seattle, he went 3 or 4 times to the emergency room just to be given some ibuprofen and antibiotics.. It was over the course of a year (and alot of suffering) before he finally got it taken out at the University of Washington teaching hospital, the only hospital in the city that actually has an emergency dental clinic.. I bet that kid would've loved to have a family or a place to go, or just have someone to care for him, he couldn't eat sometimes, definitely couldn't sleep either..
You know what? My brother and his gf are like this but the big difference is that they treeplant for 3 months in the summer and live off of it during the year. He'll hang out with homeless people and never begs. That's the difference between a hipster and hippy millennial. It's not cool to be homeless, it's down right terrifying. 😐
The 9 to 5 offers less and less of an incentive every decade. And millennials don't want that fate. The fate that puts your hard work in your boss's mansion when you can barely pay the rent for your tiny studio walk up. If you're going to spend 40+ hrs a week doing anything repetively, it better be worth it. It can't just be for the money because time is obviously more precious. I can see why this way of life is growing.
Get a job you enjoy or learn to enjoy your job because you sure as heck aren't getting paid enough to be miserable at a job you hate. I work with kids and I squeak out enough to live on. It's actually a pretty rewarding profession. Choosing to check out? Yeah, what good are you?
Sky Blyevin - Sure, you are welcome to make this argument but you cannot turn around in the same breath and complain about your financial situation.
The fact of the matter is there are a number of rewarding and exciting careers out there but the work you do while you are still learning will often be repetitive, boring and not particularly well paid. Millennials behave as if they are the only generation that has had to deal with low paid, low skill jobs. Get over yourselves.
Instead they want the fate where their next meal is resting in the pockets of strangers. I can see why that life doesn't last.
Because of course all millennial are either jobless or self entitled brats.
Who hurt you?
I'm not comfortable with what that young man was saying. He thinks it's funny that others support him & his girlfriend?
Verowatches aaw 👶
No one cares
Verowatches, It bothered me too. Does he not think about the people who never wanted to be on the streets?
Bothered me too. That guy and his girlfriend are being actively dishonest to support their laziness.
These guys are homeless the same way I ran away when I was 8
I seriously thought I'd stumbled across a clip from Portlandia
Gairuntee HAHAHAHHAAAA
The homeless couple did say they met in Portland...
they choose this lifestyle...... now they beg for money?
living off the kindness of others. i guess if no one gave them $ theyd have to figure it out another way... thats why they should make things to trade for $ like braclets or some shit so atleast they are doing somthing
R H
Choices all round. You choose to give them money too.
I didn't see them BEGGING for anything....
yeah stupid libtards feel "ashamed" haven't heard of it?
thats the wrong thing, im not a homeless, but i travel like that often with friends, whenever we need money, we sell artesanies, we play guitar at bars or we exchange work for a night/food.
They're eating out and getting Starbucks but begging for money?
They're homeless, they don't have any way to cook their own food
mousecat13 you can just buy bread and spread etc at a supermarket. Soooo much cheaper! They are stupid with the money they have.
Just because they're homeless doesn't mean they should never be able to enjoy anything.
sensate444 I didn't say that but it doesn't look great for a video that's supposed to be informative
Lilly Newsom I think the video shows reality
What!? "I just want to enjoy myself..." and seriously doing so by leaching on other people's earnings, writing soap operas on pieces of cardboard coz this is an "adventure".
Even if the nice thing to say is that it's their life and so they should live how they feel best, these choices their making are impacting other people in society because we are ALL interconnected.
Taking responsibility isn't boring neither does it lack adventure. It's simply the best and right way to live.
So self-pitying. No one has it worse than them. Oh except for true homeless people that do not have a mommy and daddy as a plan B. Why not put a spotlight on kids that had to run away from home because of abusive parents or were kicked out for their sexual orientation? They truly deserve our attention and support, not these cynical self-absorbed fools.
I agree.
AG
But the girl just said that her parents lost their home. Doesn't that still makes her homeless?
i don't remember them claiming to have it worst than anyone. the video served a purpose though: it showed that some people choose to be homeless, and then scam others to survive. it keeps liberals like myself from falling into the trap of thinking that homelessness is always forced on people.
AG it seems that the girl history wasnt beautiful at all , but she does not say too much ... It seems like she Is running away from some shit home thing ... It seems to me ..
AG actually you would be amazed at how many "true" homeless people actually have or had a support system they just walked away from. Some were unsupervised and just quit taking meds and wondered off the reservation. The city I work for has cops that actually try to help these people, find families, refer them to a social service and get them help instead of putting them on a bus with a one way ticket like some awesome liberal cities do ie. Oakland, San Francisco, Alameda, Berkley......they should be ashamed!
did I just watch an episode of Portlandia?
