[luckodeirish]

Remember when homeless were called "bums" or "hobos"? That was much more fun.

[Prime Choice]

Remember when homeless were called "bums" or "hobos"? That was much more fun.

I remember when bums weren't proud to be bums and didn't think they were entitled to your spare change. Hell, last time I was in the northern bay area, I had bums asking me why I wouldn't give them money when I told 'em to piss off.

[The Loan Arranger]

"Remember when homeless were called "bums" or "hobos"? That was much more fun." We must be PC. Now it's: Underhoused, non-employment seeking, fermented beverage consumers...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Remember when homeless were called "bums" or "hobos"? That was much more fun.

A bum and a hobo or a tramp were not exactly the same thing.

Bums were always bums and usually had substance abuse problems. Tramps and hobos might be bums as well but there were more then a few who just liked the traveling life.

They were the "Homeless by choice"

[G L Tirebiter]

Remember when homeless were called "bums" or "hobos"? That was much more fun.

I like the UK formulation: "Rough sleepers".

[auggy]

"Remember when homeless were called "bums" or "hobos"? That was much more fun."

I sure remember.

Didn't make you feel guilty back then. That's when we knew that they wanted to live that way.

I use to want to be a hobo, when I grew up. Now that I think about it, I still do.

[auggy]

Remember when hippies were called "beatniks". I think beatniks were hippies without the drugs.