Homeless People

I do. Firstly because I think anyone who is living in a house and gets an income can afford to do so, so there is no excuse. Secondly because the homeless person is probably starving and may well die if not helped out by the good hearts of strangers. Thirdly because I know where it is going. That's right, I trust a homeless person more than Children in Need.

Of course, the contraversy behind giving money to the homeless is that:

a) It'll just go to the off-license

b) They might not actually be homeless and they are scamming people out of money (heard this one a few times)

As for the first one, I'm not really bothered where the money is going. If the guy choses he needs cigarettes more than food, then let him buy cigarettes. His life clearly isn't what he hoped for (otherwise he wouldn't be begging), and if I'm helping to make the experience easier for him with nicotine, then so be it. As a smoker and a drinker, I can appreciate that the off-license helps a great deal in the short term, which is an important point: to many homeless people, short term isn't even an option to consider.

For the second one, I'm not fussed. Ignorance is bliss, and if this is true, then I won't know about it. And even if 90% of the homeless I give money to ARE in fact scamming me, then I can still rest in the sollace that my money has helped what... 5 or 6 people eat for a night. The others can enjoy their 2 pounds!

Oddly enough I've had experience with an on again off again homeless person.  He died recently but I never gave him much in money.  Just helped in out in other ways and treated him like a basic friend.  Now if you're talking about the basic beggar stranger on the street, whether encountered walking or diving, rarely because I've never really been in the best of financial systems myself.  I do keep in mind that there but for the grace of god go I.  RIP Troy.  He was a little bit crazy but he had a good spirit.


Edited by Slartibartfast - February 27 2011 at 16:18

I do give monies/food to homeless people, but not all the time. I hardly carry cash/change, but I try to give when I can. I live in downtown Berkeley so there is definitely no shortage of bums. So I definitely can't afford to give to them all of the time.



Edited by Evolutionary Sleeper - February 28 2011 at 00:13

The Pessimist wrote: Firstly because I think anyone who is living in a house and gets an income can afford to do so, so there is no excuse.

I'd like a minute for rebuttal. 

The Pessimist wrote: Secondly because the homeless person is probably starving and may well die if not helped out by the good hearts of strangers. Thirdly because I know where it is going. That's right, I trust a homeless person more than Children in Need.

This is almost never the case (from my experience).  I live in and grew up in this area- it may be different elsewhere- but here, I have at least a dozen stories where I know someone used the money I gave them for something other than what they said they needed it for.  Poor people lie too.  A lot, actually.

The Pessimist wrote: Of course, the contraversy behind giving money to the homeless is that: a) It'll just go to the off-license As for the first one, I'm not really bothered where the money is going. If the guy choses he needs cigarettes more than food, then let him buy cigarettes. His life clearly isn't what he hoped for (otherwise he wouldn't be begging), and if I'm helping to make the experience easier for him with nicotine, then so be it. As a smoker and a drinker, I can appreciate that the off-license helps a great deal in the short term, which is an important point: to many homeless people, short term isn't even an option to consider.

This is where I stop disagreeing with you.  At 23, I said I would no longer give money to anyone who asked for it (or, more seriously, stop driving anyone anywhere- I've tons of stories on that as well).  I just had too many bad experiences.

However, I opened the Good Book! 

In a passage that I've never heard any pastor preach on or even admit exists, you will read:

⁶Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
         And wine to him whose life is bitter
    ⁷Let him drink and forget his poverty
         And remember his trouble no more. (Proverbs 31)

I therefore have no problem giving some money (if I have it) to a bum who wants a 40oz or a pack of smokes (actually, I sympathize). 

The Pessimist wrote: b) They might not actually be homeless and they are scamming people out of money (heard this one a few times) For the second one, I'm not fussed. Ignorance is bliss, and if this is true, then I won't know about it. And even if 90% of the homeless I give money to ARE in fact scamming me, then I can still rest in the sollace that my money has helped what... 5 or 6 people eat for a night. The others can enjoy their 2 pounds!

A scammer is a scammer, and if I have any reason to believe I'm giving my hard earned money to someone who is better off than me, I won't give it.  And there are usually tell-tale signs.





Of course, I almost never carry cash anyway. 


Edited by Epignosis - February 27 2011 at 16:41

WalterDigsTunes wrote: Evolutionary Sleeper wrote: I do give monies/food to homeless people, but not all the time. I hardly carry cash/change, but I try to give when I can. I live in downtown Berkeley so there is definitely no shortage of bums.  I once paid one of them to just leave me alone. Ugh.

I did that once, some crack fiend that kept talking to me in some gibberish, I gave him a dollar so he'd go the hell away.

Yes, but only to alcoholics and insane old men.

WalterDigsTunes wrote: Evolutionary Sleeper wrote: WalterDigsTunes wrote: Evolutionary Sleeper wrote: I do give monies/food to homeless people, but not all the time. I hardly carry cash/change, but I try to give when I can. I live in downtown Berkeley so there is definitely no shortage of bums.  I once paid one of them to just leave me alone. Ugh. I did that once, some crack fiend that kept talking to me in some gibberish, I gave him a dollar so he'd go the hell away. A good way to get rid of Berkeley homeless people is to use a thick foreign accent and actually start bartering with them.

lmao

I don't know, I've never happened upon any. 

Epignosis wrote: A Person wrote: I don't know, I've never happened upon any.  Bet you have.  Quite a few homeless people are not bearded men with cardboard signs.  Many of them are kids or women.  I even knew one well-dressed homeless guy.  He knew his money situation was sh*t, but it didn't keep him from looking like sh*t.  Salvation Army, baby.

Perhaps, but I haven't even seen anyone jogging or on a bike around here since last summer.


Edited by A Person - February 27 2011 at 17:14

Epignosis wrote: Matt are you a serial killer q.m.

I don't think so, but I live in quite a rural area.