Right!?
"I'm homeless but I still eat at restaurants and get Starbucks."
Don't forget they also smoke!
My thoughts exactly. I haven't had waffles that fancy in ages.
I guess if you don't have to pay for a home you can afford fancy waffles. All about priorities.
As long as you can scrape $10 somewhere you're pretty well off. I guess that's the country we live in now
Really lucky people in south America need to hide themselves in the sewers to avoid to be assassinated by the secret police.
The title is wrong!
There are millions of millenials working and wanting to be part of society. You should change it to "Spoiled Brats'!!!
Ezra Wolfe yeah but it implies that there's a large population of millennials doing this, which isn't true at all. And it also implies that only millennials did it. Didn't some of the boomers (hippies) do something similar to this in the 60s?
me mo that’s what it implies to YOU
They say you give up a bit of your freedom in exchange for some sort of social status, and it's true. These people aren't really tied down to anything at all, it's the true definition of a nihilistic culture. I don't think it's good however, it's not my choice to tell them how to live their lives, and visa versa.
Yet you can demonstrate the negatives of such a life. You can clearly detail how day-to-day living off of others leads to instability and vulnerability. You can recall Aesop's fable of the grasshopper and ants.
They have the freedom to choose their lifestyle, yet we can point out the likely pitfalls.
Well said to both of you
Trouble is where they get older living on the streets won't be so easy, especially if they get health issues. Then it will be too late to change. Normal people want to achieve things, they want to DO something besides wander around with a backpack and a dog.
I’d say they’re less free if all they do is wander the streets of new york and ask for money. They’re tied down by still living in the city’s infrastructure. If they would really like to be free they should have backpacked to a part of the US that is untouched.. live by a water stream and hunt and stuff..
rollipolioli that is exactly how my significant other wants to live. He enjoys that
im homeless by choice as well, but really, eating at restaurants and drinking fancy lattes?? cmon now...youre wasting the money people gave you. if you choose to live humbly, its an all or nothing deal.
jasper I think the New Yorker payed for that meal, idk you can send an email and ask them if you really want to know I'm sure
that would also make sense you make a good point
if the new yorker did buy them a meal, though, it probably wouldn't be the best move to include it in the video as it makes the viewers assume they bought it themselves? i feel like thats just a daily meal for them
its hard to tell either way - 2 relatively clean cut people like them could really rake in the money in the city if theyre flying a sign most of the day. i hope whatever theyre doing its in good conscience, but at the same time clearly they could be working an "unsatisfactory" job for a few hours a day to get money for food but they seem uninterested in doing so when they can just get money for doing nothing, which might say otherwise about their character. but hey, i dont know so im not going to make a judgement call about what theyre doing.
Maybe that's really the point of the whole video? Maybe the producer is trying to subtly show the absurdity of this phony ideal of "I choose to be homeless"... NO ONE CHOOSES to be homeless.... I know this from experience... and it sucked. Thank god it sucked... because it forced me to make some real decisions and get my shit together... I was able to take advantage of what I viewed as an opportunity at the time and made the most of my life since then.
As someone who had to go on disability and receive food stamps for a while, and was still unable to afford rent, toiletries, AND enough food to eat, this makes me ill.
Why does it make you ill? Because they are choosing to live their lives differently? What about all the people living in the suburbs in their oversized houses? That's okay, but this isn't? Why does it matter how someone else chooses to live their life?
I have no problem with them choosing to live their lives differently. But it makes me ill that they ask people for money because they are homeless.
I'm watching these videos because since I started traveling and living in developed countries (NZ, Aus, Canadá) it has called my attention that so many young people are begging on the streets. I know one of the main reasons might be drugs issues, but still. Man, I can agree with some things or philosophies of living. I don't have much interest in money, I like to live simply without a lot of possessions, I love traveling, independence and freedom, but I couldn't be able to beg for money (unless I was really fucked up) when I'm totally physically and mentally able to work. I currently do the most odd jobs (usually the ones most people are not willing to do-cleaning, demolitions, etc.) to sustain myself and to save some for keeping myself on the road, even if that means to work more than 60 hrs in a week from time to time. And I'm still happy with my lifestyle. I'm doing different things all the time and proud of being able to make a (simple) living with my own hands.
I might be wrong or judgemental, but I think one of the main problems with some of these guys (obviously leaving big issues aside) is that they're born taking everything for granted and not valuing what they have.
Sounds like you know who you are, and what you want to be for now - and are supporting yourself honestly while doing it. Good for you! Best of luck!
doomantra YOU are living this lifestyle beautifully and I admire you. They are just a couple of selfish kids.
