Do you give money to panhandlers?

1. 67

   Rosie2010posted 13 years ago

   Do you give money to panhandlers?
   
   

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2. 67

   BetteMacheteposted 13 years ago

   Yes, because I have been homeless through no fault of my own when I got laid off. A lot of people think homeless people are lazy, drug addicts, or drunks, but that is not always the case.
   
   Plus, if you were homeless you would probably want to drink to take the edge off, or to feel warm when you are cold.
   
   Some panhandlers do have drug problems but its hard to cope in a world of lonlieness and desperation.
   
   Not many people know what it is like to live with no family or no support and dont understand what a horror life is like. So, they blame homeless people for being dirty or drunks without considering the whole story.
   
   They close their eyes to the real issues so that they do not feel obligated to help.
   I worked for years as an art teacher before getting laid off. Art is always the first to go in public schools or programs as it is not seen as vital, like math or computers.
   
   I had several thousand dollars saved up and you have no idea how quickly that runs out when you cant find a job.
   
   I worked my ass off as a waitress and could not make ends meet.
   
   So yes, I help panhandlers. Always. Even if they are going to spend it on booze. If alcohol eases their hell of an existance, who am I to judge?
   I cant feed them everyday, make sure they are safe and warm, or have clean clothes, but I can give them a dollar so they can buy a hamburger or a small bottle of liquor so that they dont feel like killing themselves.
   
   And anyone who reads this should do the same, and quit pretending like it is totally the homeless persons fault. Sometimes it is, but most of the time it isnt. Shit happens in life and everyone who isnt homeless should feel blessed.

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3. 75

   capncrunchposted 13 years ago

   With a creative sign like this one, I would at least leave a dollar.  Seriously I have been known to go the extra mile, like money, food, and transportation.  I can't help myself.  It is who I am.

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4. 67

   marketingskepticposted 13 years ago

   I agree with BetteMachete.
   I've always given money to the homeless even though it makes me feel like crap when I see them using the money I gave them to buy cigarettes or something worse.
   
   Giving up a dollar is a very small sacrifice if it would brighten someone else's day.

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5. 60

   Joan1posted 13 years ago

   Very touching words BetteMachete.
   
   I give to homeless people, but not when I go out in Beijing.
   Because that is just organised crime, and if you give one of them some money, before you know it you get harassed by 5 beggars.
   
   I love the creative sign.

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6. 61

   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   very rarely. i find that they don't usually need to be on the streets begging so i don't support them with money though many times i have bought food for them.

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7. 0

   ahorsebackposted 13 years ago

   Very seldom , Question  , is the man here on the picture getting public assistance ?  Is he willing to work? No, not just saying "Yes " I mean does he try! Try to do anything to help himself or others , In todays culture  , being a commited member of our "working class" means that you don't make a career out of "Gimmeing" , you try to make a career out of "giving" . When I give  , I drop it in the red bucket at the market  or at the christmas trees for the poor .  Obviously  some people need help, heck alot of them do ! But how much do we help the guy who stands with a sign in one hand and a cigarette in the other? Or, do we buy him a meal or a bottle?

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8. 70

   danthehandymanposted 13 years ago

   When I worked in a downtown area, it had panhandlers every 50 feet down the sidewalks. I usually dropped a dollar or two as I passed each on the way to my shop. That is, until I overheard one speaking to another, after just having dropped a dollar in his cup. He thought I was out of earshot, but I was not. His exact words were, “Those [racist noun] are stupid. All you have to do is ask for a quarter and they give it to you.” I don’t know if that is the common attitude among panhandlers, but it was the last time I contributed.

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9. 63

   I am DB Cooperposted 13 years ago

   Only the ones with creative signs. In all seriousness, I'd rather offer them food if I have any. If they act like a jerk because I'm not giving them money, then I know they probably aren't really suffering. Some panhandlers make hundreds of dollars a day and aren't really homeless.

