Do you feel guilty if you don't give money to the homeless?

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Spamela

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
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Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: Geekbabe
Most homeless suffer from some form of mental illness, I give what I can, even if it's just a dollar or a cigarette.

Originally posted by: dabuddha
Only the truly ignorant would believe that the homeless are just lazy bums.

And what again is stopping them from working? Mental illnesses's like: Toolazytogetajobaritus, Toohightoworkaritus or my favorite WorthlessPOSitus

Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Hell, no.

Find a different profession or starve to death.

God helps those that helps themselves

Eh? Those that help themselves help themselves.

God works in mysterious ways ;)

yeah, like matthew 25:31-46 is really hard to figure out.
 

CVSiN

Diamond Member
Jul 19, 2004
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Originally posted by: CheapArse
title^

?

This b!tch was just hanging around the drive through window at tacobell. We were chatting about cadbury eggs(she was munching on one) and she saw me get change back from the employee at which point she asked for a "donation" I simple said No, sorry. I don't feel guilty about it...should I?

this falls under the catagory...
NOT MY FSUCKING PROBLEM!
get a job asshat!
hell no...
 

dragonballgtz

Banned
Mar 9, 2001
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Yes and no. I do sometimes think it was bad for me to not give them some money. But then I know they would of just spent it on booze.
 

TravisT

Golden Member
Sep 6, 2002
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Nope, 9 times out of 10 it is someone who either isn't really homeless or needs the money for drugs/alcohol. My brother gave some money to a guy who said he was homeless. About 5 bucks, then he said "Well, i'll take ya down to Sonic (fast food chain) for a hamburger too." He said, "Nah, I don't really like hamburgers."

I was amazed that he didn't hesitate to let my brotehr know how hungry he was and barely able to make it by, but yet he turns down a nice clean hamburger. I guess dumpster food is good enough for him. Or probably the $100 plate at a expensive restraunt that he got money from by bumming.
 

Alex

Diamond Member
Oct 26, 1999
6,995
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Originally posted by: Jfrag Teh Foul
Not really.

i DO live in são paulo, brazil though and its hard to drive anywhere without getting asked at least a handful of times for change by streetkids/ppl at most traffic light... its a huge problem here compared to USA/Canada/Europe and sure I do give change every now and then, but if I were to give to every person that asked me pretty soon i'd be the one begging.
:thumbsdown:

i still feel bad tho :(
tons of ppl are born poor and homeless and have no opportunities
 

Spamela

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
3,859
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i really never gave money b/c you know they just go booze it up.

donation so they can use it on crack?

I definitely wouldn't give them money because they wouldn't spend it to their best interest (alcohol, cigarettes, etc) b

I know they would of just spent it on booze.

it's just amazing the number of posters who can read minds &
predict the future.

i don't presume to know what they're going to do with any money
i give them - i can't predict the future.

i don't presume to be able to tell who's mentally ill, who's an addict,
who's lazy, etc. - i can't read minds.

i know that most of us are just an accident, illness, or job loss away
from being there, too.

i know that few people are going to choose to live that way &
i certainly know that they're suffering & almost always incredibly humble.
 

miri

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2003
3,679
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Local news did a expose on panhandlers and interviewed many. Most panhandlers are not homeless but rather live with other panhandlers in cheap housing. They work 2-4 hour shifts a day and average around $20-$40 a hour. What they basically do is work a certain corner, their corners are like their territories, if another panhandler encroaches then they confront the encroacher and make them leave. Anyway basically to them panhandling is a part time job that pays very well, and since their expenses are so low they are able to buy a lot of alcohol and drugs. You could tell that they were getting agitated by the news cameras because they were scaring away the people that give them money.

The news also interviewed a local homeless shelter and the shelter said that there is always help available for homeless people, including living accomodations, food, clean clothes, counseling etc. The homeless shelter said do not give money to panhandlers because they are usually likely not homeless and will spend the money on drugs. If the panhandlers really needed help they would go to the shelters.