I had a friend that moved around by doing odd jobs. And like you, he worked. He took sometimes crummy jobs because he knew he would wouldn't have them long or the work was seasonal. This doesn't seem like that. Begging is not cool unless you're really in a pinch.
Yassss👏 These people in the video could work, "i could work but that wont satisfy me" but theyre just like screw it, ill beg, thats hard to do, it constitutes as "work" for them. One of the most honorable things to do is to work hard to maintain yourself, even on a basic level, and to work hard for success, that's what these people could do. But other people are taking that place of the work they should be doing. Im all for less is more, not being materialistic, and living simply, but you have to have some amount of income.
We a are living in a world where we have the capacity to provide enough food for every human being and still have thousands of children dying of starvation each day. The US are the wealthiest country on this planet but still has the highest inmate rate, ghettos in every big city and millions of homeless people while others spend money on 200 million $ yachts, thousands of wealthy families live of the wealth of their family fortunes and treat their pets better than other human beings. You wanna talk about ethics?
I don't get it
Raychristofer hipsters realized van life had too much responsibility, so they went full homeless
christina dickinso Hello Christina, thanks, thats pretty deep. I agree van life isn't all it's cracked up to be especially if you're a couple and can't bathe and wash when you need to. I have a feeling very very few people what have the fortitude to do what these folks are doing. I couldnt
1st of all, you wouldn't have to have a job, so you can be drunk and high af, which makes bathing in rivers and sleeping outside easier to do
I too simply don't understand. I think they want to be homeless but that does not make any sense.
They are insane libtards.... What's to understand?
I think it's disgusting that these "Homeless by choice" are begging! Next time I will think twice before I give to a young homeless person......
randomuploadsism I would talk to them first. But not every young homeless person is like these Dipshits. Ask them what happened, if they'd like some help, maybe something to eat.
I give to BLACK men who are obviously in need. Not these White youth!
DelilahZoe 🤷 racist
i c your point
randomuploadsism also we don't need your money, each of us have our own ways of making money. Panhandlers make up a small percentage of the traveler's culture
so they're rich homeless people?? how is he holding a Starbucks cup and going to restaurants for breakfast.
They are all on trust funds. Compare to actual homeless. They are an embarrassment. Ignore them.
Because they're not actually homeless or poor or even run-aways, they're just young and full of rich-kid ennui
v eness a 😂😂😂
Homeless doesn't always mean living on the streets smelling like pee. That's usually the mentally ill homeless. I've worked with many homeless people. They usually have part time. Jobs but can't afford housing. They also live in homeless shelters. Some lived on the street by chose. There's no one way to be homeless. By definition it just means you don't have a homeless and not that's you're dirt poor. People have this TV idea of what homelessness looks like but that's not it.
v eness a because it’s not fucking expensive
Homeless hipsters lol, when winter comes it's amazing how they afford the $3000 a month studio in greenpoint.
BMXking 658 most people hop on a train and move south for the winter. Look into the Beat Generation my friend. This a like an American version of zen, I call them Dharma bums...
The actual homeless people don't have that luxury.
J Tenn these aren't homeless people they are doing by choice. Dropouts, Barcelona is full of them. Rich kids taking a year out, before getting a suit and getting a finance job.
Which confirms the point made
hahahahahhaha
so the homeless have marmot jackets and eat chocolate strawberry banana crepes at restaurants.... seems legit
They're choosing to have that instead of a home. You can do the same thing if you think having a marmot jacket is better than having a house or apartment. Do you? Go get that jacket. If your rent is $1200 you can get so many marmot jackets all the time
This is the best comment on here lol
I was homeless for a year in Richmond,Virginia and I will tell you that was the roughest part of my life. This video does not talk about being homeless and the downs to it and there are plenty of that. Not to mention the dangers to being homeless....especially for a woman.
we dont need money man. hey man, can we get some money?
That pan on Infinite Jest
Perfect
lmao it's a meme within a meme
Came here to post something like that. Obviously she had to carry that book..
