My son did something amazingly generous yesterday

[Homerboy]

Frankly I don't see anything "amazingly" generous about your son wasting $10 so a bum can buy smokes/booze with it. This sort of insipid crap belongs on Facebook.

Sadly, your son paid for crack or booze.
There are bigger lessons to learn here.
With that said, his intentions were good and that's what matters, especially at that age.

Like the average clickbait news article, this thread failed to deliver.

$10 is an "amazing" donation, really?

It's a lot better than nothing, I'll grant the OP's son that much and kudos to him for him for doing that (well, less kudos given that the boy very likely did not earn that money nor has he learnt the value of money through having to earn and manage it/pay bills for himself), but it really isn't "amazing" IMO unless there's some extra factor to consider like the kid's relations have tried to brainwash him into thinking that homeless people are worthless or something similar.

Leave it to ATOT to shit on a well meaning thread. Jesus Christ, some of you people are just complete assholes.

As for the OP -- good for your son Jules! As a parent of 14 year old boy, I can completely understand your pride in what he did Looks like you (or likely your wife) are raising him right! :biggrin:

 

[z1ggy]

Meh, I wouldn't give any homeless person straight cash. I'd much rather give them food or drink, so I know that's what they are getting.

 

[mikeymikec]

Leave it to ATOT to shit on a well meaning thread. Jesus Christ, some of you people are just complete assholes.

I'm guessing that what defines a complete asshole in your opinion is as broad as what amazes you.

The next time I do everything as ordinary as donating an amount of money that "doesn't matter to me", I'll be glad to count myself as an amazing person yet complete asshole in your opinion. /s

If a kid in single figures had done something like that it would be remarkable because IMO they would be showing a degree of awareness of the world around them that I wouldn't expect from someone of their age. In a teen, not so remarkable. If an adult hadn't donated that kind of money before I would be amazed, yet it's much more likely that an adult has learnt a thing or two about the value of money.

As I said before, it was a nice thing for a kid of that age to do and if I was the kid's parent I would have a degree of pride that I probably had done something right somewhere along the way for them to think of doing something like that, and I don't have a blanket opinion of homeless people to believe that the money is going to be frivolously wasted, yet I'll just have to shrug off your opinion of me as a "complete asshole" because I think that if this is what people generally regard as "amazing", then the improvement of quality of life around the world can only potentially move forward at a glacial pace (or more likely not because it's a lot easier for someone's lot in life to get worse than it is for it to improve and there's several billion people on the planet).

 

[Sonikku]

He had an early release day from school so he and his friends walked over to a Sonic burgers near the school for lunch. While eating they noticed a homeless guy sitting by himself probably trying to beat the heat (it was in the mid 90s here yesterday) and my son went over to him and gave him $10. They guy thanked him and told him that this would buy him food for the next 3 days.

Or booze for 1. :awe:

Had a guy in a burger king begging everyone for money so he could get a burger or something once. I gave him a few dollars and immediately after he turned around and walked out.

 

[flexy]

Yes it's an amazing donation for a 13 year old who simply gives away $10, what the homeless does with the $10 is not the issue here.

It's about his son and his attitude.

 

[norseamd]

Your son is being a very noble and honorable individual.

 

[John Connor]

I just knew that this thread would be full of stories on how the homeless are just moochers. Now that may be true, but remember, it's the thought that counts above all else. His son did what was told in Luke 10:25 for those that know.

Yes, I give to homeless. If I could I'd rather buy them a meal. I have had some bum me for a smoke so I give them one.

Frankly there is really no reason to be homeless in this the United States. We have so many programs. Food stamps, welfare, SSI, SRO's The United Way, Salvation Army, food banks and the list goes on. Point is there is a lot of help out there. Here in town and maybe in other towns there is a program where they will pay your mortgage twice in your life time. That may come in handy to those who can't make ends meet.

Perhaps instead of throwing money all over the place for the poor we need better rehabilitation programs because you and I know there are crack heads and drunks out there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I just knew that this thread would be full of stories on how the homeless are just moochers. Now that may be true, but remember, it's the thought that counts above all else. His son did what was told in Luke 10:25 for those that know.

Yes, I give to homeless. If I could I'd rather buy them a meal. I have had some bum me for a smoke so I give them one.

Frankly there is really no reason to be homeless in this the United States. We have so many programs. Food stamps, welfare, SSI, SRO's The United Way, Salvation Army, food banks and the list goes on. Point is there is a lot of help out there. Here in town and maybe in other towns there is a program where they will pay your mortgage twice in your life time. That may come in handy to those who can't make ends meet.

Perhaps instead of throwing money all over the place for the poor we need better rehabilitation programs because you and I know there are crack heads and drunks out there.

Part of the problem is that so many of the homeless also have mental problems so it's not always as simple as being on government assistance. We really do a very poor job of taking care of the mentally ill in this country. Many of them end up incarcerated or living on the streets.

 

[radhak]

What your son did is great, and did his parents rightfully proud.

At his age, that's what counts. How that generosity is used or abused, or becomes a social commentary, is not of relevance at this moment.

Of course, as a parent to girls of similar age, I also find appropriate time to teach them the bigger picture, but never stop them from being generous, even if they are being suckers. The world has too many cynics, one kind-heart more is all for the good.

 

[werepossum]

Leave it to ATOT to shit on a well meaning thread. Jesus Christ, some of you people are just complete assholes.

As for the OP -- good for your son Jules! As a parent of 14 year old boy, I can completely understand your pride in what he did Looks like you (or likely your wife) are raising him right! :biggrin:

This, exactly. Jules, your son is awesome and you should be proud. If this dude DID buy drugs or booze, that's on him, not your son.

 

[MtnMan]

We seem to be a homeless haven, and the bed capacity of the various homeless shelters confirms that.

The city has passed ordinances against panhandlers/beggars with their cardboard signs, yet I see several every day. I used to call the non-emergency number to the PD and report them, but given how bad the economy and job options are, I don't any longer. Nor do I give them any $$

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Very noble. Your son's intent was honorable. I can understand your pride.

The level of cynicism in society is appalling. It's alive and well here. Just because you bunch of jaded realists once heard about a hobo spending that panhandled monies poorly the stereotype get perpetuated ad-infinitum. It's simply not a valid line of reasoning to avoid generosity. I'm sure it does serve some well in validating their desire to ignore, marginalize, and otherwise eradicate hobos