Should I have given my dollar?

[Sikachu]

Reading this thread has really disgusted me. I wish that the people in some of your lives treated you with the charity that you seem prepared to show for just one week so you could learn just how nasty it is. I seriously hope that this thread gets flooded with some nicer people or my lack of faith in Escapists will be well justified.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Then again, i see them as needing it to get that small way of bliss in their life.

As soon as you said that you weren't going to get any shit from me.

I'm confused. did I say something wrong or something right?

 

[Sikachu]

You people are so ignorant when it comes to how hard it is for the homeless that it beggars belief. Do some research before running your mouths off about an issue that you are clearly incapable or understanding with your limited empathetic faculties alone or don't share your opinions.

Excuse me but I have known four people become homeless, and not the cute "I'm homeless but my mate lets me stay at his" kind either. You don't mean 'do your research', you mean 'think what I tell you to' and no, I won't. No sympathy from me, how much more can we do for people in this country exactly? Should we elect an MP to do their job for them? They have every chance and a social welfare system built around helping those with nothing and I pay for one of the most lenient benefit systems in the world through my work and my taxes.

My part is done.

I didn't even begin to tell you that you should do more. There are several excellent reasons not to give money to homeless people on the street (though I personally find them unconvincing).

However, even if your story is true, statements such as "In the UK there are very few circumstances, if any, that can lead to someone being irreparably homeless. The benefits available for housing and job seeking are good enough that if someone wants money they can obtain it." are so ridiculously inaccurate that I can't even bring myself to laugh.

 

[Sikachu]

Then again, i see them as needing it to get that small way of bliss in their life.

As soon as you said that you weren't going to get any shit from me.

I'm confused. did I say something wrong or something right?

Something right.

 

[blackflare]

DEpending on how helpless the person looks

 

[MassiveGeek]

Give the guy a sandwich instead.
Ask him to stay where he is, go to a store, buy a club sandwich, maybe a drink too, and hand it to him. Maybe you could even buy two sandwiches so you both could have a nice conversation eating them together.

That way you can be sure the money's put to good use, even if it's a, as it's called in sweden, a "bear favor", it's better than them just spending it on things like drugs and booze to make their lives worse, or them tricking you, because if they say no to being bought a sandwich if they asked for money to buy food, they're obviously trying to trick you.

 

[rokkolpo]

never been asked for money myself.

but just do what feels right for you.
that way you won't feel guilty,
live with the feeling of helping someone,
and you made someone happy with a dollar.

it's all win for you. except for the dollar.....

 

[quiet_samurai]

A couple weeks ago I was walking into the grocery store when two guys playing guitars aske me if I had any change. They said they were from out of town and were traveling across the country and needed some money for a bus ticket. I had about a dollar fifty in loose change so I gave it to them and they played me a little song.

Fast forward to about three days ago, I saw the same exact two guys about a mile away from the grocery store where I showed my generosity and they gave me the same exact story. I called them on their bullshit and said they should give me back my money. I told them that they shouldn't try and peddle the same story weeks on end in the same neighborhood and if they tried it agin with me I would smash their belongings. Granted I was a little intoxicated for this encounter and i had three friends with me. May not ahve been the nicest of things to do.... but at least they know, and maybe they'll come up with a better BS story to beg money.

They even tried to guilt trip me and said it wasn't very Christain of me. I told them that neither is deception. Idiots.


EDIT: ALso, I have a buddy that keeps job applications for fast food restaurants in his vehicle and hands them to vagrants that like to hand out on the freeway exit ramps holding signs and begging. It's hilarious when he hands them one.

EDIT 2: And for fun another friend of mine made a sign that just said "I JUST LIKE HOLDING SIGNS" and hung out near an area that is full of sign holding bums. It was funny because he was all clean cut and fresh looking and people were actuallly giving him money. He's lucky he didn't get mugged.

EDIT 3: Man I have alot of bum stories. One time I bought a deli sandwich and walked out to my car to leave. I realized that I forgot my car keys in the deli and went back to get it, leaving my sandwich sitting on the roof of my car. I was gone for probably a total of about 25 seconds and when I got back there was this bum eating my sandwich. I actually shoved my sandwich out of his hands and stomped all over it and went inside and bought another one. And he acted like I was the one out of line.

OK... I'm done with my homeless/bum related tales.

Way to tell a whole bunch of people on the internet that you are a selfish and uncaring arsehole. Cool stories bro.

Lol thanks. I vastly enjoy telling them, it's really the little things in life that make it truly worth it.

In all honesty, I do hand out money to some people... as stated in the first part of my story. The other two were things my friends did, not me. And the sandwich story, as well as when I encountered the two from the first part.... all lied to me and or stole something that was mine. The god damn bum that took my sandwich saw me leave it there and decided to help himself to something taht wasn't his.

So if you really want to stick up for someone that gets by via the generosity of others through deception or the use of theft then go for it. If taking the side of people who contribute nothing to society and would most likely take something from you without feeling bad makes you sleep better at night.... then go for it.

Have a nice day.

