Topic: Do you give panhandlers money? (Read 930 times)

I am conflicted on the topic.

If I pity someone, then I want to help them. But pity is an expression of disrespect, and I generally won't help someone that I don't respect.

So, I won't help someone even though I want to, or I will help someone even though I feel that I shouldn't.

I decide to give or not based on the eligibility or not of the beggar.

because I've had a hard time going bankrupt in the past. I was only a few years married at that time.
I once experienced not having food for almost a week. my wife and I were very hungry. but me and my wife's principle is "never beg or beg to anyone, even to family such as parents and siblings, as long as this body is strong enough to withstand hunger and will not cause death".
because if I begged my brother at that time, my family's disgrace would have been discovered. while my wife and I are people who really don't want the disgrace in the family to leak out.
and I was looking for work at that time until I finally got a job in a restaurant. with wages paid per day. then my wife and I can eat normally again. and raised money from my job and then quit and started to enter the cryto world and now i earn from my daily trading in crypto and i thank god make it easy for me in trading so i rarely lose. and can live a normal and happy life with a small family.

so when I often see beggars on the streets with a body that is still strong and young. I also thought "why does that person have to beg when he still has a strong body to work". then I will not give to beggars who I see are still strong at work.

but I often give beggars what they deserve. such as people with physical or mental disabilities or elderly people. so I'm always happy to give them. sometimes I even prepare money to be given to beggars who are well-deserved.

everyone has hard times. but begging when our bodies are still strong to work is a big mistake and even in my religion begging is forbidden.

Do not help anyone especially if they need your help. Bums constantly harass and threaten others, so they need to be locked up and removed from society. We can send them to Zimbabwe or something.

Giving to the category of people like those that you mention in your post? No. Giving to people who are suffering and could really use some help, who have been down on their luck and you can clearly see that they are ashamed that they even need the help and will get up on their feet with the first chance they get? Yes, these people are worth helping.

I haven't been here for a while. Yeah,.. No sane person wants to be a drug addict. I guess I had some guardian angel keep me away from the druggies of NYC when I was there. Just a bunch of addicts.

I'm replying to this dated topic because I just saw two homeless guys get in a fist fight over a spot. It's fucking pathetic. It's called getting a job. They could pick up trash off the streets. My neighbor told me that the world owes him his herein and he shouldn't work for it. This is why I NEVETR give panhandlers money.

"That's a very rude and shitty statement ngl."-I do not care if you find me rude at all. Either I am rude to the beggars or I am rude to everyone else who just wants to live a normal life and not be violently attacked by those evil beggars. You obviously think it is better to be rude to everyone who has a job and lives a normal life than to be rude to beggars because you are fucked up. Many beggars scare the shit about people who want to just live normal lives. Beggars ruin cities, and they are often very violent. Anyone who does not want the government to deal with these disgraceful violent pieces of shit is an absolutely terrible person who wants to turn cities into landfills.

"Begging should be a crime?"-Um. Beggars often commit other crimes such as trespassing, violent acts, harassment, threats, and drug use. And not locking up beggars is not showing them any compassion. At least in jail, they can learn a few new skills, and at least they are taken care of. Not only should begging be a crime, but giving money to beggars should also be a felony.

"Begging should be discouraged, and those who can and afford, should try to create businesses to employ people, because only education and a secure job can eradicate the need for begging."-Or maybe BSL-4 laboratories should not do gain-of-function research so they do not release pathogens that cause a global pandemic that fucks up the global economy.

Oh. And with the eviction moratorium being lifted, we will be seeing a lot more bums on the streets which means that cities like NYC are going to shit!!!

That's a very rude and shitty statement ngl. Begging should be a crime? Definitely not. Who knows what will happen tomorrow and you or me loses everything in life and is forced to beg? Besides, if begging becomes a crime, almost everyone will go to jail, because in life we all beg in some form or another for some reason (although we should never do that). Begging should be discouraged, and those who can and afford, should try to create businesses to employ people, because only education and a secure job can eradicate the need for begging.

I never give any money to panhandlers directly, because I don't have time for DD, and money can cause as much harm as it can cause good. Once had bought a 10$ MetroCard to a guy in distress, who was clearly intoxicated during the night, robbed and left on the steps of Lorimer St. station.

There are many articles on this topic, one quite popular and easily comprehensible English article is from BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37492659
Very generally speaking, it is extremely important to help those people to be better integrated in the society, instead of enabling them to continue antisocial behavior. Talking to them, assisting them to open about their real problems, motivating to ask for help with employment, education, healthcare, housing etc. is more important, than just giving money (the heck would it help with?!).

