I'm sorry to play devil's advocate, but I just don't get these type of experiments. There's a lot more to being homeless than just not sleeping inside of a house.
Homeless people usually don't have a roof period. If it rains they get wet. If it snows they freeze. If they get harrassed by the cops or someone else they have to walk away. They can't drive to the other side of town and stop for a cappuccino on the way there.
They can't go to McDonalds at 6:00 am for hot cup of coffee and a McMuffin. You might see them going through the dumpster behind McDonalds, but not inside.
Plus, you're going to soup kitchens when you have money in the bank? I hope no actual homeless people end up not getting a meal because you got there first.
I know you understand all of this, but I think if you really want to help homeless people, why not volunteer at the soup kitchen instead of eating their food? Or gather up some blankets and take them to the park at night. By having a car, a house, and money in the bank, you can do a lot more for the homeless than by pretending to be like them.
This is just like when Deborah Norville spent a night in jail for a television report, or when Tyra Banks donned a fat suit to see what it would be like to be fat. They got in front of the cameras and cried because of their "horrible experiences", but then went back to the lap of luxury, while all the prisoners stayed in jail, and all the fat people got fatter.
Unless you're actually in jail, fat, or homeless, you will really never know what it's like -- so by playing this role you're only feeding your own ego thinking that you're doing something great for humanity, when nothing could be further from the truth.
I hope you never get the urge to jump from a bridge just to see what attempting suicide feels like!  |