Do you give money to bums?

[Equinox2003]

A bit off topic, but this reminds me of a time in Los Angeles, a bum, standing on the island in the street with a sign "Why Lie? I need a drink."

[Darth Wong]

I used to give them a bit of spare change...until I heard a cop talking about this one bum he had taken in for disorderly conduct. The bum asked to retreive his bag and the cop agreed. Inside the bag was $3000; the result of ONE WEEK of begging.

There was a writer for an American newspaper who once observed a randomly selected beggar in Los Angeles and the subject made roughly $40/hr. Seriously people, don't give these fuckers a dime.

[Crazedwraith]

I give once in a while, usually to street muscians if they count.
Usually though I ignore Big Issue sellers and the like, though I feel slightly guilty in their cases as they're actually attempting to work for money.

[mjn6172]

If it's a street performer or a musician and I'm reasonably entertained I'll usually give them a dollar or two. If the musician's pretty good and takes requests I might go as high as five, but that's really rare. The guys who just stand on the corner begging for cash get nothing from me though.

[Master of Ossus]

There was a writer for an American newspaper who once observed a randomly selected beggar in Los Angeles and the subject made roughly $40/hr. Seriously people, don't give these fuckers a dime.

Yeah, I had a friend in college who "supplemented his income" to the tune of about $10-$15/hour just by walking around a subway asking for money. And this is quite a while ago!

[Ghost Rider]

I used to give them a bit of spare change...until I heard a cop talking about this one bum he had taken in for disorderly conduct. The bum asked to retreive his bag and the cop agreed. Inside the bag was $3000; the result of ONE WEEK of begging.

There was a writer for an American newspaper who once observed a randomly selected beggar in Los Angeles and the subject made roughly $40/hr. Seriously people, don't give these fuckers a dime.

Easily.

I remember about 3 years ago around the DC/Fairfax/Arlington area there were roadway bums. Same set of bums around highway entrances to the city, and with a different sign.

It was interesting to see for their decrepit state they had brand NEW Reebocks or Nike's. And also for such desperate bums, they drank Avian water and never ever were seen in the rain or snow, only bright sunny days. After a couple crackdowns, they've left for a long time.

[Joe]

Once and a while I might give money to a bum who comes up with a creative reason why he needs money. One time a bum told me he needed money so he could get a zebra spine transplant, so I gave him a buck.

Otherwise, you're better off just giving the spare change to a homeless shelter; at least you know that the money will go to the right people there.

[Edi]

I won't give beggars anything. Not with the kind of social safety network this country has. They need stuff, they can take it up with the social services and charities. If I have spare change, it goes to the SPCA donation box at the vet's office. I've tossed an odd 50 cents or even a euro or two to some street performers who were really good, but it's only been once or twice.

Edi

[Darth Servo]

There was a writer for an American newspaper who once observed a randomly selected beggar in Los Angeles and the subject made roughly $40/hr. Seriously people, don't give these fuckers a dime.

Yeah, I had a friend in college who "supplemented his income" to the tune of about $10-$15/hour just by walking around a subway asking for money. And this is quite a while ago!

And to make things worse, ITS ALL TAX FREE!!!

[That NOS Guy]

I'll give a street preformer or someone whose doing something a little something (usually a few quarters, whatever's in my pocket).

I dunno, depends on the situation I guess. Charity is one of the central tennets of my religon, and I guess it doesn't hurt some poor old guy if I toss him a quarter. I'm never going to give to some asshole who looks healthy or if they're in a group (bad, bad, bad idea).

[Metatwaddle]

I remember once being serenaded by this absolutely fantastic saxophone player while having breakfast at the Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. I vaguely remember giving him five, ten or maybe even twenty dollars, because I've got a severe weakness for really good music, and he was giving it to us. Other than that, I don't think I've ever given money to people who ask for it.

[Techno_Union]

Nope, I've never given any money to them. Though the only ones I've seen are outside the Banana Republic, GAP, Armani Ex., and Barns & Nobles in Kansas City -- I feel bad walking by them after shopping in those stores, but nevertheless, I just walk by. I guess sometimes I’m worried that they’ll want more and/or try to take more. And as others have said, there's no way of knowing what they'll use the money for.

[jegs2]

Was on a trip in Florida on my old Harley, and a bum told me he was hungry and asked me if I had money to give him. I said no, but then I went through the drive-through (on the bike, which was a bit awkward), bought a Big Mac, and then rode by the bum, my hand stretched out with the bag in hand. He thanked me as he took the bag from my outstretched hand, and I continued on my way.

[Elheru Aran]

Occasionally if I have spare pocket change. But aside from that, I'd rather just donate to the Goodwill or Salvation Army; my old clothes and junk periodically gets donated to Goodwill anyway.

[Sarevok]

It depends. The beggar population in Dhaka includes some very unfortunate people. There are many children begging on the streets here, some are mere babies on the laps of their siblings. If I have spare change I try to give them something. Also there are old crippled beggars who can not work and there is no social security structure to care for them here. They too are on my give list. The thing that saddens me is whatever money I give is not making any difference. The child beggars will grow up to become homeless, criminals, prostitutes or if they are lucky get a job. The old beggars are going to continue livingtheir miserable lives which is so terrible I would not wish even my worse enemies living like that.

[Darth Wong]

I have much more sympathy for beggars in countries with nonexistent social welfare programs, but in the context of a country like mine, there is no good reason to be a beggar. Most beggars here are people who are already getting welfare, but need extra money to support a drug habit.

