When someone calls you a bumb

[schoonandhobbsrecycling]

William and I were doing our round through Pocahontas today for clean-up days when a "lady" came out and asked if we were with the city. I said we were freelance recyclers and she yelled YOU GUYS ARE BUMBS!!!! I reacted wrongfully. I yelled back and said I work harder than 3 of her spoiled f****** kids. After that she said that cussing proved I was a bumb. She was right. I should have said sorry you feel that way ma'am. So I told Will put her stuff back and I said your right I apologize. She actually was nice last second as I was pulling away. Had I reacted calmly and respectively she probably would have given me her whole garage. Just remember fellow scrappers, always think before you react. And know that people hate us and think we are BUMBS so lets make a difference.

[arnofarrell]

being nice goes a long way out here in Iowa and across the Midwest. most people see me picking up stuff and they ask if I'm scraping and they will bring me more stuff.

[mikeinreco]

is the correct spelling of the word (BUM)........just wandering

[mikeinreco]

bum 1 (bŭm)
n.
1. A tramp; a vagrant.
2. A lazy or shiftless person, especially one who seeks to live solely by the support of others.
3. An incompetent, insignificant, or obnoxious person: The batter called the pitcher a bum.
4. One who is devoted to a particular activity or milieu: a beach bum.
v. bummed, bum·ming, bums
v.intr.
1. To live by begging and scavenging from place to place. Often used with around.
2. To loaf.
v.tr.
1. To acquire by begging; cadge. See Synonyms at cadge.
2. Slang To depress, dishearten, or dismay. Often used with out.
adj.
1. Inferior; worthless: gave me bum advice; did a bum job of fixing the car.
2. Disabled; malfunctioning: a bum shoulder.
3. Unfavorable or unfair: got a bum deal on my final grade for the course.
4. Unpleasant; lousy: had a bum time at the party.
Idiom:
on the bum
1. Living as a vagrant or tramp.
2. Out of order; broken.

This is what I found about the spelling I may be wrong

[Maiwand]

Actually Bumb is a surname or a specific drum in India. Maybe she reminded you of a certain bumb she knew.

[Metalbestos]

You should pull your scraping wad of cash out and ask her who the bum is now .
Just pull out your grip and say what of it !
In all honesty I would have ignored her and left but we live and learn . Good luck and keep up the hard work.

[billygoat]

is the correct spelling of the word (BUM)........just wandering

Yes it is. And I'm wondering why you are wandering.

Anyway, I found out during my curb shopping days that one has to grow thick skin in a hurry. I've never been called a bum (that I know of), but I've seen people shake their heads at me and give me disapproving looks. While I don't go curb shopping anymore, I will stop if I see something along the road that interests me if I have time.

[hobo finds]

I would Punch them in the Face! LOL

[Mick]

And it's "wondering". Wander is to move about aimlessly.

[travistemple202020]

thats awesome you still make it right but i am like you in the sense when people ask me why or tell me i am a bum or a dirty begging fool I have been called and I love telling people I make over 100k a year picking up the money they give me for free and even sometime I give them a card to seal the smirk I am trying to hide. most people love seeing me.
I had a guy last week trying to break down a whole ridding lawnmower to fit it next to his trash since no one would pick it up and he could not haul it so he seen me pick some up asked me if I would take more and boom an easy $50 and happy guy with my card for next time

[schoonandhobbsrecycling]

Is the phonetic value of how I spelled BUMB intact? that's all that matters in the English language regaurdless of what you were taught thank God for it. sound it out little timmy. I thought this was an ethics thread not academics. Anyway flashing cash is rude and not ethical either so please people no more advice unless its good advice.

[URBANERECYCLING]

Thank You.. You have quickly seen why so many people come on here and are quickly gone. Thanks for telling all sides of the story including how you realized your mistake of your response.. Good luck on future loads

Is the phonetic value of how I spelled BUMB intact? that's all that matters in the English language regaurdless of what you were taught thank God for it. sound it out little timmy. I thought this was an ethics thread not academics. Anyway flashing cash is rude and not ethical either so please people no more advice unless its good advice.

[F350scrapper]

In my part most people enjoy me picking their stuff up since they know its being recycled. Alot of times people will come out running to give me more (I always love that!!!) But when people do say something smart to me I reply I make double what you do in half the time and all i have to do is drive a truck around and listen to music nothing better to do out there in my opinion.

