Aegis & The Beggar

Since you all could not compute or figure some sense in my last hypothetical situation- I have then created a new situation that would be much more relate-able. This is about ethics - decisions.

Money to beggars.

So we've probably all been there, either walking on the street or driving our car when all of a sudden you see someone holding up a cardboard sign with the words "In the pit of luck. Help Plz. God bles" written with whatever they could get their hands on (most typically a sharpie or black crayon with a hint of red). You start taking out your wallet or scanning around the dashboard or compartments for loose change when all of a sudden a little voice in your head (or a friend next to you) goes "Are you sure you want to do that? What if they spend if on blah blah blah (beer or cigarettes, etc)."


This does not reach to charities that help give homeless a roof and food. I'm talking about the people on the street that ask for money on the street.

You begin to ponder in thought - thinking of the right decision.
Is it truly generous or is it just feeding fuel to a fire?

(And if you haven't been in that situation because you live in a third world country or something, then- imagine you have 5 US Dollars in your pocket and you come across someone asking for money for some reason. Do you give them money? Yes, no, why, why not, is it right, is it wrong, etc.)

I'm sorry the forum does not meet His Majesty's high standards.

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May the voice of reason see to that of logic.

A few months back, there were three peddlers in the palmetto south exit to okeechobee road. One was a "homeless" child, and the other two were selling flowers and water.

There was a long line so I was able to see all of their actions. The "homeless" child retreated to a pillar where there was another person waiting to take a turn at asking for money. Kid didn't look homeless since his clothes were clean.

The same combination of three people can be found by the FIU campus; it's a homeless man this time around.

It's very hard for me to tell who is legitimately poor and who is faking it for easy cash.

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The guy who makes lots of cash is by US1 exiting to Dadeland Mall where he owns the intersection. He has 3 kittens and even boasts that he makes lots of cash.

For giving money to beggars, I live by the rule "Don't give away more money than you can afford to lose". The same logic applies to gambling.

If you can afford to part with it and do so willingly, they can do whatever they want with it. If you think they will just spend it on booze and this bothers you, don't give it to them. It's not your job nor place to be the moral police for such people.

It is kindness (or naivety depending on case) on the giver's side, I suppose.

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Some beggars are being controlled by the syndicates.

My rule, if you want to help the homeless donate to a soup kitchen.
New York City subway is chock full of people acting to be homeless and this pretty much ruins it for people who are legitimately homeless. At least by donating food or even time, you can at least help those not putting on a subway show.

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In my area there are a few people on the streets who ask for money, if I run into them a lot I usually give them a few pocket changes to help them, every little bit helps right? Then again, I'm way to much of a nice person

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It looks like the other thread turned into a second Let It Out

My morals aren't very high, (for whatever reason) so I'll usually only give if everyone else around me is giving or if I'm alone. It becomes a very awkward situation if you're that one guy that just keeps walking.

I haven't ran into many homeless people here actually. Mostly because they are usually centred in the downtown core area which I which I don't really frequent often. Though I do know my standards.
Personally, I would rather donate to local charities and food banks since I'd know my money would go to things that will definitely help the homeless. I'm somewhat wary of giving it directly to a homeless person since you never know how they will actually spend it.

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Exactly.

I don't know exactly what they would do with it, but I always had that optimistic light in me go "he can go back up".

Personally, I'm more inclined to give money to the old ones, even those who knock at our door. The most money I could only give is enough for a jeep ride.

For the kids that hang out near the doors of that convenience store near my school who tug at my shirt/uniform, gives me raspberries when I don't give and I heard are involved in incidents where they steal a person's just-bought bag of crisps/chips, I'm less likely to give to them.

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Loving these types of threads.

I think often times with homeless people you can tell what they plan to spend it on by their appearance. At ASU there are a lot of homeless and I'll sometimes give them a 5 or something if they look like they are in desperation, but usually won't if they look completely washed up and slur their sentences because they probably are less likely to try and "pick themselves back up".

Maybe I'm just a sucker.

It's cool when you DO see those guys back up.
I remember one guy go back up from beggar to car-wash guy to agency manager.

Felt good.

Good question Aegis.

There were many a time when i actually gave some change to even 3 dollars to a homeless person on the roads, to not caring and just going by on my own. I too have that same philosophy of "What exactly will that person do with my money?", in hindsight, you can't really expect much if they get small change throughout the day, best they can do is afford something to eat or to drink or maybe even catch a ride on a bus to a different part of town.

I am MUCH more inclined however to donate to churches or charity funds rather than donating it to one homeless person. I feel a lot more content if i donate to a charity cause that will use the money that i gave them to help others either in our area or somewhere outside that REALLY needs it (hurricane relief, tsunami, earthquake, etc.). There was actually a family on my intersection that i take to go to my house that were asking for money, it was a mother with two children with her holding up a sign saying something like "Husband left our family, took everything, Asking for anything please and God Bless You". I felt BAD, SUPER BAD seeing that, but something in me just said "...idk, it just doesn't seem morally right to have children with you asking for change, if it's not our problem it's going to be the police's/child care services problem."

Still though, i think my Mom or dad or whoever was with me at the time gave her some change...sucked to see those kids out there in the hot sun (this was last year around this time i believe) asking for change. Even if it's faking or not, just sucks

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It's really weird to see people who look like they really need help and then you have these football players or veterans ask for money in the same corner.