Beggars

[morethanpretty]

thanks monnie
i need help...too much of the alcohol stuffs

[Aliantha]

You're a compassionate person SG. I understand your point. When I was a single mum and full time student I still kept up my charitable donations even though at times I needed help financially myself. The people I gave to in general were nowhere near as lucky as me though even though I was at some low points in my life.

Do what you need to do and give without regret. If anyone didn't feel like giving to you at the time you asked, or wasn't in a position to do so, I definitely didn't notice you complaining. I only noticed your grateful thanks.

Maybe as others suggest you should save your pennies, but maybe the world is a better place because you don't. Who is anyone else to judge?

[sugarpop]

Originally Posted by SquidGirl

Last time I was in Edinburgh, Scotland, I was waiting for the public transit coach when a guy kept hovering around, asking us to move. He was picking up the cigarette butts off the ground, from under our feet, and using the remains to make his own ciggy's. When I got back to my friends house I told them because I had never seen it before and they said it's actually pretty common due to the high cost of cigarettes. I thought he was a beggar and I was pretty close to just taking him to the damn store and buying him a pack myself (and I'm a non-smoker).

I've also heard stories of beggars in NY making a killing on the streets who have a pretty high incomes so at the end of the day they would walk around the corner and get into their new sports car. I don't know if that ones true....

My sister lived in Manhattan for a few years, and yes, that is true. A begger was asking my mom for money once when we visited, and there was a cop on the street who came over and warned her about him. Apparently he was a millionaire (this was back in the early 80s) who begged in his spare time. go figure, huh?

I don't see too many beggers where I live now (Savannah GA), but when I lived in Los Angeles, they were everywhere. I would never give money to someone who was young and obviously capable of working. I used my judgement. There were certain people around Venice to whom I always gave money. There was this Veitnam Vet who hung out by the library or the post office. I always gave him a few bucks or would bring him some food. There was this little lady who hung at the same place, I usually gave her money as well. I NEVER would buy alcohol for them, but many times if I was headed into the store, I would ask what they liked and I would buy it for them. A burrito, or an an apple or banana. Young kids with attitude, I handed out advice, like get a job. I understand some of those people, especially kids, choose to live on the streets. They squat in houses, so they have no rent or bills to pay. I'm not going to support them when they are capable of working, and they are, they just like being underground. People who were willing to do something for change, like wash your car windows, I would generally give them some money. I never, ever just completely ignored them though. I always looked them in the eye, and tried to treat them with respect. Not all street people are there by choice. And I think they really appreciate it when you take the time to talk to them, and don't just pretend they aren't there. And sometimes I simply didn't have the money to spare. At first it make me feel guilty to not give them money, but I got over it pretty quick, especially when they give you attitude if you don't give them anything.

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by monster

it is? only 6 people voted for give them nothing......

Ah, but it's 7 of us cold-hearted bastids now.

However, if one voted that it depends, or one follows their whims, then it seems to me there are some judgmental shenanigans going on somewhere in there, aren't there? Hmmmmmm??

[sugarpop]

Originally Posted by classicman

Dana - Only if and when an addict hits bottom, will there possibly be a change. I know this all too well, thank you. I lived the reality on both sides. "Helping" is preventing them from hitting bottom and thats all I was referring to. Giving food can be argued as doing the same thing in a sense. I'm just torn on this kinda issue. I wanna help, but I think sometimes I'm perpetuation the situation instead.

There are different bottoms though. I agree enabling is bad, which is why I rarely gave money, I usually gave food. I'm just saying, you never know what effect something will have on another person, and actually get them on the path to change. I know the situation as well, personally. I've been clean from drugs since 1989. I never lived on the street, but you know, it could have happened very easily. My bottom was pretty deep. But I wasn't on the street begging either. I always managed to keep a job, for the most part. When I didn't, I used men (boyfriends) to get what I wanted. I always had a place to stay. I moved half way around the world to get clean, because I couldn't do it here. Turned out I couldn't do it in Hawaii either. I ended up getting clean in LA, believe it or not.

[sugarpop]

The charities I give to are the ones that help animals, mostly.

[DanaC]

Like SG, I am not brilliant with money. I end up broke before my next paypacket is due...I run into crises and have no reserve to handle it. But, I have friends and family who help me and whom I help when the situation is reversed. I could probably make my life a lot easier by not dropping £1.40 into some homeless guy's bowl. Then again, I could make my life easier by not going for a pint with my mates, accepting that broadband is more than I can afford, or not buying Doctor Who audio plays...

I am not sensible with money. I can live with that. This is who I am. If I am so reluctant to curb my hedonism, which does for most of my earnings, why curb my empathy, which leads me sometimes to give to those who ask?

[monster]

btw, for context, pocket change is worth a lot more in UK than in the US -the lowest note/bill is 5 pounds, which is getting towards $10. anything less than that is a coin -pocket change. and American salaries are higher than British ones.

[lumberjim]

tonight, there were 2 pizzas left over from lunch. i took them both with me intending to give one to the bum that works at the intersection of 6th and the Ben Frankiln Bridge. fucker wasn't on duty. it was snowing. i guess bums call in sick a lot.

the funny thing was that I was disappointed that I couldn't give him the Pizza.

[xoxoxoBruce]

.

[classicman]

homeless with internet eh? Wonder if he takes paypal too.

[Aliantha]

He might go to the library. Aren't homeless people allowed to use the computer at the library?

[Elspode]

I'll bet the "40" in "40dude" references a 40 oz.

And yes, apparently he does take PayPal...that's what it says right above the email addy.

[jinx]

That's the cleanest, healthiest looking, hungry homeless dude I've ever seen. His fingernails aren't even dirty.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by jinx

That's the cleanest, healthiest looking, hungry homeless dude I've ever seen. His fingernails aren't even dirty.

I know. I thought it was Bruce asking for a handout.


heh