Has anyone read the supposedly authentic book called Mole People about an extensive homeless community living deep underground, including some urban wildnerness types who hunt rats for food? I've glanced at the book in the past and always wondered if there was some truth to it.
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New York City
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Re: Mole People
Sun, February 6, 2005 - 2:24 PMHaven't read that one, but there was a page-turner of a novel called Manhattan Hunt Club that included people like that. -
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Re: Mole People
Sun, February 6, 2005 - 4:11 PMThere was also a NOVA program on the subject. NOVA gave the impression that Rudy kicked them all out. -
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Re: Mole People
Mon, February 7, 2005 - 3:00 PMif he did, unfortunately the jackass we have now let them back in.
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Re: Mole People
Mon, February 7, 2005 - 5:30 PMToo bad we can't get some actual Mole People to respond.
Attention Mole People!!!! Hear ye, Hear ye!!!!
Come out, come out wherever you are!!!!
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Re: Mole People
Sun, February 13, 2005 - 8:09 PMI read Mole People, by Jennifer Toth a number of years ago so I don't remember details, but It was a great book. And as for truth, I think it was certainly published as nonfiction and I'm fairly sure that she did actually go out and meet those people and go places mentioned in the book. I know that some of it is true.
I never managed to be bold enough to venture far enough into the tunnels under riverside park, back before they started running the metro norths through there again to see the artwork she describes, but I know there were indeed little cities of people in there because I had seen them around.
I know there are lots of tunnels, and old stops and all sorts of stuff, and she did all sorts of reseach and got grants for the book... I think it is authentic... and definitely a great read.
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Re: Mole People
Tue, February 22, 2005 - 2:11 PMGO READ MOLE PEOPLE!!!! It is a fascinating book and I believe it is true. ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING!!! Thousands of people living under there. Communities, doctors, teachers, people having babies, artists, etc. Clean people, dirty people, electricity...crazy stuff....check it out
There is also a documentary about some of these people...it is called DARK DAYS. It focuses on a handful of Mole People. I really liked the book, but this documentary is good too. -
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Re: Mole People
Tue, March 8, 2005 - 4:56 PMWow, thanks! Your tribe photo is hysterical! I'd love to send that picture to some of my friends, if you care to share (promise i won't use it).
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Re: Mole People
Sun, June 12, 2005 - 6:54 PMWhile parts of Mole People are partly true. Much of it has been skewed to dramatize and build publicity. For a better idea of what really was built underground, take a look at Margaret Morton's THE TUNNEL, or Marc Singer's DARK DAYS. The characters protrayed by Toth are extensions of the people described by morton and singer.
Also, take a look at Joe Brennan's description of why Mole People is full of fiction.
(www.google.com/search
Or, take a look at F'ing Joe's comparison of Brennan vs. Toth.
(ltvsquad.com/Blogs/Grabber.php
Or, take a look at Solis' book New York Underground for more images and descriptions of many hidden new york places.
(yes, I've done a bit of research on this topic, and may or may not have visited many of the sites in question.)
-jeeves. -
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Re: Mole People
Thu, December 7, 2006 - 2:49 PMi saw "dark days, " (rented the dvd) and it is great.
thanks for the interesting links. i'll check them out.
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Re: Mole People
Sat, June 11, 2005 - 3:55 PMI'm in the middle of reading this right now! Found it at a stoop sale, and having been intrigued by this sort of thing, I quickly handed over my quarter for it..
I definitely believe it's true. I see no reason not to.
Today I was doing my laundry, and went to read between cycles, when this woman asked what I was reading. She went into this whole long life story about her and her various family members having gone to shelters in NY, and how awful they are. At first she thought the mole idea was awful, especially for bringing up children, but I got her to understand that sometimes doing whatever it takes to keep your kids (rather than them being put in foster care) isn't so bad. The communities that are formed underground can be safe ways to bring up children, as long as you accept that the typical society isn't necessarily so great either. To each their own..whatever works. -
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Re: Mole People
Sat, June 11, 2005 - 6:09 PMSociety may have its problems (I wouldn't be a fool to deny it) but it also has SUPPORT SYSTEMS built in for such things as:
emergency services including health care;
food stamps;
welfare;
education, etc.
Many people would argue that being part of society, albeit in a shelter, offers certain benefits, including the opportunity to get out of one's current situation and into something better, even if that is municipal housing. -
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Re: Mole People
Sat, June 11, 2005 - 9:38 PMhave you even read the book?
it talks about how communities are formed down there. there are people who were teachers who have become homeless, as well as nurses, engineers, etc., and choose the underground lifestyle rather than the shelter lifestyle.
plus some of them come above ground to pick up government checks, too.
obviously, many do take advantage of the aboveground society.. they know where the best food handouts are, they steal tools from track workers, but they are for the most part sufficient enough to have a working community.
i would agree that being in the welfare system has it's benefits, but some people prefer to be independant, because it takes a lot of red tape to get a spot in a shelter, where there are dangerous people (too), or get on the welfare system. It takes a very long time and a lot of work to get in municipal housing. Plus, if you even have one drug felony, you are automatically banned from gov't housing. Even if you get healthy. -
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Re: Mole People
Sat, June 11, 2005 - 11:28 PMNo, I didn't read this particular book which is not the exclusive source of information on people living underground.
I think they would be better off above ground. You disagree. Fine. -
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Re: Mole People
Sun, June 12, 2005 - 5:51 AMI don't think you have any authority to decide how other people live their lives. That's the problem with the above ground society in general - everyone thinks they know how everyone else should live. -
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Re: Mole People
Sun, June 12, 2005 - 11:40 AMCalm down.
I'm not issuing any edicts! I'm not telling anyone what to do. I merely ventured an OPINION. If I could decide where people lived, I'd first put myself in the Frick Collection and then deal with the others.
Sheesh! -
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Re: Mole People
Thu, December 7, 2006 - 2:47 PMaileron,
laura does not need to calm down. you do.
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Re: Mole People
Mon, March 19, 2007 - 7:48 PMwell, don't keep us in suspense. what'd ya see? -
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Re: Mole People
Fri, May 18, 2007 - 7:18 AMI joined only because of this posting. I have worked with folks who have made it a lifestyle to live underground. I used to work at BRC- (shelter for the homeless) back in the mid-90's. I had one patient who did not mind living underground and had a hard time adjusting to mainstream culture. He was fascinated by the subway system and the only reason he bothered entering BRC was in order to get an opportunity to get a job working the subways. Otherwise he kept wanting to go back home, as he would put it.
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