I grew up in the same neighborhood as the writer, even went to the same college. It was normal that my family members collected cans. We all struggled to get by and that struggle is something that you will never forget. It keeps you grounded especially when you're in a tech industry that often forgets about how it is for people at the bottom of our society. Value that twitch and that feeling. I consider it sort of a lower brain stem function that reminds us of where we came from, what we had to do and why we have to be there for others going through the same.

My partner teases me about it but I collect every single can/bottle from my household and any other place I can find them and put them into trashbags in the trunk of my car. I often have no space to store other things in the trunk. When I'm back in my old neighborhood visiting family, I make it a point to stop and give these bags to individuals collecting. I know there are better ways to give back and donate but it's something that I will never stop doing because I know people appreciate reaching them on their level and letting them know we don't judge it, in fact we support it.

I read this with a smile. Collecting cans was my first money making venture as a 10yo, 80% of my life ago. ~1c/can (recycle value, no deposit), about $10/wk just cleaning up at 2 neighbourhood schools. I remember making my own 'can crushers' with a 2x4 and a brick. There was no shame in it, I felt much pride at that cash-in. The sickly sweet smell and soft clatter as the bag contents turned from aluminium to cash stays with me today.

I know what you mean. I used to walk around my school and the road for coins as a kid to pay for Advanced Placement (reduced cost) tests. I still instinctually reach for cash on the ground after a decade in software.

My mom worked at a university so after school I’d take the bus there and go to a few spots and collect bottles and cans, which gave me some money to go to the campus store and get a snack.

Everyone was a winner!

What the heck made you throw such a condescending accusation? I can really find nothing in the OP's comment that would justify such a reaction..

they might as well have posted on an article about growing up homeless living in a tent to talk about how they loved to sleep in tents, all the time, on the weekends when they were camping as a kid, much fun!

Please don't make things worse like this, even if your comment got a provocative and uncharitable reply.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

uh-huh, yeah bet you probably had a good karate teacher your parents paid for.

Would you please stop posting unsubstantive and flamebait comments to HN? You've been doing it a lot, unfortunately, and we ban that sort of account. It's not what this site is for, and it destroys what it is for.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Why is violence your response to rudeness?

It has been, and it has served me well. You'd be surprised at how quickly abusive people shut up after a smack.

Do you live in a jurisdiction where you don't have to worry about assault charges?

If you have kids I hope you don't raise them that way (or think that violence is an acceptable approach there).

Please don't cross into personal attack in HN threads.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html