Giving "beggars" money

[Levity]

I chose the term "beggars" instead of homeless, because the truth is that not all the people you see sitting on the side of the street asking for money arent necessarily homeless, many are drug addicts looking for a buck or two to get a fix.

so with that being said, what is your normal practice when you encounter one of them?

i use to always give them a dollar or so, but the older i got, the less and less i would give, to the point where i rarely give anything anymore. not because i have a cruella deville heart, but because here in so cal, depending where you go, theres literally guys asking for a handout every 50 ft. a dollar here, a dollar there, and so on and so forth.

usually during my lunch break, i take a walk around the local shopping center and get something to eat. and pretty much every day theres this youngish drug addict always walking around going up to every person asking for money.

today, he went inside this fast food chinese restaraunt that only takes cash, and proceeded to ask customers in line for money. this old lady was in front of me and when he asked her, the look on her face screamed panic and confusion, so i told the guy, "hey, you cant be doing that in here. etc etc" the guy glared at me and said, "mind your own business" and then took off.

maybe hes the sole reason, cause i see him everyday, but i really dislike giving people money because of guys like him. however, if i see someone who i feel is genuinely out of luck, ill still try and help them out, but i was curious to how all of you handle situations like that?

[Draz]

I help out as much as I can, but I respect the ones that go out there and rather than beg collect bottles.

[TheReal Kendall]

Nothing to feel bad about. I work hard for my money and I have bills so I don't give any out unless I'm in a very good mood.

[-p.tiddy-]

I usually will just give what ever change I have in my car to them...rarely hand out paper cash

because yeah it's impossible to know how they will spend it...if I knew they needed money just to eat and where for sure going to spend it on food I'd probably hand out $20s

[TheReal Kendall]

Yeah that's another thing. You really don't know what they gonna spend the money on.

Like if I was in a fast food joint and he was asking for money I would just buy him some food instead of giving him cash

[-p.tiddy-]

the vast majority of homeless people suffer some form of mental illness though...sevrve bipolar, schizophrenia, etc...which is sad

[Draz]

I wouldn't mind buying a meal or a drink to them

[hateraid]

I never do. Im pretty much desensitized to it. When I worked downtown I saw it everyday. Most beggars are trying to get their fix.

One time a beggar asked me for money for food. I had some protein bars on me. He swore at the top of his lungs and walked away.

[ace23]

I don't.

[Levity]

One time a beggar asked me for money for food. I had some protein bars on me. He swore at the top of his lungs and walked away.

haha. that seems to be all too common with them. theyre trying to fill a different type of "hunger"

[tomtucker]

i see a guy almost everyday begging on the street or train.......every saturday i see that motherfukker playing lotto and betting on sports at a local 7-11............i hate that bum so much

[LJJ]

I never give them any money. Nobody needs to beg here anyway, and most of the beggars I see are gypsys.

Never give a gyspy anything.

[nathanjizzle]

one time i gave this guy a dollar, then he asked if i had more.

[Budadiiii]

Homeless guy embarrases you in a Chinese Retraunt with a lot of people...



You proceed to make a thread shunning homeless people asking for money to survive.



OP :applause:

[Levity]

Homeless guy embarrases you in a Chinese Retraunt with a lot of people...



You proceed to make a thread shunning homeless people asking for money to survive.



OP :applause:

sorry man. i didnt mean to deny you any money today. maiii bad!

[ForeverHeat]

Theres this tramp that I occasionally see on the train. He is pretty shaggy looking and always starts off with a speech about how he would really appreciate it if someone could see it in their heart yada yada. He then walks up and down the carriage but as far as I know NO ONE has ever given him anything. Everyone just acts like he isnt there and looks anywhere but at him. He hasnt given up though.

When I was in college (Im in Uni now) there was this basketball court right near my college which was near Kings Cross Station. It was kinda in like a small park and it was a haven for tramps. They literally lived there. It was kinda cool in a way cause sometimes when you would have matches on the court there would be a crowd of homeless people cheering lol. I saw numerous fights amongst them during my two years at college, fights about everything from cheating, area code beef to bets and misunderstandings. There was also this homeless tranny that was drunk one evening when we were playing and he pissed himself and someone called the police. One time my friend was trying to make fun of a drunk couple and he invited them to play a game to 7 with us. He recorded their drunken way of dribbling the ball and was laughing hard until the guy bum decided to lick his brand new basketball :facepalm The lady bum then kicked my friend and scratched him and drew blood. Everyone convinced him he had aids, that was pretty funny.

