Creating a New Hobo Code

[Matt Derrick]

i was looking at an old post here on stp that linked to this old hobo code from the late 1800's:

1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
2. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.
3. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
4. Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose all molesters to authorities, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
5. Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
6. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.
7. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
8. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
9. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
10. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you.
11. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos.
12. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
13. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
14. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
15. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.

anyways, i was wondering what this list code of ethics would look like for StP users if it was updated to today's standards. if we can come up with something most of us can agree on, i'd like to include it in the book i'm working on.

remember that this would be a guide/list of suggestions for newbie travelers so they don't become scum fuck a-holes. that's the idea anyways. what do you think would be good for this list?

 

[Deleted member 125]

ide say the old code still holds pretty relevant today, give or take a few ways things are worded:

1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you. ( i dont think much has to be said about this one, its pretty right on )
2. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday. (yes, but also dont trust just anybody with a backpack and a dirty dog. alot of people will smell the green on you and take advantage of it)
3. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home. (dont lie about yer age if you are underage! if you are and are travelling with others its yer responsibility to come forward and let people know, under 18 any respectable 'bo isnt gonna want to be near you for obvious reasons. under 21 and yer putting people providing you with alcohol in danger of another charge if the law shows up and yer piss drunk)
4. Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose all molesters to authorities, they are the worst garbage to infest any society. ( call out rapists, people who prey on vulnerable folks etc etc and dont travel with these people. if you do, be prepared to be grouped with these sick fucking people )
5. Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard. (acting like a dick head rolling into a yard naked riding on the nose of a unit does not make you a train rebel, it makes you a moron, the extra 2 likes you get on facebook for the picture is not worth the trouble you just gave to every other rider passing through that area for god only knows how long. be ninja. stay low and out of sight. its day one shit. )
6. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member. (pretty much covered in number 5 )
7. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible. (yea i know dirt dont hurt. and i completly agree. but nothing puts off small town locals or makes you a target for police harassment then being dirtier then you need to be, these days anybody can walk into a fast food restaurent and wipe their face down, and wash their hands. it helps you fit in better in town. less attention is good. nothing ruins another persons time in a town as much as getting there and being chased off by the law the first hour because some asshole last week was walking around town begging with shit in his carhartts showing off his staph infection to strangers )
8. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help. (ide say a true jungle is all but dead these days but for a more modern guideline ide say something along the lines of if you meet a group of folks who have been flying/crack spanging/jugging/busking/doing day labor whatever dont just walk up and expect to be fed and boozed up if you cant pull yer own weight somehow )
9. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling. (dont shoot dope at hop outs, dont shit at hop outs, dont fucking break glass at hop outs )
10. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you. ( still holds up pretty well ide say, dont spend 3 weeks drinking side walk slammies because you found the OMG BEST KICK DOWN SPOT, someone rolling through might be outta food and may have a hard time because you wanted to blow up a town. not cool. )
11. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos. ( still holds up )
12. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts. ( same i think this holds up maybe even more so now with people selling things they have made etc etc )
13. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again. ( ide like to think suggesting folks take day labor work or anything similiar would be realistic but...i kinda dont. )
14. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos. ( seriously respect locals, you are in their town. alot of places still arnt used to a group of 8 crusty kids with 13 dogs sleeping in a bush behind where they work. try to not be a intrusive dick )
15. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times. ( ide say if you are somewhere with possibly a dog of a certain breed, or a big knife or pepper spray etc etc, maybe hit up that big building with all the books and check into local law, its pretty stupid to walk around with yer big ass bowie knife hanging from yer belt trying to show off if its clearly against the law, so yer asking for trouble. dont give anyone more of a reason to not like you right away )

 

[Shwhiskey Gumimaci]

I feel like it should be pretty damn similar. Although there's so many kids out here that have no code of ethics for being on the road at all. Breaking bottles in the street. Acting like and asshole in front of kids. Leaving trash everywhere. Just being disrespectful to anywhere that they go, and leaving a bad taste in the locals mouth for anyone else who comes through. A code of hobo ethics should be enforced. And I think most of that list is pretty good advice, maybe take out the outdated stuff and add some more current information.

 

[wizehop]

I think being a good human is timeless. That being said we could update it to sound more modern, but I feel like shits already covered pretty good there. I like the original list because it breaks things down into the most basic phrases, if things get to wordy the original sentiment could get lost.

 

[Shwillam]

i was looking at an old post here on stp that linked to this old hobo code from the late 1800's:

1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
2. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.
3. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
4. Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose all molesters to authorities, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
5. Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
6. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.
7. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
8. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
9. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
10. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you.
11. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos.
12. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
13. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
14. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
15. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.

anyways, i was wondering what this list code of ethics would look like for StP users if it was updated to today's standards. if we can come up with something most of us can agree on, i'd like to include it in the book i'm working on.

remember that this would be a guide/list of suggestions for newbie travelers so they don't become scum fuck a-holes. that's the idea anyways. what do you think would be good for this list?

