MetroMogul

How about non-native Houstonians then editor? I've never encountered ANYONE that has confused the two schools, especially not to the point that it needs a ridiculous name change. I'm sure it's easier to confuse Tennessee State University with Texas Southern University than UH with UH-D. Much time and money has been wasted to give a school a name that I'm sure will make it sound like a low rate junior college or Internet diploma mill.

I guess I don't get out much but people getting UHD and the University of Houston confused seems to be a phenomenon known only to certain HAIF members. Even out of towners seem to understand that UH is in 3rd Ward, not downtown and that UHD is an open enrollment campus in the UH system. Besides, why just change the UHD name and not the other campuses? This hypothetical confusion can be spread across all UH affiliated campuses.

Just face facts; UH is a decent, middle of the road university largely ignored by many but still turns out alot of successful graduates and it just happens to have a dreaded open enrollment college that caters to those pesky minorities in it's system.

All the suggested name changes are ridiculous as well.

Are you serious? Technically, that's not the cashier's job and when I worked at Wal-Mart a manager backed me up on this. A customer wanted me to unload his basket, ring up his purchase, bag, and then reload his basket. I told him, "That's not my job, sir. Things would go alot quicker if you cooperate." He refused, a manager got involved and he ended up unloading the basket and reloading it. You can't get away with being pretentious everywhere.

I remember several years back Walmart had a big sales initiative about it selling more products made in the USA than any other discounter. What a bunch of hooee that was. Kmart actually had more products for sale that were made in the USA at the time (some kind of JD Powers survey proved it). Rednecks loved it though and flocked to Walmart like it was the most patriotic thing to due.

Target is a chick store: try and find the sporting goods department, hardware or automotive. Two or three counters is all you get.

Kroger was my main grocery place until they started with all that self check out crap. If you can't provide checkers, then I go elsewhere. Their is a small grocery chain I now shop at, "Big Chief". They have checkers waiting to help you, plastic or paper, and they carry the bags to your car. The baggers all wear white shirts and ties. The prices are competitive and they take Triple Coupons for those that do that stuff.

Talk about your terrible jobs; wearing a shirt and tie to do manual labor for what amounts to minimum wage and tips.

Since when did "swarthy" become a commonly used word?

Gimmie a break....

I didn't say it was a commonly used word. I stated that the common use of the word is to describe or reference dark skin colors or complexions. Yes, it is subtle, but usually subtleties are something a working human brain can pick up upon with little problem.

But I still find it odd that I am the one being questioned and lectured on internet etiqutte when we have someone who believes that there were too may darkies at Memorial City Mall.

Explain exactly what I twisted. The thought is the same, the wording is different.

I went there in the late 90's and was shocked that blacks would dare show their face in Memorial. I'm glad they and their Katrina cousins took the Metro down to Silber.

Just say what you mean. The common use of the word swarthy is to describe someone who is of dark complexion.

Don't forget the homeless. The Lyondell crane toppled over in fear after a homeless man was spotted panhandling around the plant. I bet the homeless man was a Katrina person who slept in an abandoned apartment complex and took Metro to the plant.

That's a strange argument. You seem to feel that most individuals are of little value, unless they can identify specific contributions they make to society, excluding jobs, friends and families. This is an awfully dark and depressing view of society. I would argue that a job, friends and family, as well as volunteering or donating to charities count as contributions to society. Not everyone can contribute to the level of Mahatma Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln, but most people contribute obscurely in smaller but important ways.

Now a homeless person may be a past or future contributor, or he may be neither. That doesn't make the person any more or less human, but I would argue that most homeless draw from society more often than they give back. And the people with the McJobs are typically the ones who are working 40-60 hours a week and giving to charities or religions that should be helping these homeless people. So, by that definition, I think it's logical to argue that someone like LTAWACS is a greater contributor to society than your average homeless person.

Thank you. Comparing my humbleness to a seven year old and a ten year old illustrates the utmost maturity and the finest of debating skills.

