When you see somebody panhandling, asking for change, do you feel guilty?

Question

If you walked out of a restaurant and had a big steak meal, wine and on your way to your car, you saw someone with a cup lying down on the sidewalk in freezing temperatures, would you feel guilty? would you give him any change?

Answer 1

Yes, I would feel guilty. I don't eat meat.

*wink*

About the panhandler, though... it would depend on whether or not s/he approached me directly. I probably wouldn't go up to him/her.

Once upon a time, yes. Not now.

If approached, I would probably give a small amount. I would then feel guilty for letting myself give in to what is essentially a false compassion. My pennies don't really help. Even $100 wouldn't *really* help. Real help would require education, room and board, medicine and a job. I couldn't provide those, and whatever I did provide was just a salve for my own sense of social awkwardness and conscience.

Would I feel guilty about not giving something? Yes, but I would live with that. Would I feel guilty if I *did* give something? Yes, but I would live with that too.

Could I actually *do* anything for this person, either by giving or not giving? No.... at least, I can't do so while maintaining a tolerable life for myself and my pack.

Survivor's guilt is a necessary consequence of happiness.

Answer 2

No, it's hard to feel guilty when you work hard for your money. I do feel extremly sorry for them though. As a rule of thumb, I always give money to people who play an instrument, or are at least trying to work to earn their money. As for the average beggar though, it's difficult to know when you're being scammed. I would love to take a homeless person to a restaurant and buy them something to eat, and sit and talk to them. Unfortunately we don't live in a society where this is possible. I'm a 19 year old female, and it's just not safe to do that on my own. So I always try to give away my leftovers and carry granola bars with me for when I run into homeless people. I spent a week working with the homeless in Toronto. There are some scammers, but a lot of them are just ordinary people who are down on their luck. I don't see anything wrong with helping them out, or trying to get them back on their feet.

Answer 3

No. I would not feel guilty at all. I would have done nothing wrong nor would I have done anything to cause that guy to be there.. especially if he walked all the way from wherever he was to this resturant so that he could lay down in front of it with a cup in his hand.

I figure that if I go to work every day and earn a living, I have nothing to feel guilty about. If he does not feel guilty about begging for money, I certainly do not feel guilty about telling the guy no.

Answer 4

Well I have seen to many panhandlers that work an area. Have seen groups try to help them. Some of them make pretty good money begging. I knew a fellow who was a panhandler, had a nice apartment, had a car, and spent about 4 hours a day panhandling to pay for it all.

Answer 5

No, I would not feel guilty at all about not giving my money to panhandlers.
I work hard for my money. I'm entitled to the benefit of every cent of it. If panhandlers want money, there is nothing stopping them from working for it just as I do. In fact, there are many places they can go to get help.

Answer 6

I walked by some bum lying on the bus bench, i could see urine dripping down from him to the ground. I think its sad that these people are on the streets here in america, I think that people who voted for bush and his iraq war should feel guilty that they couldnt have spent some of that money making more mental health institutions, where this guy could be put out of sight and off the streets.

Answer 7

If it is in your hear to give you should....some people won't because they don't want these people to spend the money on drugs and such...biblically you should reach out to those people and not pass judgement on what they are going to do with it. I would not feel guilty of having a nice supper....you've worked hard to earn that and there is nothing wrong with that.... just be gratefull that you are not the one asking for money!

Answer 8

Not guilty, just sorry to see someone on the down and outs...I would offer them a hot meal...not just give them money..I have known too many that will ask for money for food, then rush into the nearest tavern for booze...

Answer 9

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Answer 10

My parents always tell me not to give any money to beggars. I, for one, think that is ridiculous. I honestly hate carrying around change, I don't need it. I think that if someone truely needs something, they should receive it.

Plus, some beggars play sax! Jazzy schazzy? Yup.