Do you give beggars money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep dollars in my glove compartment specifically for beggars on the median. Honestly, a dollar doesn't mean a whole lot to me, and if they want to spend the money on booze or whatever, I don't judge. I am somewhat selective though, and prefer to give to women and older folks.

I cannot understand this thinking. You are okay with contributing to their alcohol or drug addiction that has them stuck in this hole?

How do you know? Or do you just assume they are??

+1

I give because I don't assume I know about anyone's life. And honestly, if they need alcohol to help them get through their day and survive for ten more minutes, and they're going to use my money to buy a fifth, that's their business. Like a PP said, it's next to impossible to get a job without an address. It's next to impossible to survive on the streets with a mental illness, and there's very little help for people with mental illnesses whose families can't or don't want to take care of them.

I also give to organizations that "teach a man to fish." But I don't assume I know anything about anyone I see on the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. But I have definitely been jaded by too many experiences. I remember being in downtown Baltimore with my dad when I was about 10. We went into a fast food place for lunch and my dad bought an extra two sandwiches for the beggar panhandling outside. I was so proud and happy we were helping. When my dad gave it to him, he opened it up and angrily threw it into a bush and cursed at him.

I have seen the beggar who practically lives at a local intersection sitting in a nearby Starbucks with a laptop and a coffee drink. Many neighbors have seen him there, too. His demeanor and expression is entirely different than when he's on the street.

There are others, those are two that come to mind.

Although the first instance was probably frightening for you, did you consider that he might have had mental health issues that caused him to react this way?

[Anonymous]

No. never. I once saw a guy with a sign that said "Stranded. Need bus fare to get home". Except... his sign was laminated. Exactly how "stranded" are you if you've made a permanent sign??

[Anonymous]

In 11 years of living in San Francisco, I have never given money. I have given leftover food from a restaurant. And once I bought a guy a sandwich at Trader Joe's.

Pro tip for travelers to SF: In Union Square, there is a guy who hangs around outside Macy's around dinnertime, and if he sees you walk out with a bag from Cheesecake Factory, he will ask for it. If you say no, he'll move on, but if you hesitate he gets super aggressive and scares people into giving him their food.

[Anonymous]

No, but it's not because I don't think they need help. I just don't think that's the best way to help them. I've given food directly to beggars, and donate money to organizations that help people in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. never. I once saw a guy with a sign that said "Stranded. Need bus fare to get home". Except... his sign was laminated. Exactly how "stranded" are you if you've made a permanent sign??

I am not homeless. I have NEVER laminated anything at home. Your point makes no sense. You think he couldn't have collected money and then walked into a Staples or Office Depot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. But I have definitely been jaded by too many experiences. I remember being in downtown Baltimore with my dad when I was about 10. We went into a fast food place for lunch and my dad bought an extra two sandwiches for the beggar panhandling outside. I was so proud and happy we were helping. When my dad gave it to him, he opened it up and angrily threw it into a bush and cursed at him.

I have seen the beggar who practically lives at a local intersection sitting in a nearby Starbucks with a laptop and a coffee drink. Many neighbors have seen him there, too. His demeanor and expression is entirely different than when he's on the street.

There are others, those are two that come to mind.

That's called being streetwise on your part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In 11 years of living in San Francisco, I have never given money. I have given leftover food from a restaurant. And once I bought a guy a sandwich at Trader Joe's.

Pro tip for travelers to SF: In Union Square, there is a guy who hangs around outside Macy's around dinnertime, and if he sees you walk out with a bag from Cheesecake Factory, he will ask for it. If you say no, he'll move on, but if you hesitate he gets super aggressive and scares people into giving him their food.

San Francisco is an example of what happens when everyone hands cash to beggars, and the majority of voters elect extremist progressives / SJWs into complete political control.

Shame too. It used to be a nice place.

[Anonymous]

No. Not since one pulled a knife on me. I avoid and ignore them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. But I have definitely been jaded by too many experiences. I remember being in downtown Baltimore with my dad when I was about 10. We went into a fast food place for lunch and my dad bought an extra two sandwiches for the beggar panhandling outside. I was so proud and happy we were helping. When my dad gave it to him, he opened it up and angrily threw it into a bush and cursed at him.

I have seen the beggar who practically lives at a local intersection sitting in a nearby Starbucks with a laptop and a coffee drink. Many neighbors have seen him there, too. His demeanor and expression is entirely different than when he's on the street.

There are others, those are two that come to mind.

Although the first instance was probably frightening for you, did you consider that he might have had mental health issues that caused him to react this way?

I don't remember if it was what I thought or what my dad told me - but the idea I walked away with was that he only wanted money because it was booze he wanted, not food.

[Anonymous]

mjsmith wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine anything more boring than standing on a median with a sign all day.

#whitepeople

Can you imagine being hungry and having no warm place to sleep?

not the OP but yes I can imagine being hungry and not having a warm place to sleep. I call it it wilderness or survival camping. And its experiences like that which gave me the kick in the ass as a young adult to know that I would not want to be homeless... so I went to school, got a job, stayed away from drugs/crime and became a productive member of scociety.

and to this day I don't give to street people.... handouts do not help anyone.

the whole...give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish he eats for a life time... the problem is the street folks may not have the means or the desire to learn beyond holding out their tin cup waiting for you to fill it...

if you are not willing to help yourself, why should you expect me to want to help you...

I wish everyone was like you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 11 years of living in San Francisco, I have never given money. I have given leftover food from a restaurant. And once I bought a guy a sandwich at Trader Joe's.

Pro tip for travelers to SF: In Union Square, there is a guy who hangs around outside Macy's around dinnertime, and if he sees you walk out with a bag from Cheesecake Factory, he will ask for it. If you say no, he'll move on, but if you hesitate he gets super aggressive and scares people into giving him their food.

San Francisco is an example of what happens when everyone hands cash to beggars, and the majority of voters elect extremist progressives / SJWs into complete political control.

Shame too. It used to be a nice place.

It's the TOURISTS giving the homeless money. We (locals) know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. never. I once saw a guy with a sign that said "Stranded. Need bus fare to get home". Except... his sign was laminated. Exactly how "stranded" are you if you've made a permanent sign??

I am not homeless. I have NEVER laminated anything at home. Your point makes no sense. You think he couldn't have collected money and then walked into a Staples or Office Depot?

You're kidding, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 11 years of living in San Francisco, I have never given money. I have given leftover food from a restaurant. And once I bought a guy a sandwich at Trader Joe's.

Pro tip for travelers to SF: In Union Square, there is a guy who hangs around outside Macy's around dinnertime, and if he sees you walk out with a bag from Cheesecake Factory, he will ask for it. If you say no, he'll move on, but if you hesitate he gets super aggressive and scares people into giving him their food.

San Francisco is an example of what happens when everyone hands cash to beggars, and the majority of voters elect extremist progressives / SJWs into complete political control.

Shame too. It used to be a nice place.

It's the TOURISTS giving the homeless money. We (locals) know better.

+1

There was a post on dcum maybe a year or two ago from some woman who gave a teenage beggar like $40 and then was stunned when the girl started harassing her. She was like, "she had a dog!" and all the bay area folks responded, "OF COURSE SHE HAD A DOG!" hilarious.

i do not give panhandlers money. i also stopped offering food because it just resulted in scary confrontations.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes, If I have cash
If they are not mean after people say no.
If I haven't seen them being mean before.
Not if they have a dog. sympathy ploy and unfair to the dog.