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- ritubpant, on 09/17/2008, -3/+79" Rex, 22, studies journalism and political science at San Francisco State University and currently has a 3.64 G.P.A. He's also a homeless drug addict. " Just nuts. Now that is determination towards both education and drugs. Which one of these determination will he choose, well, we will probably see that a year from now in news again.
- inactive, on 09/18/2008, -34/+99Glancing at the headline, I first thought he was a homeless college student due to the outrageous cost of post-secondary education. I lost all sympathy when I read he was a drug addict.
I wonder how he's paying for college? I can only assume his parents are giving him money. This story makes me sick. What an incredible opportunity this young man has. It's unfortunate that some people view college as a place to "find themselves". Maybe if your parents are paying tuition, but when you are paying for college yourself you tend to your educational opportunity and privilege more seriously.
I'd rather read stories that focus on the kids from a single-parent households or other difficult circumstances who made it into college and are thriving. I guess the author thinks we should have sympathy for a drug addicted kid from the suburbs who "has it tough".
--- Newsflash --- Most college students are ***** poor. My friends and I would have been homeless if we didn't pool our money together for rent. And the part about Rex making PB+J sandwiches in the library and keeping lockers in the school gym where they showered --- Most college students do those same exact things.
We eat rAmen, use library computers, and use fake personal info for food at credit card stands. It's part of the college experience and it doesn't sound like Rex is mature enough to live away from mommy yet. - janinekahn, on 09/17/2008, -2/+64Folks who romanticize homelessness always baffle me...but then again, with the rents in SF, who can blame 'em?
- eryximachus, on 09/19/2008, -1/+51As a former heroin addict, I can say a few pertinent things about this *****.
1) Needles were in 2001, when I quit, $10 for a gross. There is no reason to have needles scattered all over the floor, or to even reuse them.
2) Being a junkie is not cheap. Yeah, I lived with friends in the worst part of town by a housing project so the rent was cheap and getting a score was easy. But *****, I had a roof over my head.
3) Being a junkie is not cheap. Did I say that already? I used to spend hundreds of dollars a week on heroin, but you know what? I ***** worked. Everyone in my crew did. How else are you going to get the *****? Steal it?
4) "Homelessness is one of my passions," he says. "I'm passionately homeless. I'd love to see the skyline crumble. We should all be living in small communities, not this *****-up dystopia that's pressed on us." It's so sad how we as humans have devastated this planet," he says, drawing blood to make sure he's hit a vein. "We're complicit as Americans in the wholesale destruction of the Earth."
This kid is a ***** lunatic. First of all, high-density development is better for the environment than anything else. Unless he wants to figure out a way to slaughter 3/4 of the human population or more, getting rid of suburban sprawl and having people live in high-density housing is the simplest, most cost effective way to reduce the carbon footprint of the people. Unless this kid is some kind of genocidal lunatic, which may very well be possible, his anger is directed towards the wrong things in life.
5) I never licked my own blood, EVER. In fact, that comment makes me suspicious of the accuracy of this story. Trust me, after a while - you become a pro at shooting and minimize the blood and invest in some alcohol and cotton. Christ. This kid is going to get hepatitis or worse. - quaxon, on 09/18/2008, -1/+51I go to SF state and was a political science major. You can pretty much go to any poli sci. class there and just listen and not read a single thing or do any homework and get by with a B, A if you are good at ***** essays. I went to pretty much every single class stoned and was pulling straight A's, Its a ***** joke. I changed my major though to mechanical engineering now and the classes i have now i could never sleep through or not do any reading or homework for.
- nymphetamine, on 09/18/2008, -1/+47Um, yea, he's gonna choose drugs. Sorry to spoil the happy ending for you.
- EdwardMass, on 09/17/2008, -3/+47I wish I had the dedication and self-discipline of this drug addict.
- ltethe, on 09/19/2008, -0/+43College is tough for most of us. My roommate (and best friend) and I were near broke, starving, and living off of year old Peeps that our parents had sent to us in a "care" package.
In a moment of extreme hunger, and intolerance for the peeps and random candy crap we were subsisting on, I offered to take my last $20 and take my roommate out to the Spaghetti Factory for dinner.
We got there, sat down, and just before we ordered a member of the Denver Police Department sauntered over to our table.
I was expecting trouble, as my roommate was a hippie during that time, and managed to attract all sorts of unwanted attention. (30 minutes airport security, full drug swab of all my luggage when he dropped me off at the airport once)
In any case, the officer looked at us, then pulled a "buy one get one free" meal ticket for the Spaghetti Factory from her pocket.
"This expires tonight, and I'd hate to see them go to waste, and you boys look like you could use them."
We thanked her profusely and indulged on a comparative feast that night. He got a job, I got a job, we got loans, we got jobs at food places, because then we got money and food.
College is not easy.
