MovieChat Forums > The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2005) Discussion > SeriousQ: How did Mark really survive f...

SeriousQ: How did Mark really survive for 26 years without

posted 18 years ago by open_universe2003
9 replies | jump to latest

paying rent and drifting from one temporary low-paying job to another? And what was with the Italian momma at the cafe restaurant refusing to take his money for the meal he purchased??? Is every restaruant in San Francisco so generous???

My completely unfounded speculations are that someone in such a peculiar and unexplainable situation for such a long period of time is either (a) on some kind of social security disability and got a monthly check, (b) a trust-fund baby or (3) really did work more than was revealed/admitted to, in order to re-inforce a "free-spirit/hippie" philosophy/lifestyle/attitude.

And what's the deal with him never getting a haircut, because he was waiting to get a girlfriend first? If he had GOTTEN a haircut and a decent job and all that, that is, if he had BOUGHT INTO THE SYSTEM, like all the 60s radical hippies who now are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies in fact did, he'd have scored a lot earlier.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not disrespecting the man. I watched the documentary and truly enjoyed it. But when someone says they haven't paid rent in 26 years, and have no visible means of support/income, and all that, and they appear to be in perfect health, I get suspicious. Wouldn't you???

On a related note, I found it interesting how his landlords "let him" squat in that small cottage next to his building. Could it really have been that the law in San Francisco favors squatters, and that, by getting the cottage condemned, they finally got him out without an expensive court battle? The documentary clearly shows that they rehabbed the cottage to code, and then put a "For Rent" sign out front. If they were really into Mark and all that, why not let him move back in, rent-free???

No disresepct is meant to Mark or anyone else by this post. I am truly curious re a number of inexplicable and unexplained issues that were presented by the material in the documentary. Thank you.

[–] markbittner 18 years ago

It's impossible to put all the nuances of a life into an 83 minute film. I wasn't homeless for 26 years, nor does the film say that. It was 15, as I recall. I say in the film that I did odd jobs, and that's how I survived. I didn't pay rent in all that time. For a while I actually was on the street. The rest of it I lived in situations that no one else wanted to live in. My thing was watching how things worked and learning about matters of the heart and mind, which is our purpose here on this planet--no matter what some people might say. I'm working on a book right now about the period of my life depicted in the film, but I wrote about it some in my book "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill." In the film, if we had gone into detail about the way I lived there would have been nothing about the parrots. Let's see...what else. No social security disability, no trust fund, I did as little work as possible to still survive clean. I did lose some teeth to poverty. I was and am trying to stay as far away from "the system" as I possibly can. I don't believe it's a good way to live. Things have worked out for me. And finally: When my landlords told me they had to renovate, I was happy to move on. I'd been doing the same thing for too long and I was ready to go. If you read my book, you'll find fuller explanations of all of this--if you want them. None of what I did is really so strange. It's only strange to Americans of this era. This kind of path is ancient and universal. Please understand that I respect your questioning. If this seems curt, it's only because I would have to go on too long to do more than telegraph a response.

[–] open_universe2003 18 years ago

Thank you for your courteous and direct reply.

I have already made arrangements to get a copy of your book from a local library. I intend to read it and get a better understanding of your story, which I do find fascinating.

If you would allow me this reaction to your philosophy of "stay[ing] as far away from 'the system' as [you] possibly [could]"....:

The System exists. Short of living alone in the wilderness, everyone is a part of "It", no matter how much they cocoon themselves against it. Even the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski, found the occasional need to go into town and trade rabbits that he had trapped for essential goods manufactured by "the System".

Many people recognize that "the System" makes assumptions and demands of one that are contrary to one's personal beliefs and values. But no one in America is forced to change their values or beliefs because of this. No one here is a prisoner - or a slave. Testimony to this is the ever-increasing flood of illegal immigrants who risk life and limb to come here, no matter what the cost. People disagree with the System, all the time, and try to change it, for the better, all the time.

I understand that you have your life, and you lived it, straight on. Kudos to you that you did not resort to a life of crime to support yourself all those years. But think about people who went against the grain, people like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs or any other of the myriad number of individuals (even counter-culture musicians), in your part of the country, who went "against" the System, but became commercially successful in spite of it, and still did not abandon their values. My position is that you could have traveled the same path you did, even within the System, and probably with greater comfort. Had you taken your observations and published an undergrouns "zine", for example, you could have made enough money to still follow your path and yet be more than able to provide for your frugal needs.

One more thing: I work a 9-to-5 job that I do find frustrating at times, and at times I find myself wishing I did not have to go to. EVERYONE feels this way. But the fact that I and millions of others do go to our boring 9-to-5 jobs "in the System" means that we all produce goods and services that keep us all living with a higher standard of living that we would otherwise never have had. We ARE the System, and we can change it - from within.

Thanks again, and best of luck to you and yours.

P.S. In the documentary, what you said was that in about a period of 26 years or so, you did not pay rent for 25 of them. And, watching the documentary again for the second time last night, I think I understand that the Italian momma knew she was being filmed, and thus gave you that meal gratis as a thanks.

[–] harpette 17 years ago

open_universe2003, the boldness of your questioning at the top of this thread really cracked me up. No, i am not mocking you, it really amused me, i had a good laugh. And then i enjoyed your answer to Mark's reply, in which you bring forth some really good points, quite well expressed, and i thank you for that. There is one part, however, with which i differ, the "No one here is a prisoner - or a slave": i'd like to point out that this system is greatly based on usury, which does enslave people (think of poor folks struggling to pay rent, whereas "this land is your land, this land is my land, this land was made for you and me"), so this is an invitation to reflect on this.
But perhaps this is not the right place for such a conversation; perhaps Mark's site, or the movie's site, have a forum? (i have not located one there yet)

[–] open_universe2003 17 years ago

Thank you for your courteous reply.

