some people call me the space cowboy...

others dont. In my limited understanding of the homeless, there are several commonly encountered varieties. There seem to be three large groups. The first is drug addict or some other way dysfunctional. they are often begging but can usually be ignored. The second, which are particularly frightening, are the lunatic homeless. They are often talking to themselves or other people. You want to cross the street to avoid them, but they might notice you for doing something out of the ordinary, then harass you with their craziness. Sometimes they even get in your face about something that doesnt make any sense (god, speaking in a different language) At the most benign level, they will engage you harmlessly, but their mind os so addled, and their mouth so toothless, that you cannot understand what they are saying. Smiling and nodding only encourages them, the only thing you understand is a sloppy affirmation of whatever they were saying "you know what i mean" "right on", or something of the like. you might even be encouraged to make physical interaction; a high five, a chest bump, etc. in these occasions i try to simply give them the change in my pocket to appease them, because it is simply too awkward to try to understand them. The third and worst variety, is the kind of bohemian gutter punk. They are probably running away from lower middle class doldrums, and have stupid piercings. They might have a humourous sign, or a sign saying "just need 50cents to get to toledo" some ignorant shit like that. They can get feisty when you dont give them money, and are the one group that makes me wish that there still were workhouses. i dont give a fuck about your hippy bullshit, some hippies find ways to get by without begging (cooperative organic farms, printing presses for progressive literature and community newspapers, etc.) if you look like you might have a job, and are under 40, the traveling gypsy style hobos will pester you to no end for cigarettes, leftover food, and of course, money. there are tons of them in certain places; st. mark's NYC, church st. burlington, haight SF, some fucking part of montreal, and scattered throughout other places i dont know about. like chris rock said: if a homeless guy has a funny sign he hasnt been homeless long enough.