One of my big beefs about working with the public is how entitled so many people think they are. And, when asking for help, they always assume they know more than the person they're seeking to help them. I appreciate polite, patient customers because they're a rare breed these days.
Several years ago I went with some friends to serve in some soup kitchens, which was something I'd never done before. I was amazed, in a bad way, at how many of the patrons, who WERE RECEIVING A FREE MEAL, put up a fight at every turn. they complained because we had chicken and they wanted ribs. They complained because they wanted to be able to help themselves to everything (an extra this, an extra that) but because supplies are limited (it's a soup kitchen, not a freaking buffet, people!), everything was rationed to feed as many people as possible. They argued as if they were in a 4-star restaurant and expected to be waited on hand and foot.
My friends, who have worked with the homeless for many years, told me that's the secret behind many who are homeless--not all, of course, but many--believe they are too good to be working for anyone and won't take any kind of direction, which is why they don't have jobs, and of course, in turn, are homeless. I'm certainly not knocking anyone who has fallen to hard times, but I know for me, it was a life-changing experience. And I was in awe that my friends, after many years of seeing this, still serve every person with a genuine smile and a warm heart.
I live in an area now where panhandlers actually fight over the "good corners" and you often see the same people there everyday. I sometimes get to talk with a woman who works in local social services that regularly talks to and serves the homeless here and she said that many of the people they try to give care packages to refuse them--because they don't have the "right" kind of products or exactly what they wanted. She told me about one man who refused their help because they were giving out a free hygiene pack with a 3-blade razor... and he insisted that he only used 4-blade razors, and only a specific brand.
Sigh. I've come to believe that a good percentage of people's problems, including poverty, isn't so much a matter of money, but rather, pride.
Which is something I have to remind myself of as well because when my attitude turns south, I'm probably not very far from turning into the same thing.
