in praise of intollerence

against thin walled living

Back in the early oughts, walking through downtown Toronto, there was a man who lived year round on an exhaust vent. He had a thing, a mental thing about being inside. He NEVER went indoors. People helped him be as comfortable as he could until he froze to death one night.

It started as a trickle. First, I’d encounter a tent here and there. Eventually one tent turned into two. Not long after that, there were encampments. Then? They got worse. Wooden shacks started being dropped off by ‘well intentioned people.’

Now our parks are full of tents.

I blame tolerance.

I hate every inch that these tents occupy. That is collective, shared space that is being stolen from the rest of us by people who have no where to go. I think that ‘tolerating’ people living in parks is disgraceful.

A raged filled response was needed. Call the police. These are our parks. Call the housing people. These are our parks. Call community services. Make something happen.

Instead?

Nice, kind spirited people ‘accepted’ our …