Can a Homeless Man's 'God-Given Voice' Change His Life Forever?

[DevilsAvocado]

I don’t believe in god, but I do believe in this man.

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=sv&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsvt.se%2F2.58360%2F1.2288641%2Futskriftsvanligt_format%3Fprinterfriendly%3Dtrue"

The U.S. has a homeless man got a second chance after a reporter in Ohio discovered his voice and put a video on Youtube.

Ted Williams, 53, worked previously as a radio presenter, but his life wrecked by years of drinking and drug abuse. After ten years on the street, he started to make sense of life.

Detection of reporter
There was a reporter who discovered Williams as he stood beside the road and held up a sign. The plaque had Williams wrote that he had a "God-given voice" and asked for help.

When the reporter heard the Williams voice amazed him and put out a video on Youtube with the former radio announcer.

Full-time
The clip was a success, Williams has now been a full time job as a presenter for the basketball team the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I feel like Susan Boyle and Justin Bieber," said Ted Williams to the Columbus Dispatch, the newspaper that discovered him. Boyle and Bieber are other phenomena that have become large, partly because of Youtube.

Williams is recovering after two years and have now visited his mother for the first time in twenty years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPFvLUWkzs

 

[Evo]

I don’t believe in god, but I do believe in this man.

The reporter for making the video? The guy can't get credit just because of his voice.

 

[DevilsAvocado]

The reporter for making the video? The guy can't get credit just because of his voice.

...no Evo... Ted Williams, the man who has been living on the street (drugs+alcohol) for +10 years and still are able to get a grip on his life...

 

[russ_watters]

What does this give you hope of? That it's possible to ruin your life despite having been born with a skill people are willing to pay money to utilize?

I don't think this is the hopeful/inspiring story you're looking for.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

The man isn't even really off alcohol. He's just a guy that got lucky by having his story go viral. That's the extent of it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/12/2011-01-12_ted_williams_homeless_man_with_golden_voice_on_his_los_angeles_arrest_my_daughte.html"

 

[DevilsAvocado]

What does this give you hope of? That it's possible to ruin your life despite having been born with a skill people are willing to pay money to utilize?

I don't think this is the hopeful/inspiring story you're looking for.

Well, it’s a free world and you are free to have any thoughts about this.

I on the other hand, do think it’s a good thing that a homeless drug addict gets a second chance at +50, and it seem like many of the 7,995,798 YouTube viewers have similar feelings.

 

[Evo]

and it seem like many of the 7,995,798 YouTube viewers have similar feelings.

Or idle curiosity. The man is an alcoholic with serious problems. He didn't actually make an effort to change his life. Maybe he will, but just because he got lucky doesn't inspire me.

 

[russ_watters]

Another lesson you can take from this: no matter how promising your life is, how gifted you are, it is possible to ruin everything by abusing drugs and alcohol.

Oh wait, I learned that already from Brittney Spears!

 

[russ_watters]

The man isn't even really off alcohol.

Uh oh, that teaches me that as long as you're gifted enough, people will keep giving you "second" chances you don't deserve.












Oh wait, I already learned that from Brittney Spears too!

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Williams has been given a second chance. It is up to him do make good on it. Whether this story is inspirational has yet to be determined. It will be interesting to see what happens. This guy has been handed the golden goose. Can Dr. Phil and Hollywood's best [pun intended] help to reform this man? Personally, I doubt it. On the other hand, if he's already kicked a serious drug problem while living on the streets, he may still have a lot going for him. That is quite an achievement.

As far as judging him, I think pity is far more appropriate. More than not, I don't think people like this can help themselves. No one in their right mind wants to become a drug addict, lose everything, and live on the streets.

There was a show on recently about moms who were duped into using meth for weight loss. I was struck by one woman who said that she was a happy, overweight mom, who loved her life, her husband, and her kids. She started using meth, and according to her, within a week she would have sold her kids for a fix. Addiction is a terribly powerful demon.

 

[Jasongreat]

His story shows just how awesome america is, imo, one day your homeless the next you are famous, if you have skill and the people support you. If snooky can be famous, why can't this guy? If I remember right he is now in rehab, so he is a celebrity, isn't that what all celebs do, yes russ even brittney.