Much better approach is to give regular donations to charities and non-profits representing your causes (like Wikipedia, RSF, a local foodbank, Khanacademy and and others in my case).

Begging for money needs to be a crime so that we can get panhandlers off the streets and into the prisons. Panhandlers scare everyone. The only proper response to panhandlers is to always call the police. Panhandlers are dangerous, evil, and worthless.

Well, freedom is actually valued by everyone a lot more than money, and if someone's begging money that doesn't mean they will be happy in jail lmao. And for going to jail they need to have committed a crime, and begging isn't a crime it's sad that we don't have separate sections in government who caters to the need of these people and help them to stand on their feet where they can earn a respectable amount. Because it's very easy to say "go work and earn" but is actually not easy rather very hard for them to find a profession to earn specially when they don't have even proper documentations and identity, etc.

I grew up in NYC I have seen lots of needlers the guys are thieves the girls are street walkers. All are sick fucks filled with despair. 

The problem is you do not see the drug addict as mentally ill.

Everyone that sees the drug addict as a piece of worthless shit is also mentally ill.

This will never be solved because there are simply too many people that think there is choice involved in being a drug addict .

The fact is what sane person would choose to be a junkie. The answer is none.

the fact is if you don't see that as a very simple truth you are mentally ill and in a state of denial.

So put it in your pipe and smoke it. 

Seriously there will always be junkies and drunks and gamblers and cheap streetwalking hoes.

Now as Dennis Miller used to say "I found a job worse than a crack whore. Assistant crack whore."

What girl in their sane mind was to suck cock for 100 or more hours a week.

Basically hit the pipe suck the cock hit the pipe suck the cock.

I had two friends that used to go to the crack houses in east New York.

walk in on friday night and leave on sunday morning.


spent 400-600 on crack and crack hoes.

they both died of aids.

Panhandlers do not need any money since they can just be sent to prison where they belong and where they can get their basic needs met. If you are unwilling to go to prison to have a roof over your head, then you don't need any money. Panhandlers scare the shit out of me.

It's very hard to turn down someone who has sacrificed his self-esteem for need of some money, and if we can help them, we should, but the thing is, as you said, it has evolved into a vile and cringy business and they actually don't need the money for any specific cause anymore but are asking as if they have right to the money even if their arms and body is healthy and they can work but begging is easy? That's not something I appreciate and if I see a healthy man begging money, I would rather tell him to work (with giving money a bit if I have but only for one time) and then recommend him not to beg money to others and work and earn.

Being Canadian I know for a fact that there is a support system that works to keep people indoors and fed.  So anyone that is outside its either choice or mental health.  Since I also see that most have a cell phone and smoke like chimneys I know they have money and use it poorly. 

so my answer is no.  I do not give money to the panhandlers here in Canada

Panhandlers are extremely dangerous. Please do not give any money to panhandlers. Please be considerate to everyone's safety. If you see a panhandler, you always need to call the police.

I don't give all the time.
Giving money to panhandlers is not really a bad idea, is actually good to help people in need. But some individuals use it as an advantage of earning a living.
I have seen people pretending to be blind just to get money from soft hearted people. I also notice  some beggars are sent into the street to beg  by their parent or guardian.

I normally do not give to panhandlers, because as has been mentioned many times they are in that situation as a result of poor choices, and many times they spend it on drugs. I do donate occasionally to organizations that I trust.

I noticed that now there are fewer beggars on the streets. Perhaps they are also afraid of contracting the coronavirus. They are also people like us. I feel sorry for them. Sometimes I give them money for food.

As an African national and with regards to the poor state of being in most of the towns and even developed cities, there are lots of panhandlers lying at every corner of a busy street. The good thing about most of the panhandlers here is that, they have homes. I don't just know how but, most of them are not actually homeless. I guess this is because of the poor taxation system of developing nations and with the fact that, there is a batcher structure mostly as an option for most of these panhandlers.

They found favour with me at some point, mostly at the early stage of my life. I felt for them a lot until I noticed a few wrongs about them. They have no sense of entrepreneurship at all, they just want to beg and beg again. Its really bad! They don't think to invest, they seem not to realise that money when carelessly spent finishes. They ought to learn how to invest in one or two things even with the least income. They've got to try out hawking, other persons do it. I no longer give them a penny no more because, they just end up spending it and the next day, they are back on the same street.

Well, I only give a few change to those who are not living in my neighborhood and that is when I am in transit and going from place to place. Maybe just to be sure that I can only see them once and so that we won't be crossing our paths again. Giving alms to the poor is good only if there are also social programs that would help them get up on their two feet and work their way out of worse poverty. I am not rich and I don't brag anything in life but what we need is a government that not just give money or food one time to these people but to help them make skills to get a job or start a small business.

