[finn4life]

Frequently around shopping centres bums ask for money, if I have coins sitting in my pocket, fine they can have it, otherwise I don't bother.

Today however I was at Mcdonalds and one asked me if I had a spare two bucks for a cheeseburger, I thought back to times when I am hungry and forgot to bring money, so I gave it to him, then he asked everyone else in Mcdonalds the same thing and then left before buying anything, clearly there was an alterior motive to him begging for mone rather than simply wanting a cheeseburger, I got a little annoyed that I was supporting his lies and addiction.
From now the bums can get lost as far as I am concerned, unless of course they are actually doing something about being homeless.

So do you give bums money? or tell them to get lost because they are bums who most likely have addictions.


This post has been edited by finn4life on Monday, Apr 9 2012, 11:40

[Girish]

In India, begging is like a profession. I make it a point to never give any money to beggars even if they are kids. Most of these kids will hand over the money you give them to their parents or their overlords who'll just starve them so that people will sympathize with them and give them more money. There have been times where I've offered them food instead of money and they have flat out refused.

[Claude94]

Honestly, I've never given homeless people any money. I saw a homeless woman in the subway today, actually, asking people for 50 cents. I definitely had more than enough pocket change to give her 50 cents worth, but I said to her that I didn't have any money. I don't know why I said that, because she had a transit card and probably just wanted to take the train, but I guess I just said it because I'm used to just not giving any money. The reason I don't give them any paper money is because either I don't want to be pulling any bills out of my wallet only for them to snatch it out of my hands and run, or I really don't know what cause my money is going towards for them (supporting their addictions?), so I just don't even bother.

[Troll Phelps]

http://youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwa..._oYE6kB6o&gl=US

[Icarus]

Most of the time when I'm walking about, I have my headphones in, so I can just walk past people and ignore them, which I do. If someone asks me for money, I just refuse to acknowledge them.

About four years ago, my friend was walking home from work and he encountered someone along the trail who was looking for money so they could buy food. My friend, having an extra sandwich in his lunch box, offered it to the guy, but he refused and said he wanted the money instead. My friend told him to f*ck off and kept going.

[rhyn]

There is one homeless guy in my town that I'll give money to if I ever see him because he's a nice, friendly, auld fella who everybody in town knows and likes. I don't give money to anyone else though because at the end of the day you aren't helping them at all.

[Jeeebuuus]

The other day a guy asked me for money but I don't usually keep any on me. So he asked me to buy him an orange juice. So I went into the 7-11 where we were at and I got my Rockstar energy drink and an orange juice which I paid for with my debit card. Done and done.

[Craig]

About 12 months ago I encountered a homeless man in Manchester who just stood out from the others. He approached with a polite introduction, saying that he was raised with respect and kindness. He explained that he had played some bad cards in his youth and threw a good portion of his life away. He was smart, well spoken and very clever. He told me his routine, where he'd try and get enough money to pay for an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, line his pockets with bread and then try and find somewhere to sleep. I bought us both a hot drink and we sat on a wall and talked for around 20 minutes while I waited for a train. When I left, I gave him pretty much what he needed and wished him well.

A few weeks ago, I was out drinking with a friend of mine, not far from where I first saw him. We were between bars when a familiar voice chimed in. It was him, introducing himself in the same manner and he stopped when he saw me. We recognised each other and it was actually nice to see him. He'd avoided some scrapes, but he looked well, and a little healthier than the last time. Me and my friend both gave him some money and fished out a beer from a bag we were carrying to give to him. We didn't talk as much this time, but he was so grateful.

Usually, I don't bother at all. It goes on drugs or to pay off debts. That time felt different. It felt good to be helping him. Sure, he'd made bad choices, but we all do from time to time and his were just made worse by a run of terrible luck. I hope I see him again.

[leik oh em jeez!]

I like the way a coworker of mine puts it: "If a guy asks for money for food, I'll tell him I don't have it. If he asks for money for beer, I'll give it to him because I appreciate the honesty."

[nic_23]

i usually give money to people playing guitar, recordians or other instruments in the street because they give towns some atmosphere and music.

[Troll Phelps]

That video I posted pretty much sums up my opinion of hobos. I've only met one bum who I actually felt sorry for.

[rodneythesavior]

Last time a bum actually asked me for money, I took him to McDonalds and bought him a meal.

