NationStates Jolt Archive

Do you give to people begging on the streets?

Would you say it is a moral obligation?

If I can help someone I will but I am poor so I can only give very little when I do. Normally I will only help out the same person once though. I don't feel any obligation to do so, but I feel better when I perform acts of kindness and I like to see the joy in someones eyes when I help them.

No. I don't have the money to do so.

It depends if I have enough money on me at the time. I give what I can when i can.

I give what I can and when I can.

So, are you differentiating between *real* beggars, like the kind you see in third world countries and the professional panhandlers that you often see in big cities in America?


I know of one panhandler who lived in an apartment and would rake in $200+ dollars a day by standing in front of a Super Walmart in a rich yuppie neighborhood.

Admittedly, he is undoubtably an exception to the rule, but I think that there is a significant difference between a person down on his luck and the professional panhandler that literally does it for a living.


Morality is just a human illusion. There is no such thing as a "moral obligation".



Do you give to people begging on the streets?

Would you say it is a moral obligation?

I'll tell you when I see a beggar in person for the first time. (small towns like the one I live in really don't have beggars >_>) :P If I did see one, I'd give some money if I had any with me.

Rarely. I mean how many times can you believe the black guy how comes up to you and says "I'm out of gas, my family is in the car at the gas station, can I borrow $20?". And if you're mad at me for saying "black guy", well it's happened to me a half-dozen times, and EVERY TIME, it's a black guy.

No.

Where I live, beggars are very often part of gangs coming from Rumania and other East-European nations. Every now and then there's Turks, ex-Balkan residents, etc. But ethnicity is not my point.

Those people probably did not choose begging as a career. Yes, it invokes compassion. But giving to beggars here is supporting gangs, who will only bring more beggars here, which will only make more people unhappy. Giving will only keep them in their misery longer.

Beggars visually pollute the street. What makes me even angrier is that they sometimes have children with them. Legal or not, children are obliged to go to school here.

There should be no beggars here. We have excellent social security and welfare.

Street performers and buskers, are a different thing. At least they do something for their money, and I feel they deserve everything they get (if they're good anyway). I don't remember the last time I gave to one of them though.

Yes.

I tend to try and guess "validity"

At my old place, we had 3-5 regulars.

Well, one lived under and overpass so I tended to give him money when I ran into him. The other 3-4 had a routine. A truck would drive up at 5:30, drop them off and then it would pick them up at 19:30. Don't sound to legit.....

I don'y because there are so many people that are acting like beggars just to get the money. If im going to donate anything im going to give it to an organization.

On my recent trip to DC, I saw plenty of beggars and street preformers. I would be far more likely to give to street preformers because they make my walk more pleasant by adding music. I once saw a man playing saxaphone with the sign "Homeless, but not sitting on my arse shaking a cup." I was sad that I had spent all of my cash, because I would have liked to give him a few dollars. :(

No. Never.

Giving to beggars only prolongs their problems and prevents them from seeking real help. It gives them an excuse to clog our streets and never get motivitated to do something with their lives. Oh, and they spend it on drugs/alcohol.

If you give to one beggar, you have to give to them all, and I can't afford that, so to be fair, no one gets any money.

three words: food not bombs (http://www.foodnotbombs.net/)

No.

Street performers and buskers, are a different thing. At least they do something for their money, and I feel they deserve everything they get (if they're good anyway). I don't remember the last time I gave to one of them though.

Now you need to be carefull with this. some of these 'musicians' are
part of a gang too. especialy the ones from Peru.
their children and wives work in sweatshops , mostly exploited by west-european people who rent out places (read: slumps) for very high prices too.

I find it a pitty too but this is a sign of the times. an ongoing effect
of the end of communism and the more and more bitter war-environments.
it drives people in hands of gangs when they become refugees.

I give change when I can, sometimes to the same people, like the accordeon-player near the supermarket in my town.
but indeed, mostly to 'clochards'/bums from our country.

i have an idea :
maybe instead we should buy things like an extra bottle of water or bread and hand that out if we see a beggar. just to see the expression on their faces.

I would, but I always have a feeling that the money will ether go fo drugs or that they're not really poor and just looking for some easy money

and the Catholic church does alot in my town, if these guys need food or a telephone or a place to stay for a while they can just go there

If a beggar wants money from me, I give them something better: The truth about capitalism.

Rarely. I mean how many times can you believe the black guy how comes up to you and says "I'm out of gas, my family is in the car at the gas station, can I borrow $20?". And if you're mad at me for saying "black guy", well it's happened to me a half-dozen times, and EVERY TIME, it's a black guy.
I have never had anybody ask for $20, and I would never give away that much money. I d give the gy 50 cents and tell him to keep working at it. Where the hell do you live that people are stupid enought to "lend" a stranger $20?

i have an idea :
maybe instead we should buy things like an extra bottle of water or bread and hand that out if we see a beggar. just to see the expression on their faces.
I do this sometimes, rather than give somebody money, ill offer to buy them some food, some people just leave, others take me up on it.