And I ask, how so? It takes relatively little to live the life of a homeless person. The average homeless person uses no electricity or working plumbing, consumes little food, has no dwelling to build or maintain, and no car to fuel and add to air pollution. What exactly are they taking away? A few dollars from some generous person's pocket? The ambiance of a plastic townhome/entertainment district with a 20 year lifespan that will be overrun with more homeless later? You can argue that the homeless contribute to society by what they don't take from it.

Also, I find it funny that you mention working 40-60 hours a week to donate to a charity to help the homeless as a contribution then, in the same bnreath mention LTAWACS after he explicity stated the homeless should just "go away."

I mean guys, you give these reasons for disliking the homeless such as potential crime and lack of contributions but when you think about it logically, most people who commit crimes have stable dwellings and downtown, the homeless mecca for the city has one of the lowest crime rates. Plus, the homeless use far less resources than the "contributors" by basically living off of the land and scraps that are wasted. But, I suppose because they frighten you they are not even worthy of that?

lol. combat pay..

Oh, and "crime per square foot".. Who's keeping those stats?

God, if you're not black, then you might have just won the most bigoted post of the year award. Canadians? Seriously?

I am black, but I must keep to the barely contained bigoted tone of this thread.

I see everyone has strayed away or skewered my point towards something that they can actually debate instead of the initial intent which seemingly only two people understand. That's fine, anything to maintain your current line of thinking. I'm done debating the matter, I've already made my point.

I agree with you that the eradication of the homeless is a dumb argument to make, and that people can't move into places in transition and expect Eden. BUT, you only keep mentioning a person's job as their worth. A person's worth and contribution is better measured by relationships and the people they interact with. I bet you it's an easy comparison that the person with a job and family provides more in that arena than does the homeless person.

So, are you trying to infer that a homeless person has no job or family? It's those stereotypical arguments that allowed me to make my original statement in the first place.

And measuring a person's "worth" by relationships and interactions is faulty as well seeing as how you have no knowledge of a homeless person other than the fact that you are extremely angry that he dare foul your air with his presence. What he was contributing to society before his downfall is obviously of little or no consequence to you. For all you know, that bum could have been a fireman who saved countless lives, but because now, for whatever reason, his dominoes have tumbled and he's homeless all of a sudden his worth is less than some arrogant yuppie? Give me a break. This just shows how black and white most people view complex issues. Many seem to think of the homeless as mentally ill or just lazy people getting what they deserve. But I suppose that's how you all can turn your nose up at them and still sleep at night. You'd have to change your way of thinking if you actually looked at them as persons comparable to yourselves.

Red, you completely mangled my point. I was responding to MetroMogul's claim that someone with a McJob has nothing more to contribute to society than your average homeless person. My point is that most economists and politicians would disagree. Jobs are pretty important. I bet everyone on HAIF has a job and contributes to our economy. We don't live in a hunter-gatherer society.

I never said anything about removing "unwanted humans". That is just callous.

You're right, Midtown went from a third-world crime zone to neighborhood in transition. By most measures, this would be considered a good thing. But if you want to advocate for drug addicts and criminals, that's your choice. You make this too easy.

What does LTAWACS offer as an individual? If he can't lay claim to any specific contribution that would not exist if say, he were dead, he is no more useful than a homeless bum which can just as easily be replaced by another on the street. He can't be the arbiter of who is or who is not a contributor to this society if he himself can offer no unique gifts, which he doesn't so I think he should clam up and be thankful his three dominoes have yet to tumble.