Panhandling at street corners is also one stop shopping. One time I was at this busy intersection waiting with around 10 cars. I see a homeless man run towards a car and I see a shady dude inside the car. I was like ahh, how sweet of that man to give the poor panhandler money. Then I looked closer and I saw the guy was selling the panhandler drugs. Not only can panhandlers get money at street corners but they can buy drugs there easy, one stop shopping.
 

wchou

Banned
Dec 1, 2004
1,137
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Originally posted by: villageidiot111
I don't feel guilty at all, there are plenty of jobs for everyone, and most homeless are competent do work.
plenty of low payijng jobs?
YOUR INTELLECTUAL NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME
 

Rumpltzer

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2003
4,815
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If someone is hungry, I'll get them some food. If someone needs gas, I'll get them gas. I would never give someone money.

On the UIUC campus there were guys who would say that they're hungry. I'd offer them a meal at McDonald's or something, and a few accepted the offer.

Lots of people would also ask for gas money near the campus. I carried a gas can in my truck, but no one ever seemed to want my gas when I offered it to them.

I had a guy knock on my door (two blocks off the Beckman Quad) asking me for money to buy his kids diapers!? :roll:


No one in California has accepted my offer for food. Most seem offended if I even offer, so I've stopped offering.

There's a neatly-dressed, middle-aged Asian guy who hangs out on 4th Street in Santa Monica at night. He holds a dry-erase board. Sometimes it says he needs money for surgery, sometimes it says he needs money to feed his family. I often wonder what his deal is? Maybe I'll ask next time.
 

Toasthead

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2001
6,621
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I always make sure to make eye contact with them and tell them no when the ask for money.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
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Originally posted by: wchou
Originally posted by: villageidiot111
I don't feel guilty at all, there are plenty of jobs for everyone, and most homeless are competent do work.
plenty of low payijng jobs?
YOUR INTELLECTUAL NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME

You am never cannot grammar cease amazing is.
 

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
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Originally posted by: ribbon13
What about convicted rapists?
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Because they were 18 with thier 17 year girlfriend?

1) That's legal in like, 49 of the 50 states. Probably all 50 by now.
2) No jury would convict on that.
3) I'd give him money. And sympathy. And let him chill in my basement with his now-legal girlfriend.
 

bandana163

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2003
4,170
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No.
99% would just buy a drink and get wasted. Most of the homeless people around these parts of the world are homeless by their own choice.
 

rahvin

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,475
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How do I know someone is homeless? Better than half the beggers you see are professionals taking in in excess of $300 a day tax free. I don't feel guilty not giving money to anyone and the only money I would give would be to a charity that runs soup kitches or shelters for the truely homeless.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,333
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No. Do not give money to panhandlers. Give to legitimate charities instead.
 

BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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I have to judge each situation as it comes up.

I was at a bar and a guy was looking for some cab money to get home because his friends left without him. It seemed reasonable enough so I gave him the $2 I had.

In other situations, I wouldn't normally give a person money. Most people in these situations don't know how to handle money (which is why they usually end up where they are). I tell them "Sorry, I don't give out money". I don't mind giving someone some food thogh.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,333
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Originally posted by: Stefan
I have to judge each situation as it comes up.

I was at a bar and a guy was looking for some cab money to get home because his friends left without him. It seemed reasonable enough so I gave him the $2 I had.

In other situations, I wouldn't normally give a person money. Most people in these situations don't know how to handle money (which is why they usually end up where they are). I tell them "Sorry, I don't give out money". I don't mind giving someone some food thogh.
You realize that that is a classic short con, right?
 

BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
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Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Stefan
I have to judge each situation as it comes up.

I was at a bar and a guy was looking for some cab money to get home because his friends left without him. It seemed reasonable enough so I gave him the $2 I had.

In other situations, I wouldn't normally give a person money. Most people in these situations don't know how to handle money (which is why they usually end up where they are). I tell them "Sorry, I don't give out money". I don't mind giving someone some food thogh.
You realize that that is a classic short con, right?

I understood it could have been. Like I said, I had to judge the situation when it came up. It seemed legit enough so I made the decision to give him a few bucks. He could have been lying or he could have been telling the truth.

He looked like he was in pretty good shape, had decent clothes, good hygiene, etc... which is nothing like anyone else that has asked me for a few bucks. I'm sure there are lots of guys to try to stay late at a bar trying to pick up a girl and told their friends to just leave. I've done it.
 

redly

Golden Member
Nov 15, 2004
1,159
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I've heard too many stories of panhandlers making more money than I do....so fvck em