"That's just... weird. I don't understand that.
I work in a touristy area of the city and see a few panhandlers on the street, but I have no trouble ignoring them. Harvard Square is full of them but they know if they step out of line they'll get arrested."
This was less than a block from Harvard Square... and BTW, i lover Harvard Square - and in fact I love visiting Berkley - there is an energy and a freedom I really appreciate. But in the circles I was running in - high tech grad students and professors - the PC stresses were large.
I would hate to work in Harvard Square. It is a panhandler/angsty suburban brat mecca and you have to deal with tons of tourists and students crowding the sidewalk.