Philadelphia Squatter (and ex-squatter) doc. - PART TWO

[Braleven]

I wonder if there is a way to get electricity to work in squats that don't have it working. Hm.



[WhollyGhost]

@Braleven You can hook it up from public utilities. A squat I lived in in Philly used to have electricity hooked up from a stoplight - it only worked when the light was red, though! Another place had it hooked up from a phone booth. You just have to have know-how. I wouldn't have a clue how to do it myself though!

[Braleven]

@WhollyGhost Haha, that is really interesting. I might try to find an extremely long extension cord and get electricity from a street light outlet. The squat I go to is surrounded by a bunch of trees in it's own little area.

[WhollyGhost]

@Braleven Be careful! I imagine there's probably some good information on the internet somewhere on how to pirate from public utilities. I know, for example, that electricity for an entire house was run off that phone booth -- you could only get a limited amount from one extension cord, before you run the risk of burning it up.

[Traductus5972]

After showing my fraternity brothers this, we might actually fix up a squat and use that if we can't buy a fraternity house.

[WhollyGhost]

@Traductus5972 That's crazy! Just be careful of getting busted for squatting, it could tarnish your college career, I'd imagine!

[Traductus5972]

@WhollyGhost eh not really they're more concerned about drugs on campus and there isn't really a policy on getting busted for squatting and i here that PA is really lenient on it (I could be wrong since i'm going by hear say since i've never done it before) but i heard as long as you don't break in and the landowner doesn't find out your pretty much fine, and since there's a lot of houses that are abandoned the landowner thing won't be that big of an issue

[WhollyGhost]

@Traductus5972 From my experience it's a case by case basis, as far as leniency. It just depends what mood the cops are in that day or whatever. You still have to be careful about neighbors - keep a good relationship with them, get off on a good foot - or they can call you in. I know frats are notorious for "partying", as are a lot of squatters (drinking etc.), and that can present a real problem on that front. If you're mellow & nice to neighbors you'll increase your odds of success for sure.

[skulldrix]

This makes me think about what I'm gonna do with my life when I graduate. Fuck.

[laurenoneil]

Thanks @whollyghost, this doc is one of my favorites. fucking love this city for this kind of shit

[scumgod13]

Was a place in Knoxville,TN sarcastically called the Hippie House where the owner was way cool and didnt care how many people lived there as long as we paid.I had a huge room,my own bath and a back room mostly windows $60.

[eatmyfun]

finally an interesting documentary, thank you so much

[dichTaco]

I lived at 1505 for mabey 3 years or so. the only problem I had was a horrible heroin addiction. There are always stupid fucks I was one for years. Some people are fucking dumb fucks and in a subculture such as this you will have that more offten than not. Bood was a cool kid into graffiti when I met him good people. I met a few people that I still call friends when I lived in Philly Philthy Phill give me back my fucking ham sandwich. Sorry WE were so fucked up. Chris and Lucky (rip).

[seethootss]

fuck that first fucker just calling us Alcoholics or lazy, he can fuck off.

[jacob7207]

Fuck Philadelphia Magazine. I worked for those motherfuckers for 6 months. They call it glorified camping. They're just a bunch of wannabe New Yorkers who drink too much red wine.

[ammarhio]

what the fuck is the first guy talking about...he's just rambaling

[reaperofsilk]

i admire the kid in the beggining of this part of the documentary he kind of seems to articulate it right.

Squatters and the lifestyle are like a double edged sword

some kids dnt really have any other option and try to stand on their own feet

and some are just plain lazy

who think the world owes them something.

i guess i just tht

the goal of just life

is to be able to stand up on your own two feet and support your own self financialy and stabily

[CubanPunks]

men i cant stand poeple like whollyghost and cleandekalb if you both hate squatters than why the hell are you watching this! you dont know every ones life story and how they came to be! stop the stupid judging already!! live your own life and let them live theres!

[WhollyGhost]

That's how you interpreted my comments, and the fact that I was interviewed in this & posted it to youtube? Maybe you need to pay closer attention.

[CubanPunks]

yeah we all make mistakes! forgive and forget mate! theres no room for hate! sorry and your right i should pay more attention next time!

[WhollyGhost]

No hate from me! I just wanted to point out that I'm not at all "anti-squatter", especially having been one myself for a few years.

[CubanPunks]

yeah i know! sorry bro!

[scumgod13]

@WhollyGhost  he totally right about college kids throwing stuff away.I live very close to U.T. and Ive furnished several houses that way.

[dinosore9]

is that woody gunthre on the wall at 0:50

[gotalittlecaptain]

I can understand why some ppl find the whole typical suburban lifestyle thing ungratifying and would prefer to squat and have their own personal freedom that way. I have a lot of respect for the decent squatters who are good ppl and just want to improve their own environments and live life on their terms.

