The Student Room Group

studs/spikes to deter homeless people?

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Original post by Ripper-Roo
Socialist


Not economically.

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In London? Surprised they didn't just put a mattress there and start renting it out for a grand a month.
How is this even a story? Building design has incorporated elements of 'disciplinary architecture' for years. The Camden Bench, for example. Almost every council bench in the country has been designed to stop homeless people sleeping on them.

It's a good idea, I think, but nothing especially new. Only The Guardian could make it into a news story.
Original post by Alfissti
Unlikely you can trip on them unless it was a deliberate attempt to do so.


Read the sentence with a different inflection:
"First person to trip, and fall on them will earn a small fortune in damages."
Interesting. How many of the people condemning this practice actually have the homeless sleeping on their doorsteps, and wouldn't attempt to get them to leave if they were?

I'm sure some of you would be okay with that, I'm sure some of you would go some steps further in an attempt to help these people...

i don't condone this action, but I'd have to have a long hard look at myself first and question whether I'd actually do if I were confronted with this situation.
Reply 45
Avatar for Hectic
Hectic
Sir George Young once said: "The homeless are what you step over when you come out of the opera."

The real issue is that this deterrent is needed in the first place. Regardless of the status of the flats (private property), it's cowardly to have to pay money to have these studs installed rather than ask the homeless person to move. Why not spend that money on some sort of gate? It's absolutely dehumanising to homeless people.

Of course people can be intimidated by a homeless person camping next to where they live, but I'd rather that than this ridiculous method. But then do these people cogitate on the variety of reasons for homelessness rather than rely on preconceived notions? Not everyone who is homeless is a drug addict - some are homeless because they can't afford high rent, for example. It's the typical 'me, me, me'...
Original post by redferry
Just to point out homeless people are far more likely to be a victim of violence than dish it out.


Yes but if I saw a man sat under my doorstep I wouldn't necessarily know if they were homeless or looking for someone to attack
They money would be better spent donated to homeless charities, mobile food kitchens and hostels instead.


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(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by jelly1000
Yes but if I saw a man sat under my doorstep I wouldn't necessarily know if they were homeless or looking for someone to attack


You can generally tell when someone is homeless :confused:
The funny thing is that when you go round cities there are loads of unused office spaces deserted houses and buildings going to waste owned by the rich.

There are examples even in rural areas where the rich have 'holiday homes'.


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Original post by datpiff
The funny thing is that when you go round cities there are loads of unused office spaces deserted houses and buildings going to waste owned by the rich.

There are examples even in rural areas where the rich have 'holiday homes'.


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Oh absolutely. There is plenty that the rich can do.

That said. What have you done to help? I can tell you I personally have done very little to help the homeless, so I'm apprehensive to start pointing the finger at others when I'm guilty of the exact same thing.
Original post by the mezzil
But they are a burden.


Speak for yourself.
Original post by The Socktor
Speak for yourself.


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Original post by Hectic
.

Of course people can be intimidated by a homeless person camping next to where they live, but I'd rather that than this ridiculous method. But then do these people cogitate on the variety of reasons for homelessness rather than rely on preconceived notions? Not everyone who is homeless is a drug addict - some are homeless because they can't afford high rent, for example. It's the typical 'me, me, me'...


You would rather someone was intimidated physically by a homeless person in the doorway of their own home than a homeless person seeing the studs and thinking "huh, well I guess I won't be sleeping there tonight"?

What odd priorities you have.
Original post by Viva Emptiness
You would rather someone was intimidated physically by a homeless person in the doorway of their own home than a homeless person seeing the studs and thinking "huh, well I guess I won't be sleeping there tonight"?

What odd priorities you have.


Homeless people aren't intimidating. You have more intimidating people in cities like drug dealers, rowdy and drunk gangs of men, gangs of 'yoot' on street corners, etc.


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Reply 55
Avatar for Hectic
Hectic
Original post by Viva Emptiness
You would rather someone was intimidated physically by a homeless person in the doorway of their own home than a homeless person seeing the studs and thinking "huh, well I guess I won't be sleeping there tonight"?

What odd priorities you have.


Yes, what "odd priorities" I have caring about the homeless, rather than make this about me and my property. If you read on, instead of ignoring the significant part after, you'll realise why I said what I said. People have preconceived notions of what homeless people represent, and that's why - most of the time - they are intimidated. Due to coalition cuts, many hostels have been closed down. It's staggering how many homeless people suffer from mental health problems and simply can't cope with their situation. So, no, I don't care whether people feel intimidated. What the owners of the property have done is pass the problem on - no one seems to want to deal with the situation effectively and efficiently. Capitalism would rather watch these people suffer - oh, let's just pass the problem on. Frankly, I am disappointed at the decline of ethics and morality in this country.
(edited 9 years ago)
But spikes though?
Original post by HeyFromNY_USA
But spikes though?


It is studs not spikes.

Most of them are flat top around 1.5" in diameter. There are some variants that has a rounded top.
This will simply move the issue to somewhere else. Not that a person without a roof over their head should be seen as a problem, of course.

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Looks like a pretty stupid workaround to a badly designed doorway - if that space in the guardian photo had been bricked in when they designed the building it wouldn't have attracted rough sleepers in the first place and no one would have given a monkeys.

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