I deny that we are slaves in America. Many people, dissatisfied with their current situation, emigrate to other countries all the time.

One example of this will bring my point home: At the end of the Vietnam Conflict, many South Vietnamese fled their homeland and came to America, many to Texas, with no relatives, no jobs, no money and no English. Today, their children are successful college-educated laywers, doctors, etc.

See what I mean? If someone from South Vietnam can come here and work their tails off and become reasonably successful, have a house, kids, etc., then that means that absolutely there is no slavery in America. People for the most part put themselves into situations that resemble slavery.

Did you mention "usury", in your post? My reply: cut up your credit cards and learn to live within your means. You see, it can be that simple.

And it is.

[–] fritterz15 18 years ago

Mark, can I just say how admirable I find it that you have personally responded to this question? I think your movie (and your sensibility and kindness-- and your love of conures) is inspiring.

[–] sciotofloods 17 years ago

I watched the dvd last night and loved it, so I came to the message boards to see what people have to say.

I was surprised by how many angry/frustrated/confused posts were here against Mark.

It seems that his life story is a rorshach test for some very unhappy and confused people in the world.

I don't see him as a prophet or enlightened person or anything, but I really admired his respect and compassion for the birds. I also respected the wisdom he displayed which prevented his compassion from degenerating into bleeding-heart sentimentalism.

It's sad that so many people come here and attack him, or come here trying to defend their own life and how they fit in with "the system."

Every person's life has value. Every creature's life has value.

If you are really so angry or confused about his lifestyle, perhaps you should re-examine your own.

We live in one of the biggest and most beautiful countries in the world where we are supposedly the most free people on earth. Then why do so many people think that the only purpose in life is to work like a dog all week so you can spend the weekend buying stuff?

How you gonna keep them down on the farm once they've seen Karl Hungus?

[–] Daverat 17 years ago

Sciotofloods, I too am surprised at how angry people seem to be at mark for not having forsaken his ideals to join "the System". This country is big enough for all of us and I dare say it was founded by people fleeing a "system" that prevented them from worhsipping as they saw fit. There is a long tradtiiton in the United States of tolerating an individual's chosen path so long as it doesn't harm others. I believe the people of Telegraph Hill came to respect and value Mark for his service to the brids. perhaps the Itallian Mamma didn't let him pay because he was "Mark the Birdman." Here in Hollywood, we have a few figures that look after various areas without being asked to and merchants cut them some slack as well since they have little income.

It's clear that the neighborhood knew he was the guy to go to if you found an injured bird or had a bird that needed a home and so on. I have found that people who are valued by a community are usually rewarded by that community in goods, services or in kind. WE have a local gal who cares for feral cats, trapping them, getting them fixed and then re-releasing them. She has very little income. The Vets give her feral cats free care, neighbors give her supplies and in return, our feral cat population has ceased to be a problem. This gal has never held a 9 to 5 job, she's an occasional actress and voice coach who gives lessons out of her rented home. Our area has rent control and she's been here long enough to have a very low rent. Neighbors bring her food from their gardens, casseroles and so on. I believe she gets by on less than $700 a month.

If people really looked at how much of their income they spend to keep them going to work (clothes, gas, make-up, haircuts, manicures, lunches, fast food, lattes etc), they'd see that choosing to work from your home or just accept odd jobs and serve as a caretaker can cut down on your need for income in a huge way. A brief period of unemployement taught me that and it changed the way I spend even after I went back to work

There is an entire movement in the USA called Simple Living or Voluntary Simplicity and I encourage others who found this film enjoyablke to read up on it. Plant a veggie garden and some bird firendly plants while you're at it. DOnate your excess produce to your local foodbank. You'lll spend time outside, get better food , feed the hungry and feed some biurds. Who knows, if you plant the right trees and shrubs, maybe even some wild parrots will stop by for a visit!

Mark is an inspiration not an aberration

[–] Daverat 17 years ago

I have now finished the book and all I can say to folks with questions is: READ IT! Read it now and order it if you don't have it. It answers all your questions and is a joy to read. It starts before the movie and you feel as if you are right behind Mark's shoulder as he first encounters the Flock.

it explians his Dharma Bum lifestyle, who that Italian mama is that bakery and the comments in the film about kind Italian ladies at bakeries handing him bags of bread and pastires along with the roll he paid for as well as how he managed to pay for the roll without begging and without having a regular job. He was only "Homeless" in the strict sense of the word for a short time. The rest of the time, he did odd jobs and relied on fate. He also seems to have done an awful lot of taking care of other people although the way he describes it in the book makes it seem insignificant. In short - he was a good guy to have around if you were disabled, elderly or ill and in need of some household help and someone to help you with errands. He lived simply and sometimes very roughly.

Then the Flock came into his life and he found his calling. Seriously folks - read the book. I stayed up all night reading it after I found it at the bottom of my book pile. Don't make the mistake oof putting it away once you get it. It really will lift your spirits.

The book, in my mind, is best read right after seeing the film. The film introduces you to a lot of the basic story so as you read it, you get excited knowing that something big is coming up. I loved it! I'm buying some copies for friends. It's too wonderful to keep to yourself.

[–] 17 years ago

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