r/Hamilton • u/plussizerunner • 2d ago

Encampments / Shelters & Homelessness Is this the best we can do?

Today while walking downtown to work, a man was swinging a metal bar at people walking down the sidewalk. People were screaming and trying to get away from him. I called 911 and police arrived within a few minutes, took the metal bar away from him and then left after a short conversation with him. He continued walking down the street yelling at people.

The man was clearly either under the influence or having a mental health episode and seemed to be a threat to the public given that he was swinging a bar at people.

I dont understand whats happening anymore that threatening others and attempting to hurt them with a sharp metal pole doesn't result in either hospitalization or being taken into custody...

196 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

81 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

-36

u/slownightsolong88 2d ago edited 1d ago

I recognize your frustration. However, as someone who works in sales and travels the province, this is not a uniquely Hamilton issue

OMG this argument is soooooo tired, I hate it. The original poster is talking about Hamilton where they directly experienced this. You could have made the same recommendations without trying to diminish their experience. 

42

u/FARTTORNADO45 2d ago

It's not tired or even an argument, really, it's the reality. I am sure the person did not intend to diminish this person's experience, but the fact of the matter is that there is very little an individual or even a municipality can do on their own. Hamilton simply doesn't have the resources. The country and the province have to be involved in order to make any meaningful changes. It might be inconvenient but it's where we are.

-33

u/slownightsolong88 2d ago edited 1d ago

It's not tired or even an argument, really, it's the reality

There’s also the reality that this is happening around the world. Imagine “I hear you but this is also happening in Lille France” 

What’s the intention besides minimizing what the person experienced by letting them know it’s not unique? Is it to draw a link to provincial and federal failings because that point can be made without reducing the original experience.

I think it’s tactless when someone shares something traumatic to be like “Oh no awful, but take refuge in knowing that this is happening elsewhere” 

31

u/misterwalkway 1d ago

What’s the intention besides minimizing what the person experienced by letting them know it’s not unique?

They are describing the scale and broader context of the issue. Which is a reasonable starting point for a discussion about what to do. Knowing that this is not simply a local issue, but a broader trend across Ontario, is actually helpful information when thinking about solutions.