Who gave money to a homeless person over this holiday?

I saw the toothless guy with the sign "Why Lie, I Need a Beer"... I passed.

I was tempted to toss him a bagel.

 

This thread would be funnier if the topic were in an accusatory tone.

"Who gave money to a homeless person over this holiday? Was it you?!! ANSWER ME!!"

 

If I have money on me, I give it to any homeless person I cross paths with, no matter what time of year it is. My feeling is that I've been blessed with so much in my life that a couple of bucks on any given day isn't going to make much of a difference to me. But it could make all the difference to someone else. Oddly, I didn't run across any homeless people today (though with my fresh haul of birthday and Christmas cash on me, this could have been someone's lucky day).

 

Where do you live? I'll be at the corner tomorrow.

 

Giving money to panhandlers only enables their continued misery, enables their probable drug or alcohol problem, and is bad for society. If you really cared for these people, you would give them food, or direct them to the nearest shelter so they can get real help. Of course, giving money to panhandlers isn't really about them, is it?

The sad reality is that people who give money to panhandlers don't think about the costs that society incurs due to chronically homeless people (crime, increased drug trade in family areas, etc.). I know it feels good to think you are helping somebody who is needy, but your wayward self-gratification should be tempered with common sense.

 

Thanks for the advice, grandpa. Bah humbug, eh?

I'd be willing to bet the next $5 I hand out to a homeless guy that you've never actually WORKED with or interacted with homeless people before. Actually, the BEST thing we could do for them is not treat them like lepers.

There are more than 1 million CHILDREN under the age of 12 living on the streets of America, the richest country ever to exist in the history of...well, history! Someone once said that we can best judge a society by how it treats its least fortunate. If that it is the case, we are piss poor.

Drug trade in "family areas?" Yeah, I'm sure all those 8-year-olds living in shelters with the mom who was chronically abused by the child's dad have plenty of time to deal smack in between digging in dumpsters and begging for food.

I'm sure it makes you feel better to think that we dopey lefties are just being self-gratifying by throwing away our hard-earned cash on thieves and drug addicts while you apply your more reasonable common sensibilities to the situation. In reality, we all do what we can to help. That might be cash. It might be a blanket or food. It might be volunteer hours. It might even be creative suggestions on how to realistically help people instead of just pulling a Pontious Pilate and washing our hands of the whole sordid mess.

Helping people isn't an exact science. It isn't necessarily some self-aggrandizing pat on the back. I don't recall Jesus saying, "You know, on second thought, don't turn the other cheek. Whack the crap out of them." Maybe that was in the Dead Sea Scrolls or something.

We have a responsibility to our fellow humans to respond to them with kindness when they are in need. Maybe all a person can do is give some money and wish them well. Maybe we can do more. Either way, at least it is something! Better than feeling morally superior but never really DOING anything.

But, if you are more fond of condescending advice sent anonomysly across the internet, knock yourself out.

BTW: Good for everyone who does help out in WHATEVER way you can.

 

Way to turn a thead about giving and making someone happy into your personal society bashing insulting thread. The true reality is a lot of these people do actually have jobs and are not pests in our society.... Lighten up gramps.

 

Just to add, what really bugs me about posts like those from t4651965 is that it adds nothing to the discussion. All it really does is make those who were trying to do something nice or helpful (like giddyup) feel stupid or pissed off.

Lecturing someone when they try to do something nice is really a crappy thing to do, particularly on Christmas.

 

Wow.... are you and Trader J related?

 

Preach it brotha'.

 

We sponsered 4 families for Christmas this year. My family had a great year....and it was a wonderful experience to be able to share it with people less fortunate.

Spirit of giving....catch the fever !!

DaDakota

 

I wouldn't be so quick to summize this Jeff...t4651965 may not had added to the fluidity of the thread, but his post suggests a different avenue in the spirit of giving...

If you feel strongly in the merits of direct contribution, then another opinion regarding the mannerism of giving should not be accounted for. I didn't appreciate the "wayward self-gratification" remark, but I will recognize there are direct and indirect capabilities in the goodness of giving. Your route and reasoning is best determined to you. The main thing is to give. Merry Christmas!

 

Yes, "the main thing is to give" is correct. Give to a shelter, not directly to panhandlers. Buy food and pass it out, but don't enable somebody's drug or alcohol habit. I think my message is far more compassionate than endorsing giving cash to strangers. This is the perfect message for Christmas.