And Red is not advocating for the criminal elements and drug addicts and you well know this. The extremism and hyperbole here is rampant, annoying and childish. You have the debating skills of a seven year old. I can only imagine you putting your hands on your hips with a Bart Simpson smirk after typing your reply. I guess I'll give you credit for being on par with a 10 year old. But I digress, what Red was stating is that the element you all wish to eliminate was there long before cheap cookie cutter town homes and apartments were built. Just because your average bum sees a "Coming Soon - Pretentious Dwellings" sign planted into his encampment does not mean that he will inform his brethren that it's time to go so bubble encased hipsters can live in their little world without the intrusions of that little pesky creature called reality informing them that no, the world does not revolve around the general vicinity of 2222 Smith and whole mountains (or long time bus stations) will not be moved to make it happen.

The areas mentioned are bad news, but I do take offense to them being compared to a warzone and if I were a member of the military, I'd gladly smash your face in with the butt of my rifle for comparing Fondren SW to a war zone comparable to that of Iraq or Bsonia. Ask any servicemember what they'd rather be doing; shooing Tre and 'nem away from the pool or wondering if they are going to get sniped or blown out of their vehicle in some sandy outpost and they'd gladly say the former. It's very telling though that predominantly minority neighborhoods are compared to active warzones. Are they the enemy?

And no Red, I don't come up with these gems on the Metro. I'm too busy worrying about getting to work on time. I just see posts like that and have to respond. Alot of people live in these little bubbles and they understand little how the world really works and operates. They have their nice office McJob, they have a decent six figure income, a pretentious apartment in the new trendy urban cluster, and a mildly attractive spouse and they feel the world is their oyster and they have mastered and gained full understanding of all of it's various complex problems when in fact they are the least informed and knowledgeable. When "go away" is presented as a viable option to deal with a problem on such a grand scale as the homeless, I realize I am dealing with very developmentally challenged "adults." Any child past the age of three could come up with a better solution. Wealth and elitism does not a smart person make.

A harsh response to a harsh comment.

But in LTAWACS's defense (since you are the homeless advocate), I would think employment, education, literacy, salary, home ownership, etc. would count for something in our capitalist society. If you were to ask any economist or politician, taxpayers with McJobs are pretty important to our society. They are contributors to the system, whereas the homeless usually draw from the system. I know that's a generalization, as it can go both ways, but overall, that is the big picture. But I guess your point is that the system sucks?

No, my point is to say that this little man should not say that someone should "go away" because he feels they do not contribute anything to society when he himself contributes little or nothing. Even his smug, elisitist attitude can be duplicated. He is not special in any way, shape or form and if he were to die, who would care? He has the same value and worth of a homeless man.

Amazing, I've lived in three of the worst areas mentioned and have walked others at night numerous times (including the notorious Fondren SW) and somehow I am still alive. Do you think you may be over exaggerating JUST a because of the sheer concentration of Candians and supposed "illegals."

While some of these comments were probably in jest.. there is only so much tolerance to go around.. and I've run out..

There have been bums/vagrants/hobos/human debris since the beginning of time.. No amount of compassion is going rid them of their lifestyle or habits.. or mental disease..

Compassion to me is defined as to help someone get out of a situation where they no longer need handouts..

Giving a hobo a buck for a drink or a cig does not get them out of their sitation, it prolongs it.

Shelters which provide good and/or sleep with no job training does not get them out of their situation, it prolongs it.

Then you have the change the attitudes of those who don't want help.. that is.. to be indepenent of hand-outs.. And this is the hardest part becuase you can't change someone who doesn't want to change.. (BELIEVE IN CHANGE!! WOO!! /sarc..)

So I will not give a buck to those who do not want to help themselves..If you don't want to help yourself, then you are not a productive member of society.. I don't want to see you.. Get in the railcar and go to Katy.

If they have a mental disorder.. then perhaps all this money being spent on shelters could be diverted into housing at a mental facility where they can get proper treatment..

IMHO hobos are as much an eyesore as grafitti, maybe more so.. If the city was serious, "Bonez" White would pass an ordinance to fine property owners who put up with the hobos on their property.. but since most of them live in city owned parks, I don't see this ever happening.