[Lord Pounder]

I don't give money nor food to beggars. I have however occasionally gave to charities that work on behalf of the homeless. Call me nuts but I really don't think a man hiding a half bottle of cider behind his back is really going to buy himself a sandwich or a mars bar.

My other pet peeve is the foreign beggars. They enter my country, suck up my tax pounds which could be used to improve the country and still they want more or my money, I sympathise that they where born in shit holes and want a better life but they get over to the UK and get greedy, there are loads of jobs for those who want them. Every time I go to McDonalds in the City Centre i'm haranged by some arab woman and her brood and I really resent feeling guilty just for eatting lunch.

[drachefly]

There's a woman who prowls the campus of UPenn. Her schtick is that she can't believe that she (insert dumb act that involves her needing money from strangers). This is accompanied by her repeatedly hitting her head with her hand.

Her hair is worn away on that side.

And STILL the gullible students give to her.

I taunted her a bit when I saw her milking some female frosh on orientation weekend... "Wow, you locked your keys in your car AGAIN?"


I've fed people, I've offered to buy a ticket and give it to them when the conductor comes, I've even given a ride rather than bus fare.
Cash? Too fungible.



Also, my father had one guy who helped him on the days his work needed help. Very hard worker. And so very self-destructive. Just because they work hard doesn't mean they are ever going to get out of their situation.

[Zadius]

The beggars aren't very visible where I live; an occasional one holding a sign as you drive by but that's it. They are all mostly in the downtown area where I almost never go. I've never given them anything, and probably never will.

I will, however, donate money to charities, and in the past I have volunteered at a homeless shelter - serving food and what not.

[skotos]

It depends on the situation.

If they're just asking for money, then I give them change if I have some handy; if not they're out of luck.

If they ask for a cigarette, then I give them one, since I've bummed enough of them in my time.

If they give me a sob story, then I walk away, with one exception. If they're asking for fare for the train or bus, then I always give them something. I know they're almost certainly playing me, but I always give them the benefit of the doubt.

Finally, if they're performing, I'll give them some money if they are entertaining but not annoying. I've seen plenty of people who are talented, but who are performing on the subway car, which is damn annoying.

[Pick]

I don't often run into bums to give money TO, since I live in Bumblefuck, Oregon, and there's just not really a begging populace. Still, when in Portland or whatnot, I won't give any money. The only person I remember giving any money to who was begging was a lady who was very polite about it. I only gave her the money as a sort of statement-to-no-one that I appreciate courtesy. I don't really care if she needed it or not. People who just go, "Change... change... change..." won't see a cent from me.

[Erik von Nein]

Since my city's directly between San Fran and L.A. on the biggest highway in the state we got quite a few transients coming through who just look for enough money to support whatever they have going on until they feel like moving to a bigger market. There is no rational reason why they can't get a real job other than that they don't "want their freedom restricted" (yeah, they've said just that). Most of the time they're quite obviously strung out on something and a lot of them are just fucking scary. I won't give them anything.

Now, there are a lot of homeless people who do need legitimate help and who are struggling for a job as they usually have a family to support. But these people aren't the ones you find begging on the streets most of the time.

[Lagmonster]

Ottawa supposedly has a homeless population, but it's a small but self-important town with comparatively cheap real estate and a white-collar-only career market supported by piles of easily available service jobs.

There's one 'beggar' who's well-known in the downtown core. Apparently he was doing lower-middle-class-well until some personal problem knocked him off the ladder. Now he mainly begs for change...until 5, when he gets in his old but obviously fully licensed Honda Civic and drives to his welfare-paid apartment.

[Sarevok]

I have much more sympathy for beggars in countries with nonexistent social welfare programs, but in the context of a country like mine, there is no good reason to be a beggar. Most beggars here are people who are already getting welfare, but need extra money to support a drug habit.

Well I tend view beggars in countries like US or Canada differently. There are lots of People from poor countries like mine doing everything they can do so that they can immigrate to first world nations. Even if it means being they have to live as a penniless illegal immigrant. Yet many of them succeed in becoming prosperous people because of their hard work. So if someone from another nation with zero financial assets can build up a fortune what excuse does a Canadian beggar have ? None. He is already a citizen which is a very coveted target for immigrant hopefuls. Yet despite having such a big advantage they beg.

[SoX]

There are quite a few regular beggars in sheffield, theres one woman everyone knows as the 'Excuse-me-people-are-being-ignorant' Woman.

She comes upto to you with the same fucking line everytime, once i got it from her on the way into uni and then 1 hour later coming out of uni. I heard someone say to her "no love, your the one being ignorant". that made me laugh.

Another guy used a tactic which seems to be popular all of a sudden, approaches you and pretends to be all friendly "Hi, im not a bad guy (Mugger/etc). I just need 20p to get the tram home. If you could spare it i'd be grateful etc.", now this seemed genuine, the only reason we didnt give him the 20p was coz i could clearly see a packet of drugs hanging out of his pockets. now a quick thought flashed across my mind "I could just nab that out his pockets, thatll teach the lying bastard!". but common sense prevailed and i didnt.

The persistant ones who just wont stop bugging you piss me off, i've found, though, that if i say "sorry ive no change. Here would you like a cigarette?" they tend to piss off without any aggro.

On the other hand i have had people say "hey can i have a cig off you?" i shout something along the lines of "piss off and go buy your own! oh wait, you cant because you're not old enough!". That was only twice tho.