I forgot all about this topic. Sorry for the late reply.
The Fool said:
Maybe if Luke spent some time with people who deal with homeless alcoholics on a daily basis he would get a better perspective and drop the chest thumping.
BWAH-HA-HA!
It just so happens I
am someone who worked with homeless alcoholics on a daily basis! And I have been a drug and alcohol abuse volunteer in jails and prisons for over nine years.
When the street cretin first approached us, my attitude was "There but for the grace of God go I." It is always that way with me. That is one reason I did not give him money. I did not want to enable his drug problem. But I was more than compassionate and reasonable in my response and behavior toward him. I actuallly consider such people as my brothers under the skin, Fool.
But once he became aggressive, things change. I mean, would
you walk up to total strangers and demand money and when they didn't hand any over, become more aggressive and even go so far as to strike their kid's chest? No, of course not. You
have to be dangerously insane to do such a thing. Get it?
edited to add: Due to my experience with some of these people, I know exactly what goes through their minds. Yes, most of them are harmless, but I've had plenty of convicts tell me their thought processes during their lives of crime and living on the streets. I often come home from my prison visits with spiders crawling in my head.
I'm experienced enough to know, most of the time, who is dangerous and who isn't. And my instincts were screaming this guy was extremely dangerous.