[yldstrk]

When God loves a person, he will send him a beggar. If you respond to the ugly, unsympathetic beggar with compassion as well as to the sympathetic beggar, it helps you more than the beggar.

[rhema]

When God loves a person, he will send him a beggar. If you respond to the ugly, unsympathetic beggar with compassion as well as to the sympathetic beggar, it helps you more than the beggar.

Yes, but it's your manner and your response that will make a difference. You don't have to be haughty and condescending; neither should you be an ennabler.

People who are homeless for economic reasons usually get help and leave the street quickly, explains Kelling. Panhandlers, on the other hand, are often chronic alcohol and drug abusers, or scam artists who commit other crimes. In the early 1990s, for example, New York City suffered from an epidemic of "squeegee men," who extorted money for washing windshields. Though often described as homeless, over 75 percent of them had addresses and over 50 percent had felony records, according to Kelling.

In Minneapolis, a recent survey confirmed that panhandlers often use donations to buy drugs and alcohol, says Ostrow. Giving to them might seem compassionate, he says, but it frequently just encourages self-destructive behavior.

[Balding_Eagle]

Finally, a sensaible response.

I could see, just from reading the article, that the solution here is just to give money to all of the beggers. Generous amounts. After a short while they will have enough and will disappear from the street corners.

[chrisser]

When God loves a person, he will send him a beggar. If you respond to the ugly, unsympathetic beggar with compassion as well as to the sympathetic beggar, it helps you more than the beggar.

You may want to look up the definition of "enabler".

If the "beggar" truly looks to be in need, then I will do what I can, usually in a non-monetary manner. However, I'm not going to provide them with drugs or alchohol, which is what giving many of them money is essentially doing.

Sometimes true charity, true compassion, and true concern for one's fellow man means not giving, regardless of how their story may tug at your heartstrings.

We aren't supposed to be charitable to make ourselves feel good. We're supposed to be charitable in order to help our fellow man. Each situation is unique and often difficult to ascertain, but with the extensive network of public and private charities available in my city, partially financed by me, I find it difficult to believe that anyone who wants to lift themself out of poverty would need to resort to begging in the streets. Consequently, I don't believe that those who resort to this are all that well-served by my indulging them.

[AppyPappy]

When God loves a person, he will send him a beggar.

If the beggar dies in an alley of an overdose, an angel will get his wings.

[doug from upland]

The last beggar/bum/phony I encountered was in front of a fast food restaurant. She wanted money for food. I offered to go into the place with her and buy her a hamburger and drink. Nope. She wanted the money.

[Inquisitive1]

If you respond to the ugly, unsympathetic beggar with compassion as well as to the sympathetic beggar, it helps you more than the beggar.

If I run into one per week, your assessment is correct. But try 30 times DAILY!

[happygrl]

I offer to take them some place and buy them lunch.

Sometimes it is accepted, often it is refused.

I never give money.