Yes, I too hate the description of people as "Needy". But is there another description for what a social worker might see in his or her neighbor or family or friends? Sometimes, I forget that when I am home, away from work, that people watching is only a sport and is not my job to worry about the outcomes of their actions.

For example, in my neighborhood there is a continuing confrontation between various people about cleaning up after our dogs. One neighbor sets up a camera in the alleyway to catch the culprits. Another screams at anyone passing by a 20-yard radius of her house. And finally, there's the neighbor that dive bombs a courtyard with 10 bags of collected feces at 1 am in the morning. What do I see?

I feel a need to bring everyone together to discuss the issue, and at the same time feel too exhausted at the end of the workweek to negotiate between these sociopathic characters. Is my ambition to help my own community lacking? YES! Call me apathetic, silly me thinks that when I am no longer wearing my social work hat, that life should be easy-going. *sigh*  Or am I just acting out by saying that it's some one else's problem, like the alderman's or the community police?

Not very social worky of me? But I guess that's my point. I am still a person, not totally defined by my job roll, not always the helpful soul. And you know what.... While the guilt is there, I can not be a social worker 24/7!