[Stinky12]

Well most bums are like most of us who probably had a home, a loving family, until they took the wrong path and ended up where they are today.
I will sometimes give like a few coins so they can buy something to eat or so, but I only give it once and if I see them again, I don't give it at all.
There has been a lot of bums or so call "bums" near my area, but it's suspicious to me as each few days they're will be different bums in that same spot.
Once there's a young couple with a dog. Then the next time a group of 3-4 of them. For the dog, I guess it's a way for passerby to feel sympathy towards it
and give the money to help out.
Another time there was a family, mom, dad, and their daughter no more than 3-4 years old probably. The father started playing music while mom carrying a bucket holding
her daughter asked for money. I gave some loose change and they said thank you and moved on. Then I was thinking maybe I should have just gave them my McDonald's coupon
for a free cheeseburger instead. The father was playing an accordion which probably isn't cheap and it look similar to this one.
http://www.jr.com/hohner-harmonica/pe/HOH_HA3100/
If your homeless and needed money to eat, you probably won't be buying any instruments.

This post has been edited by Stinky12 on Monday, Apr 9 2012, 02:36

[UNRATED69]

I never give money to homeless people. You can help them a lot more by donating the money to a shelter or a charity. And, of course, you have no idea what they're going to spend it on most of the time. I'm not saying they're all liars, but there are those who buy alcohol with the money, which does nothing for their position. In addition to that, I've heard about people who dress up like bums and beg for money. They make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year doing so.

QUOTE (finn4life @ Sunday, Apr 8 2012, 20:45)

and then left before buying anything, clearly there was an ulterior motive to him begging for money rather than simply wanting a cheeseburger

Maybe he went to Burger King. Their burgers are way better.

[fireguy109]

Anybody ever see that article about the woman who made her livelihood begging? She was a great actress and played the part of a cripple. She would go huddle by a subway entrance and look all poor and stuff all day, then at the end of the day she'd hop up, perfectly healthy, with a spring in her step and go home. She was making more per year than most teachers, IIRC.

I'll have to see if I can find the article.

E: http://gothamist.com/2012/02/12/video_bogu..._pretending.php Looks like I mixed up a few things.

This post has been edited by fireguy109 on Monday, Apr 9 2012, 02:49

[sonnyBlack]

I get asked a lot whenever I'm out. One time this beggar came up and told a few jokes first, so for providing some entertainment I gave him a buck.

But a friend of mine told me his father was approached by a homeless person asking for money some years ago. And instead of giving it to him, he actually took the guy out to lunch and sat down and ate with him. He said years later a guy approached him on the street, and it turned out to be that same homeless man from a few years back, however this time he was dressed properly and said he was no longer homeless. He wanted to thank him for what he had done for him back then because it made him want to turn his life around, which he did.

Of course that was probably just a rare case, but that story will always stick with me.

[Sauron]

All this bum talk makes me think about Slamman.

[oysterbarron]

I remember reading that people in london were going out begging instead of working as in certain spots they could earn more in an hour begging than what they could working a 9-5 job. Since then ive never given money to the homeless. Theres alot of charitys and support out there for the homeless so i dont see why my hard grafted money should go in someone elses pocket that can sit on a street all day but not work i hate people who exspect something for nothing. I really dont see how a bad decision in the past renders you completly unable to rejoin society.

[grope_4_that_date]

Whenever a homeless man asks me, "Can you spare some money?" I've always wanted to say, "No, but I'll buy you a beer." I know it might seem a little taboo or insulting, but I think a little human interaction is what these people really need. Just a friendly conversation, you know?

[Allen14n]

QUOTE (Craig @ Monday, Apr 9 2012, 02:09)

About 12 months ago I encountered a homeless man in Manchester who just stood out from the others. He approached with a polite introduction, saying that he was raised with respect and kindness. He explained that he had played some bad cards in his youth and threw a good portion of his life away. He was smart, well spoken and very clever. He told me his routine, where he'd try and get enough money to pay for an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, line his pockets with bread and then try and find somewhere to sleep. I bought us both a hot drink and we sat on a wall and talked for around 20 minutes while I waited for a train. When I left, I gave him pretty much what he needed and wished him well. A few weeks ago, I was out drinking with a friend of mine, not far from where I first saw him. We were between bars when a familiar voice chimed in. It was him, introducing himself in the same manner and he stopped when he saw me. We recognised each other and it was actually nice to see him. He'd avoided some scrapes, but he looked well, and a little healthier than the last time. Me and my friend both gave him some money and fished out a beer from a bag we were carrying to give to him. We didn't talk as much this time, but he was so grateful. Usually, I don't bother at all. It goes on drugs or to pay off debts. That time felt different. It felt good to be helping him. Sure, he'd made bad choices, but we all do from time to time and his were just made worse by a run of terrible luck. I hope I see him again.

That's definitely a touching story. People shouldn't be so reliant on stereotypes to judge the homeless. I've also talked to one homeless man who was very respectable and friendly.

If you ever meet him again, please update us.