The thing I hate is that I live next to union square and these people are rude and abusive. I live near Saint marks and if you don't give them a dollar or help get them beer or offer them a cigarette they hurl insults. There are a ton of these gutter punks who drink all day and night and start fights. I have met a few nice ones who don't drink and whose lives have been affected by deaths or abuse. And I feel genuinely bad for them. the guy with the rat tail that walked by telling them to meet other kids is such an asshole and treats anyone not like him like shit. He was on my corner off Saint marks and second ave all fucking summer. He would drink, pass out, scream at folks, and generally just be an asshole. Anyways that was my rant lol
J.London nothing wrong with getting drunk man. Stop judging us alcoholics. As long as you buy your own alcohol and pay rent, car payments, student loans, food, insurance, tires and credit card payments and have money left over to party, then do it. I also only go out when I know I can tip 40%
Ive seen this first hand. My brother who's a few years older than me ran away to live with the rainbow family. He and his friends claim to be all loving good people. He has not talked to me or my parents in like a year. Im a teenager so Im live with our parents and it seriously is devastating that he doesnt say anything to them(he has a phone). And we have GOOD parents. seriously top notch people. idk where hes coming from, running from nothing bad. He pan handles for money, yet him and all these people claim that money is unimportant. The way I see it, you either contribute to society, and if you are capable get a job instead of begging for money from people that work hard for it OR leave society all together, join a commune that doesnt affect society/ live in the woods or something. That makes sense, living amongst people in cities and guilting them into giving you money doesnt. thats being a parasite.
Trash Panda that is im sorry to say is what they have devolved into. there is still a core group that lives different it sounds like he is with the A camp. The rest hopefully he will get involved in ( most do as they het older) learn skills to make money to travel construction cooking ect.. this and working in the camps as support.
Trash Panda yeah there should just be like a massive town thats completely self sufficient and everything is shared and no one has possessions
you are very obviously like your parents. i don't think you'll ever be able to understand him
+swiftmarshtomp It's called Burning Man
Did he bring along his favorite David Foster Wallace book too?
"My parents said I can go and live with them anytime, but I'm my own person" boi.... ur telling me u have an open home where you can get settled for the time being and figure out how to get out of living on the streets but you chose not to take the offer....
It's funny just a few years ago when I was 18 I thought this is what life was about. I used to think the boho/hippy lifestyle was the path of the truly enlightened. Then I got into communism and started believing that nonsense. Soon I found myself dropped out of college and wanting to become a musician. I eventually became very depressed and I couldn't figure out why. Then it came to me one day. I realized I had more potential than I was telling myself. Soon I went back to school and got my associate's degree and now I'm working on my bachelor's in electrical engineering. I laugh at how these people are because I used to be sad like that. I used to think I was cool because I saw the cons of society. Well let me tell you it certainly beats being a beggar. Nihilism is not cool kids, it makes you a loser.
SuperSaltyFries you sold out lol, sorry to hear that.
No, I grew up. Living like a child your whole life without responsibilities isn't cool. At least to me. I don't like depending on others for everything in my life.
No communism is not wrong, you just bought into being a pleb. I’m a member of the bourgeois and when the time is right, the factors of production will be seized, private property will be abolished, and things will be produced based upon needs, not profit. The bourgeois merely wait on the sidelines...
Good for you mate!
I appreciated reading this, but just want to mention that's not attached to actual communism. All forms of society still have people working, including communism.
"My job is not feeling guilty for taking other people's money when I don't have any problems" What??? I'm not bashing the homeless that are really and truly disadvantaged, but this guy seems to have zero legitimate reason for being on the street. Like it's a game to him. He has a family to go home to. He's a tourist and that's fucked up.
How about um stop pretending you're homeless and help solve the problem instead of glorifying it. Hmm...
So they choose to be homeless yet gladly lie to people who get up and go to work so they will give them a handout? In this fashion they can use the system they are against to not have to live in the system they are against. If you are so against it then don't take anything that it offers you.
Christy me : that doesn't actually make sense. If you hate a system, the best way to beat it is to do exactly what you think these people are doing. You think about people in terms of GDP and profits. Well, that's your point of view. Thankfully not everyone is as soulless and hollow as you.
because if enough people are "sucking it's teat" it will lead to inevitable collapse due to lack of support..
meowcules,
And what happens when the system collapses? Who feeds these starving rebels?
JWonz hahaha exactly! they are SUCH rebels lol pathetic. I love how they pat themselves on the back over this.
Ks Y, not pathetic just misinformed by not seeing the bigger picture. I once held similar views. Also, this rebellious nature can help counteract being underpaid.
i imagine this is what my parents pictured of my life when i said i am dropping out of college
what r u doing now?
locksmith. the trades are far more lucrative.
Exactly
He may want to just "live in the now" but the reality is that the world wants you doing something and staying updated in what you do. If you fail to be updated, you're obsolete and people that are obsolete are cast aside and never considered for anything.
fun fact, almost half of all NYC residents are living at or below the poverty line and 51% of US citizens are making less than $30K a year. Simply "getting a job" doesn't mean you'll be able to afford housing or food without Gov't assistance so it's really not a surprise that many young people are choosing to drop out of the system altogether.
+Nilbogish hi, I am interesting in the topic above and can u sending me the links to support your finding? Thxs
Hear! Hear!