And Jeff-
I'd be willing to bet the next $5 I hand out to a homeless guy that you've never actually WORKED with or interacted with homeless people before. Actually, the BEST thing we could do for them is not treat them like lepers.

Is this the way you "elevate" a discussion? You have no idea of my record of charity work, and I would never discuss it. Performing charity should be its own reward. Also, who in the hell insinuated that homeless people should be "treated like lepers"? You are just being a jerk with that statement.

There are more than 1 million CHILDREN under the age of 12 living on the streets of America, the richest country ever to exist in the history of...well, history! Someone once said that we can best judge a society by how it so you can make a "for the children!" statement.treats its least fortunate. If that it is the case, we are piss poor.

There are not 1 million children under the age of 12 living on the streets. That is hysterical nonsense. Good job of bringing children into this discussion though, so you can make a bleeding heart "for the children" plea.

I'm sure it makes you feel better to think that we dopey lefties are just being self-gratifying by throwing away our hard-earned cash on thieves and drug addicts while you apply your more reasonable common sensibilities to the situation. In reality, we all do what we can to help. That might be cash. It might be a blanket or food. It might be volunteer hours. It might even be creative suggestions on how to realistically help people instead of just pulling a Pontious Pilate and washing our hands of the whole sordid mess.

Once again, you are just spewing BS. Blankets, food, and volunteer hours are wonderful to give. I would never argue against this kind of charity. Nice of you, though, to manufacture these rude and false accusations.

We have a responsibility to our fellow humans to respond to them with kindness when they are in need. Maybe all a person can do is give some money and wish them well. Maybe we can do more. Either way, at least it is something! Better than feeling morally superior but never really DOING anything.

Enabling the drug addiction of a stranger is not better than doing nothing. How on Earth can you argue that point? Nice of you to end the paragraph by accusing a total stranger (me) of doing nothing to help the community. LOL, you accuse me of adding nothing to this discussion? Look in the mirror pal.

But, if you are more fond of condescending advice sent anonomysly across the internet, knock yourself out.

You are as condescending as they come, so throw your rocks elsewhere. If you and the Mrs. want to help people kill themselves with crack and cheap booze, that is your right. I prefer to help people though, and that mean using your charity dollars wisely.

 

This guy GOT money from the homeless...
_____________________

Homeless People Give Christmas Check to Police Officer
The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - A police officer got a Christmas gift of $3,000 from homeless people who wanted to thank him for standing up for them.
Officer Eduardo Delacruz was suspended for 30 days without pay last month after he refused a sergeant's order to arrest a homeless man found sleeping in a garage.

In gratitude, organizations for the homeless put together the fund for the 37-year-old officer, his wife and their five children. Homeless people also contributed change scrounged from passers-by, money earned from recycling cans and bottles, even a portion of their welfare checks.

"We just wanted to thank him by contributing however we could," said Joe Bostic, one of 30 former and current homeless men and women who announced the gift. "And a lot of us gave quarters, nickels and dimes."

According to police, Delacruz told his superiors in the department's Homeless Outreach Unit that he would not arrest a homeless man on Nov. 22 because the man had nowhere else to go. The officer was suspended for refusing to comply with an order.

Delacruz's attorney, Norman Siegel, said the officer was back at work Tuesday but was "very moved" by what the homeless did.

The officer and his family "specifically asked me to say, 'God bless everyone, especially the homeless,'" Siegel said.

 

Homeless people also contributed change scrounged from passers-by, money earned from recycling cans and bottles, even a portion of their welfare checks.


Wait a minute ... I thought homeless people spent it all on drugs and alcohol?!

 

My Christmas wish is that self-righteous superior dorks like t465 will find their way to their proper habitat: the Utah Jazz board.

I think it's just super that you know better than anyone else tdork. Shame on all us dummies who enable those bad, evil, bad, bad homeless folk by giving them money to spend on whatever they want -- maybe even bad evil drugs. tdork knows better. He should decide how all charity is dispensed. The homeless aren't just evil -- they're dumb. Give them food, but never money. They don't know what to do with it. While we're at it, cut off their thumbs so they can't hurt themselves.

Shame on you, giddyup, you poor misguided bleeding heart. Next time you're feeling generous, ask tdork what to do with the money. He knows better than all of us.

 

"You've obviously never been a drug addict, then. Drugs are pretty important to a drug addict." - Bill Hicks