how often do you give to beggars?

Question

im slighly cynical and tend to think theyre all druggies who wont get a job..
do you think the same?
a few times i gave 5 dollars to this poor romanian woman. but i couldnt help but wonder why she couldnt find a job like me?
people corner me as im coming out the bank
and i feel bad if i dont sometimes too
erg...


ok GO!

Answer 1

I never give money to beggars but I often give.

One doesn't see another human being as a beggar.

I know what you mean.

Do you know what I mean?

There is no need to feel guilt when you know that you have done the best you can do. Do the best you can do.

If someone is constantly 'begging' you for money then just look at them in the eye, smile and keep walking.

Don't be cynical. They are not all druggies who won't get a job and they are not all poor Romanian women.

But they are all you - only in different circumstances.

You are not responsible for what they do with what you give them or do not give them.

You are responsible for what you do.

Answer 2

well i use to have that same thought that all beggers were drunks or junkies.. Till i took a class that educated me that a majority of these people have some form or another mental issues. Depending on where you are probably makes a difference. I live in a state where there were 5 mental health facilities and know there are 2 and one of those two are just holding places. Sinse they got rid of the other three the downtown area of where i live is flooded with people asking for hand outs. So i use a method

This method is the Tom Tom method

If its a guy and i really feel sorry for him i will go get him a sandwich/most of the time i walk right on by.

If its a girl i say sure beer/food/change what ever you want
as long as you give me a bj.obby. Or suck it. (keep in mind she has to be half decent looking i mean im not going to let someone with terds on there face do such a thing lol)

Answer 3

they ARE all druggies. they're jobs are asking you for money
and ripping people off on other drug deals.

I've been very nice to many and by doing so, gain their confidence and trust. once I do that I'll walk with them if I have the time to understand their world. I've had them tell me some interesting things about how much money they can obtain in one night and have actually sat with them while they collected and bought their drugs.

I no longer offer any money unless I know them personally and of course they can offer me help in return, usually some manual labor or polictal work.

thats hard to explain but I work downtown austin and many time I recuit them to help with trash duty in the ally way or running off other bums that interfere with my customers.

if they weren't into drugs, they'd take the time to stand in line for housing benefits and food stamps. only problem is those places don't give out cash, so they need to find other ways.


I've also had bums I don't know do the usual.
I need money for gas so I can get home.
then 2 weeks later they are doing the same thing. to the same people. they're soooo blitzed that they don't even remember they gave you the same lie before.

I also live 1/2 block away from a homeless camp in the woods next door to me. lots of problems I tell ya. they even approach me asking if I want to buy drugs.


DO NOT FEEL BAD FOR THEM..... thats exactly what they want you to feel.

if they didn't have to pass a drug test, or where allowed to do meth on the clock, they WOULD have a job.

if you want to help, offer money to shelter programs and other organizations that help with housing or food.
Money only feeds drug habits.
downtown austin post posters about this on store windows.
the bums are always tearing them down.

Answer 4

I tend to believe that most of the homeless are mentally disturbed, therefore unable or unwilling to find work. When I was younger, I would give them money. I don't anymore. I believe they save it up to buy booze and an occasional snack. On the other hand, I see no problem with donating to valid charities who provide the homeless with things like food and clothing. I also have no problem giving a woman with hungry children money. I can't deny a hungry child. They didn't ask for what they were given.

Answer 5

I have the same thoughts from time to time but generally when I can I will give them money. I realize that they may turn around and buy cigarettes or beer but even if just one time I gave it to someone who really, truly needed it, I feel like it's worth the other people. At the end of the day those who are truly just "lazy bums" have to look in the mirror and answer to themselves, and if I can actually help out another person at the expense of a few lazy people getting a few bucks, I'm ok with that.
I'm not one to judge who is deserving or not, and I just want to be able to help when I can. You never know the chain of events that led to the current situation of someone else. Who knows maybe 15 years ago, they were exactly where I am today, but got dealt a really crappy hand. I hope that it never happens to me however, I would hope that should I ever be in the same situation, someone would be willing to try to help me out.

Answer 6

Hardly ever. I feel it kind of perpetuates the issues of begging, but every once in a while around Christmas I will give a few of the beggars I see a lot ( so I know they are not fakers ) 20-100 dollars or so. It makes you feel so good to do.

Answer 7

Once when I was in Mexico I saw an old man digging through the trash looking for FOOD. I gave him $5. But in America, there is no excuse to panhandle. There are plenty of homeless shelters and soup kitchens availible for FREE (of course, you have to be sober)

Basically, all beggars in America are druggies/drunks, or just too lazy to go get a job. I never give to them because they don't deserve it.

Answer 8

not often because some might not be real. i have before though.

my bf and i were in los angeles getting tacos from a taco stand(my first time), and this man walks up and asks for money because he was hungry. we gave him a few bucks and told him that he better use it for food. the man bought tacos at the same taco stand. while he was waiting for his food i handed the box el pollo loco food from earlier to my bf and my water that was unopened and told my bf to give it him. i know the food was from earlier but if the man was really hungry, im sure he wont mind, or if he had a family they wouldnt mind either. i know i wouldnt. so i gave him the rest of the food and the money we had (which wasnt much) left to him. he was happy. he said thank you so many times and god bless you. i was happy and proud of myself. i wish i had more cash though for him, or more, even fresher food that would satisfy him. unfortunately thats all i could give at the moment. im happy i gave him something and that he was an honest man that didnt use it on drugs or alcohol.

he is a good man and i hope everything gets better for him. i hope everyone prays for him and his family.

Answer 9

Thomas L is right.

Most people are ignorant to who these homeless people really are. Most of them suffer mental problems that disable them from working. Many of them are even veterans of our armed forces. They cannot afford health care for their problems. Not even McDonald's will hire someone with such mental problems, no decent clothing, no way to shower daily and no way to be contacted. Think about it.

You can't think life is so simple.

Ask yourself...why would anyone choose a life on the streets with no shelter?

Answer 10

As for myself and my wife we do give some every so often, but we usually donate it to the Salvation Army or one of the other organizations, especially during this time of the year you'll see a no. of different organizations outside different stores. Its hard to say who's really in need of something to eat, or just out to scam people out of a few cents or even more. They have done numerous stories here in Phoenix, AZ in regards to such things only to find out that there were a lot of so-called homeless people out there scamming people for money. So like I said its hard to tell-most times if some dude just came straight up to me and said I want to buy a beer or something and he was honest I'd probably help him out because of his honesty as opposed to someone who's just lying. And 9 times out of 10 I usually only carry my ATM card so when someone ask me for cash I will tell em I don't have any on me, which is the truth other then my ATM card. But if you feel the need to help out then offer to buy them a sandwhich or something, or if they want something to drink. If the person says no I'd just like some money then I'd say sorry buddy no can do, most likey they want it for something else like drugs.