I'm not sure that the money that I give to the beggar will go to her. There are people in my country who will force others to beg. And then they take from them what they have collected. Therefore, I do not give to beggars. True, it happened a couple of times. Painfully old grandmother asked ... I certainly feel sorry for her.

Actually it really depends there are some panhandlers or beggar that would melt your heart when you help them,and there are some who would really change your mind on helping them since they are so demanding and stubborn and you could see that they are fit to work but too lazy to do it.

It depends. I base it on their appearance. I help those who are too old to get their own job. I'm willing to give something to those who are weak and can't work to sustain their needs. I could only offer food since I'm not rich at all. I just don't want to spoil those who are just lazy to work for themselves. It would only sound like we are pampering them.

I do and I don't care if they spend the money on drugs or alcohol.  Whatever makes them happy, their lives are already really bad and anything to help them escape their harsh reality.  Wealth inequality is getting out of hand  and its only a matter of time before something drastic happens.  Go look at San Francisco, place already looks like a 3rd world country.

I personally donate personal need items all the time.  And as far as food, I often donate non perishable food items to the local food bank.  This way it ensures people who you donate to get the necessities. People do fall on hard times, could happen to any of us, but handing out money to anyone is a gamble, I'd rather donate items.

Next time you see the guy and If you can prove that you are really buying him a sandwich or food for his dogs then let me know.
I'll reimburse you in BTC or Dash the $5 or $10 that you have spent.

------
As for myself i don't really give to beggars in my city.
There is almost 0% unemployment for anyone can have a job that pays more than enough for accommodation and food.

However I am always okay to help. (i'm organising saussage sizzle, a duck race, cooking for Ronald McDonald house ...)

A quick (long) story about last Xmas.
Last xmas I was driving back from a friend of mine across the country and someone was hitch hiking.
I could see right away that the man was a homeless (carrying a broken backpack, and a bag, huge untidy beard, 99% used sneakers, dirty pants ....).
The first thing he told me was how sorry he was to bit a bit smelly, he had a shower the previous day but had to sleep outside and the rain got him wet (it was fucking pouring outside). I said that the smell wasn't an issue and that maybe one day I could be the one on foot under the rain.

I took him in my car to what was going to be a very pleasant and interesting 3h drive.
Over the course of the drive I got to know him.

Turn out he was a forestry worker, that got injured and lost a couple of fingers, then he became a cartoonist and had somehow some talent.
But being diagnostic-ed with Crown disease he couldn't work anymore. Surviving on social money and sleeping in the forest for the past 17 years.
He was caring with him, three massive drawing notebook with all his drawings, "his greatest possession" as he called it.
He was going to my city to see his niece and trying to sort some kind of inheritance from a distant uncle.
I pretended to need to refuel to stop at service station and get us coffees, he refused, saying that the drive was more than enough and that he never accepted money or food from people that giving him a ride. After a few minutes of negotiating he agreed to.

The drop off location was supposed to be some kind of park next to a library, where the following day he would organise a shower, then go online to find information about a niece he had in my city that said she would help him. He was also interested to do some research about farms that could potentially give him accommodation in exchange of labour.

I decided otherwise. After a lot of talking I convinced him to come to my house, stays the night in one of the 4 guest bedrooms I have and that were always empty.
Get a shower in the guest bathroom that hasn't been used in months. Gave him one of the disposable razors I have.
I also got rid of half of his old clothes, gave him a pair a sneaker bought over ago and still in their original box, jeans I don't fit in anymore, warm socks. T shirts I don't like...
A sleeping bag i only used once in more than 3 years. A multi tool knife I have never used, a backpack I only used once ....
I basically dumped on him a whole set of good stuff, that for me where just impulsive buys that i don't use but for him it meant so much.

It turns out he had bought a smartphone a few days ago ($49) but didn't know how to use it.
I set it up for him, I even installed spotify so he can listen to Dire strait and the Rolling stones.
We set up and email to keep in touch.

The following day (also a surprise) we went to the hair dresser to celebrate this new "him", obviously i paid, i was happy to pay for that man to look like a new man.
We also bought some fruits so he has food and some more razors to stay tidy.
From homeless to a fully respectable man in just one day.

I dropped him to the library he wanted to go, It took about 10 minutes of negotiation for him to accept the $20 note I wanted to give him. I had to insist that it wasn't charity and that this money was for his next hair cut in 1 months.

