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Posted on 02/22/2012 1:07:59 PM PST by SmithL
Panhandling has always been an important part of human existence, ever since people were put in poverty by a society that sometimes lacks mercy. It is not fair or accurate to say that you should never give money to a panhandler. There are people who would perish without the generosity of strangers. We can not presume to know that they created their own problems and should reap the results. There are plenty of people who became poor largely due to circumstances that weren't under their control.
I have given coins out of my pocket to panhandlers under certain circumstances, and sometimes not, when I felt that it would jeopardize me or someone to do so. I have compiled a guide that works for me concerning when I give a few coins in my pocket or not. Since I rarely carry cash except for these few coins which serve as meter money or candy bar money, I am not in a situation of getting my wallet out.
To begin with, since I am a smoker I get asked for cigarettes a lot. However, many of those who ask me for one look like they could possibly be underage. In these instances, I always refuse. (I do not have to give a reason.) On the other hand, if someone appears close to my age and also does not appear to be an undercover cop, I will often give someone a smoke when asked. For those who believe that smoking is a horrendous evil, just ignore this part of the manuscript.
When someone is holding a sign at a freeway off ramp, I drive by without helping that person. I send that person good thoughts. However, I do not want to create a hazardous situation that could cause a car accident. You are not doing anyone a favor when you block traffic to give to a panhandler, especially when this causes a car accident that could entail someone getting injured.
Is someone appears threatening to me, I do not give help. This is entirely by my perception and does not rely on an attempt at objectivity. If I feel threatened, it is bad for me to help the person who is associated with that feeling, even if it is only in my own mind. I will remain polite to that person and will speak respectfully, but will not give money in return for intimidation. (Of course this idea does not include the IRS.) How do you know if someone is truly threatening you? Often you don't know and must operate by what feels real from your own limited perspective. If someone is exchanging threat for cash, it is not a gift, it is extortion. This is a bully-ism and is a different idea than the threat of a crime being perpetrated, which I cover next.
If it is late at night, if the situation seems scary, or if you think you could be a victim of robbery or violence, then you must do whatever works in that situation. Usually that entails getting some distance as quickly as possible, and doing so without increasing your vulnerability-which getting out your wallet or getting close to a person would do. I was in front of a Macy's at a mall when three gentlemen who appeared to be sporting a tough guy fashion, (you know, the goatees and scarves over the heads) approached me and one of them said, "Give it up." Rather than standing there waiting for them to get closer, I quickly stood from the bench (where I had been reading) and ran into the Macy's so that anything that would happen would be recorded by their security cameras. The three followed me in but then realized they were among Macy's shoppers, and they proceeded to look like idiots, and then they left.
A few years ago, I was in front of a McDonald's and had just bought a couple of hamburgers, when a man begged for help and said that he was starving to death and had problems with his blood sugar. I handed my hamburger to that man. He was quite grateful.
When I am on foot, and in public where everything feels safe, and someone asks for spare change in a respectful way (they do not need to humiliate themselves or beg, they just need to be polite) I will give that person whatever change is in my pocket, which might total less than a dollar, or which could be a couple dollars. If I had more income and if I carried cash more often, I would give more. In addition to the change I am offering, I am giving the message of unconditional love. This does something to better the human condition.
ping for later.
Even though I pinged for later, I had to say “Good Grief” when I scanned the article.
But idiots started giving them money.
Now there is a market for it, so there are people there filling the ‘demand’.
Young guys with tattoos and piercings accost single working mothers for “spare change”.
I mock them and say “Spare change for my next piercing?”.
And I cannot express sufficiently my contempt of idiots who go abroad and give to blind beggar children.
Great! You just created a market for blind beggar children! And if there are not enough to fill the ‘demand’ they will CREATE some!
Wow, see how much your spare change can accomplish? You just got acid poured into a child's eyes and condemned them to a life of slavery and begging without any sight. I hope such people feel REAL PROUD of themselves for being so “charitable”. Idiots.
