Enabling the homeless to sleep in public spaces like park benches and in front of businesses doesn’t make them safer. It creates more conflict for them, leaves them exposed (to people and the elements), and worsens how the community sees them.

And taking away the littlest comfort of not having to sleep on the cold floor next to the bench solves this how?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It doesn't, providing spaces for them and working on improving access to help does.

How is letting them sleep on benches helping them?

[–] Gabu 31 points 9 months ago (2 children)

A little thought experiment, since you're having trouble following what should be a self evident line: would you rather sleep in your bed or on the floor, if you were forced to choose? Now if I swap your bed with a bench?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Obviously a bench is better than the ground, but what I'm saying is a system that gives you some form of shelter is better than both. Even if that's a tent and a space heater, or a room in a shelter (which I know can be problematic in their own way).

[–] Gabu 35 points 9 months ago

Thankfully, people are capable of doing more than one thing at a time. Removing hostile architecture doesn't stop you from campaigning for better policies nor from organizing a leftwing bloc.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That is not the system that exists. The system that exists tries to rob you of your last bit of dignity by denying you even this little bit of comfort. So, staying in the system that actually exists in reality, are you still against removing those bars?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

I'm not in favor of adding the bars in the first place, but just removing the bars individually is setting some homeless person up for trouble. I've seen cops hassle guys for collecting cans, when they sleep on the bench that used to have a bar those cops are going to take it on the homeless.

I'm saying advocate to change the system. Advocate to remove the bars, advocate for better shelters for the homeless than a bench.

[–] Telodzrum 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You’re providing a false dichotomy. Those aren’t the options available.

[–] Gabu -5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'm not providing a false dichotomy because no dichotomy exists, my illiterate friend.

[–] btr_fan87 0 points 9 months ago

Supporting systems that provide shelter is good. Removing the middle bar is also good. You don't have to choose one or the other. You can do both. There is no dichotomy. Your previous comment dismissed removing the bars because there's other, better things you could do. That's a false dichotomy because you aren't limited to one or the other. You're an asshole for resorting to ad hominem and a dumbass for failing to understand their argument.