Gutter punks.

[Benjamin Strange]

I'm sure some of you have seen these kids around: standard dirty punk rock uniform, piercings, poorly executed facial tattoos, stinky, usually begging for change, and most times accompanied by a pure bred pitbull puppy.

Where do gutter punks come from? They're EVERYWHERE in San Francisco, mostly in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, but I've seen them all over the country. I don't really understand this lifestyle - it seems that these kids are willfully unemployed and homeless, and most of the time they ask me for change they say it's to buy weed or beer.

It never really appears that these kids are actually hurting for money or food. When asked for change, I oftentimes ask them to sell me their dog or their nose ring. I figure if they're truly hungry, they would want to give up something as trivial as jewelry, and if they really loved their dog they'd want it to live in a home where they could be provided for. Yet every time I'm refused, usually very rudely. Also, how is it that these homeless kids all manage to sport the same sort of style of clothing? It appears to me that this sort of homelessness is somehow "fashionable" and "cool". Maybe I'm just getting old, but I think this is even more ridiculous than emo kids.

What's the story here? Honestly, my ignorance of their lifestyle is leading to my dislike of these gutter punks. I don't like them, I don't like their attitudes, I don't like them hanging around my neighborhood. I have a genuine concern for the truly homeless and destitute, but gutter punks I am sick to death of. Am I just being a jerk here, or what?

[Metal Matt]

I know a group of people that falls close to this... Well, sort of. They live in a house that they sort of have set up as a sort of "anarchist commune". Some of them work to help pay for the house, others pull their own weight there, cooking and stuff. They throw shows in their basement. They sort of remind me of modern day hippies. Really really nice people though, very welcoming and everything. They promote their lifestyle to their community but they don't try to force their way on anyone. I've heard them telling stories about past homelessness. Other people from other areas come there in their homeless travels, stay the night, and then via whatever mode of transportation, they make their way to their next destination.

Funny thing, one of the houses permanent residents was telling me about how great San Fran was the few times he's been there.

As far as the piercings and pitbulls... well, just because they have those thing doesn't mean they paid for it... The house I mentioned has like 6 kittens, all strays... they take care of them. And some of the non-permanent residents that come through have had pets that they said the found out on the street. And plenty of people, gutter punks or not, know someone who does piercings or tats, who's willing to do work on a friend for free.

Like I said, the gutter punks I've met, although a smelly bunch, are very nice, seem very happy and all that. The ones I know though, don't go begging like you described... Even at the shows they throw, the don't say "5 dollars" they say..."5 dollars recommended donation"... Most of the people in the punk/hardcore scenes are very understanding that bands need money to continue on tour, and will pay, even if it isn't mandatory, but if not, the people at this house always make sure bands get the money they need for gas, they let them stay at their house, feed the bands, etc...

So, maybe you've just met a bad bunch or something, but in my experience, gutter punks aren't bad at all. I think it's great that they live the way they want to, and are happy about it. Doesn't affect me at all. I'd never be able to live like that though.

I guess the only thing I don't understand is how almost all gutter punks I've met can almost expertly play any folk instrument handed to them... haha

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Never met anyone like that over here.

Closest ive seen is the Crusties.

[MJ5150]

They have a sense of entitlement, and they feel like things should be handed over to them like they were by their parents for the first 16-20 years of their lives.

-Mike

[Visirale]

Are these the same things as Crust Punks? We have a collective of them here in Orlando. They live in an abandonded warehouse and host some great (non-punk) concerts.

They also do a lot of "food not bombs" stuff...

But for the most part they annoy me. They don't believe in baths or clean clothes or anything... I guess it's cool to be dirty and smelly!

[Benjamin Strange]

They're not Crust Punks - I've never even heard that term. These kids do nothing - they don't throw any concerts, they don't promote any particular values, and they don't accept any offers for work. It's pure vagrancy, and it's rather despicable.

I've also heard them refered to as "street urchins".

[NJL]

when someone on the street asks me for money, i usually tell them i'm a musician and that i was going to ask them for money and a pack of strings. most of the time that shuts them up.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Visirale

Are these the same things as Crust Punks? We have a collective of them here in Orlando. They live in an abandonded warehouse and host some great (non-punk) concerts.

They also do a lot of "food not bombs" stuff...

But for the most part they annoy me. They don't believe in baths or clean clothes or anything... I guess it's cool to be dirty and smelly!

They aint quite the same, Crusties are an alright bunch generally, just dont want to be confined in the same room as them for too long

[richnota]

I've seen them around the country (often in college towns)....

strange sort of deliberate homelessness (greasy grungy filthy), random piercings, amateur tattoos.

get the feeling many grew up in "nice" families (or "not so nice" but nice on surface)--don't show overt signs of mental illness.

