We're running this ongoing thing by F.B. Drake III ('Rusty' to his friends around the newsroom) in the Tidings in which Drake tells simple, short stories about his experiences since becoming homeless. His "Street Stories" column is straight-forward, gritty, but not overblown. He's just describing his situation. With his experience in journalism, he's the perfect person to really tell how an average human can fall between the cracks. People are responding in typical Ashland responder fashion: some ignorant, some angry, some ugly, some understanging and some approaching angelic. I don't respond to responses on stories. ever. So I might as well start now on some of the things people have commented on Drake's first story:
On Feb 9, 2009 at 01:55 PM, LMTEE said:
So...explain the "situation" that forced you to leave on short notice. My bet is that YOU did something stupid to cause it. Prove me wrong. Before you ask us to understand your hardships, tell us how they came about.
my response: Everybody does stupid things all the time. the homeless experience is not linked to doing stupid things, or we'd all be on the street. And nobody is asking you to understand drake's hardships. that's your own conscience tweeking you. try listening to it.
On Feb 9, 2009 at 02:20 PM, Zak said:
A curiossity question to the DT. How much will F.B. receive for this article. Or does freelance translate into unpaid?
me: look up "freelance" in a dictionary.
On Feb 9, 2009 at 02:36 PM, iamyou said:
I've been a homeless Tribune/Tidings employee. Their wage really didn't help, but it kept me from starving. Eating the stale donuts and other empty calories in the office, I was able to save a few coins for a beer at the end of the day to drown out reality.
me: just weird. but honest. I like it, unless it's a fiction, in which case I love it. good comment.
On Feb 9, 2009 at 03:47 PM, wegngis said:
So the dude maintains his cell phone and uses his last nickels on a Coke. Wow, talk about priorities. He could have bought a taco at "the Bell" and gotten a little protein at least. Oh, and caffeine is a diuretic, that Coke most likely robbed you of water while falsely quenching your thirst.
me: Glass houses! Glass houses!
On Feb 9, 2009 at 10:49 PM, PaulKay said:
It takes balls to write about hard reality, intimately so, knowing that you'll be judged, cruelly so. Please keep writing, wherever your path may go. Thank you.
me: Yes. being homeless is not a source of pride. takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there like drake's doing.
On Feb 9, 2009 at 11:09 PM, dandelion said:
The Ashland community must come together to help this productive yount man. With food, dough and a place to live. His situation touches us all in this shaky economy.
me: that would be great. But remember, he's just the homeless guy in the public eye because he's writing for us. Many others also are in need.
On Feb 10, 2009 at 07:50 AM, nontribal said:
If wholly true, F.B.'s account has a lot of potential to inform, dispel negative attitudes, and of course, to entertain. Hope we get to read installments on this reality-account. Life has a way of eating people's lunch and we all can stand being reminded that we are not in total control.
me: this person gets it.
Drake's words are clearly getting people to think, and that's the important thing. The Tidings will continue to run his daily entries barring any unforseen changes. If he finds a place to live, that won't be the end of the story, but it will likely be the end of Street Stories. I'm grateful for the chance to get a glimpse of his experience, but I hope it doesn't drag on too long. I look forward to the final entry: Rusty comes home.