1) decide your own life, take responsibility for your actions and never rule anyone or let yourself be ruled.
2) help out whoever, whenever, however you can. Treat people in need the way you'd want to be treated in need. We all fall, need help to get back up, and depend on the people around us to survive. Remember, this is a community if we make it one.
3) Take special heed of the runaways. Understand their situation at home may be something they need to escape, but they need special help. Protect them at all costs from predators.
4) green light all rapists. Intervene in any case of sexual assault.
5) don't fuck around or just hand out crew changes to anyone. It's hard enough dealing with the Bulls without fucks leaving trash broken bottles and bad memories in the yard.
6) the employees and yard workers are not to be treated as Bulls. They are middle class workers who make this life possible for us. RESPECT THEM.
7) respect your body, sleep with your shoes on get peed on, take care of your feet and teeth.
8) always help the local community if you can.
9) hike it in, hike it out. Clean up after yourself so someone else doesn't have to do it for you. RESPECT THE SPACE.
10) Spange with respect, don't harris people or blow up spots. Respect buskers and give them space unless you're kicking down. Pay it forward when possible.
11) Drink responsible, get shwilly in appropriate places, do not allow shwilly drama to be personal. We all make dumb choice when we're drunk, be aware of your surroundings when drinking. Try and help someone who's making a mistake because of boozes, knock the shit out of someone who deserves it.
12) work whenever you have the chance. A job is not the only route of work. Work trade is the best route.
13) offer locals and the people who help you out free work. Show people there's an alternative to capitalism and that kids who don't want a job aren't lazy, they just want to work for a purpose rather than profit.
14) treat people in tight spots how you'd wanna be treated. Protect the weak from bullies and always look out for your fellow travelers. No one is looking out for us except for us!
15) choose your battles, fight for your rights in the most effective way as possible. Try not to be a dick, other travelers will be harassed by police if you cause them problems but always unite against injustice

 

[Matt Derrick]

I really appreciate the suggestions so far! Is there things that could be added that aren't particular to train culture, but travel culture in general?

Also, yeah, feel free to be as wordy as you want, I will condense it all down into simple terms in the final version...

 

[Shwillam]

I really appreciate the suggestions so far! Is there things that could be added that aren't particular to train culture, but travel culture in general?

Also, yeah, feel free to be as wordy as you want, I will condense it all down into simple terms in the final version...

1)don't claim to travel longer than you have, being green is A-okay, we all need help when we start. Be who you are and be proud of it, but drop the fucking ego and never try and claim some sort of status. Oogles fuck off.

2) don't be something or someone your not for a fashion statement. Be as clean or dirty as YOU want, not what you expect people to prefer.

3) don't be afraid to ask for help

4) but don't be a fucking drainbow. You shouldn't be entitled but appreciative of the spaces and experiences people provide for you

I'll post more In a moment gotta go haha

 

[Art101]

I think Herps pretty much nailed it spot on.

 

[AnOldHope]

I really appreciate the suggestions so far! Is there things that could be added that aren't particular to train culture, but travel culture in general?

Also, yeah, feel free to be as wordy as you want, I will condense it all down into simple terms in the final version...

This sounds like it's going to be a really sharp book. I have no useful interpretation of the code because I haven't experienced being a traveler. You'd wind up with useless stuff, like:

19) Supermutants should only be fired upon if their radar blip is red.

19b) Supermutants with dialogue options should be spoken with to discover quests and gain information.

 

[Desperado Deluxe]

I think maybe around 10 should be something about supporting local business when applicable. And somewhere else about keeping the spaces you occupy clean even if you have to pick up others trash. Probably around 9 or so. I think it should really just be alot of reiteration giving examples to refrence the time. Throw some humor in there and flavor of the traveller squatter culter of today.

 

[WanderLost Radical]

I'd say it's still pretty relevant. My only edit would be to rule out #15.

They don't respect me, won't respect them.
#ACAB

 

[Shwillam]

ALL COPS ARE BASTARDS!
Fuck yea fuck yea.

My only thing behind that there's a difference behind if it's a demonstration, honestly defending yourself, or if you're just generally being a dick in a town and not taking responsibility of why the cops are harassing you. If a cop wakes you up for just sleeping that's a different story, but we all live in these streets and just aimlessly telling every pig to fuck off because you were dancing nude in the street and physically assaulting people who don't kick down makes us all look bad

 

[Mikedubz]

If you don't have a sense of courtesy, decency, and respect, a hobo code will not help you. There's a lot of a holes out there that f*ck up and ruin places for the rest of us. I see and experience it alot and I don't tolerate it. If you can't hang and be cool, hold your liquor, or whatever, you got to go. The majority of people are really cool, descent, and respectful, but it only takes a couple of asses to screw all that up. I like that there is a "code" and it should be upheld at all times. I try to abide by the adage " give respect recieve respect. "

 

[AnOldHope]

If you don't have a sense of courtesy, decency, and respect, a hobo code will not help you. There's a lot of a holes out there that f*ck up and ruin places for the rest of us. I see and experience it alot and I don't tolerate it. If you can't hang and be cool, hold your liquor, or whatever, you got to go. The majority of people are really cool, descent, and respectful, but it only takes a couple of asses to screw all that up. I like that there is a "code" and it should be upheld at all times. I try to abide by the adage " give respect recieve respect. "

How is the "you got to go" enforced? Does the group just move on without the offending individual(s), or are they otherwise compelled to depart a given camp or squat?

 

[Mikedubz]

Usually it is a group effort.

 

[AnOldHope]

Usually it is a group effort.

So by conversation the group reaches a consensus that someone should leave? What if that person refuses to leave?

 

[Mikedubz]

It doesn't happen often, but when it does. Yeah they end up leaving.

 

[Deleted member 125]

So by conversation the group reaches a consensus that someone should leave? What if that person refuses to leave?

what do you think?

 

[Matt Derrick]

So by conversation the group reaches a consensus that someone should leave? What if that person refuses to leave?

I definitely think this is worth debating, but perhaps we could start another thread for it?

 

[Mikedubz]

I think so too.