Sure thing
www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/netcomp.cgi?year=2014
And
www.nyc.gov/html/ceo/downloads/pdf/ceo_poverty_measure_2005_2012.pdf
Seems like making a better life is exactly what they're doing. Not everyone wants to live in an office for 40+ hours a week just so they can have an iphone to watch youtube on.
+Nilbogish exactly
Drinking Starbucks coffee, eating fancy breakfasts, calling mommy to western union...priceless.
#FirstWorldProblems
Adeldee It's only the white liberals from well off middle class families that become like this because it's "trendy" to live poor person.
slong johnson that statement was....so wrong lmao. i love how on youtube ppl literally just get to say whatever they want---even if it's clearly opposite of correct.
Adeldee slowly turning into 2nd world problems which will be just...
LaShanda Parker there are these type of people from every race, from every country. Yes, white people included. Americans whites, polish whites, dutch whites, Norwegian whites, etc. go to ANY country in the world and you'll see that every country has these type of people who choose the sober street life ... of course i don't know why they choose this, i for one love netflix too much. but it's not just a white people thing (i'm saying this as a mexican btw) ...it's just a lazy people thing lmao
Beatriz Sandoval No there are not. This a true first world problem.
12 yrs ago I had 2 cars a 2 story house,wife,great job....
Never been so unhappy in my life.
Left it all behind and began hitchiking.
Never been happier
Really heart breaking how many actual houses just sit empty, all the while so many people are homeless .
There's nothing noble about this life - They're not helpless, not unable, and not incapable of making a living. They just don't want to.
+Matthew Myers
Is a tapeworm noble because it doesn't have a job?
Went into NYC. Man asked me for $$. Said if he was hungry I would buy him some food. No he wanted the money. See anything wrong with this picture?????
You clearly show very little understanding of the violence and stigmas people have about homeless people. That's why they have such a hard getting back to a "normal" life. We, as a society, treat them as like they're not normal, not humans, as if they're inferior. It can be hard to adjust back to a society that doesn't even want to accept you in it.
ROGER2095 This is America, they can make their own decisions.
ROGER2095 Exactly!! Nothing noble about it all.
I used to feel bad for all homeless people, then I subscribed to The New Yorker and realised it doesn't have to be that way. Thanks The New Yorker!
They shouldn't recieve my support if they're choosing to live like this. Does that make me conservative? I don't think so
Pfft. He doesn't want to compromise himself to make money and claims to live without money, yet asks other people for the money that he actually does need.
So basically, everyone else work(compromising themselves because he couldn't possibly do that to himself of course 😌), and then hand over the little bit of money that he does need, for free, so that he doesnt feel compromised by working a job that he is clearly capable of getting. Though as he kind of put it, his job is to swallow the shame of begging.
Philosophically speaking there is an ideal here, but it's been warped to the tenth degree. An oddly romantised, flawed idealology. Not to mention the safety net he's got to further that romanticism.
(these thoughts are towards this particular couple, as circumstances for being homeless are vast and some truly need help and kindness.
you took the words right out of my fingers. Infinite gold star stickers for you.
they should have done more about the girl with the dog. The other couple chooses homelessness, thats not the same as not having a choice.
Rich kids from the first world...
samuel castaño exactly
If they tried this here in brasil, they would've been eaten for breakfast and with no strawberrys at all
samuel castaño 😂😂😂😂
no strawberries?! what a nightmare.
+Guilherme Goldman Wow I'm glad I don't live in that shit hole. Good luck m8 have fun getting shot for pocket change whilst we can ^shock horror^ walk around in public WITHOUT getting killed XD lol We don't know how good we've got it here in the first world. Ya know not being raped and murdered just for stepping outside and walking around in public with our stuff haha! IF this carries on too long in the first world we might even start thinking we _shouldn't_ be robbed as soon as we show any wealth. BTW OP, they are by definition _not rich_; they were out of money and looking to make money to buy a fucking bag... I bet you're hundreds of times richer than they are. Stop whinging about poor people
If anything I find their lifestyle selfish. I'm a student who can't even afford to pay attention unless attention was on a two for one sale. Yet I could never beg for other peoples money when I know I didn't absolutely need it. These two have homes to go back to, can eat Belgian waffles and starbucks, yet rely on people to give them money under the impression that they're homeless? Wow.
Rayn
*why can't hard working people like me ever be shown? Just regular people with regular lives. I don't want to be materialistic and enjoy my life, but it's wrong to not contribute to society. Stop!*
Thanks a lot, The New Yorker, for making people even *more* reluctant to give to the homeless.
This life is shit.
The first girl is visibly depressed and need some help. The couple is stranded like a puppy dogs.
There's nothing cool on it. You can have a simple and minimalist life doing part time jobs or something.