I am not Jesus.. I'm not the holy roller who has to be compassionate like him.. I'm a realist.. I want my city to be livable and be able to enjoy parks and outdoor recreation with my kids without the smell of urine permeating the air and some ____ stained human debris asking me for another handout.

No thanks.. I already paid my taxes..

Stop, just stop, lol. Your righteous indignation is hilarious! You, my friend, in your bubble, cannot and never will understand the gravity of the situation. Just know that the average American is only three domino tumbles from being under a bridge themselves. And you whine about the handouts but then you fail to grasp the fact that if these "mental institutions" are to be built, YOU, the taxpayer will be funding them at a cost much more than $1 handed over to a bum. It's simple math really, even pee stained human debris could have figured that one out.

And what's with this tax payer elitism anyways? You pay taxes, I pay taxes, bums even pay taxes when they buy that 40 ounce. Stop throwing it out there in arguments or impassioned rants like the whole of society is on the back of your paltry contributions.

I agree with you. They do need to go away. They serve no purpose in our society.

That's an interesting statement, good sir. I have to ask then, what makes you better than a homeless bum using his trousers as a toilet and a sidewalk as a bed? I mean, you most likely have a cookie cutter McJob, which provides a cookie cutter life for you and your family (if you have one). With the right training and skills (not even college), I'm quite certain the homeless bum you are turning your nose up at can do your job just as well as you, if not better. I mean, think about it; if you didn't exist there'd be some other stiff in your position, some other man pleasing your girl/wife/male partner and your parents would just love someone else. With that said, what exactly are you contributing to this society that is so worthwhile? This society doesn't need you or your meager contribtutions to function. If you were dead, this world and civilization would continue to operate without skipping a beat. Now, isn't that amazing? You're no more useful to this society than a homeless person as you and your skillset are wholly replaceable and interchangeable with someone else. The only real difference between you and a bum is that the bum does not have the means to vocally express and display anger at your worthlessness.

People over there say some of the most rude, vile, hateful, and racist things I've ever heard. I think we behave much better.

I noticed that yesterday in an article about FM1960. The three main reasons for the decline where Katrina "people," Metro, and apartment complexes. These reasons are pretty um, "Canadian" if you get my drift. I found them blaming Metro for the decay of any previously well kept neighborhood hilarious because Metro can barely seem to tie its on shoes at times, let alone orchestrate the decline of a sleepy suburb. Average A. White that posts on that board seems to believe that Metro runs a line out somewhere and decay develops around it instead of Metro running a line into an already decaying area to take advantage of it. To do otherwise would mean Metro is on the cutting edge of providing regional transportation, which it is not.

And I have also learned that you can blame Katrina People for anything whatsoever. Property values decline; Katrina people. Crime rates go up; Katrina people. Schools go broke; Katrina people. Gas prices high; Katrina people. Foreclosures, credit crunch, and near recession, yes, Katrina people. They might as wll just say the N-word though and be done with it. We know what you really mean.

Well, this at least shows that Metro caves in to all races and social statuses. The line makes the most sense going down Wheeler to Ennis. In fact, at one point it went straight through TSU and on down Wheeler to UH and then to the Eastwood TC. TSU objected to a rail ine going through the middle of campus (though there was one there for almost 40 years of it's existence) so they moved a portion onto Alabama, but at least it still ran by the school. Now, it's going to miss TSU entirely.

A couple of murders, blacks, and apartment complexes and an area is a "ghetto" now? 5th Ward is a ghetto, Westchase is a middle class suburb prone to crime problems like any area in a large city.

There's a very old looking telephone pole in Bellaire right at Beechnut @ Rice basically. It sits along the bayou off Rice behind a McMansion. It's a cross bearing pole and is probably one of the oldest relics remaining in the neighborhood.

Metropolis is still packed on Thursdays. It was the most crowded I've seen ANY club since the heady days of 2004. Of course it has a "thug" crowd I'm sure you all wouldn't subject yourself to.

Scott Gertner's is a pretty popular spot on Richmond as well.