Is it right to give money to beggars?
- Thread starter Saucycarpdog
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I have no idea what you mean.RingaFiar said:
Chicken and the egg? Do you mean poverty breeds addiction, or addiction breeds poverty?
Both are certainly true, and neither scenario necessitates me helping a homeless man continue his addiction.
On the subject...
Of all the beggars/people who ask for money that I've ever dealt with, half gladly took the non-monetary offer, and half refused.
Then again, that's like a grand total of 4 people, so it's not the best sample size.
(All of them were at or around Wal-Mart though, oddly)
The two most recent:
A man was sitting on the side of the street at the rear of the parking lot. I parked at the back so I could walk a bit more. He looked hungry, so I got him a little sub sandwich at the Subway inside. He gladly took it, and thanked me.
Also at Wal-Mart, there was a woman in an older car. She said she didn't have enough gas to get home, and asked for $5-10. I told her "If you'll pull over into that gas station (we have a gas station literally in the Wal-Mart parking lot), I'll put $10 in your tank for you." She said "Um... no thanks", and sped off.
Of all the beggars/people who ask for money that I've ever dealt with, half gladly took the non-monetary offer, and half refused.
Then again, that's like a grand total of 4 people, so it's not the best sample size.
(All of them were at or around Wal-Mart though, oddly)
The two most recent:
A man was sitting on the side of the street at the rear of the parking lot. I parked at the back so I could walk a bit more. He looked hungry, so I got him a little sub sandwich at the Subway inside. He gladly took it, and thanked me.
Also at Wal-Mart, there was a woman in an older car. She said she didn't have enough gas to get home, and asked for $5-10. I told her "If you'll pull over into that gas station (we have a gas station literally in the Wal-Mart parking lot), I'll put $10 in your tank for you." She said "Um... no thanks", and sped off.
I don't give money to beggars and panhandlers, period. Not because I'm a heartless bastard mind you, but because I simply don't know if they're genuinely destitute. Even if they are, I could very well be fueling a bad habit like drug addiction if I just give them money.
I prefer donating money to trustworthy organizations, like local soup kitchens and drug rehabilitation centers.
I prefer donating money to trustworthy organizations, like local soup kitchens and drug rehabilitation centers.
I look for beggars that are identifiably Sihk, so I can offer them some meat. They'll decline, I'll feel like a saint, and I won't have to give anything!
To be honest, I rarely come across any, but that might just be cause I live in the Netherlands, where we'll just give you cash if you're a lazy bum anyway >.>
OT: There's this one beggar in front of the local supermarket who's usually harassing people more than begging, once offered to buy him a sandwich in there. He declined, asking for cash instead. Didn't really feel like giving him anything that.
OT: There's this one beggar in front of the local supermarket who's usually harassing people more than begging, once offered to buy him a sandwich in there. He declined, asking for cash instead. Didn't really feel like giving him anything that.
Don't let this convince you that OHio State University, Columbus is bad. It's a really good place, man. I guarantee that . Just HIgh Street is full of the worst and best of society.RingaFiar said:
I guess I was exaggerating, probably. But I was asked 7 times by 3 different people when I was out returning a book I found cheaper online. Saved 100 bucks. Barnes N Noble sucks ass!
While I don't really see any reason you shouldn't give them money, I'd rather offer to buy them a meal or something.
It actually kind of astounds me that you don't see the gaping hole in what you just said. I mean if it were an actual hole you could probably fit a truck through it.ninjastovall0 said:
I think South Park put it best:
Kyle: "here mister... this is all of my savings... it's $20, I was saving up for a new xbox game... but I think you could use it a lot more than me..."
Homeless man: "... got any more?"
Kyle: "n-no... I thought that was a lot..."
Homeless man: *walks off* "spare change?"
Kyle: "... you're welcome..."
Kyle: "here mister... this is all of my savings... it's $20, I was saving up for a new xbox game... but I think you could use it a lot more than me..."
Homeless man: "... got any more?"
Kyle: "n-no... I thought that was a lot..."
Homeless man: *walks off* "spare change?"
Kyle: "... you're welcome..."
Another common theory is that they got on the streets the same way you did.RingaFiar said:
By walking there.
My time in Chicago taught me to ignore them outright. Not exactly easy with some of the ones that would follow and yell at you for whatever reason.
I give money to the beggers that don't have a sign, or don't even make eye contact, they are the true rock bottomers
Here in Britain (or at least where I live in Scotland) you don't have to worry because of that glorius publication, The Big Issue! Basically there's this (government funded? I'm not sure) company that sells magazines to people who would otherwise have to beg for about 50p each and they sell them on for £1 and keep the profit. So, instead of begging they provide a service and everyones happy.
I've lived in England and Australia, both countries have good and universal benefits systems. There is no reason for someone to be begging, since all they need to do to get by is go to their local government office. The area of Australia I live in has a special problem with people of indiginous decent who take everything they can get from the system, spend it on booze and drugs, and then roam the streets or knock on the doors of the houses around their goverment provided homes, harrassing people for money or smokes and abusing those who refuse.
If I have the spare change and the time, yes, I'm willing to give. Even if it's for him or to buy a beer or a cigarette, because, let's face it, living on the streets SUCKS.
And I honestly think it's stupid when people say "get a damn job,"...yeah this guy or gal has no where to bathe, no money to buy nice clothes, and no transportation to said job. Very few if anyone is going to hire this person. Sometimes they can catch lucky breaks and find someone willing to take pity and ask them to do odd jobs to help them on their feet, but that's rare.
They only time I would get annoyed with a beggar not using my money as intended is when they have an animal with them and they use said animal to garner sympathy. But mostly any time I see a beggar with an animal, the animal is usually better fed than the man or woman.
And I honestly think it's stupid when people say "get a damn job,"...yeah this guy or gal has no where to bathe, no money to buy nice clothes, and no transportation to said job. Very few if anyone is going to hire this person. Sometimes they can catch lucky breaks and find someone willing to take pity and ask them to do odd jobs to help them on their feet, but that's rare.
They only time I would get annoyed with a beggar not using my money as intended is when they have an animal with them and they use said animal to garner sympathy. But mostly any time I see a beggar with an animal, the animal is usually better fed than the man or woman.
The tormenting of others less fortunate then you, even if they put themselves in that situation, is usually looked down upon.ninjastovall0 said:
Kind of makes you look like a douche.