John Scalzi on being poor

[eridani]

The responses seem strangely familiar somehow.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2005/09/03/being-poor/

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

Being poor is four years of night classes for an Associates of Art degree.

Being poor is a lumpy futon bed.

Being poor is knowing where the shelter is.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.

Being poor is seeing how few options you have.

[shenmue]

1. Amen

[freshwest]

2. 'Being poor is seeing how few options you have.' Correct, no liberty or freedom for the poors.

[Skittles]

3. I once paid someone's rent just so they could get ahead and stop being bashed by late fees

I thought it was appalling they could not get a break from the apt complex management

[eridani]

4. I did that once also. My friend is on Social Security and Medicare now.

Thank heavens--my retirement income would not allow me to do that again.

[Skittles]

5. I tried to talk to the office folk

I didn't blame the office workers who truly did sympathize and said it happened a lot - it was corporate-directed bullshit, making profits no matter what - sickening

[Recursion]

6. Two of the most infuriating pieces of advice I got when I was off the grid

1. "Ask your landlord for an extension", and

2. "Ask your boss for an advance"

Because, you know, it's still 1952 in these people's minds.

[NBachers]

7. Being poor is venturing out onto the road in a cop-bait car with expired tags and stickers

and hoping you can be unobtrusive enough to not get pulled over again.

[JDPriestly]

8. K&R. Being poor is wearing tennis shoes in the snow and

sitting on a heating pad in the cold because you can't afford to turn on the heat.

I'm glad I don't live like that any more, but I just consider myself luckier now, not more deserving.

Being poor is not deserving being poor. Nobody deserves to be poor.