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10. 0

    Sunnie Dayposted 13 years ago

    i have to say yes..I never know for sure where the money goes and it really isn't about that. It is the heart and how it was given. I don't try to figure out the "what if's"

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11. 66

    NateSeanposted 13 years ago

    No. I've been on both sides of the fence. I was homeless, then I wasn't and now I'm homeless again. I have never once asked a stranger for money and I will never ask someone for such.
    
    First off, I know all the tricks. I know all of the stories they'll tell, "I need bus fair," "My kids need to eat," etc. And in the end, the reason they are panhandling is not because they need bus fair. It's not because their kids need to eat. And it definitely is not because they are veterans of war who cannot get a hold of their benefits.
    
    In the end, the real reason they panhandle, is because they know that there are hundreds of naive and well meaning people out there. And in a given week, a very lucrative panhandler can actually make up to two hundred dollars a week just by putting their hand out and selling you a sad sob story.
    
    So, does that mean you should not try to help someone who is homeless, or seems to be down on their luck? No. But there are ways to help the homeless that do not involve money.
    
    Help out at the shelter. Volunteer at at a soup kitchen and maybe get to know some of the people there. You'd be surprised how hard it is for honest, hardworking people to actually get benefits and help, because people like the panhandlers you mentioned, abuse the system.
    
    Maybe you know of places that are hiring? You can help some of the people who are having a hard time finding a job by pointing them in that direction.
    
    If they need bus fare, fine. Buy a bus pass for them, so that you know what the money is going towards. Offer them a ride to the job in question, maybe even see if the shelters offer bus passes the way the ones in Burlington, Vermont do.
    
    Trust me, you are not helping a panhandler by giving him money. Nine times out of ten, he is laughing at your back for giving it to him because he knows he will play on the guilt and the good intentions of millions more like you every single day.

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12. 69

    chasemillisposted 13 years ago

    I personally don't, but I will give them a meal or something like that. I have talked to some homeless people and the reason they seem a little "crazy" is because of the dehumanization that occurs in their daily life. Just think about it. Every time the homeless people try to ask people walking or in cars for money, they usually just ignore them and keep walking/driving. I didn't realize this until someone else told it to me, but it is very dehumanizing to have people not even repond to your presence.
    So the next time you come across a homeless person, at least acknowledge them. If you don't want them to wash your window of whatever they are doing, then tell them so.
    Another reason why I don't just hand out money to people is because I believe in capitalism and the fact that everyone needs to work to get want you want. The beauty of capitalism is that you can work your way up to the top, or at least the middle.

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13. 92

    Alyssa Nicholposted 13 years ago

    I actually have a funny story.  For my son's 3rd birthday, we took him to Chuck E. Cheese.  It was raining and my fiance had just parked the truck.  My son was asleep and we were taking a few moments to gather up everything to go inside.  All of a sudden, there was a knock on the window.  Two guys were standing outside of the driver side door.  My fiance rolled down his window and one of the guys said, "Don't be alarmed, I'm black, but I am also a minister.  Anyway, I normally wouldn't ask, but do you have some spare change?  My car over there (he pointed out his car) is out of gas and I just need to make a call."  We said no, we didn't have any change.  When he walked away, I laughed and told my fiance I would have given him change just for the greeting.  It was amusing to me, considering we live in a such a diverse city. 
    I don't normally give to random people on the street.  I like your picture that you included with the question.  It reminds me of the picture, in my social problems text, with a guy on the street, holding a sign that says, "Why lie? I need a drink."

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14. 58

    justomposted 13 years ago

    I help without judgment and find NateSean's rant to be a great comedy skit. Brother you sound like a goofball. Sorry for your homelessness but at least you brought your laptop with internet access :-P    Oy!

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15. 0

    jasper420posted 13 years ago

    Depends on the situation if i have the money to give and if i think the begger is going to use it on food rather than drugs i would prefur to give them water or bread over money

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