[moonbaby77]

i see this whole squatting thing as a great thing, with a wonderful purpose, as soon as i hit 18, ima just travel, maybe fuck, who knows even build up a squat. most of them travelers who com into chicago, are just awesome. haha.

i don't want to run away, find a squat now, im just trying to work out my situation, not running from it.

[TwisterJunk]

hey same exact thing for me..

[MatthewPA1972]

Where's Joe Lotito, WhollyGhost guy?

[WhollyGhost]

He's in Philly, plays in a band again. How do you know Joe?

[MatthewPA1972]

Went to same high school and same Montgomery County Community College back in 1991.

I wonder what's been going on since 1994 or so... I wasn't one of the Norristown folks who went to Philly. I kept living at home and finished up at Temple U. Tried to make the band thing work, now teach guitar and piano.

What's your story, in a nutshell?

[libertyshwaa]

hey i was squatting for 4 1/2 years and im not a moron. i left an abusive home situation where my mother and i were BEATEN EVERY DAY by my stepdad. the final straw was when he held a gun to my head cause my mother wouldnt get him a beer. so you need to understand that sometimes there are no alternatives and if there are they are few and far between. so in closing take your biased 2 cents somewhere else... walk a year or almost 5 years in our shoes.

[WhollyGhost]

Right on! There will always be people who can't or won't see things from any angle but their own. They're called assholes.... and they love to post comments on youtube videos. I welcome all comments though, for the sake of debate. Of course I'll concede that there are some squatters who are real assholes themselves, but you'll find that in *any* group of people.

[libertyshwaa]

that true.

[14mm2]

Just cuz you were beaten doesnt mean you have to squat for four years. Welfare? Police?

[Strummerkid]

Okay so you're saying that what the user did, i.e. Looking after his or her self is a bad thing, and that he or she should have gone to welfare or police and placed the burden on somebody else?

Where is the logic? Welfare is there for people who need it and i support it fully. But if someone does not need certain types of welfare they shouldnt be forced to recieve it.

It's a right not a responsibility.

[modusmesmer]

Good argument but FYI welfare is not a right it's a privilege which is not constitutionally guaranteed.

[Strummerkid]

Well not being american i'm not really too knowledgable on your constitution.

But what i meant was 14mm2 was saying people shouldnt squat and should rather collect welfare. What i was saying was if someone doesnt want to, why should they?

It was in that regard that i meant to collect welfare was not a responsibility.

[ironkatia]

who is that guy? i swear i;v met him before. baltimore maybe?

[CleanDeKalb]

Squatters are the scum of the earth. See my channel for video of an illegal auto salvage yard in DeKalb County GA run by squatters right next to my house!

[WhollyGhost]

A lot of squatters are idiots, but a lot of people in general are idiots. I judge people on an individual basis, based on their actions and words. I've met plenty of squatters of all types, and I was one myself. Not every squatter is a moron, just like every moron isn't a squatter.

[Strummerkid]

I see you commenting on every squatting video saying squatters are scum. Firstly you have to make a distinction. There are squatters who move into derelict buildings and better the buildings making them livable, and making useful something that was otherwise wasteful.

Then you have those like in your case who seem to vandalise. A lawful tennant could do the same thing.

Now how is the first group i mentioned scum?

[goregalore]

It's not a movement, but an epidemic. What's worse is having family members wanting to reach out to their kids and these morons saying, "no thanks". It's not glorified camping, but spring-boarded wannabe street cred. Grow the hell up.

[WhollyGhost]

Probably many of these kids are just making bas choices. 'Grow the hell up'? Try telling that to a 19 year old. Also, not *everyone* has the same choices... some squatters I'm sure don't have families reaching out for them, or anyone else really. Not to say that's the case even for the majority, but you're certainly painting with broad strokes. I guess that's easier than thinking, though.

[patrap]

Why do this when you can work and better yourself? Makes no sense.Come to New Orleans..plenty to do here.

[WhollyGhost]

Well, a lot of people have severe psychological problems or drug addictions. Also, it's hard to find a job when you're homeless... the cards are kind of stacked against you. I ended up getting a job working six months a year on fishing boats in the Bering Sea, and that's how I reassimilated into society. There should be a "new deal" kind of program for New Orleans... plenty of jobs to do there, you're right!

[oneiricimperium]

Well it makes no sense in what context? Work in and of itself, isn't inherently self-improvement. Someone who was broke but spent their days refining an art is doing better for themselves then getting up everyday and going to a job that serves no high function. Work is only good if it serves a higher personal goal, or is itself a means of fulfilling that higher goal.

[rswoods7]

for some people, the time-for-money exchange isn't satifying. society's idea of "better yourself" isn't appealing to us... it's not a mental illness... it's a dream, a desire, a lifestyle. "comfort will never be comfortable for those who want what is not on the market", and we'll continue to prefer squatting to the standard mainstream american living. it makes sense if you realign your perception of what is desirable. even in new orleans

[14mm2]

....okay.

[inhumanity80]

Yea, and people are still squatting here. I wasted so much time doing this crap.