Dude, there is a lot of people living simple life they're called poor.
TRUTH!!!
tiago suhet Exactly. In fact a very large minority of the American population does not approach life like its a performance because they are legit poor and only wish they could have some small comforts.
When I read the title, I thought this would be about those millenials that dislike everything millenials are known for. Like taking pictures of everything (food, concerts, anything mildly interesting), sharing your life on social media, etc.
I wish my Senior Drill Sergeant from the 80's could watch this, I'd LOVE to hear his feedback...
Half right, Face! Front leaning rest
I bet they got paid to be featured.
These traveling homeless kids have been around since the 70s. This isn't new
that's a good point. its very old news.
Witnessing them not wanting to play with her and her 🐕 dog, broke my 💓 heart.
These are the cleanest fucking homeless people I've ever seen.
i had to dislike as soon as she told her dog to shut up
Jeremiah makaveli and she has it wearing a collar on it that stabs the dog...
Jeremiah makaveli shut up
I feel more sad for the homeless pets. They do not have a choice in the matter.
Agree. Can't believe people still use collars for a leash instead of ID. It's fact that they cause tracheal damage over time, get a harness.
She's homeless and spends all her time on the streets. She absolutely should keep a leash on that dog. to the benefit of all parties
What will they do when they pop out a love pup?
What will they do when they lose a leg to gangrene?
What will they do when they're fifty?
Life. It shuttles each of us past our own shortsightedness.
+Matthew Myers You're right, they know what they're doing.
***** Right.
They'll go back to Connecticut, move in with their parents and get a hedge fund job at their Uncle's firm.
“Self exploration is only possible when you have a multitude of different experiences. If you're doing the same thing over and over again, you don't have any idea who you are in another place, doing another thing.”
That's a great quote
I've never been real keen on the subtle insinuation that living within the confines of normality equals "squareness" or a lack of self. To assert that people who adhere to standard living makes them without a sense of who they are is the definition of hubris.
The couple, the man PAN, he seems so unbearably arrogant, you don't want to be judged yet you're judging those around you who have homes and jobs etc. and I'm sorry, but if one doesn't NEED the money as he stated he shouldn't accept it.
The woman with the dog seems to be more than simply homeless, she does come off as either an addict or someone with mental illness that hasn't been addressed :/
So Pan, god of mischief, go on being your own man by bumming off of strangers who are being exploited by your facade and their sympathy, it's as if you're mocking their kindness and compassion. Roque seems legit, she and the dog girl don't bother me too much, it's dangerous for a woman to live on the streets, it's probably not a choice for
Did you guys make this just to make people mad?
Why be homeless when you have a family to go back to? Homelessness is something you endure when no one's willing to help out of your jobless predicament. It'd be one thing if these individuals had no family to go back to (or support you), but if your family is willing to give you shelter, you should probably take it. Only reason you shouldn't do so would be if you have no plans to get a job, but in that case, asking for change should be the last thing on your mind as well (if you're young that is).
I am being recorded for a video that will be broadcasted to everyone to see but pls don't take pictures of me? And why instead of asking for money on the streets they don't find something to do like playing a musical instrument and singing even if they sounded awful would be more dignifying than just sitting around unless this is part of their experience which I do not think it is... I agree with their idea of exploring the world pursuing happiness but begging I don't think is nice since they are not homeless in the first place...
Dilo Rodrigues well busking is a different thing than begging, especially when you're really skilled at something, you give people entertainment and they give you money for this, fair exchange
Diilo Rodrigues, haha you are totally right I can't believe I did't catch how stupid her comment was.
unless she was getting paid for the footage that comment would not make any sense at least not in that moment
Smoking a cigarette in new York you are not poor its like 12 dollars a pack
Or you can buy them separately for like 75cents each
more like 15 dollars per pack
They’re essentially stealing from those who actually need that money. If you want to be homeless and poor, that’s cool, but don’t ask for money when there are thousands of other homeless people who are sick or dying or on the streets because they have no where else to go. How could you not feel guilty about that?
Soooo... you're saying that the only way to be happy is to live without money, but then the girl said: "We came here to try and make money for a new pack". So basically you DO want and need money.....you just don't want to contribute anything to society in order to get money. Gross.
No one needs to do anything for society. We are all individuals. You do, however, as an individual, have a responsibility to provide for yourself
They don't want a consistent income, just enough to get a new pack and leave. Huge difference than what you're assuming.
Human Being of Planet Earth Then work odd jobs to earn enough money to get the pack. As I said in my other comment, I have a friend who works for 6 months out of the year and travels all over the world for the rest. I'm not "assuming" anything. The guy flat out says that he is not willing to compromise himself to get money WHILE he is begging for MONEY!!!! So I guess the word "compromise" here means "do anything that takes effort"
"contribute (anything) to society". I'm hearing that phrase less and less these days.
