Have you ever given money to a bum?

Answer 1

One older guy sells Outreach papers on a corner I pass and I slip him a few bucks. He's almost always sober and seems to be trying to pull himself up. A young healthy man, with a big groomed dog that must eat $100 a week, and the guy's too lazy to stand up, smirks like he's pulling a fast one, get's nothing but contempt.

Answer 2

So it's Friday night in Rio and raining, and we pull up to a streetlight. Two kids, about 10 years old, run out in front of the stopped cars at the intersection and begin juggling balls, often doing little juggling tricks and sometimes dropping the balls in the gutter. The kids are soaking wet and have no shoes. Their eyes dance between the balls, the streetlights that could change any second, and at the tinted windshields staring them down. Out of 5 cars, one might crack a window and drop a single coin into a kid's hand. These kids aren't addicts. They are working to support their families (possibly parents that are addicts.) There's also the type that walk between the cars draping plastic bags atop the rearview mirrors. Inside the bags are about 10 pieces of hard candy with a card stapled across the front reading, "I am trying to earn an honest living and support my children. God Bless You." Right before the light changes, the worker returns to the front of the line of cars and collects the candy or money. Yes, I buy candy and pay for entertainment.

Answer 3

I have countless times. Usually if someone asked, I'll offer a few bucks, and as with most people, hope it goes to a sandwich rather than crack. Either way, I rarely carry cash. I much more prefered the one time when a guy asked as I was heading into Togo's, and I ended up getting the guy a sandwich. He was quite thrilled with that. Course, I remember a friend telling me how a guy outside a McDonalds asked for money to get food, so he bought him a Big Mac meal, and the guy threw it back at him yelling at him that he wanted money. Oh well...

Answer 4

Yes, and if you do, you hope that they don't waste it on liquor or something, but if you don't you feel guilty, it makes me want to carry around grocery gift cards or something, however, I have a friend that whenever he is asked for money from someone on the street he says I'll give you a dollar if you can make me laugh. He has them tell him a joke, then if he laughs, he feels like at least they worked for their money and hands them a dollar. If they refuse, then it's their loss.

Answer 5

yes I have.I regret that I've given money to this bum because he yell at me for not giving him a whole dollar and I yell back no wonder you are homeless if I knew you were like this I won't give you any penny.

Answer 6

Yep, they are people too! It is sad most of the bums / homeless are indeed veterans. Tell me what a great country we live in .

Answer 7

Yes, but not when asked and I don't make it a habit. If I feel they are being opportunists, and not truly in need, I say, "all I have is a twenty, can you break it?" If they say yes, I know they are scamming, if they were to say no, I would manage to give them something, if I were in a position to be able to.

Answer 8

Not really, I've given them food though. I gave one a McDonalds hamburger and a coke, and meat pies and veggie pasties to several others (can't remember how many). I don't give them money incase they spend it on grog and cigarettes.

Answer 9

I don't see them as 'bums',i see them as people who are in an unfortunate situitation,& yes,i do try to help.It could happen to anyone, no matter how smug & superior they may feel in their present circumstances.

Answer 10

Yes. He actually picked flowers for me from a park, and gave them to me. So I gave him a few dollars to go to the nearest fast food joint. He was really sweet.