 

[Suicidal Hobo]

Yes. A friend of mine gave a bum some cash on his way home from work twenty minutes later he got jumped and the bum rushed in and kicked the crap out of everyone. And I'll always spare some money for the honest ones.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Unfortunately, dealing with panhandlers is a lot like being friends with a compulsive liar on Facebook that makes a post saying he has cancer; you're incredibly skeptical, but if you call them out, refuse them aid, and turn out to be wrong about it, you look and feel like a colossal asshole.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I don't give money to vagrants who try to lie to me, but gladly do so to the ones that just flat out ask for some.

This pretty much. If it's obvious the person needs it, I'll give it to them but when it's some bloke coming up saying (and these are actual quotes) "I'm not gonna lie, I just wanna get drunk" or "I need to get a train" I won't. The first one because, why should I pay for someone to get drunk? And the second because it's pretty obviously a lie, and if it isn't I'm sure they can explain that to the train people.

 

[fenrizz]

I usually give money to beggars, especially if they're being honest about it.

I don't mind giving $10 to a junkie, because it might keep him from doing something illegal to get his next fix.

Also, we don't really have homeless people in Norway.
Exceptions excist, of course, but no one really needs to be homeless here.

Also (number 2), I don't give money to foreign beggars (i.e. beggars that come here on the sole purpose of begging).

 

[The Last Nomad]

I usually give money to anyone who comes up and asks... When I can afford it that is.
The usual in my town is "Can you spare a euro for the Bus" or the more honest "I'm starving, Can you spare a euro for a sandwich". I rarely have more than a few euro in my pocket so I usually only give him a few coins, about 50 or 60 cent. When I don't need the few euro I have for my own bus, lunch or cigarette skins, I'll gladly give it. I know its not much but I give what I can and I know its helps the person out a bit.

I don't see how you are being played. If you give them money it's up to them what they use it for. So what if its for drugs. Its not like it harms you any more than if they bought a bar of chocolate.

And don't be such an asshole to ingore them becuase they disrupted what you are doing. They need money to make their life a little less shit for a few minutes and they have to ask whoever they can, they may not like disrupting you but they have to do it.

 

[P.Tsunami]

You know, this thread has made me want to give money to the next person that asks me for it on the street. There seems to be some callous ideas going around here. Frankly, if someone gets a dollar from you to feed his vice of choice (I use that last word liberally, cause it's usually not), that same person needs money to eat. Whether or not your specific dollar goes to food or not seems ultimately irrelevant. I can see reason for not wanting to support beggars; you might argue that this kind of charity - rather than properly implemented social services - exacerbates the problem rather than help. Teach a man to fish, and all that. However, I do not buy the argument that it's a "lifestyle choice" or that a given beggar earns more than you do. Most people don't turn to begging on the street unless they're desperate, and I seriously doubt that the vast majority choose to live like they do.

 

[Billion Backs]

Beggars, hell no. Dog eat dog, and all that.

Friends or people that I know who are clearly in financial trouble - very possibly. Might re-consider in case of some people, but for close people I'd go pretty damn far. Even if they don't return, at least I have their company and know that they've been friends since before their sudden need.

People who I don't know can fuck off. I already don't like more then half of the planet, and statistically you're out of luck. At best it's case by case basis, at worst they can scram it.

I don't even need to excuse myself. People are too full of unwarranted self importance. If you're in a shithole, don't expect a helping hand. Hope for it, sure, but life's a *****.

 

[The Last Nomad]

I didn't even begin to tell you that you should do more. There are several excellent reasons not to give money to homeless people on the street (though I personally find them unconvincing).

However, even if your story is true, statements such as "In the UK there are very few circumstances, if any, that can lead to someone being irreparably homeless. The benefits available for housing and job seeking are good enough that if someone wants money they can obtain it." are so ridiculously inaccurate that I can't even bring myself to laugh.

Like what? What circumstance can't be solved by the correct application to a local council?

http://england.shelter.org.uk/
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10018757

There's quite a list on there, but basically if you apply as homeless you will get full assistance from the Council, combine this with jobseeker's allowance and most people will be able to get by. Basically they'll put you into temporary housing whilst your claim is reviewed and assuming you're homeless legitimately and from the area you should get a council house. Priority goes to younger people, pregnant women or women with dependants.

You really would be surprised, providing you are seeking help for any addiction (free) and are willing to take any reasonable job then the assistance is fantastic, why do you think we get so many illegal immigrants compared to many other places in the EU?

You think all the service available are able to help everyone who becomes homeless?
Because they simply can't.

However, Maybe the UK is a shining beacon of hope for homeless people but here in Ireland and most places in the world, being homeless is shit hard and nobody wants to help you because they blame you for your problems... And more often than not, its not your own fault if your homeless...

 

[Fall from Honor]

This may sound harsh, but I have never given anything to beggars.
Now if a friendly and not completely run down person would ask me for a buck or two for a trainticket and I would happen to be at a station, that would be something different.

Before anyone calls me cold hearted, let me explain why I don't give money to beggars.
You should know that I grew up partly in India and over there quite a few beggars are actually organzied in gangs. That means that they need to give part of their income to their higherups, some of whom become moderately rich as a result. To them begging is just their job and honestly speaking I don't feel obliged to help someone I don't know and don't care about with their job.
Furthermore I live in Germany and over here the help for the home or jobless is, despite its decline, still quite good, so I don't see a reason why I should help.

On the other hand, I don't know how good or bad the situation is in Boston, so I can't rightly say how I would react, but 99% of the time I would definitely refuse to give them the money.