Doesn't look like much of a life.

[kserg]

Those people, ha! What a joke... I've "seen" them few times. In Berkley one threatened to kick my ass, because i refused to give him change. I was putting in quarters into a meter and had probably 4 dollars in quarters in my hand. The trashy peace of poopie asked me for money, i told him no... Then he went off at me and how he would just loved to stump my face in the ground, blah blah blah.

[bongomania]

As far as I'm concerned, gutter punks and crusties are the exact same thing. I know just like metal and techno subgenres there are some people who will insist "oh no, Crusties listen to Rudimentary Penii and Amebix, while Gutter Punks listen to SubHuMans and Crass", but they're still just middle-class kids wearing denim soaked in motor oil, with poorly-done facial tattoos, lip rings, and a pit bull, begging for change.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Could be true, I noted a difference as I've never had a crustie asking for money.

[username n/a]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

I'm sure some of you have seen these kids around: standard dirty punk rock uniform, piercings, poorly executed facial tattoos, stinky, usually begging for change, and most times accompanied by a pure bred pitbull puppy.

Where do gutter punks come from? They're EVERYWHERE in San Francisco, mostly in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, but I've seen them all over the country. I don't really understand this lifestyle - it seems that these kids are willfully unemployed and homeless, and most of the time they ask me for change they say it's to buy weed or beer.

It never really appears that these kids are actually hurting for money or food. When asked for change, I oftentimes ask them to sell me their dog or their nose ring. I figure if they're truly hungry, they would want to give up something as trivial as jewelry, and if they really loved their dog they'd want it to live in a home where they could be provided for. Yet every time I'm refused, usually very rudely. Also, how is it that these homeless kids all manage to sport the same sort of style of clothing? It appears to me that this sort of homelessness is somehow "fashionable" and "cool". Maybe I'm just getting old, but I think this is even more ridiculous than emo kids.

What's the story here? Honestly, my ignorance of their lifestyle is leading to my dislike of these gutter punks. I don't like them, I don't like their attitudes, I don't like them hanging around my neighborhood. I have a genuine concern for the truly homeless and destitute, but gutter punks I am sick to death of. Am I just being a jerk here, or what?

I myself have never met a gutter punk, but from your description they seem like the kind of people I would love to acquaint myself with.

[Thunderscreech]

You mean like "Day Punks"? I Think that's what they are referred to here on the right coast.



From RADAR Magazine April 2008

[Spector_Ray]

Can't say I've seen them. The only things around here that fit that description are at the malls and they're wannabes with rich parents.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

They're not Crust Punks - I've never even heard that term. These kids do nothing - they don't throw any concerts, they don't promote any particular values, and they don't accept any offers for work. It's pure vagrancy, and it's rather despicable.

I've also heard them refered to as "street urchins".

You've been hanging out at the Haight, haven't you? Most of those "punks" are trust fund punk that come in from across the bridge to slum it. Total kooks. Then when you call you them on it, they ask you why you gotta be a hater.

[KsToaDangr]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

You mean like "Day Punks"? I Think that's what they are referred to here on the right coast.



From RADAR Magazine April 2008

Around here, we call that Mall-Core. It's just about the lowest form you can take and still go to (some)punk shows without getting your @$$ kicked...just don't go near the pit.

there's some gutter punks, street punks, and crust punks around here. main differences:

gutter punks ask for change because they don't want anyone to know that their parents actually have money

street punks actually live in the streets and refuse to get jobs

crust punks throw shows, busk, or offer some compensation(a place to stay, food, or tarot reading being common) to earn the little bit of money they have.

[roberthelpus]

Nothing new, we had that here in the 80's around UC. From the real ones to the fake ones. Sometimes they'd try to act scary and get noisy but would back down real quick if you called their bluff. Hippies to punks living communally, anarchistically or whatever is fine but the posers meh.

I'm not much for anybody who puts such an excessive effort into their appearance. There is such a myriad of things in this world to focus on beyond such superficiality. That goes for over made up, women to $1000 dollar suit wearing metrosexuals in my book.

[KsToaDangr]

Originally Posted by roberthelpus

I'm not much for anybody who puts such an excessive effort into their appearance. There is such a myriad of things in this world to focus on beyond such superficiality. That goes for over made up, women to $1000 dollar suit wearing metrosexuals in my book.

I agree 100%

to quote SLC Punk: "Why do you go out of your way to look like a bum? You look like you're wearing a uniform. You look like a punk. Don't you think it would be more of a rebellion if you didn't spend so much time and money on blue hair dye and punky clothes?"

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

You mean like "Day Punks"? I Think that's what they are referred to here on the right coast.


From RADAR Magazine April 2008

Nah, they look like they have washed some time this decade.