I remember a girl downtown put out her hand and whined to me, "Spare some change for a starving artist?"
I pulled out my sketchpad and pens, (animation major) and retorted.
"Me too, but you don't see me sitting there."
College is not easy.
And charity belongs to those who do not ask for it. - thetruthis, on 09/19/2008, -1/+42As a fellow SF State graduate I want to say, get your ***** together! He's just one of many weirdos. Don't believe the hype. He's a journalism student, he's just exaggerating his story for a headline.
- kplo, on 04/01/2009, -0/+39that's crazy. talk about walking both sides of the line.
- Firax, on 09/19/2008, -1/+35Dugg for sweet reasoning!
"In the meantime, he's working on his journalism degree"
why?
"for the ***** of it." - carnivalofmmo, on 09/18/2008, -3/+34"I want to get a message out. I don't think we should be forced to work jobs we don't like and pay huge amounts of rent. I want to have fun in this life and help others do the same. I believe in life before death." - I appreciate that they're trying to get an education, but the sense of entitlement they show is sickening.
- lukis100, on 09/18/2008, -3/+32I haven't read an interesting original (not-political) story like this in a while. Good find!
- alimighty1, on 09/19/2008, -4/+30so he is really cheap, hates society, does drugs, and likes peanut butter?
This can describe over 70% of college students in America - Wargalas, on 09/19/2008, -3/+29Well if you're looking for a "poor kid who grew up, went to college, and is doing well", look no further then me.
Goulash, government cheese and peanut butter (in the can with the 3 inches of oil on top.
But I paid attention in school, while my mother worked LONG hours down at a factory to support her and I. After literally YEARS of paying my dues, I'm doing extremely well for myself.
Bought her a Mercedes as a Christmas present last year. I could not possibly pay her back for the sacrifices she made for me, even if I had Bill Gates type money, but I'll instill those values in my children.
Then you all wonder why I berate someone who thinks they have it "tough" when mom tells them to put down the xbox controller because it's time for dinner. - inactive, on 09/18/2008, -1/+26i was not homeless and I didn't get close to a 3.64
- kinseyincanada, on 09/18/2008, -3/+26its articles like this that make me love digg, its nice to see different and incredible stories instead of the usually Plain this McCain that, and some Apple rumor,
- inactive, on 09/18/2008, -2/+25USA cost so damn much for education. I tried to apply to some US school then I saw the "30,000$" per year. No thanks!
- MikeyMoose, on 01/30/2009, -1/+24You obviously didn't read the article - it says exactly how they're paying for college.
- positron, on 09/18/2008, -3/+24He made his choice the first time he jabbed a needle into his vein. That was not involuntary.
- connieLingus, on 09/19/2008, -0/+21i hope he never tries to get a real job at a corporation, because i was busted for mdma and pot in 2001, and still can get past HR.
to be featured in a newspaper shooting dope...well, good luck to him in the real world. - Felperus, on 09/19/2008, -0/+20I go to SFSU too. A 3.64 GPA is easy to come by if you're not a completely incompetent student. I probably showed up to half (maybe less) of my classes in the first couple years and still had a 3.85.
The kids there complain about multiple choice tests being too hard (even harder than essay answer) even though two of the choices are always something absurd.
I stood right behind a guy who was checking his midterm grade on the list the teacher posted and he held up his exam and shouted "YEAH! FIFTY PERCENT!" (in a Journalism class no less) because he actually thought an F was a good grade. Hell, the professor in that class didn't even own a television, but she still thought she could teach us about TV journalism while asking us questions about what is actually shown on Fox, CNN, etc. Oh, AND she gave us an early final and canceled the last MONTH of class so she could have a May wedding.
I took a Calculus class with a teacher who began the semester with "most students don't like the way I teach, but..." and she didn't even finish her sentence. Midway through the year almost every student was failing.
One of my English Lit professors wouldn't let us correct other students' papers because she was afraid that we didn't have a "a sufficient knowledge of the English language". This wasn't ESL; you had to pass the entry exam and pass another English course to even TAKE it.
I could go on and on, but I think my point is fairly clear. The really sad part is that the junkies in the article probably ARE getting way better grades than most other students. But it's not because they're stellar academics, it's because this school has no consistent standard for entrance, testing, placement, or grading. - inactive, on 09/19/2008, -2/+20SPOILER ALERT: He chooses drugs.
- solboldi, on 09/19/2008, -0/+18The issue is not high rent. The issue is they spend way too much on drugs.
- chaoswings, on 09/19/2008, -2/+18Despite what you would like to think he is not a smart person. I had to deal with drug addicts and every single one of them has some sort of justification for doing what they were doing. It was all just a cover up to avoid facing up to the fact that they were making a mess of their lives. Even if he graduates his drug addiction will destroy him. He needs to muster the will to seek out help.
