Do you give money to the homeless?

Defiant Tuesday

Defiant Tuesday

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Unfamiliar 10 Year Club
So a few years back I was walking down Venice beach doing the tourist thing and there was a very scary homeless man yelling at people for money. He was swearing and screaming at everyone who walked by him.
All he kept saying was, "I'm f*****g hungry. Why won't anyone give me money?" But to this day it still bothers me because I did not give him money either. Not because I didn't want to but because he was so scary that I didn't want to approach him. Which is quite pathetic of me I must say.:( But now I make sure if a homeless person needs money I give it to him. Because really who am I to judge?

So my question is.. Do you give money to the homeless?
 
Defiant Tuesday said:
So a few years back I was walking down Venice beach doing the tourist thing and there was a very scary homeless man yelling at people for money. He was swearing and screaming at everyone who walked by him.
All he kept saying was, "I'm f*****g hungry. Why won't anyone give me money?" But to this day it still bothers me because I did not give him money either. Not because I didn't want to but because he was so scary that I didn't want to approach him. Which is quite pathetic of me I must say.:( But now I make sure if a homeless person needs money I give it to him. Because really who am I to judge?

So my question is.. Do you give money to the homeless?
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I don't say or do anything to someone who is screaming obscenities at me.

Homeless or no, if someone wants to approach me like a civil human being, I'm far more likely to listen to what they have to say. And in this case, to offer some help.

Shout at me? Fuck off.
 
Beyond the money thing, and I don't know if anyone will disagree with me, but as a woman, I tend to avoid situations like that. So I don't fault you AT ALL for not going near him. At the same time, I almost got into it with a drunkard in dowtown B'more 'cause he wouldn't back off. But I have really really stupid moments.

I will give money if I happen to have pocket change. I won't EVER open my wallet or pull it out though. I went to Memphis with my ex and his parents a couple years back and his mom pulled her wallet out to give the guy a couple ones, and she had several fifties floating around in there and the guy saw them. I was just shocked. Such a STUPID move!

I did offer to buy someone food once. I got rejected. I bet though, if you did sit down to lunch with someone on the streets, you would hear an interesting story.
 
Depends on the situation and where they are asking.

If there is a liquor store within spitting distance no. Unless you are honest with me. I have a couple that stopped me on day.. they had said that they had a bad day and could really use a drink and asked if I could give them a couple bucks toward a mickey... I said sure. This guy one night asked me outside a drug store.. just around the corner is a liquor store... he said could you spare some money I am hungry.. I had just picked up some snacky foods and I had a feeling where he was going to spend the money he wanted for food. I gave him a bag full of snack foods... he just looked at me like I was insane. If I have my son with me and we are out I will ignore all requests and pick up my step... always very protecting my son. A lady came up to me outside a Timmy's one night -30C windchill and asked if I could spare some change for her to have something hot to eat.. I ran in and got her some soup a coffee and a bun, she sat down and ate her lunch and thanked me a half dozen times before I made sure it was enough for her.

As I said it all depends on the situation.
 
I've actually not run into homeless people. I know they are in the city where I work.... but during the day I don't see them. I live in the country.... so it'd be futile for a homeless person to try to get money out here. I mean.... I'm thinking a homeless person as in one that doesn't have transportation. And if he/she did.... they'd do much better in the city than out here in the boonies. More people and all that.

But if the guy was acting as you say.... I'd definitely steer clear of him.

There are plenty of shelters and food banks that could use your money to serve many.... rather than just the one or two or whatever that you give money to. At least at the shelters and food banks.... you know your money is going to be used for a good purpose. Giving it directly to a homeless person.... not knowing their situation..... it could be money spent on drugs, alcohol.......
 
