Ruley McRuleson Says...

Old Uncle Nomar wouldn't want you to get confused about this: The Cops and the Mayor are not really Big Fans of the Homeless. We are to blame for some of that. Not all of it. Strangely, it is the Cops Downtown who seem to me to be most compassionate. East and West, expect the to be Procrustean. Do not play with them!

Everywhere you go, expect there to be rules that will apply to you; as a Homeless person, which do not apply to the Normals. This is just the nature of the beast...

In this page, my old friend Ruley McRuleson is going to tell you all about the rules for any of the place you may go in this strange and wasted land... Always remember that the Normals do not see us as their equals, no matter how nice or kind they are - we are damaged goods. We are seen as "Other" from them. Holy means Other. But it is always going to be what it is going to be, and it is always just going to do what it is going to do.

Many Normals are very hostile towards the Homeless. Many are very kind. None of them are one of us. If you want to see the proof of it, just go up to any Normal and ask them to come and stay with you for a weekend. None of them have done so yet...I sure don't expect to see Mayor Soglin doing it any time soon.

Because you are Homeless your opinion will not matter to the Normals. Your lawyer, your doctor, your family, your friends, your church... None of them will see you as being, well Normal anymore... You are now somehow defective. Forget about trust are any of that jazz. It's just not going to happen. Accept it, move on.

There are a lot of very nice people out here who are willing to help you.