Street Kid Etiquette

I've compiled this guide of etiquette for folks on the streets because based on my experiences with homebums and new travellers alike, it is direly needed.
Now, that is not necessarily to blame these individuals (although in some instances, I wonder just how privileged their upbringing must've been); the fact of the matter is that there is simply a lack of old heads to show them the ropes.

According to Nan Roman, CEO, National Alliance to End Homelessness during an interview with PBS in 2021, homelessness has been on the rise since 2016, "it has been creeping up every year, including this year, as far as we know." (Source)

Despite such a large influx of people ending up on the streets, many who have already been out on the streets are dying off at a fast rate. Honestly, I'm not even going to bother backing that up with an external source. I can confirm, a large number of homebums and travellers I have met, they've died. This year alone (2023), three of my friends have died, along with three others I didn't know very well. Now, that's a bit more of a minute number compared to the thirteen travellers I'd heard of passing away in 2020. However, it doesn't matter how large the number is, these are still actual people being killed off by suicide, fentanyl, or straight up murder.

Now I'm just really bummed and angry.

Anyhow, my entire point is that we're being killed off before we're able to teach new street kids basic etiquette. Then we end up with assholes who bring their yuppie housie mentality out here and trash everything and treat other street kids with such hostility and violence, not helping each other out at all.

So, if you've ended up out here as either a homebum, traveller (my condolences, it's rough, I don't really know what else to say), or traincationer who's decided to go on an adventure and experience homelessness for funsies, this is for you:

(Note, there is a Hobo Code of Ethics that was created in the 19th century during a convention. I'm taking a bit from that and tweaing it. But honestly, that shit is so fucking outdated and created by the working man for the working man. This ain't for no working men aiming for self-sufficiency, this is for the living people aiming for a stronger community)


1. Shit in a bag.

If you can dig a six foot plus hole and use that as a toilet, that's great. But anyone who actually lives outside and is constantly on the move understands that digging a hole is far too physically taxing, as well as time consuming (you also gotta have access to a shovel).
However, instead of being a nasty ass west coast homebum who shits all over perfectly good sleep spots or just anywhere exposed, shit in a bag.

If you're in a place like New York or New Jersey that discontinued plastic shopping bags, nab some free doggy shit bags. Shit in some purses in the free clothes drop-off. Be creative. Just shit into something that you can wrap up and toss in a dumpster.
The dumpsters are locked where you're at? Chuck your shit bag on top of or beside the locked dumpster. It's the business' problem now.


2. Be respectful to the locals.

Unless they disrespect you first. Even then, simply don't take your frustrations out on a local who has had nothing to do with your mistreatment.
They live there. They might be struggling as well. None of us can truly say what a person is going through.


3. Don’t steal.

Shoplifting from a corporation doesn't count as stealing.

This kinda goes hand in hand with being respectful to the locals. Don't be borrowing without permission, don't be taking unattended items, no matter how insignificant they seem, and absolutely do NOT be mugging anybody...
That is of course unless they're some trustifarian flaunting their money and not even sharing. I mean, what do you expect is gonna happen when you hang around a bunch of impoverished people and rub your money in their faces?


4. Share the wealth.

Street kids ain't got much, but we share what we have with each other anyway. That's how we survive, looking out for and sharing what we have with each other, even if we've got beef with each other.

If you're freshly out on the streets, don't bring that scarcity mentality out here with you. There's no need to hoarde.


5. Share the fly spots and don't cut off spange.

I've had literally one, only one homebum in the past five years who stopped flying when I showed up and gave me the fly because "I'm from here, you're just passing through; you need it more".
Older travellers have told me that homebums used to be less aggressive and territorial. Apparently, they used to help travellers out. Such as, share some food, or point us in the direction of bum feeds or food banks or good fly spots. Now, they'll stand at the fly spots all day everyday and become violent if you even ask to get an hour or two to try to make a bit of money to get outta town. Some even have the nerve to set up their methed out tent cities at the hop outs.