 

[ThomasT]

Well, it’s a free world and you are free to have any thoughts about this.

I on the other hand, do think it’s a good thing that a homeless drug addict gets a second chance at +50, and it seem like many of the 7,995,798 YouTube viewers have similar feelings.

DA, just to insert a little buffer between you and the critics of your sentiment on this, I think you posted this for the best of reasons, and I'm rooting for the guy, but I also think that the comments of the critics in this thread are justifiable and that their points might be well taken. Ok, I guess that wasn't much of a buffer.

What might one learn from this? I'm not really sure, other than Ted's hair. Don't do that unless you're auditioning for a Robert Rodriguez movie.

 

[BobG]

There's always hope, but the hope is that someday he kicks his drug and alcohol habit.

Regardless, if there's any heroes in this story, it's the people that had to take care of the problems Williams left behind during the majority of his life. Behind golden-voiced Ted Williams is ex-wife Patricia Kirtley, the story's real hero

Apparently, the homeless gig works better for some than for others: Homeless Advocates Not Laughing at Vicki Lawrence's Ted Williams Parody

I love the comments of Aaron Reddin, who has been running homeless shelters in Little Rock, Arkansas:

She should note that mac 'n cheese is actually pretty popular on the streets. It's cheap, quick and easily made, not to mention it provides plenty of carbs to keep the body going in the elements.

So, not only is she old and washed up but she's also out of touch with reality. Wait, that's because of that old part, right? Or was she always? I don't know. And I'm far too young to give a damn.

On the other hand, Williams is only about 10 years older than Bush was when Bush gave up alcohol. Now Bush is a much more valid story of hope about how one can turn their life around just by giving up alcohol and drugs.

 

[nismaratwork]

Uh oh, that teaches me that as long as you're gifted enough, people will keep giving you "second" chances you don't deserve.












Oh wait, I already learned that from Brittney Spears too!

I agree, but for the life of me I can't think of a single way that Spears is gifted other than being white and born in a wealthy nation. Her voice and her face sure aren't it...

 

[rootX]

This is a simple positive story: one less homeless man. If it inspires or makes people happy, I don't have anything against it. Being happy or getting inspired from little things is also a positive thing.

If you want to over-analyze it why not include crime rate also in the analysis which is directly linked to how many poor/homeless people you have?

 

[nismaratwork]

I'd say somewhere between Jasongreat and ThomasT's comments is the reason DA posted this. I'm personally not inspired, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate that it pleases others. Even if this ends badly for this one man, it may inspire others to avoid the promise of instant fame based on a single talent.

The man was homeless for 10 years, and he's not homeless now... that's an improvement, even if it isn't solving the national debt.

 

[nismaratwork]

This is a simple positive story: one less homeless man. If it inspires or makes people happy, I don't have anything against it. Being happy or getting inspired from little things is also a positive thing.

If you want to over-analyze it why not include crime rate also in the analysis which is directly linked to how many poor/homeless people you have?

re bolded: Is that causal or indicative?

 

[DevilsAvocado]

Oh wait, I learned that already from Brittney Spears!

Oh wait, I already learned that from Brittney Spears too!

russ... I don’t know if there is something wrong with my browser... but all I see in your posts is the vast space of gray emptiness...??

 

[DevilsAvocado]

Williams has been given a second chance. It is up to him do make good on it. Whether this story is inspirational has yet to be determined. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Agree, as for the "inspirational stuff", check out next posts.

This guy has been handed the golden goose. Can Dr. Phil and Hollywood's best [pun intended] help to reform this man? Personally, I doubt it. On the other hand, if he's already kicked a serious drug problem while living on the streets, he may still have a lot going for him. That is quite an achievement.

True, he made that crucial step alone, to make a decision, to get out of the mess he created. If a drug addict doesn’t have that strong wish for a real change, you can put any "Dr. Phil" on him/her and it won’t work anyway. The question is – What happens to person that has this will and then he winds up in "Snorting Hollywood"...? I don’t know... I just hope he makes it...

As far as judging him, I think pity is far more appropriate. More than not, I don't think people like this can help themselves. No one in their right mind wants to become a drug addict, lose everything, and live on the streets.

