Gutter punk

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A Gutter punk is a homeless or transient individual, often a juvenile, who is in some way associated with the punk subculture.^[1]

The term has traditionally been used to describe homeless juveniles who display a variety of specific physical traits. These characteristics are often, but not always, associated with the punk subculture . They include unkempt dreadlocks, nose rings or mohawk hairstyles. In certain regions, gutter punks are notorious for panhandling and often display cardboard signs that make statements about their lifestyles.^[1] Gutter punks reside in all major metropolises, though many congregate in the former hippie enclave of Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, California.^[1]

Gutter punks are generally characterized as being voluntarily unemployed.^[1] As such, gutter punk is a term that is generally only applied to able-bodied individuals with no signs of physical or mental disabilities. The term gutter punk has also been used as in the field of social science to describe a specific demographic group, which consists of the traditional gutter punks as described here. Gutter punks often do seek work, however, they often search for or are limited to short-term employment. Other innovative methods of procuring income, such as panhandling, are generally considered "last resorts" but are often used due to the average gutter punk's difficulties in finding stable employment. Those associated with the gutter punk way of life generally do not ascribe to the crust punk ideology, however, due to its name crust punk is often confused with gutter punk. Gutter punks tend not to involve themselves with peace, autonomy, veganism or other activist ideals promoted in the crust punk or peace punk scenes.

[edit] Glossary

88 Skinhead or Bonehead - n. Nazi skinhead (8th letter of alphabet is H, so 88 = HH, which means Heil Hitler)
BNSF - adj. Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway train
Bull - n. Normally, a trainhopper calls train police bulls. Gutter punks may call all police officers bulls.
Bum Jug - n. A large jug of cheap, highly alcoholic wine, usually Carlo Rossi Sangria
Crass(y) Punk - n. Generic term literally meaning a punk that likes the band Crass, actually meaning someone is basically a peace-loving punk (derogatory). Sometimes also referred to as a "Crasshole".
Crew Change - n. Documents containing train routes, also, a train yard where a train stops to change crew.
Dope - n. While dope can refer to marijuana or various other psychoactive drugs, usually gutter punks mean heroin
Evan Davis - n. A stereotypical name to describe a Jewish punk with vagabondish tendencies.
Flying a Sign - v phrase. Holding a cardboard sign while panhandling or to hitchhike somewhere
Hep - n. Hepatitis
Home bum - n. A non-punk non-travelling homeless person.
House Punk - n. Any punk that has a home (slightly derogatory)
Housey - n. See House Punk
Oogle - n. New, inexperienced punk (derogatory)
Runnoft also R-U-N-N-O-F-T (spelled out) - vi. Term from Oh Brother Where Art Thou meaning ran off basically
SHARP - n. Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice
Space Bag - n. Box of wine actually containing a bag, which used to be colored all-silver (more widely known on the West Coast)
Spanging - vi. 'Spare Changing' (panhandling, typically by using the phrase "spare change?" to passers by)
Squat - v. Sleep, usually more than one night (not necessarily related to squat n. example: To squat on someone's couch
Squat - n. Place to sleep not belonging to the person, example: field, basement of abandoned house, etc
SSI - n. Supplemental Security Income (Disability checks from the government, usually for depression or mental instability)
Tracks - n. Needle holes on the body, sin. is track mark, not track
Tracks - n. Railroad tracks, no sin.
UP - adj. Union Pacific (train)
Wingnut - n. Mentally insane person, usually homeless (derogatory)