If a poor(homeless) person begged you for money, would you give it to them?

I have, I do and will continue to do so. Here is a story: I live at literally like 10 minutes, by car, from the college I was attending and on the first traffic light there was this homeless guy that I always something. Sometimes a quarter, sometimes a dollar. I must have given this guy something like 10 dollars over a short period of time. One day this homeless guy ask me to give him a lift to I don't remember where and when I refused (I was late for my class but even if I wasn't I was not letting him in my car) he started to insult me and belittle me. That was then end of it, whenever I passed by that traffic light (and that was his traffic light so I had to always see him) my window remained closed and no fvcks were given. And that is that.

I usually instead go buy them a meal of some kind or ask them if there is anything specific they need. After working with the homeless in Kansas City I've learned giving them money usually does more harm than good. But giving them some gloves, a coat, or even a hot meal makes sure that the aid I give them actually does some good.

I must see potential in them for me to give them anything. I see a lot of fakes around shopping centers and then I see a lot of nobody's around downtown that only use their cash for alcohol and drugs.

I am usually not a fan of giving them money, I prefer giving them food or volunteering my time to help (usually serving food in some form)

No. But if they ask for food, I will buy/give them some. Giving them money only facilitates their substance abuse problem (if they were truly starving, they'd ask for food, not money).

If I have loose change, sure. That's what I usually do....

Only if they promise to use it on booze and women.

ya gotta have some fun, yknow?

I have a payroll deduction set up, I donate a portion of each paycheck through United Way to a Alamo Labor Properties, an organization that provides free vocational training to impoverished young adults. That does a lot more good than just giving money to random panhandlers on the street IMO.

I do not know what I would do. I wish I had the power to help everyone, but that is impossible because of how the world is designed. I figure it be better if the homeless person simply lived their life the best they could and then went to the afterlife, I feel the afterlife could give them more than I could ever give them; which is why I would not know what I would do, I feel they deserve better than just any amount of money I gave them.

I used to give homeless people money all the time, but I've stopped doing so because there's no way of knowing what they'll do with the money; they may buy drugs or booze. Instead, I'd rather direct them to homeless services. Also, by giving money directly to homeless people, you may be enabling their homelessness as some homeless people are homeless mainly because they're lazy and want to "make a living" by panhandling.

No, because I'm a jerk. :(

Only if they buy crack with it.

they gotta make their time with me worth it if they want anything. comedy usually gets me.

No. Not because I'm a heartless bastard (that's beside the point), but because I don't carry cash on me and can't exactly give someone my debit card. I'll buy them a cheap dinner or something, though.

This happened to me an hour ago. Someone was begging for food outside of a Wendy's. I bought them food. So many people walked by and did nothing.

@Iszdope: Nice reference.

I give to them even if they are to put in their crack pipe.

Only if they look like they actually need it.

I saw this little girl standing on the side of the freeway exit. She was probably not older than 14. As I stopped the car at the exit, I pulled down the window and gave her 20 bucks.

A few days ago this drunk guy standing next to 7eleven entrance asked me for some change. I didn't give him anything. I told him to go get a job. If I could start from nothing, so can he.

Nope. I'd say that a solid 8 out of 10 times, the person looks at what I gave them and asks, "is that all?" Sucks for the few homeless people who really need help and are grateful for what they can get, but charity is sort of self-serving too. Lots of people do it because it makes them feel good. If giving people money results in insults that make me feel bad, then why do it? Sure, they'd insult me if I didn't give them money. But if I'm gonna be insulted either way, then I'd rather be insulted and keep the dollar.

Also, while I generally don't give money to homeless people, I make exeptions sometimes. What I will say is that if I give a homeless person money, then I need fairly good reason to believe that I'm never gonna see that person again. If I'm encountering that person near my home or place of work, then they aren't getting $hit. I've had way too many occurences in which I gave someone money, then they saw me again and tried to latch onto me because they knew I was willing to give them money. Then they keep asking for money, I stop giving them money, then they get pissed off. And no, I don't f*** around with that any more. I'm not giving a goddamn penny unless I believe that I'm never gonna see that person ever again.

And I've always been a little bit confused by comments like, "I don't want to give them money, because they might spend it on booze." I occasionally buy a drink for a coworker, and in that case I KNOW that the money is going towards getting someone drunk. So...I'm fine giving money to help people get drunk, just as long as it's not a homeless person? What sense does that make? At least my coworkers have a comfy home and a job. That should be all the comfort they need. If someone in that kind of good position can still say with a straight face, "man, I need a drink", then I don't see why it's such a horrible idea that a homeless person is getting drunk. The reality is that he's probably still gonna be homeless tomorrow regardless of whether or not he drinks tonight. But tonight he IS living out in the streets, and that's gotta SUCK. So yeah, if having a drink helps him get through that a little easier, then give that man a drink. He sure as $hit needs a drink a lot more than the people who I DO buy drinks for.

