Teens Find Desperation on Hollywood's Streets

AP ^ | AP-ES-02-27-05 1332EST

[ScreamingFist]

He says his foster father was a good man who offered to support him if he chose college over music. Unwilling to give up his guitar, Stone quit high school and began life on the street.

"You just think, 'What did I do to deserve this? What did I do to get here?'

It's called freedom (choice), see your own statement above.

Stone never spoke with the British accent he now affects and he wore Polo shirts, not polyester bell bottoms. He was an excellent student, active in a church youth group and was taking a horsemanship class, Baker says

Within three weeks of turning 18, Stone had quit high school and was gone. Baker had no idea where his foster son was until The Associated Press called him for this story 1 1/2 years later.

Apparently, Stone had every opportunity to any life he chose, he chose poorly. As the saying goes, "You have to live the blues to play the Blues". Welcome to "Life", Stone.

[layman]

Probably lots of unhappy people in Hollywood ... even the ones with homes. From what I have seen they lead very superficial life styles.

[nothingnew]

"I got pot

but not one to piss in

went to Hollywood

ain't nutthin' I'm missin'

I'm 18, a homeless musician,

it's my own ass I'm kissin'

and

the pumps don't work 'cause the vandals took the handles.....

FMCDH(BITS)

[exnavychick]

Yes, that's right. And, of course, no Boomers or any generation before had people in it that abandonded their kids.

Anyone can be selfish, and it has very little to do with what generation raised you, imo.

[steveo]

Stone never spoke with the British accent he now affects

Funny, I told my daughter the other day that every alternative music station by law must have at least one person with a British accent.

[TheOtherOne]

"Who comes in at eight?" Stone replies into the mike. "If they kick me out, I'll sleep in my car and be happy."

I'll lay 3 to 1 that he does not carry auto insurance. Any takers?

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

At his lowest point, Stone says, he worked at a Subway shop ...

At your lowest point? You had to take a job! WTF! IMO of course.

[Blackirish]

What a loser....thumbing his nose at a free ride to college.

There was a girl in my office making a pittance to answer phones. She was drop dead gorgeous. Was one quarter Cherokee and was eligible for a free ride to the college of her choice + $100.00 a week spending cash. Instead chose to hang out in Chicago dating loser musicians....I tried to tell her she was missing out not only a education but also great fun...a place like Arizona State. Last time I talked to her she just had an abortion and was working a dead end job.

Stupid is that stupid does.

[theFIRMbss]

He's desperate to make music - and to recreate himself - on this new stage

A bizarre thing is
when the very young Beatles
returned from Hamburg,

they were pretty close
to being this desperate.
And, ironically,

they were only "saved"
because a gay shop owner
fell in love with John.

So, these homeless kids
are certainly in bad shape,
but they're not out yet.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Two points in his favor. He doesn't seem to be blaming anyone else. He's still trying.

[ozzymandus]

This kid's situation is his own choice. Sad, in a way, but not "society's" fault.

[MisterRepublican]

Whatever.

[TheOtherOne]

No need to give up. Make a case for yourself.

[Alberta's Child]

A friend of mine lived in Los Angeles for a few years. He said the one thing that really shocked him was the number of people he came across who had similar stories to this one -- people of all ages who had just packed everything they owned into their cars and drove out to Hollywood with the idea in their minds that they would pursue a career in entertainment.

He described the U.S. as a giant platform the was tilted slightly toward the west -- and all these people with various mental disorders ended up tumbling down to the west until the Pacific Ocean prevented them from going any further.

[Awestruck]

It's very sad... of course I feel more sorry for the ones who are there because of a bad home life, but I still feel bad for the others because they weren't given the tools early on to make good choices...

[Cowboy Bob]

Teens Find Desperation on Hollywood's Streets

I didn't know it was lost...

[Caipirabob]

HEARTLESS HOLLYWOOD

[TheOtherOne]

He described the U.S. as a giant platform the was tilted slightly toward the west -- and all these people with various mental disorders ended up tumbling down to the west until the Pacific Ocean prevented them from going any further.

I will tell you this, living 10 blocks from the ocean...we have many homeless. But it makes some sense, we have no snow, no brutal cold. Actually, it is mostly like camping. I think is the main draw. Whenever I see a freezing east coast homeless, I think, man ours have it so much better.

[LtKerst]

this is typical...Immature kids punish Foster parents for the sins of the real Parents. They try to believe that they can run away and erase the past. but life is tough for everyone in some way.
They "Blew it" when they ran off.
Now they wallow in self pity..and form their little "Victim" identity. justifing Lieing,stealing,and not really trying to work.

It all boils down to Rebellion, and blame of others.

they never get better untill they "Grow-up"

[thoughtomator]

They're not necessarily kids of Gen Xers. I have half-brothers in the same age range, and their mother is of the generation preceeding Gen X, and their father another generation older still.