[pierrekin]

I get an incredible “narcism ick” from this writing. I wonder if other people feel the same way.

It’s so gross contrasted with the theme. The very first paragraphs start with a poor attempt to humble brag his”credentials” as not just a “normal” homeless person.

The self mythologising, the framing of negative things more like the weather than consequences of his choices.

The fact that despite privileged upbringing and working in tech in the valley he has no one willing to offer him a couch.

The most striking for me is the framing of his own grandmothers death as exceptional, proving his lineage is special.

Calling others NPCs, framing of stealing from stores as being the heroic action, even with approval from grandmother.

I feel this is getting redundant. I’d love to hear if anyone disagrees and what their thoughts are.

[anal_reactor]

> narcism ick

I think that's the whole shtick because most tech workers are so far removed from homelessness they don't even consider the possibility. It's not about the author being a narcist, it's about most people from higher social classes having some flavor of narcism.

> The fact that despite privileged upbringing and working in tech in the valley he has no one willing to offer him a couch.

Totally believable. There are very few people I'd offer a couch for more than two nights, and I imagine that in highly competitive environments, like the US tech sector, the typical situation is more grim. Look around and ask yourself - how many true friends does a typical corporate employee have? Someone they could realistically call "ay I'm going homeless can I get a bed for free for like, a few months". Most "friendships" turn out to be very superficial when tried.

> The most striking for me is the framing of his own grandmothers death as exceptional, proving his lineage is special.

This makes a lot of sense. From his point of view, his grandma was special. From your point of view, your grandma is special. The whole point of this post is the contrast between "I am special" and the world disagreeing.

Imagine a situation: someone steals all your money and frames you for pedophilia. Instantly you lose your job, all your friends distance themselves from you, you get evicted from your house. Suddenly, through sheer unbelievably bad luck, you have $5, an old jacket, and serious charges. You show up at soup kitchen in order not to starve and you see all these meth addicts, mentally ill, mentally ill meth addicts, and other types of folks from the lowest class of the society. Would you stand there thinking "ah yes, I'm equal to them, these are my homies, wassap nigga" or would your brain scream "no, this isn't happening, I'm only passing by, I'm different, why is this woman with rotting face staring at me, I need to get out of here ASAP".

[threatofrain]

> Look around and ask yourself - how many true friends does a typical corporate employee have? Someone they could realistically call "ay I'm going homeless can I get a bed for free for like, a few months". Most "friendships" turn out to be very superficial when tried.

I think a lot of people are willing to open up their couch. That story changes big time when that person has what might be schizophrenia.

[keiferski]

The article is good and worth reading. I think the author was going for a bit of a Kerouac / Burroughs style in his writing.

I have never been homeless or close to being homeless, but it seems incredibly likely that under the stress of losing my job, not knowing where my next meal is from, where to sleep tonight, etc. – I would slowly lose the ability to make the kind of rational ethical decisions you’re criticizing him for.

Heck, even going a day or two without sleep is enough to make the average functional person incapable of pragmatic, rational thought.

[drhodes]

It seems clear to me that the author was experiencing an unmedicated psychotic disorder and gallantly owning the preposterous outlook he had at the time. So, not bragging, just plainly stating the sort of bigger than life delusions that come with the territory.

[viraptor]

Which parts do you think were the delusions?