Do you give money to people on the street?

nordicstyle · Feb 8, 2009

I'm wondering, do you ever give money to people on the street?

I usually don't give anything, partly because I hardly ever carry cash. Also there are so many people asking during a day that I would feel bad if I gave to one and not the others. If someone asks me for something concrete, i.e. they want money for food or cigarettes, I am more likely to give them though. Whenever I do give money I prefer to give to the local junkies rather than the organized (usually foreign) beggars, since I feel it's better to support a fellow citizen. If I have the time, I prefer to follow them to the store and buy whatever they are asking for, since then I know what the money goes to and I see to it that they actually get the food/cigarettes instead of drugs (yeah, I know they will get the drugs anyway, but still...).

tricota · Feb 8, 2009

Originally Posted by nordicstyle

I'm wondering, do you ever give money to people on the street?

I usually don't give anything, partly because I hardly ever carry cash. Also there are so many people asking during a day that I would feel bad if I gave to one and not the others. If someone asks me for something concrete, i.e. they want money for food or cigarettes, I am more likely to give them though. Whenever I do give money I prefer to give to the local junkies rather than the organized (usually foreign) beggars, since I feel it's better to support a fellow citizen. If I have the time, I prefer to follow them to the store and buy whatever they are asking for, since then I know what the money goes to and I see to it that they actually get the food/cigarettes instead of drugs (yeah, I know they will get the drugs anyway, but still...).

Never. You and I both live in countries, where people have to really make the choise of begging on the street. 99,9 % of recidents are coverd by our welfare state, almost regardless of the situation they are in. In other words, noone is really forced to beg in streets, unless they really screw up, again and again. So no.

Lucky Strike · Feb 8, 2009

I occasionally give them cigarettes, never money.

(This goes for beggars, not necessarily buskers, if they're good.)

Jumbie · Feb 8, 2009

I used to. Then I switched to trying to given them food (when in college).

Now, I don't give **** because there are too many able-bodied people begging for money.

Stazy · Feb 8, 2009

I'm sometimes overcome with generosity and toss a dollar or two their way.

x26 · Feb 8, 2009

Originally Posted by Stazy

I'm sometimes overcome with generosity and toss a dollar or two their way.

this^^

v0rtex · Feb 8, 2009

I used to buy the Big Issue in the UK, it's a (pretty decent) magazine which is sold by the homeless so they can earn money to support themselves. The organization also provides support for them and helps them get back on their feet.

Occasionally if someone has a particularly impressive pitch I'll give them a few quid (one guy had a printed Powerpoint presentation complete with newspaper articles going back 20 years on why the economy had screwed him out of a job).

Other than that, no.

Kique · Feb 8, 2009

If I have some singles I usually give them something. One time I only had 20s and the bum said he could break it for me

chronoaug · Feb 8, 2009

Nope. I don't really feel bad about it either.

Kunk gives money to asian ladies who corner you at your restaurant table

Lucky Strike · Feb 8, 2009

Originally Posted by v0rtex

I used to buy the Big Issue in the UK, it's a (pretty decent) magazine which is sold by the homeless so they can earn money to support themselves. The organization also provides support for them and helps them get back on their feet. Occasionally if someone has a particularly impressive pitch I'll give them a few quid (one guy had a printed Powerpoint presentation complete with newspaper articles going back 20 years on why the economy had screwed him out of a job). Other than that, no.
Ah, yes, we have the equivalent of the Big Issue here, I buy it occasionally - it's a good read on a bus. I saw a beggar with an obvious and severe case of Tourette's on the street once. I had to appreciate his plight - it's not easy getting money out of people when every female walking by makes you emit a stifled "C-c-c-****!!!!". I gave him what change I had.

Chouse · Feb 8, 2009

Unless I'm feeling particularly generous or compassionate genereally not... my cheapness prohibits me from just giving money away for free!

MrG · Feb 8, 2009

I try to avoid it. Here in Athens, GA they have a few of parking meters set up to take donations which are then used to help the homeless. The idea is that it will discourage panhandling while giving people an outlet for ad hoc donations. It doesn't work great, as we still have panhandlers, but I suppose it's a clever idea.

thekunk07 · Feb 8, 2009

only if they're brutally honest. some old black dude said to me a few weeks ago: "don;t got no kids, don;t got no aids. but i got no home and no money and i needs to get fucked up." how do you argue with that.

oh yeah, and if it's a gypsy near penn asking, i don't give them **** but sometimes spit on them.

RedLantern · Feb 8, 2009

I don't but my GF ALWAYS does, usually 5-10 bucks sometimes 20! She actually gets mad if they come up to me and I turn them away without letting her give them money...what a mark.

MrG · Feb 8, 2009

Originally Posted by thekunk07

only if they're brutally honest. some old black dude said to me a few weeks ago: "don;t got no kids, don;t got no aids. but i got no home and no money and i needs to get fucked up." how do you argue with that.

I actually have given them money in cases like this. I was in SF around Haight-Ashbury a few years ago and a kid asked for money to buy some Mickey's. I was amused enough by his honesty (and his taste in malt liquor) that I threw him a buck or two.

Do you give money to people on the street?

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