Perhaps none of us should contribute to this particular society anymore maybe we could take out the bankers the quickest.
I see laziness and weakness, im sorry but life is hard, and getting harder, so buck up buttercups:*
If it's lazy and weak, give it a shot. See how long you last.
Not Me Get up at 5:30am, get the kids ready for school, bust your ass all day at work, pick up the kids, feed them, clean the house, pay your bills, use the 10min of free time you have left to take a shit, go to bed, then wake up and do it all again...see how long you last.
What does that have to do with this conversation? I mean, I have two jobs, and some other commitments on top of that. So my free time is already pretty limited. No kids, though. I'll leave that to you hard working people. Us lazy folk wouldn't know anything about that stuff.
But seriously, you know that there are other ways to live that are hard, right? Like, you picked the most vanilla one. Congrats.
Sounds like maybe you should have made better life choices if you're having such a hard time.
+James Crud I was responding to Not Me's comment "...see how long you last" which implied not doing anything and begging for money is harder work than actually working and having a life. I gave just one example of what a typical family would go through in a day which is much more difficult than sitting on a street corner all day doing nothing smoking weed. Anybody who does anything in life works a lot harder than kids in the video who voluntarily do nothing. That's what my comment has to do with this conversation.
As for myself, I'm 47, self employed, no kids, paid off my home at 28, never had a mortgage. I made pretty good life choices early on.
I don't think you can achieve real freedom when you are taking advantage of others people work. I'm just picturing the chef preparing that nice dessert she ate, the waitress taking it to their table, the dishwasher cleaning their plates etc. And they really did nothing but sit around asking money from other working people to get it. I think bums always try to paint their life as amazing and free, and while no doubt there must be something nice about it I think there is way more awful things than pretty things, depression, diseases, cold, rejection, no direction, etc.
I do hope though some day we can achieve balance and also not work all day like we are machines. It's just that imo this is not the way to do it.
"It's all about the adventure" 😱😱😱 these young people have no idea how dangerous it is to sleep on the streets of New York City!!!
That is exactly what I was thinking!
Why are you glorifying this?
because its become "fashionable"
But...avocadoes!?
thinking the hygiene in this video .. makes me cringe so bad .. fully capable human being deciding to live like this .. its just sad.
They make a lot of good points but there something that doesn't sit right with me when you choose to sit on the ground hoping for handouts. Sure, you experience a lot and find yourself but I'd rather get off my ass and do something about my situation.
I remember this homeless man pulled out stacks of $20's once to tip me $10...they really be making bank, every dollar adds up and people don't realize that.
Rebeca S and tax free!!!
Im inspired. They made a blatant decision to not live traditionally. On this blind mission to find their place in society. One of true happiness, not this store-bought man-made happiness that many of us are lost in.
RunningFromAdults except that their lifestyle is funded by selfishness, the same as all the evil capitalists you're pretending to dislike.
Is it really homeless when you have a home to go to? Or is it just having an "adventure". Being homeless with no home to go to sucks shit and if you make out alive...well...you never actually yearn for it again. Or maybe some do. I don't.
Bet you 20 bucks he never finished that book.
I wish this were longer
+enchantrand-esque Go outside any city in the world and talk to them as much as you want lol
There's a good documentary about these kids called 'American Nomads'
I'm glad I'm a working 40+ hour millennial. I get to be free spirited in my own time and buy my own Starbucks drink.
I kind of understand them. I always wanted that fancy loft and now I have it but it also means working all the time
and literally, all my friends are the same. Before we've lived in crappy, but functional living communities/shared appartments and enjoyed life,
now it's just about making money to afford the fancy lifestyle because you want to show people and especially your parents
that you've made it. So they have my sympathy, they are also a cute couple.
Everyone needs to have a purpose. Their purpose is having no purpose. It's a faux purpose that they are passing off a real purpose. And the tone in their voice is one of disdain. Sure. A time to find your way. But this is not a purpose. It is parasitic. I hope they find their way.
Also, being homeless by choice is complete arrogance and self absorption. Most homeless are completely destitute. They would never choose to be in that situation and would give anything to not be.
Lee Murray I chose to be homeless after graduating college and wound up delivering pizza for 60 hours a week and being able to rent my own place, finance a new car and pay bills and I still mail my family money as a thank you.
gov't is a parasite too
Okay did feel bad when she brought her dog in the park and the people left because she was homeless... like really?
joshua-taylor stroeing They may have left because her dog is a pit bull type dog. I see that all the time - some people cross the street to avoid bully breeds. Either way, it's due to ignorance.