This dude thinks way too much, although sadly unequipped to do so.
Mind numbingly stupid opening. People are poor because of many reasons, almost never because of society. That being said, I never give money, I do give food occassionally for the very rough looking ones. Never money though, I know where it goes.
Societies are neither merciless or merciful. INDIVIDUALS are. Just as individuals are responsible or irresponsible ... sometimes responsible enough to see after their own needs and sometimes not.
Not everyone who is needy is so because of irresponsibility, but he is darned sure not there because of anything I did. Therefore, I have no moral, legal, or social liability for his well-being. Anything I give, I CHOOSE to give. Anything else is simply robbery.
The first sentence says it all.
The natural state of humans is poverty. Prosperity is due to society.
Writer is foolish.
I always ask “how much do you need to get the next bottle”? They always know right down to the penny.
Societies are neither merciless or merciful. INDIVIDUALS are. Just as individuals are responsible or irresponsible ... sometimes responsible enough to see after their own needs and sometimes not.
Not everyone who is needy is so because of irresponsibility, but he is darned sure not there because of anything I did. Therefore, I have no moral, legal, or social liability for his well-being. Anything I give, I CHOOSE to give. Anything else is simply robbery.
If most people that “panhandle” spend as much time looking for a job as they did panhandling....they wouldn’t need to panhandle, because they would be employed. Even working at Taco Bell has to pay more than sitting on the side of the road all day begging for Federal Reserve Notes.
It was scary as hell as I had no idea of the political persuations of the profs. I took a risk on one who taught a class which I thought was fair minded. The risk paid off. Not only was I exonerated, but I ended up being commended for my courage to take on such a topic in a unique way.
This was at a state university in one of the more liberal states in America. Maybe I just got lucky.
Bottom line is that if you want to do something charitable, donate time, material or money to a reputable organization which helps the people you want to target. For example, in my case, I have a soft spot for military veterans and trust the VFW.
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Around my vicinity within a 2 block radius of my own parish church, I NEVER give to these bums. Why? My church gives more food to them twice a week. I donate to my parish. Follow the trail..
—When someone is holding a sign at a freeway off ramp, I drive by without helping that person. I send that person good thoughts. However, I do not want to create a hazardous situation that could cause a car accident. You are not doing anyone a favor when you block traffic to give to a panhandler, especially when this causes a car accident that could entail someone getting injured. —
When I lived in seattle, that was my motto. Interestingly, when someone did stop to help and the light was green, I would go around them if possible. One of those people I went around mustered real road rage against me. It would have been funny (the irony and all) if it were not so serious.
Now, when someone does it, I just lay on the horn, and keep it on, until they move. But it is not an issue where I live now. That scam doesn’t exist here. Yet.
This can’t be Berkeley, CA because it’s a violence-free, smoke-free, junk food-free utopia.
Just wondering -- if there were no panhandlers, then to whom were the idiots giving money?
One of those conundrums, I guess -- which came first, the panhandler or the idiot?
Depends on the location. When we lived in Japan, one of their reporters went to New York and marveled at how there could be so many "Help Wanted" signs around Manhattan and so many panhandlers.
The intrepid reporter approached the panhandlers and asked them this very question. The results ranged from downright disgusting to humorous. One 30 something black guy was particularly funny. He looked at the reporter like he was daft and said "You know what you get for putting in an eight hour day at one of these places and working your a** off? Maybe 60 or 70 dollars a day by the time they take all the taxes out. Do you want somebody to own you body and soul for 60 or 70 dollars a day? Hell, I can make that kind of money in two or three hours of panhandling!"
I never give money.
I always offer food.
Right thing to do.
When I see a panhandler, I see somebody who managed to piss off every relative or friend that ever cared about them. Why wouldn’t they go to them for help? Because they were too prideful, and wound up burning all of their bridges.
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