This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

[Hassan Darkside]

Saw this article shared on fb, thought it'd be worthwhile for a few folks who may want to gain some perspective. Also with the holidays coming up, if you're better off you may feel a little more grateful for what you have.

There's no way to structure this coherently. They are random observations that might help explain the mental processes. But often, I think that we look at the academic problems of poverty and have no idea of the why. We know the what and the how, and we can see systemic problems, but it's rare to have a poor person actually explain it on their own behalf. So this is me doing that, sort of.

Read more.

[WDOgF0reL1fe]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

Cant believe how much money have donated to her. It's insane.

I read that whole article and loved it. People really do need to put things in perspective.

[Lava]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

It's amazing how much easier her path would be if she didn't have kids and quit smoking.

[Skyboxer]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

Seems to me she could be better off if she changed some habits and actually tried to have a better (more uplifting/positive) attitude.

[mKoz26]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

For ****'s sake. Did the TOS change recently, or are we still against discussing politics on this forum?

You can attempt to dress it up as holiday-related if you'd like, but that doesn't change the inherently political message.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

For ****'s sake. Did the TOS change recently, or are we still against discussing politics on this forum?

You can attempt to dress it up as holiday-related if you'd like, but that doesn't change the inherently political message.

Who's discussing politics? It's only an "inherently political message" if that's what you're reading into it.

The way I read it was that she was speaking from a poor person's mindset that was developed after being impoverished and that's why, in her poor person's mentality (the loss of hope), she can justify the BAD decisions she makes.

[mKoz26]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

Who's discussing politics? It's only an "inherently political message" if that's what you're reading into it.

The way I read it was that she was speaking from a poor person's mindset that was developed after being impoverished and that's why, in her poor person's mentality (the loss of hope), she can justify the BAD decisions she makes.

Right.

Rest is a luxury for the rich.

Uhh. Okay. I'll keep reading.



A few paragraphs down the page:

The closest Planned Parenthood to me is three hours. That's a lot of money in gas. Lots of women can't afford that, and even if you live near one you probably don't want to be seen coming in and out in a lot of areas. We're aware that we are not "having kids," we're "breeding." We have kids for much the same reasons that I imagine rich people do. Urge to propagate and all. Nobody likes poor people procreating, but they judge abortion even harder.

Umm. Okay. No politics there, no sir.

...

The whole thing is a "rich people have everything easy" spiel. It's coming from HuffPo, which is the definition of impartial, non-political journalism.

The entire comments section there for the article is a political debate.

You're really telling me that this isn't posted to generate the same type of discussion or at least thoughts? Please.

EDIT: Mind you, I don't care for either side of the debate. But when the two sides of the coin of this thread's discussion are "rich people should have more empathy" and "she should make better decisions", we know exactly where this is coming from and where it's going.

[Skyboxer]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

I simply took as she was full of self pity and looking for others to blame for her situation. Nothing political but rather a mind set.

But as someone I like so eloquently says.. "I dunno too much"

[LowerWolf]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

Interesting ... it does make me thankful that I've been relatively lucky. I'm not rich, but I'm not poor either.

I agree with Skyboxer that all her "there's no reason to hope/why even try" is self-defeating. But I also found it contradictory with some other things in her piece. If there's no reason to hope/try, then why is she taking classes? Why did she write this piece (which now has been published on a national site). And she mentions cleaning her house at the beginning, so clearly she's gone from a weekly motel to a house. That sounds like progress.

[shugknight]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

For ****'s sake. Did the TOS change recently, or are we still against discussing politics on this forum?

You can attempt to dress it up as holiday-related if you'd like, but that doesn't change the inherently political message.

Funny that the person bringing up TOS and politics, is the one bringing politics in to the thread.

I didn't see anything politically related, unless you were looking for hidden meanings. But I'll be like the majority and say "I dunno too much"

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

I hate when people have to interject politics into every issue.

[NDAlum]

Re: This Is Why Poor People's Bad Decisions Make Perfect Sense

Political discussion, closed.




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