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  5 1 My approach would be to not do anything, (bearing in mind that it sounds like someone else will). I know that this may be considered a slacker attitude, and what happens to society if we all take no action blahblahblah, but I would not want it on my conscience if he were to be moved on. There is a bit in Chapter 3 of the Geeta that I recall being along the lines of "Do your duty as prescribed for action for duty's sake is superior to inaction. But to do the duty of another is fraught with danger." Only you can know if it is "your duty" to do something about him. If it is just a matter of personal comfort, probably not. I do not think it is your duty, either, to try and improve his life. That is not (just) because I'm a heartless cow but because it is not the case that seeing another in want automatically makes it incumbent upon one to interfere to change things. I'm expecting people to disagree with me on this answer! ozchick answered in Public Transportation 10 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 0 Just ask him to not smoke in the bus stop. He might not realize that it bothers people; tell him it bothers you and ask if he can not smoke, at least while you're there. I'm guessing that he's lonely and wants someone to talk to. I've had the same experience with people (who may or may not be homeless) at bus stops and on the street. If you don't feel like talking, you can tell him that; be polite but firm. If you feel threatened or think he's a harm to himself or others, you can call Metro, or ask a bus driver what to do. If anything Metro will send out the sheriff and they probably will just tell him to move along, which is the main way our society deals with homeless people. asteria answered in Public Transportation 10 months ago | Report 7 comments by Finger Games, keshmeshi, and kitschnsync… 0 0 I agree, just because he is homeless doesn't mean he's not an understanding human being. Treat him like you would treat any other annoying bus stop patron. Be polite, unoffensive and straight forward. Finger Games commented 10 months ago | Report 0 0 When I see someone who's pretty obviously been homeless for some time doing something that's frowned upon or flat-out illegal, it never occurs to me to simply ask them to stop. It's not so much that I'm afraid of them; it's more that I assume that they know full well that people don't like what they're doing and either don't care or are desperate enough to keep doing it until the authorities make them stop. The guy in this bus stop sure sounds like he's chronically homeless, which means he knows full well that he's not supposed to be camping out in a bus shelter. Smoking in public outside isn't illegal (yet), so the guy is well within his rights to tell Sphinx to get bent if she asks him not to smoke around her. I also can't fathom a smoker who doesn't know that secondhand smoke bothers others. keshmeshi commented 10 months ago | Report 1 0 Smoking outside isn't illegal, but it is illegal within 25 feet of a bus stop. kitschnsync commented 10 months ago | Report 0 0 Yep, kitchnsync, smoking in the shelter is illegal, and that's clearly posted in this particular shelter. But yeah, keshmeshi, I can't imagine he doesn't know that a) it's illegal and b) that's the reason all the people waiting for the bus are standing outside of the shelter in the rain. And call me crazy, but I'm not really too gung-ho about politely and firmly telling him that I don't want to talk...a little too much experience with men who are already showing that they love to ignore my obvious lack of interest (responding shortly and saying, "okay, I'm going to go back to reading now", replying monosyllabically, not replying, moving away, etc.). I've kind of solved this problem by just waiting for the bus half a block away and moving up to the stop when I see it coming, but the fact of the matter is that it's awkward, it's annoying, and I can't really use the shelter or the stop as intended. Looks like my options are confront him, continue not to engage, or report him. I guess at some point he'll either move on, I'll get used to him, or he'll do something that makes me freak out and call metro or the cops... I just thought there might be solution I wasn't seeing that didn't involve me putting myself at (what I see as, based on experience) unacceptable risk. Sphinx commented 10 months ago | Report 0 0 It sucks that you can't use the bus shelter, and it is certainly your right to enjoy that public amenity. But is it really a big deal if you have to wait 15 minutes in the rain? This is Seattle, and I'm sure you are prepared for it. Even if you get wet in those 15 minutes without a roof over your head, this guy is homeless 24/7. If he gets wet, it's much harder for him to dry off, and there is a good chance he doesn't have a dry change of clothes. I'm not defending this guy's actions. Setting up a camp in a bus stop, smoking and drinking in it... He's making himself a bit of a nuisance. But your inconvenience doesn't really compare to the problems he is facing, even if he is an inconsiderate asshole. I'd say the compassionate thing to do is to allow it. He won't be there forever. kitschnsync commented 10 months ago | Report 0 0 You have meet this man and I haven't. If you feel approaching him is going to be dangerous for you by no means do so. Trust your instincts first and foremost. However he may not be a threat, simply oblivious because he has been living outside social norms for a while. The homeless are mainly ignored and avoided so this isn't going to make him think he doing something wrong, it is how people usually act around him. Homeless generally live outside the law so he probably knows it's illegal but doesn't care. Homeless often don't have much practical choice expect to break laws. He doesn't know it bothers you though. I'm a smoker myself and sometimes i forget other people are bothered. That said I am in no way encouraging you to talk to him if you think he is threatening. Maybe you could walk to the next bus stop if it's only a few blocks away. He will move on. Most homeless don't stay in one place for too long to avoid police and neighbor harassment. For your sake I hope he moves on soon. Finger Games commented 10 months ago | Report 0 0 We're on the same page, kitschnsync, I'm not going to do anything unless he does something I think is a serious problem... it's just a bit frustrating as that's my regular bus stop and I'm often in a lot of pain from chronic health stuff and would like to sit down or be out of the rain while waiting. Sphinx commented 10 months ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  1 0 I don't know what you can do other than report him to Metro. Keep in mind that their "solution" may be to remove the bench in the shelter. keshmeshi answered in Public Transportation 10 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Asteria's got it: tell him / ask him. But I'd take it a step further and try a little guilt trip pressure too - tell him his choice is his choice, but you're going to have to go to another stop because of what he's doing. If you can do it in spanish and/or improvised sign language, and pretend you don't habla the ing-layz, then all the better, as that 'might' discourage him from the super talkative crap. You could also go for value-added request, and let him know about a free meal or clothes program -if this applies- during the same time as your usual busstoppery. RacerX answered in Public Transportation 9 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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