As someone who works in Union Square they left because they thought she might smoke or drink next to them. Or because they think she might smell. There are homeless people everywhere here and not all of them are nice or sane.
joshua-taylor i think it was the type of dog that she had. the media discriminated against pit bulls heavily thanks to that one football player who got arrested for illegal dog fighting
American prepper67 pitbulls had a horrible reputation for at least 2 decades before that.
SooMuchMore Just last week a homeless guy begged me for a 5 dollars then as I walked away he started cussing me out and throwing rocks. They're either really nice, or mentally ill.
The text in the video needs to be much larger or narrated.
I do not get the two "bohemian" "kids" who sound like they're doing this on a lark. I have been too close to being completely broke and homeless at one point. It is not a fun thing to do, nor is it some kind of protest against the system. Being poor or homeless is just plain horrible. What are these two going to do in the winter? Give up and join the workplace again and get an apartment? Probably. There's more to the story, and a journalist who's going to cover this ought to dig deeper to get to that. Otherwise, it seems like two Millenialist new hippies, but out to play, not seriously protesting or living a hippie life, or any such thing. -- That said, they also mention family issues, like one's parents losing their home. So there's more to this. These two young adults need to grow up, they need a path toward a balanced life. If they are unhappy with the materialist norm, fine, but find a productive way to live and counter that. In all seriousness, there are organizations that could use the help, and cohabiting or community housing, a modern iteration of the old communes or ashrams or whatever that hippies experimented with back in the day. (I'm not an ex-hippie, but I can respect what was worthwhile in their ideals, whether I agree with all of it or not. And as I get older, I find some of it might be worth trying again in a new way, because there are big flaws in our current mainstream system.)
The young woman on her own with the dog is clearly troubled emotionally/mentally and may have an addiction problemm going. This is not to judge her, but to say she needs help to get out of her bad situation, get treatment, get help finding a steady job and keeping it, getting a place to live, a roommate who can live with her, and to restart her life. I sympathize. It sounds like she's overwhelmed and needs a way out, off the streets. Not good for her.
But so far into the video, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be getting, what I'm to conclude from this video article / essay. I have nothing against the Millenial generation or the kids before or after them. They're facing bad odds in our very skewed economy. So are people in my generation and under and over, if things don't improve. Millenial "kids' aren't any better or worse than others just starting out, but they have the deck very much stacked against them in terms of debt, job prospects, income, and so on. So why not be friendly and supportive? We could be facing much the same thing soon. And hey, they deserve a chance to make it, so why not help them out?
Me, I'm stuck and trying to get my own things going again, get a stable income going again, and get support so I can get medical care for vision-impairment (getting worse gradually) and dental work needed, which I can't get lined up without insurance. And so I'm fighting my spending impulses, yet still having to spend on some things to live. So I have some real sympathy for kids or young adults (or older folks) living out on the streets, or folks who can't find a steady job with a livable income to support themselves and their family.
So...I expected more from this video essay than an impressionistic piece on, "Oh, isn't this odd and curious? Look what they're doing, dahling, how very quaint and bohemian of them;" which is what I'm getting from the piece. For a moody human interest story, I give it a B-. for a real, incisive journalistic piece on the economy or the state of the Millenial generation and the problems they face and why or how to deal with that, I give it a C-. I repeat, the journalist should have dug deeper, particularly for the young couple / friends. This should not be infotainment or a first-time film school effort. A pro journalist should do better. My apologies for being so critical, but that's my considered opinion. (Note: I'd expect more from a college student in classes, including myself when I was.) So this is meant in fairness, and not as a personal attack on the reporter / essayist / filmmaker.
I love the people who comment here and they just judge and don't even listened to what these people say.
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything." - Fight Club
So rich they can afford to be "poor". A financial cushion called "dad and mom's wallet" when their little adventure fails. I suggest you try living in a real third world country (like from where I am) for a week and let's see if you will survive.
I'd be a homeless millennial if it wasn't for my nana & dad passing away in the same yr. Inherited millions in savings, life insurance & a few homes/condo's. I'm fortunate & donate a considerable amount to various charities.
Jim Bertido nice
I don't see how you can turn your back on a lifestyle where you have a job to make money... and then make a sign asking for money.
Ok these are like two very unusual folks that really don't represent the majority of people experiencing homelessness or a significant subset of millennials
I was homeless for years all over America. It was degrading to ask for money and "fly signs", so most of us chose to make art, or fold palm leaves into flowers and sell them. These kids don't represent the struggle us actual homeless millennials have gone through. I live in low-income housing now and still struggle against homelessness every month.. That couple is on vacation.
If you don't mind me asking, what drove you homeless?