If I was under the impression that they're hungry, I'd definitely give them money no matter how little of it I may have. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night otherwise.

This woman near a McD's was very persistently trying to sell me some candy, I didn't really want it but I gave her a bit of cash anyway instead of buying the stuff from her. She was quite appreciative and a bunch of pretty girls passed by and smiled at me, so I naturally I felt pretty good afterwards. That's about it though. I meet very few homeless people or beggars, since I live in the Malaysian equivalent of upper class suburbs.

In my country beggars and homeless people were a rare sight,but nowadays they are very common.

On average,I see at least one beggar in the subway each day.However,I have never given a beggar any money.Not even a cent.And I always have a good amount of cash(especially coins) with me.

Moreover,we don't really know how many of these beggars really are in need.

Of course not.

I'd tell him to get the f out of my face.

I give them any extra food I have on me but I don't give money.

Ye I usually do when they ask, only to make them get them to go away from me.

Man, it's almost like money can be exchanged for food or something. Or perhaps people ask for money because people will carry around bills but don't usually carry around a sandwich.

How about giving money to a local charity or church that feeds the homeless instead of some stranger? You don't know if the guy will buy beer or drugs with it, or if the guy is homeless at all. Give your money to an organization that helps those in need, much better spent that way. They need your help to help ALL of them.

Only to those that look like they need it, if it's someone who looks like they could get by but aren't doing it, No.

Not correct by my religious viewpoint.

"(charity is) for those in need, who, in allah's cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land, seeking (for trade or work): the ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. thou shalt know them by their (unfailing) mark: they beg not importunately from all the sundry. and whatever of good ye give, be assured allah knoweth it well."

i'll donate to charity instead

I don't have the time and resources to look for those in real need. So yeah charity is the best option.

How do I know they actually want food? I've given homeless people in my neighbourhood a few bucks, and 30 minutes later, see them puffing away on some cigarettes they just went and bought outside the grocery store where I gave them money.

I always ask the people who are begging for money if they want me to buy them something to eat, most flatly refuse or get defensive. I'm not sure what utopic land you live in where all the homesless people don't suffer from drug and alcohol addiction. I will not participate in the enabling of drug use.

No I wouldn't. I bust my ass for shit pay. I wouldn't have any to give anyway but I'm not going to give them money for hanging out and doing nothing.

That's nice, I can counter your anecdotes with anecdotes of my own - I've had more than one homeless person happy to accept food. Also, you're misrepresenting my views (not unexpected from you). I don't claim that no homeless people suffer from addictions, in fact many do. But what I was responding to (as you can see from the bolding) was your point was that if a person wanted food and not drugs, they would ask for food, not money. My point was this view is moronic and absurd.

You seem to have formed an overly simplistic view of reality that no doubt matches your unwillingness to give to others.

Depends on how much money you're talking about. If they ask for a dollar or less, I usually just give it to them. For amounts over a dollar, it starts depending on the circumstances.

nope...

if I have extra drink or food I would offer it through.

if you want money, go work for it.... can't get official job? then start ringing door bells... sure you might get denied. but you might come across someone who needs something done.

If they arent scurry and are believably in need of money I would

The last time i gave money to someone like this, He said he was out of a job, and needed money for a cab ride home. So i gave him $17, then watched him climb into his truck and drive away...

Now i never give anyone money, only what they need, or point them in the direction of the Rescue Mission.

Sometimes I give sometimes I don't. Depends how I feel.

I can't say to this day anyone has ever tried to mug me, but I've been approached and asked by dodgy people, who've given me an excuse and back-story of why they need a couple of quid. Normally I would give in that case, as I consider 2 perks. 1) They may be thankful and remember it, get me on good terms with the local dodgy people, handy allies to have. 2) They won't be offended and try to mug me.

It makes a difference how close to your home it is, but generally I try to avoid confrontations if I get a feeling one's going to spark up.

Depends how I feel.

If I see the individual smoking I may say something like "You have money for cigarettes you have money for food".

I'm a softy for Vietnam Veterans as I can't imagine the type of prejudice they had to face when coming home. I gave a Vietnam Veteran who showed me his military ID $20.

I gave a guy who was straight up with me that he wanted a beer so I gave it give whatever was in my pocket (few coins).

This too.

Sometimes they're just lazy.

I offered a homeless man $70 for a days work of simply loading and unloading tires, and maybe to paint a few he told me "no". I guess he's not doing to bad sense he can deny $70, which is more than what a lot of people make in a day.

I found your YouTube account, topic creator:

Video.

Crazy coincidence. I wasn't even looking for it! But I guess your infatuation with this series (What Would You Do?) explains the frequent survey-like questions.

Thanks for posting those videos, by the way. I enjoy them.

I would.

they usually just want cigarettes

That's nice. I think your view is moronic and absurd.

We should just agree to disagree then.

Nope. I would definitely give them Food or Clothing if it was dead cold winter.