A couple of weeks later i got an email from him, the inheritance he told me about finally came through ($15 000).
He gave a couple of grands to his niece that helped him, he bought a RV to be able to drive and sleep in it and kept the rest for rainy days.
He told me that he still had my $20 bill that he kept for the next hair cut and that he was out of the streets.

I haven't had any news since, i wish him best fo luck.
I was so happy i could truly help one person change their life.


I usually give money to charity, but helping people directly is much more rewarding that writing a check.

Wow! What a horrible thing to write about the United States and Canada! I, of course, knew, that in these countries many bums, but that these people extort ganged money and cigarettes - this wildness! There is no such phenomenon in Russia! This is a rarity in Russia. They can stand with an outstretched hand, but do not forcibly extort anything and do not swear. If such bums will meet You in Russia, they can not be afraid. Such people in Russia lose their homes only because of their drunkenness or drug addiction.

That's a very inspirational link ya got there Vod ;-)



 jvanname,
not thinking we'd be friends irl---if we were I'd suggest anger management.

I do not give to support ongoing poor choices, but I do give always when asked to donate or round up at a purchase. 

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/generosity

Maybe your experience with beggars is different from the one I have or some other users have experienced. You should go back and read my two posts about my experience with an old man I sometimes see on the streets. Not really sure why you have all that hate built up inside of you but it's your own choice anyways.
Some bums chose to live on the streets, and some use drugs and alcohol, that is correct. But do you think that some of them were maybe a bit unlucky? Lost their jobs, were late with mortgages and lost their homes, mental illnesses...


We could also stop treating the sick and just let natural selection run its course, who cares.
What about if you or a loved one got hit by a car? Should we just leave you there on the streets and let natural selection run its course? Who cares since you are too weak to stand up you don't really deserve to live, right? 

Everyone who gives panhandlers money is a terrible person. Panhandlers are violent, they ruin the peace, they harass people, and they always break the laws. Stop giving them money. Please stop it. If you give them money, I will no longer be your friend, and I will declare you as an enemy. Instead of giving panhandlers money, we should let natural selection run its course. I hate people who give money to panhandlers. If you want to be charitable, then just destroy money (I will let you figure out how to do this legally) to make everyone else's money valuable in the fairest possible way. You may even give your dollars (as I said, please figure out how to do this legally) as a sacrifice upon the porcelain throne.

Panhandlers have taken NYC and have turned it into a toxic wasteland.

Let's forhet about the "bad" and "lazy druggie" homeless type and focus on the most sincere group.

Giving money to one homeless person is the financial equivalent of that same homeless person going out and buying cigarettes instead of saving the money or getting food and improving their life.

Paying a few bucks makes you all warm and fuzzy and sad.
However, this money will probably never change that person's life, or change the system.
If you really wanted to resolve this issue, there are much more systemic approaches.
Take the same money, invest it into crypto. (yeah, risky, but so is being homeless)
Then invest the winnings into an charity or other infrastructure that can provide a sustainable support system.
It doesn't "feel" as good as seeing the smile on their face, just like a salad doesn't feel as good as a cigarette when you're down on your luck.

It depends. If i like that person and he asks me nicely i might give him something. But most of the times when i meet panhandlers they come straight to me and ask me for money in a rude way so i just tell him to back off until i will get mad

No, I don't give money to beggars because I don't see point of doing that. Most of these beggars just need money to buy alcohol. If you offer to buy them food or something, they just don't accept it. Many of these people are healthy and young - they are capable to work and earn money. But they just don't want to do anything, they are happy about their current lifestyle.
Another question when I see elderly people or people with disability begging for money. It's clearly visible when old people don't have problems with alcohol, but they are forced to beg because their pension is tiny and sometimes it's not enough to buy food, pharmaceuticals and pay taxes. People with disability are in similar situation also. But not cases are same. I know one disabled women from my city who are begging in front of supermarkets, but she is forced to give everything what she gets to local criminals, as I understand she is paying rent fees in such way, because she lives at shack which belongs to these criminals.

I dont, because those fuckers mainly prey on sentiments for a quick buck, and most tend to be demanding. Plus, they're perfectly capable human beings who could walk and talk normally.

Once a foreign beggar approached me asking for some change. When I declined, he started cursing in his dialect.

This is interesting:

Joe Rogan Experience #1250 - Johann Hari 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDpjvFn4wgM&spfreload=1

To be honest I don't give much charity to beggars who smoke or drink alcohol on the streets. If all you have is a few dollars or even cents and you decide to spend that on cigarettes and liquor I tend to look at those people differently. Maybe I am being unfair but if your priority is to smoke instead of buying something to eat then good luck to you.