But despite the comedy they provide I hate most homeless people, but I feel bad for those who are legit homeless and didnt put themselves into that situation through drugs or alcohol or whatever.

[Qwyjibo]

It depends. If I have some loose change I'll usually give them some money. I don't really care what they spend it on. If they want to put it towards drugs or alcohol, go for it. Enjoy yourself.

Beggars get bonus points as well if they have a pet with them, do something entertaining or have a funny sign.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I won't give an able-bodied man a dime.

I also ignore (and feel like cussing out, but normally don't) beggars that approach me in traffic. In fact I hate that, I am often driving huge trucks around and I have to stop an entire lane or run them over. In the absence of law and insurance deductibles I wonder what I would do sometimes...sitting at home I know hitting them would be wrong but heat of the moment reactions are different. If it's not obvious, this is a pet peeve.

I do give money when I see kids.

I sometimes give to the elderly.

I do give to the maimed.

[Mr. Jabbar]

give enough so that it will hurt me. kobe taught me this

[Bandito]

I don't give none of them money. I work for my money, so why should I give my money to them? When I was in college they use to be around this gas station where I use to go and buy candy and they always use to hound me, until it got to a point where I got tired and stopped giving them my money. I don't give money to nobody, but if they ask for a drink or food I give it to them though...

[Myth]

I chose the term "beggars" instead of homeless, because the truth is that not all the people you see sitting on the side of the street asking for money arent necessarily homeless, many are drug addicts looking for a buck or two to get a fix.


today, he went inside this fast food chinese restaraunt that only takes cash, and proceeded to ask customers in line for money. this old lady was in front of me and when he asked her, the look on her face screamed panic and confusion, so i told the guy, "hey, you cant be doing that in here. etc etc" the guy glared at me and said, "mind your own business" and then took off.



To the first quoted part, it looks like you are looking for accuracy or maybe the PC term. They are not all homeless, but they are not all begging either. Other available terms that can be used are "people in need" or people who are "down on their luck." Also, the way you wrote it makes it sound like they are either homeless or drug addicts, which leaves out a very common demographic of people who have homes but still rely on extra money received for other necessities such as food and proper clothing.

I too find that there are places where it is inappropriate to ask for money. Going inside a private business without intent or means to buy is one of them. I do get the idea of waiting at cash only places and food places, but not inside. A very appropriate way of going about this IMO is for them to ask people going in for spare change or request that any left overs are brought outside when the patrons finish their meals. I am very likely to give away food once I am full.

As for people on the street, I will be more generous when I have a steady income. If it is a time I don't give money (most of the time), I will say something like "Sorry, not today" or "I don't have any cash on me, sorry," but I try to be pleasant and say "hello" or give a smile rather than be just another person who tries to pretend they are not their or that I am repulsed by their existence. Their situations suck enough as it is, they don't need the added element of people giving them one of those shitty responses.

[Bandito]

v As for people on the street, I will be more generous when I have a steady income. If it is a time I don't give money (most of the time), I will say something like "Sorry, not today" or "I don't have any cash on me, sorry," but I try to be pleasant and say "hello" or give a smile rather than be just another person who tries to pretend they are not their or that I am repulsed by their existence. Their situations suck enough as it is, they don't need the added element of people giving them one of those shitty responses.Funny thing is, if I knew they would use it for food or other stuff I could live with that. But most of them use it to buy booze and/or drugs. I am not going to pay for someone addiction...

[cuad]

I give homeless people the best charity of all--death.

[Scholar]

I don't hand out money anymore, but there have been several instances in 2013 where someone genuinely asked for food, so I bought them something.
One time just this past July, a man was sitting near an In & Out Burgers, and he had a sign saying he was hungry. I bought him a meal through the drive-thru, and when I went out to give it to him, at the exact same time an old woman was giving him food, too. We both ended up giving him the meals.

[Budadiiii]

I don't hand out money anymore, but there have been several instances in 2013 where someone genuinely asked for food, so I bought them something.
One time just this past July, a man was sitting near an In & Out Burgers, and he had a sign saying he was hungry. I bought him a meal through the drive-thru, and when I went out to give it to him, at the exact same time an old woman was giving him food, too. We both ended up giving him the meals.
And then you ****ed the granny, right?

My n*gga. :applause:

[Scholar]

Funny thing is, if I knew they would use it for food or other stuff I could live with that. But most of them use it to buy booze and/or drugs. I am not going to pay for someone addiction...

