Is it normal i have no sympathy for hobos.

Most of the hobos I've had to deal with are relentless druggies who ran out of luck when they fucked over the last person who was willing to help them. Generally they had many friends and family members who tried hard to help them and only ended up being stolen from and lied to. I am dealing with a couple in particular like that now. Either that or they are so mentally screwed that living in society is beyond their capabilities. Thanks, Reagan.

I'm not saying "be a cold ass hole" because of my experiences with them. There are plenty who have been legitimately kicked down by life who are having horrible trouble getting back up. The job market is shit and if you really want to help them, it's best to go through an agency or shelter - they will seek the help. Just keep your wits about you.

As for those who were not fortunate enough to have the mental capacity to function in a society, have a heart but have some brains as well. Inept and harmless don't always go hand in hand.

That doesn't happen very often. There are shelters, but they can't provide enough. Think- Job interview; Nice clothes, clean nails, brushed teeth, hair cut, decent background, good personality, quick thinker. A homeless person won't be provided most essentials for such, is probably a little flawed in their background, and after being kicked in the dirt they aren't mentally equiped.
That's just the start of the start of the problem. Let's say they strike gold and get a job. It won't be a good one, so it won't pay the bills. It's not easy to find a roommate when you're 40 y/o, single, man, previously homeless, etc. You have money now, but you have nowhere to live anyway. Shelter let's you stay 2 weeks, times up. No showers, no razor, look bad, smell bad, fired.
Plenty of things happen to make life that way for you. I could go on, but I don't wanna.

What about those who served in the armed forces and didn't receive any compensation whatsoever?

I suppose it depends where you live.

In some places, they even refuse a job because they can make more money begging, and some of them are just lazy.

There are obviously also those that are legitimately in that situation and find themselves unable to do anything about it.

The majority that I've come across being the former though.

I never give out money because I don't know that it isn't just going to waste - which is the more likely possibility where I live.

there's just not enough shelters. theres like a 4 month waiting list. Then again who wants to hire anyone who doesnt have an address or clean clothe. They're screwed sometimes . They have no family who can help them. Some are disable and mentally ill. Dont judge them! ';/

there are far too many situational differences as to why they are homeless, so its pretty ignorant to generalize them as all being the same. some of them ya, they are just a waste of life and drink and do drugs whenever they can. but a lot of them have just run into hard times and homelessness was the outcome. you cant just go out and get a job if you're homeless. it's even hard for regular people to get a job nowadays. but homeless or not they're still human. imagine how they feel. they dont have shit, and people look down on them all the time like they're trash and they're disposable. that has to suck.

Your black and white view of the world seems to have made you blind. It's a shame, but apparently quite a frequent outlook, so probably quite normal.

Maybe you should try it yourself if it's do easy.

A lot of the time it's because they have problems that would prevent them from maintaining a job, maintaining a home, maintaining anything constant in their lives. Whether that be addiction, mental illness or other issues.

I have sympathy for them. But I don't think chucking them some pennies is a solution. I think a lot of people do it to alleviate the pang of guilt they feel when they see somebody with so much less than them (like a lot of charity), but it's ineffective as a long term solution.

Ultimately, the only person who can save themselves from themselves is themselves. Try and say that when you're drunk.

Many of them are mentally ill!

Their addiction as you put it might be their only escape from a horrible reality. In this economy it is definitely possible not to have a job.

Me too, except if the hobo was actually unable to look for jobs anymore because he was too old or has mental issues or something

And someone has the decency to steal from a hobo -_-