He's a raging alcoholic and lives in a tent in my scary neighbor's back yard. He shoveled my walk this morning (it's been snowing a lot here lately) and I'm wondering how to thank him without encouraging him to do anything else for me. I live alone and he already gives me too much attention as it is. I'd prefer to ignore it but feel this is rude and he's still a human being. I am unemployed and can't really pay him, and wouldn't want to anyway since he'd buy more alcohol with it. Not sure what to do here.
2007-12-28 06:57:42 · 17 answers · asked by Christina B 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
if u can spare some food or a cup of coffee all on the outside
2007-12-28 07:31:09 · answer #1 · answered by ladysosureone 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have a beautiful heart and your neighbor either does not care or may have a heart that you have not seen. Either way, if you believe in God or that there is a God, here is a perfect opportunity for you to ask Him what to do because you need to feel safe but this guy also needs to be thanked. There is a way to do both and I believe the answer will be closely attached to why this man has done this good deed.
2007-12-28 16:56:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is he a friend of the scary neighbor? If he's really homeless and you don't really have any money, the kindest thing might be to make an extra plate at supper time and bring it over. If you don't want him hassling you, leave some food in a tupperware near his tent when he's out...
2007-12-28 15:02:09 · answer #3 · answered by exhaustedtraveler 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the others: offer a meal. A few sandwiches and some apples might go a long way. Thank him, but then firmly state that you have made other arrangements for someone to shovel your walk.
2007-12-28 15:20:39 · answer #4 · answered by Sharon F 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
tell him "thank you" as you would any other human.
an exboyfriend of mine has a cousin who is homeless and lives in a tent, also. he only eats food thrown out. he won't eat homemade food - he thinks it's poisoned. he's never been sick since being homeless. the police in the town try to arrest him to keep him in jail for safety in the winter; they send him to see a psychiatrist to try to get him temporarily detained to keep him warm and comfortable. he plays the 'shrink game' and wins every time. he LIKES the way he lives. he's a little strange, but he's a human being.
2007-12-28 17:12:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask him if you can spend the night with him in his tent! Take along a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers! Be sure and talk about something he can relate too, like jail, rats, cockroaches, and lice! You will have a wonderful time!
2007-12-29 11:52:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whatever you do, DO NOT FEED HIM!!
Stray cats and dogs don't leave a person alone if they are fed, and neither will he. It will only encourage him to hang around you even more.
Just thank him and say he needn't have shoveled your walk; you have a regular who does it.
2007-12-28 17:14:39 · answer #7 · answered by holey moley 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thank him, in person, and tell him you wish you could pay him, but you're unemployed so you don't have any money. You can give him food, or an extra blanket in thanks, but I guarantee that once he finds out you won't be paying him, he will likely leave you alone.
2007-12-28 15:17:24 · answer #8 · answered by bainaashanti 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
"Thank you so much for shoveling the walk today. That was really thoughtful of you."
2007-12-29 04:43:42 · answer #9 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely give him food - and as others have said, if he creeps you out, try to leave it when you know he's not around.
2007-12-28 15:06:53 · answer #10 · answered by kcbranaghsgirl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