Dude, you're generalizing..
And even if the person is buying just alcohol and/or drugs, they're trying to forget about their shitty situation for a bit.

[Scholar]

And then you ****ed the granny, right?

My n*gga. :applause:

I didn't just f*ck that old bitch. I raped her.

[rezznor]

i give food but never money

[Budadiiii]

I didn't just f*ck that old bitch. I raped her.
:applause:

[Levity]

One dude in Montreal freaked me the f*ck out. Came up to me in a restaurant, poked me in the chest, spoke French, and totally looked like a zombie.


:lol :oldlol:

[Bandito]

In PR sometimes they may use needles infested with AIDS so you give them money:lol

My friend and I one time almost got robbed. But he knew martial arts and almost broke his hand.

[Myth]

Funny thing is, if I knew they would use it for food or other stuff I could live with that. But most of them use it to buy booze and/or drugs. I am not going to pay for someone addiction...

Hard to say if it is most of them or not without some stats (I have not looked at any stats), but I understand the idea of wanting to know that your money is going to the right place (I'd want to know if even 10% use it on drugs that the money I am spending is not on that 10%). One of the most likely places I will spend money on somebody is if they are standing outside of McDonalds specifically asking for food money. I'll just straight up ask them what 1 item they would like off the dollar menu and bring it out to them.

Another good strategy that I saw from somebody else is when somebody claims that they are part of some church rehab group looking for money, ask for their organization (and their name if they get some sort of specific credit) and donate directly to that organization rather than directly to the person so that you know where the money is going.

[Myth]

In PR sometimes they may use needles infested with AIDS so you give them money:lol


Damn, if somebody came up to me with a needle, that would freak me out way more than a knife or something. A knife I can make a move to get away and they have to get me just right to do major damage. I needle could nick me in the arm and f*ck me over forever.

[MadeFromDust]

I always think of that one verse in the Bible, saying "When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was a stranger you invited me in", etc. and think what if this is the one I shouldn't pass up? I don't remember giving anything most of the first few years of me driving (mostly encounter beggars at intersections), but then there was a time I gave whatever I had on me. But then I heard from local news and interviews with PD showing how most of these people in my town were just scamming so I stopped. I even started getting pissed off whenever anyone even took one step towards me at a gas station because I knew what they were gonna do. I told off a couple mofos. Then I saw the news where people were getting jacked and mugged at gas stations and that added to my anger. The dilemma is just excruciating for me: Give to those who need it; Don't give to scammers; Get ready to beat some ass if jacker; Can't tell the difference ugh.

Once in awhile though I feel so fkkn bad thinking I passed up someone who really needed help. So I give to food supply charities anonymously because I hate knowing that anyone would go hungry, especially children.

[sixerfan82]

Hmm..

I don't offer these people anything, simply because no one 'helped' me when I needed it. These people made their choice, as dumb as it was.

You get out what you put in, period.

[GoRapz]

This may sound terrible but when it comes to beggars I judge the book by its cover. If he/she looks like they're in bad shape (old ripped up clothes, looks/smells like they haven't showered for weeks, f*cked up teeth) I'll feel sympathy and spare a few bucks. If the person looks like your average joe I'll tell them to go get a job because I think back on the adversity my parents had to handle coming to a new country not knowing a lick of English and working hard to provide for the family.

I also don't know how they do it in the US or other countries but here in Canada, with all the help the government provides it's really hard to become truly "homeless"

[tomtucker]

I didn't just f*ck that old bitch. I raped her.

dat no teeth blowjob............:rockon:

[Kblaze8855]

Depends. There are beggars in my old neighborhood ive known 25 years. Not homeless....but never fail to ask for a dollar. These are old guys(crackheads) who were in sunday school under my grandma in the 60s and shit.

So it isnt really a random guy thing.

But ive been known to give to anyone. Guy with a "Hungry for food hungry for work" sign on my route home for like a week....I bought him a whopper combo from burgerking...with a pie...

He asked if I also had money so he could do some laundry...

[ElPigto]

I rarely carry cash therefore I never give them money.

[Levity]

just to add to the conversation, when it comes to people with kids, ive always been one to give. but interestingly enough, when my work moved to a new office, the local sheriff's dept came in to answer questions, and since no one really had questions for him, he started talking to us about people who ask for money.

he said that a lot of them work in groups and take turns sitting at a freeway exit, in front of a store, etc asking for money and that many of them have children that they trade off for days they are "begging" Crazy, i know, but he assured us it was true, which is pretty heart breaking for a kid to be subjected to.