HELL NO. And my reasons are these. The majority will use them for either drugs or alcohol & because if you let yourself get to the point of being homeless, you need to be able to get yourself out. 99% of the time, it's their own fault. I know that sounds really bitchy or however you want to see it, but that's how I see it. Now, there are some homeless people that go and join a local group called "Homeless Voice" and they're to take all their earnings back to the group so they don't spend it on booze/drugs. You know they're part of this group because they have to wear bright orange traffic vests. More often than not, though, I don't open my window. Sorry =/
 
JoeCool10 said:
HELL NO. And my reasons are these. The majority will use them for either drugs or alcohol & because if you let yourself get to the point of being homeless, you need to be able to get yourself out. 99% of the time, it's their own fault. I know that sounds really bitchy or however you want to see it, but that's how I see it. Now, there are some homeless people that go and join a local group called "Homeless Voice" and they're to take all their earnings back to the group so they don't spend it on booze/drugs. You know they're part of this group because they have to wear bright orange traffic vests. More often than not, though, I don't open my window. Sorry =/
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You don't need to be sorry for your opinion. That is why I posted the thread.







P.S. I am also a creep. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzjUjNPYzLg
 
If I'm in the car, I definitely avert my eyes. I even go so far as to make sure the doors are locked. And if the windows are down, up they go. I'm sorry, but if I'm sitting alone in a car, or even with someone, in a downtown area that has people wandering up to my building, I don't care if I look bitchy or if I look snotty. I'm going to play it safe and hope whatever judgement matters isn't too harsh on me for it.
 
HottyToddyChick said:
If I'm in the car, I definitely avert my eyes. I even go so far as to make sure the doors are locked. And if the windows are down, up they go. I'm sorry, but if I'm sitting alone in a car, or even with someone, in a downtown area that has people wandering up to my building, I don't care if I look bitchy or if I look snotty. I'm going to play it safe and hope whatever judgment matters isn't too harsh on me for it.
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I do the same, but 99% of the time I have my son in the car with me and that makes me all the more nervous. I make sure his window and door get locked first, the rest to follow. I've been paranoid about it since I was a kid cause my brothers ex girlfriend and her friend were in her car and she was driving, her friend in the passenger seat. Well, some guy was walking in traffic, goes up to the passenger door, opens it and starts to pull her out. Thankfully there was someone who got out of his car to beat the guy off her, but still UBER creepy.
 
HottyToddyChick said:
If I'm in the car, I definitely avert my eyes. I even go so far as to make sure the doors are locked. And if the windows are down, up they go. I'm sorry, but if I'm sitting alone in a car, or even with someone, in a downtown area that has people wandering up to my building, I don't care if I look bitchy or if I look snotty. I'm going to play it safe and hope whatever judgement matters isn't too harsh on me for it.
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If i see someone I automatically start digging through my pocket. To me, I won't miss a few dollars.


But since I had my unfortunate meeting with the homeless guy, I have spent a lot of time around societies so called " bum's" through volunteer work. So I guess it's all about a comfort level. Though i still have a hard time driving through my cities "hood" as it still freaks me out:eek
 
I won't give them money but if I feel they are truly hungry I will offer to buy them something to eat. What I find astounding is that some of them have refused the offer so that makes me think it's the cash they want to fuel their booze of drug habit.
 
Beggars here are organised. There is a kid sitting in front of the store, all cheeky and smiles, one of his milk teeth are missing. I would love to give him money, but I know the he will just give the money to an adult and they will buy cigarettes or booze on it. I even SAW it once. *sigh*

There are also ones who are dressed nicely, heck nicer then most people who they ask money from. The ask for only just a little money, like 3 bucks for example, and they "earn" more in a year then the politicians of out country.

I was once stopped in by a woman, right under a bridge and she DEMANDED I gave her money cause she was sick. I told her no, I was sick too (and yeah, I was actually, had been less then a week since my surgery when this happened) and walked away. But it could've gone soo wrong - if people hadn't come right at that time it would've been easy for her, and the guy behind her to overpower me.
That spot under the bridge is infamous of it's muggings, but there is no other way to get to my Uni :(
 
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