[happyscraper]

Reminds me of my hippy days.
Bumed-A depressed person- I'm all BUMED OUT
Bumer-Something bad happins- "That's a BUMER dude"

[KzScrapper]

Is the phonetic value of how I spelled BUMB intact? that's all that matters in the English language regaurdless of what you were taught thank God for it. sound it out little timmy. I thought this was an ethics thread not academics. Anyway flashing cash is rude and not ethical either so please people no more advice unless its good advice.

If you can't take a little ribbing from folks on the forum then your SOL on the streets bro...grow some skin.

Don't ask for advice then attach expectations...you get what you get...cherry pick what works for you.

[schoonandhobbsrecycling]

Im out for the day. God bless yall and may we all figure out what is ethical and important in life. Glad to be a scrapper regardless of any smack talking. Thankful for my capable of working hands and another eventful day. Goodnight SMF

[Patriot76]

My goals in life are to become better educated, become a better person, and to be ethical in my dealings with others. Broken down, education is not limited to schooling, it is a life long experience of learning from others or learning the hard way. Becoming a better person is not limited to social, mental, spiritual, family, etc. It is being satisfied with your choices and lifestyle. Ethics are doing the same thing with witnesses as without witnesses. Measurement for these goals are not based on the opinion of others, but personal happiness.

Moral in short, it does not matter what others think. As long as others do not preach to me, try to control my life, or limit my choices I do not care about their personal choices. If they invade personal space, conflict exists.

The solution from this perspective, thank the lady for her opinion, inform her that you wish you could help each other, and wish her a great day.

As far as this thread, many great posts with educational insights. Weighing them against your lifestyle and adopting those ideas that fit and rejecting those that don't makes you more educated, makes you a better person, and allows everyone to question their ethics.

The following statement is not based on this thread or any of the posts here, but based on many hours on the forum. I have been attacked many times on this forum including my first thread. Many lessons have been learned but sometimes I feel sorry for those that have to put others down to feel good. In this case the lady calling you a bum was her attempt to build herself up and feel better. I feel sorry for her.

[BurlyGuys]

And it's "wondering". Wander is to move about aimlessly.

Like this conversation... ;-)

[mikeinreco]

Was not trying to give anyone a hard time just didn't know if there was another spelling for BUM or BUMB Or Wonder or wander.........I was only trying to educate myself........Thanks again guys

[adda]

I was wandering around the forum, wondering what interesting things I'd find. I loved this one ...

I was out last night; I hit gas stations certain nights (and some liquor stores, etc) to gather cans. 4:30 in the morning and I heard a voice ... a man giving me a dollar (actually, digging through trash/dumpsters I sometimes find cash thrown away ... $25 the most at one time - go figure). Pretty soon, he's telling me how I can "earn a twenty" (no thanks). Had another guy do something similar another time; think he was going to jump me ... actually, pretty sure, based on all the circumstances. Then there was the guy who gave me a bag of cans from his truck and wanted a hug before he left. I declined but I did keep the bag of cans! I guess if I was going to lose it, it'd be with these weirdos. I'd love to give them a piece of my mind and maybe a fist but figure the better thing is to encourage them to GO AWAY as fast as they can.

which is one reason I would never "flash cash". I don't deal with "customers" (going to people's houses/businesses to pick things up); I'm still learning and mostly know where I can find things I can deal with ... so I never "dress", either. I don't look "bummy" (at least at first) but I know I'm going to possibly be gross and stinky before I'm done, so I wear stuff I don't mind throwing away if necessary ...

what I found interesting is that, picking two aluminum cans out of the trash at a closed store resulted in five police cars (including a K-9) in about 30 seconds, when I first moved here. I've gotten two lectures from the police ... one about the fine (about $100) I'll receive if I rummage through the recycling containers people set out at the curb ... the other that I should not "go into people's yards". I love that sort of thing ... makes me want to inform the police that I wasn't born in a barn and was raised much better than that. Actually, I often pick up litter when I get cans ... anyway, always leave the place as good or better than I found it. I don't talk back to the police; they pretty much leave me alone now that they know who I am and are used to seeing me out in the middle of some nights.

Anyway, I guess people are going to think what they will ... and what they say and do is more about them ... than me or any of you. Fortunately, it seems there are many more kind people who've loaded me down with stuff. I had some guys in a church van stop and give me a lunch and coffee one day while I was walking a road.

I probably work harder than I need to (being ignorant and inexperienced) but I'm guessing anyone who mistakes a "recycler" for a bum ... needs to go on a ride along ... and then spend some time working material. Anyway, I did get a kick out of the original post and earlier replies and couldn't resist adding a few things I've experienced while I'm out and about.