Anyway. Share the fly spot doesn't refer to flying the same spot at the same time.
A few years back, I was flying an intersection. For the first twenty minutes, I was getting kick downs here and there. But then suddenly, the kick downs just stopped. Stood there thirty minutes before giving up. After walking down the road, I finally saw why.
In the median, just around the bend, was the crew of drunk-ass traincationers who I had just spoken to earlier and specifically said I'd be going out to fly the intersection.
They had completely cut off my spange.


6. Try not to constantly bum.

"Get a job". Get on your knees and give me one.
Seriously though, it's not so easy to just "get a job" I'm sure we all know that well. It's especially not easy when you just want some temporary work for a week or so.
Nowadays, you can't really walk into a business and ask to work for the day or a week without get sneered at and demanded to leave.
Harvest jobs have pretty shit pay too for something you're dedicating at least a good month to.

However, sometimes, somebody may offer you some work for the day (such as lawn care, construction, clean up, etc .). It can and does happen, just not often enough to survive off of. When it does happen though, try to take the opportunity, if possible. If you do the job well, they might even give you their contact info and you can have a possible source of income whenever you're passing through that area.


7. Flying a sign IS a job.

If you're somehow more charismatic than us awkward autistics who can't hold a conversation, or you simply have family members with connections, it literally does not make you better than the rest of us who don't constantly have work.
Not to mention, many of us have animals. Accommodations can be awful limiting.

Flying a sign is emotionally and physically exhausting. It's essentially advertising yourself and customer service. Not to mention the bullshit you have to deal with from drive by shit talkers and cops.

"Flying a sign contributes nothing to society." What the hell does working at McDonald's contribute? Diabetes? Besides, I hope this society burns to the ground.

Along with flying a sign, there's also playing music, and getting donations for your crafts (such as drawing, knitting, etc.). It's a fucking job.


8. Don't wear out the handouts.

Get what you need to help you leave, and move on. Quit draining locals dry. There are thousands of us out here, don't blow it up for the next street kid by spanging the same spot for days on end.


9. Learn to handle your substances.

I don't give a fuck if you drink or do drugs. But learn your fucking limits and do it responsibly.
Especially if you become violent or a kleptomaniac, have some fucking respect for those of us who have to deal with your ass. And I know for a goddamn fact people can control themselves when they're dopesick or DTing and not steal from people so they can getta fix. I've seen firsthand people deal with the sickness instead of stealing from me or anyone else in order to get their fix.

And don't you fucking do any powders without a friend or someone who can get you help if necessary. Fucking knock that solo shit off. And make sure the person with you knows CPR.


10. Know how to help someone who's overdosed, and keep narcan on you.

"No, thanks, I just smoke weed." Bro, you can't narcan yourself, this is just in case someone around you OD's. But I knew right off the bat he was a traincationer, he wouldn't be out here long, so I didn't push the matter.

It really doesn't matter if you're a straight edge. I myself only smoke weed, never tried anything else. However, I'm fully aware of the company I keep, and I don't plan on letting them die around me.

I'm not a medical professional, so do your own research. But this is what I've done:

Before you narcan someone, check their pulse and breathing. If they're still breathing and have a pulse but are pale and passed out, they may simply be suffering from low blood sugar (that is, if you didn't actually see them ingest any drug).
If they have no pulse and aren't breathing, try slapping them first (again, do your own research, but this has worked in the past on a few people).
Perform CPR. Especially if you don't have narcan, fucking perform CPR until the ambulance arrives (make sure you called an ambulance). A friend of mine would still be alive if the fucking dumbass dude who took off after calling an ambulance would have performed CPR on him. You clearly have internet access if you're reading this. Please at least look up a YouTube video on how to perform CPR.


11. Pick up your trash.

It's really that simple. I know, we don't have rubbish bins just lying around in the woods or jungles, wherever the fuck we go. But at least bag up your trash and try to make the effort to take it with you to a bin or dumpster each time you head to town.


