Trying to buck the herd mentality
Gemma is trying to be a better person in this week's The Good Life column...
What do you do when you pass a homeless person on the street? Do you dig into your pocket in the hope that you will find some change, cross to the other side of the street or simply ignore the person sitting with their hands out. Me, I avert my eyes and pretend that I didn’t even notice them. I usually have my airpods in, so I hope this will add to the part I am trying to play. In my defence, I never usually carry cash but, even if I had some, I would probably do the same thing. I’m not proud of this but I’m just being honest.
A while back I was shopping on Boulevard de Waterloo with a friend. It’s a particularly up-market area, I can afford to shop on one side of the street (just about). As for the other side, well I just don’t venture over there. Brands like Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and the likes wave over at me but my bank account (and sensibility I have been blessed with) keep me firmly on my side of the street.
Saturday was in full swing, you would find more manners in Cavan’s mart. People really go all out, placing as many labels as they can on their body and some even go to the extreme lengths of placing their dogs in a pram. If I ever needed to beg, this is the last place I would go. Some of these pockets are so deep, people can’t even reach into them.
Despite this, it was here where I witnessed somebody properly begging for the first time. Partially blocked by crowds of people, I thought the person had fallen over. I then realised the hunched figure was kneeling with their head facing the pavement, elbows on the ground and hands pressed together, pleading with strangers to drop something into his cup.
Nobody passed any heed on the person. I stared but I didn’t give anything, which is probably worse. I asked my friend if she ever gives anything to homeless people when she passes them by, already knowing the answer given that we were a good 10 steps past the person at this stage. I think I asked to make myself feel better or something.
As humans we find it easier to do or not do something by what everybody else does - herd mentality, the bandwagon effect, whatever you want to call it, we are all victims of it.
My friend told me, when she was living at home with her parents, she was better at giving money to the homeless. The way she described it as a habit led me to believe that it wasn’t just a once off thing but that she often gave out money. Now though, she told me she can barely afford her rent each month so she doesn’t do it anymore. She concluded by telling me she really needs to start again. I really liked her answer because it was honest.
There are so many homeless people in Brussels. In March 2021, there were 4,380 homeless adults and 933 homeless children. No doubt the current economic crisis has increased this figure significantly. In August 2022, there were 10,568 homeless people in Ireland. With figures continuing to hit record highs, you really could get trapped into thinking that your couple of euros would not make a difference. I’ve thought this so many times but I know it’s just an excuse.
On Saturday morning, having not spent too long in my bed, I rolled out of it bright and early to do my food shopping before the rest of Brussels did the same. A few of us hit Delirium the night before, a bar with the largest selection of beers in the world with over 2,000 to choose from (a tourist trap, but at least I can say I was there).
As I was walking out of the shop, there was a homeless person at the entrance. I was juggling everything - shopping bags, purse, phone and worst of all a heavy jumper on a sunny day. I knew I had some change so I dropped everything and took a two euro and a one euro coin out of my purse.
It’s all I had other than brown coins or a €20 note. I placed the coins in the lady’s hands and her eyes immediately followed. Disappointment crossed her face. She did thank me but I knew by her reaction that she would have liked it to be more. I was afraid I insulted the woman but then I thought about it. I am in no way flush, especially coming to the end of the month, when rent and electricity are due.
I did feel as though I had done something good, I know it wasn’t much but I hate walking past and blatantly ignoring someone asking for help. So when I can, I think I will try to give money to the homeless a little more often.
* Gemma Good is from Killeshandra and a third year journalism student in University of Limerick
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