Also I hate how people go on about how we should all go back to living in caves to save the environment. It is not realistic, the only proper solution is to try and make our technology as environmentally friendly as possible and avoid wasting resources. - zephc, on 09/19/2008, -0/+16But then you would have to live in the east bay
- inactive, on 09/18/2008, -3/+19I was absolutely shocked when I looked up McGill University in Quebec. You guys pay 3,295.84 - 6,806.14 per year for Grad school tuition. Most grad schools in the states run at least $20,000 per year. You also have year-long health insurance plans for students for $374 dollars; at my school it's $1,315.
Canada is looking better and better each day....
How long does it take to get citizenship? - CabesMojo, on 09/19/2008, -1/+16Its unreal isn't it? Its a kind of person that lives completely outside logic and reason. Oh they are so anti-establishment whoop de do. I'm going to get a message out while shooting up in an alley, take that Mr. 3 piece suit! I'll show you by freezing outside in the cold!
- Kenzan, on 09/19/2008, -2/+17Maybe it's just me, but Somehow I have a hard time accepting global-socio-ecomonic criticisms from a perfectly able-bodied, self-induced homeless guy named Rex as he shoots up Herion.
- CabesMojo, on 09/19/2008, -2/+16Yeah but how many girls do you have now in your Mech classes? Haha. I guess the paycheck at the end of the day makes up for the lack of chicks in class. I didn't find this article moving really just sort of detached.
- inactive, on 09/18/2008, -1/+14Also, a little known fact, text books make good toilet paper when your done studying them.
- MacBookForMe, on 09/17/2008, -0/+13anyway, that could be a very tough and rough decision making process:)
- DiggsOnlyJew, on 09/19/2008, -0/+13Political science and journalism, eh? I guess he'll always be homeless...
- inactive, on 09/19/2008, -1/+14"I'd love to see the skyline crumble. We should all be living in small communities, not this *****-up dystopia that's pressed on us."
Why live in the city if you hate it? I happen to like waking up and seeing a skyline and belonging to society. - blckt, on 09/19/2008, -2/+14It's good to see someone running a story about this. When I was in college I was homeless for some time and came to know a few other students who were homeless as well. Trust me it takes a huge amount of determination to keep up with school in a situation like that and I commend that guy for keeping up.
- AwsmGy, on 09/19/2008, -0/+12They're so ***** expensive it's like wiping your ass with five dollar bills.
- HanSolo69, on 09/19/2008, -2/+14Well-written article, but just sounds like a couple more spoiled brats who could go home in a second if they made one phone call.
- inactive, on 09/19/2008, -0/+11Really. If he was trying to find something "better" for himself he would get off smack, move to the country and watch grass grow.
- mephitix, on 09/19/2008, -0/+10Wow. Next time, read the article before you go off on a tirade.
- nathanChoi, on 09/19/2008, -2/+12Did you ever think it's because our tax money goes to pay for those community colleges, you tard? International and out of state students don't have to pay those taxes, thus they pay higher tuition.
Signed,
"retard from da Hood"
(go ***** yourself) - mrno, on 09/19/2008, -1/+11If you read the story, he is trying hard to get off. Jesus people at Digg are out of control.
- bixby1, on 09/18/2008, -2/+11Just keep reading Shakespeare and stealing bikes. You'll make it.
- thescimitar, on 09/19/2008, -0/+9Dugg for truth.
- TheMachine1, on 09/18/2008, -5/+14FTA
Steve:
"I'm usually a pretty depressive person," he says, lighting a cigarette and fixing a hard stare on the ground. "I've suffered from psychological problems for a long time. My whole family is ***** crazy. That's why we're out here, really. No one in their right mind would be out here doing what we're doing."
Rex:
"his grandfather drank himself to death. In high school, Rex was all over the place. Often estranged from his mother, whom he describes as an alcoholic"
That sounds like mental illness that lead to drug use. Which by the way drug, alcohol, tobacco use is near universal in schizophrenics. Not that I think these men are on schizophrenia spectrum but drug abuse and mental illness are highly comoribid things. So how much freewill did they have? - Boing, on 09/19/2008, -1/+10How about getting a ***** job...
You have no money and no place to live and you go to school? Priorties anyone? - septicmadman, on 09/19/2008, -2/+11You probably had a real major though.
- specialbuddy1, on 09/19/2008, -1/+10This article was written by a crackhead.
- BitKid, on 09/19/2008, -1/+9You do realize these guys are like 22 year old junkies, right? I'd say those kinds of sentiments are par for the course with that demographic. When I was a junkie in S.F. for about 3 years I ran into people just like these 2 all the time: Kids totally hooked on junk, but having some romantic notion of what they "could" be doing if only they were clean. That's pretty much how it is for junkies.
- janinekahn, on 09/19/2008, -0/+8Damn straight.
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