Yes, absolutely right. Very few people make a deliberate decision – Hey! I’m going to totally drop out! Yeah cool! (well... maybe in the 60's... turn on, tune in, freak out... ). There is no 'vaccination' for troubles, failures, accidents, divorces, unemployment, bankruptcy, etc; it could happen to anyone. What I can’t understand is how some in this thread seems to be convinced they don’t deserve a second chance?? That smells like brown shirts in the 30's to me...

As for the "wish for a change"; of course everyone has it, but most has gone too far in the "swamp of misery" – they just don’t have the strength to do it. Their existence is a never ending struggle for that "next fix"...

There was a show on recently about moms who were duped into using meth for weight loss. I was struck by one woman who said that she was a happy, overweight mom, who loved her life, her husband, and her kids. She started using meth, and according to her, within a week she would have sold her kids for a fix. Addiction is a terribly powerful demon.

Totally weird. Where does this fixation on food and weight come from?? Take a 30 min fast walk everyday and all the "problems" are gone, for god’s sake!

 

[DevilsAvocado]

His story shows just how awesome america is, imo, one day your homeless the next you are famous,

Yup, you have the best and worst of everything over there...

Seriously, I hope he can stay away from "fame" as much as possible.

 

[DevilsAvocado]

DA, just to insert a little buffer between you and the critics of your sentiment on this, I think you posted this for the best of reasons, and I'm rooting for the guy

I suspect I have pushed that "Lost in Translation" button again... and I think it’s the words "I do believe" in my OP that messes things up. I know that the "believing business" is a whole different enchilada over there... I’m not hearing gospel choirs and watching the angels dancing over this matter. I just thought this guy deserves all the luck he can have, and that this was a good thing that happened, as maybe a 'counterweight' to all the other mess, with a nutcase killing a little girl + 5 others innocent + injuring a representative for democracy.

It’s totally above my understanding how this could be a BAD thing...

but I also think that the comments of the critics in this thread are justifiable and that their points might be well taken. Ok, I guess that wasn't much of a buffer.

Agree. ()

What might one learn from this? I'm not really sure, other than Ted's hair. Don't do that unless you're auditioning for a Robert Rodriguez movie.

I know exactly what you are talking about. In the early 80's I recovered from a severe car abuse. They saved me by hiding the car keys in my hair. Could never be found again...

 

[DevilsAvocado]

There's always hope, but the hope is that someday he kicks his drug and alcohol habit.

True. AFAICT he has been clean for 2 years. Don’t know if he had a relapse... And yes, the relatives always suffer most in cases like this.

 

[DevilsAvocado]

I'd say somewhere between Jasongreat and ThomasT's comments is the reason DA posted this.

As always, you read my mind buddy. Thanks.

 

[nismaratwork]

As always, you read my mind buddy. Thanks.

Anytime... and um... neat hair!

 

[ThomasT]

I fear that there's more than just keys hiding in THAT hair. High creature hair. I like it.

Re Ted, though it's often better to be lucky than good, it's not a good long term strategy. He'll only have won (for him) the jackpot if he stays sober, which is a matter of learning and applying some well known behavior modification principles.

 

[nismaratwork]

I fear that there's more than just keys hiding in THAT hair. High creature hair. I like it.

Re Ted, though it's often better to be lucky than good, it's not a good long term strategy. He'll only have won (for him) the jackpot if he stays sober, which is a matter of learning and applying some well known behavior modification principles.

*tweet* What do you mean more than keys? Birds:?! NO BIRDS THERE!

Certainly not a pound of marijuana, a key of cocaine and A VOLKSWAGEN!

I did big hair once, but that's... glorious.

edit: About your Ted point: Yep... he's lucky to get this chance... truly purely lucky. The error is in people expecting a man who's been on the streets for 10 years, and probably an addict far longer, can even BEGIN to get healthy in a few days. He'll be years on the mend, BUT...

He's not on the streets.
He has the goodwill of more people than most
He has the cynical, but very real support of Dr. Phil et al, who stand to make money if he succeeds long-term.

 

[Chi Meson]

Not Half-Mackerel,

WHOLLY MACKEREL!

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Not vast, half-vast.