Supposed "Homeless" Author Loses My Sympathy

There has been an writer, who through bad luck, illness and apparently, poor writing skills, has been penning a series of what it is like being part of the new "homeless" in Las Vegas.
Roger Jacobs is a wannabe writer who has had bad luck because he has been out of work for sometime. He is also not selling or editing too many books or articles.
He also is medically disabled: From the Sun: "I have been afflicted with severe psoriasis and advanced psoriatic arthropathy (arthritis) for eight years; several months of the year I must use an electric wheelchair just to get from one room to another due to severe plaque psoriasis on my feet. I am also plagued by hypertension, gout, GERD, perennial allergies, the early stages of COPD and bipolar disorder. Lela is 52 years old and not in the best physical condition herself." http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/aug/29/i-am-frightened/
Initially, I felt sorry for the man and his girlfriend. In my past, I have been financially as bad or worse off than Jacobs when I was living in Montana. I was broke and according to his definition, "homeless", by living in a hotel, while trying to live on odd jobs. It was the low part of my life. So, what did I do? I left Montana and went back home to live with my mom. Within 2 days of getting back, I had a job and within 2 weeks, I was back out on my own, working my way up to where I am today.
And before anyone says I don't know what the homeless goes through, I might add, I also worked in a Salvation Army homeless shelter in Wausau, WI. ( a true homeless shelter- not a hotel suite with a bedroom and private bathrooms along with the lack of privacy), in addition to volunteering with the homeless and with the Salvation Army.
Anyways, I understand the financial problems Jacobs has. He actually has it better than I did. Seigel Suits, while not perfect, isn't that bad either. Utilities are paid for and at most Seigel, you get at least one meal a day, or at least that is what they advertise.
However, in his article today, he bitches about how conservatives have hurt him with mean words.. From today's article: Even more stinging has been the reaction by many readers to my first essay on being homeless in Las Vegas — mean-spirited remarks that have fueled my decision to leave town...
Well, after reading his first essay, there is only one comment listed and it was posted September 26. (see the above link) So, did the Sun make those comments disappear or there were no mean spirited remarks. Honestly, I don't know which one.
Jacobs goes on: But any warmth of kindness was lost to judgmental creatures wrapped in their conservative ideology and intoxicated by their own venomous rhetoric. (One reader, Ron, called me a “lazy, lazy lazy loser” and worse
After looking at the comments section on his first and second articles, I could not find a comment made by a "Ron". Hmmm. Further, how did you know "Ron" was a conservative? Oh, wait, if a person makes disparaging remarks about homeless people, they automatically are conservative. That kind of thinking makes me think Jacobs is writing these articles with the sole purpose of politicizing homelessness by ripping on conservatives.
More from today's article: "My occupation also came under the hateful scrutiny of the Sun’s readers with many suggesting that I must be a failure as a writer because I don’t share the success of Stephen King. Just because fame hasn’t conferred any external interest in my work does not make me a failure by any stretch of the imagination. Shall we confer the word “failure” upon a plumber, carpenter or an architect whose hard work did not allow them to open their own business? Shall we deem an exemplary chef a failure for never seeing his name above the marquee of a trendy bistro?"
Jacobs has been writing for twenty years or so. He is not making a living at it. If the plumber, carpenter and chef worked and made a living working for someone else, they would not be considered a failure because they are earning money and paying their bills. However, if you spend 20 years doing something you enjoy but not making enough to pay your bills, no I would not consider your career a success. Maybe if you worked part time while working on your writing, maybe Jacobs would not be in his situation. (drinking and smoking isn't helping your situation either, I might add- don't cry me a river of crocodile tears about money problems when you are paying $3-4 for a pack of cigarettes)
More from the article: “The plight of the new homeless often includes ridicule and insensitivity. When I found myself in a transient situation, I was amazed at how quickly some Christians whose love is ‘always patient and kind’ (1 Cor. 13:4) lost patience and turned unkind … Many will take the low road and, instead of giving compassion, will make complaint. So be it. It is not for me to judge (Rodger), nor those who judged him. It is mine only to pray and be moved to action.”
Earth to Jacobs: You put yourself in that position. You decided to write the articles and lay it on the line. What did you expect? Everyone just patting you on the back and say good luck and give you money?
Jacobs put himself in that position and he further invited more scrutiny and ridicule by debating comments in the comment section in his second article. He obviously was trolling for negative comments, both in his articles and comments so he could write his third article saying "hey I told you so, people are so mean to us homeless people".
Finally, this: "How to meet our daily needs while we must remain in Las Vegas (where we don’t want to be and, according to many who commented, where we are not wanted) and how to set aside enough money to carry us across the desert and into a suitable living space with reserves for deposits and at least two months of rent."
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/dec/05/indignity-hurtful-speech/
So, according to Jacobs, he is not leaving Las Vegas until they have a suitable home and two months rent. Hmm. And how is he going to do that now? He bitches about not wanting to be in Las Vegas but he makes it impossible for him and his girlfriend to leave. Obviously, he must like it here enough to live and but then bitches about how badly us conservatives treat him with words. Somehow, I think he is playing us like a fiddle to put across his political viewpoints.
I do hope Mr. Jacobs succeeds in his writing and that he will make it big in writing sometime. However, in the mean time, he is not get any more of my sympathy because of his bitching and moaning about mean conservatives, deciding to drink and smoke cigarettes at the same time he says he has no money and wants to move back to California.
If Jacobs wants people to support him and his cause, name calling is not going to do it. Hard work and trying to improve one's self, no matter what age, will do far more good.
Finally, Jacobs, don't call yourself homeless. You are not living on the streets or a homeless shelter. You are living in a 1 bedroom apartment that is heated, utilities provided for, a bed and furniture in the apartment. Even a TV with basic cable. That's homeless? Very strange definition and hurtful to those who are truly homeless. When you say you are homeless, you are insulting those who are truly homeless and have to live on the streets or a homeless shelter.