12. Maintain decent hygiene.

Now, I suppose this comes down to personal preference, because we're pretty much all grown adults here and I can't be telling y'all what to do.
However, I feel it would be in the best interest of both yourself and those around you, if you brushed your teeth as often as possible, and maybe at least wipe yourself down with some wet wipes as often as possible.

I understand the obstacles we face. But I assure you, it's not too hard to keep a good teeth brushing, hair brushing, washing, AND moisturizing routine. It's not just for vanity, you'll be less likely to come down with an infection you can't afford to get treated until it's absolutely life threatening (emergency rooms are required to help with that much at least) if you tend to your hygiene. Cleaning up keeps your biofilms from festering.

13. Respect your mode of transportation.

Thank your bus driver.
Thank the person who picked you up off the side of the rode.
... Maybe don't thank the train crew, unless of course they strike up a conversation with you first.

Don't be loud or obnoxious on public transit. Don't eat or drink or smoke. Make sure your fucking "service dog" is actually trained enough to not jump on people. Basic courtesy.

Try to keep your attention on the random person who's giving you a ride. They might be chill if you just zone out on your phone, but they might also be looking for a bit of company and conversation. Hitchhiking is pretty performative. Don't fucking take anything or go through their glove compartment and such while their out of the vehicle.
Please don't do sexual favors for a ride. Or if you do, let them know that you personally enjoy it but if they creep on another traveller in need of a ride, they might get the shit beat outta them.

When you're riding a train, it stops when the crew stops it. Don't pull the fucking emergency brakes. If you do that just to get off and sightsee, I hope you get left in the middle of nowhere and die after you eat your own leg you selfish piece of shit.
Don't steal from the containers, especially when you're in a yard. Like, way to blow up the hopout for everyone else. Speaking of which:

14. Don't cause problems in a train yard.

That's literally why they bump up security, because there's either a theft or some oogley riders got caught too many times. Oh yeah, it's also really fucking dangerous and people legitimately die. I absolutely will get pissed about some dumbass wanting to "go on an adventure" getting killed because they stepped on the knuckle of a building train, thus causing an increase in security.
This shit is way too prevalent on the internet nowadays for people to make the excuse of "I didn't know any better." I'm almost fucking certain you've heard riders online warn people to not ride without having a proper mentor. It's not gatekeeping, it's making sure we don't have a hard fucking time surviving and getting outta places. Quit being lazy and try hitchhiking if you wanna travel so bad, eventually you'll run into a rider who'd possibly be down to show you the ropes.


15. Keep the road/rails clean.

We're not hippies. Don't bring that love and light bullshit out here. Don't protect pedophiles and rapists (but also be sure to not be jumping to conclusions, unless, you know, you witnessed it firsthand).

Welcome to the streets, come fuck around and get your lights knocked out.


16. Help out runaway children.

Now, I personally like to keep my distance from anything that has to do with children, because goddamnit a dirty person with a pack walking past a highschool must be trying to abduct children (they'll fit all snug in my pack, for sure).
But if you come across a runaway minor, don't leave them to be picked up by someone with bad intentions. Help them out with food, water, whatever, get their story, then figure out the best course of action.
Does their home life sound safe enough for them to go back to? Encourage them to return, maybe even spange them up some bus fare (cause if cops fuck with them while they spange for themselves, it might get bad).
Dangerous home life? They got any relatives to go to? You might have to get CPS involved. Yikes. Glad I don't knowingly encounter any runaway minors, that's a complicated mess.
But don't be trying to take them on the road with you. That's kidnapping, and you'll probably get caught real quick. I know the foster system is shitty, and abusive homes are obviously awful. But, it's best to leave minors to their adult relatives, or the system.


17. Help each other out.

I've already made this point multiple times. But seriously, help each other out.
Even if you've got beef with each other, just look out for one another. Then, y'all can either leave the beef be, talk it out, or fist fight it out.
No need for that petty "I'm just gonna let them suffer" bullshit. This is legitimate life or death, for most of us anyhow.