Most people are on the streets because they weren't strong enough to make it, and it goes contrary to my belief of "Social Darwinism" to help those not strong enough to make it. Although I do donate to charities and I have given money to people in the past, but only those people who looked like they had just fallen on hard times outside of their control.

One guy wanted a few bucks for a burger, he told me a long story about how he used to work for this company (I know of the company) he went into detail about his job, what he did, (so it was clear he was telling the truth), and then he said one day they just shut the whole thing down and moved to South America (I know this is true because I know of the company) so he got a couple of bucks. It's especially said to see a fellow American, a real American, lose a job to a foreign nation. He'd worked there twenty years and they just up and laid off him along with everybody else.

Most people are on the streets because they weren't strong enough to make it, and it goes contrary to my belief of "Social Darwinism" to help those not strong enough to make it.

This argument has been used to justify sweatshop labor, and even slavery, so it really makes you seem like a heartless bastard.

This argument has been used to justify sweatshop labor, and even slavery, so it really makes you seem like a heartless bastard.



If I was a heartless bastard, I'd not help little old women cross the street, handle their luggage at airports and on trains for them and help them get on and off trains etc. I'd not shovel elderly neighbors driveways etc. I help lots of people. I just don't want to help those I deem "Biologically unfit", because it is counter to the laws of nature to help the weak survive so they can eventually outbreed the strong and flood the gene pool with inferior genes.

I often give spare change but more often cigarettes. Funny that Letila doesn't give them money or anything which they can use to make their lives just a bit better, and here I the evil capitalist makes a daily attempt to do just that. I don't preach to them some philosophy, I hang out and talk with them just like normal people do. Matter of fact, regarding change and cigarettes, I give those out to just about anybody who asks, cuz I'm that nice. :)

I help lots of people. I just don't want to help those I deem "Biologically unfit", because it is counter to the laws of nature to help the weak survive so they can eventually outbreed the strong and flood the gene pool with inferior genes.

So your not a heartless bastard as long as the person isn't "biologically unfit"? Now your making argumenst that are used to justify genocide, (The Jews are bilogically unfit, so we had better kill them before they oubreed the master race)

Seriously, who the fuck do you think you are to decide who is "biologically unift"? You think someone is out on the street because of biology not economics? you are seriously fuked up man...

it depends. it i don't have any pocket change, then no. if they're playing a musical instrument or have a funny sign then i usually make an effort to help them out. i saw some people who had a sign that read "we're ugly and no one wants us, please help" and some other guy who was sitting in a cardboard box with "s.s. spare change" written on the side paddling away.

So your not a heartless bastard as long as the person isn't "biologically unfit"? Now your making argumenst that are used to justify genocide, (The Jews are bilogically unfit, so we had better kill them before they oubreed the master race)

Seriously, who the fuck do you think you are to decide who is "biologically unift"? You think someone is out on the street because of biology not economics? you are seriously fuked up man...


The sheer hostility with which you attacked me makes me believe you or a close family member is unfit. What is your IQ and what are the IQs of your immediate family? If you know them that is.

Most people are on the streets because they weren't strong enough to make it, and it goes contrary to my belief of "Social Darwinism" to help those not strong enough to make it.

Let's see how long you hold this belief when human GM is invented and the Patrick Zalas of the world are putting you out of a job.

If a beggar wants money from me, I give them something better: The truth about capitalism.You do the hard-line anarcho-socialist thing in RL too?


SB, how is giving a bum cigarettes improving their life?

You do the hard-line anarcho-socialist thing in RL too?

Yes.

My latest game has been to beat them to the punch. After the millionth time somebody has asked you for money, you begin to recognize the signs that somebody is gonna approach you. When they do, I just beat them to the punch..."Hey, got any change!" When they get that really confused look on their face and mumble no, make sure you pounce on them again and say "Well do you have a cigarette at least?"

My latest game has been to beat them to the punch. After the millionth time somebody has asked you for money, you begin to recognize the signs that somebody is gonna approach you. When they do, I just beat them to the punch..."Hey, got any change!" When they get that really confused look on their face and mumble no, make sure you pounce on them again and say "Well do you have a cigarette at least?"That's hilarious, but some bums really don't have a sense of humor.

I don't like to give money to people if i think they might use it for alcohol or drugs. Most beggers in england won't earn enough for a bed for the night so they are gonna use it for food/dring/alcohol/drugs. So i don't give money. I do on the other hand give. Periodically i go through my wardrobe, and anything i haven't worn in the last couple of months goes in a bag and gets given to people who look cold or to charitable organisations who will give it to people who look cold. Also if i pass someone on the street and i'm not in a MAJOR rush, i'll go to the nearenst cafe and get a bap and tea for them (and their dog). this makes me feel good about myself, but also makes me a little reassured.

The sheer hostility with which you attacked me makes me believe you or a close family member is unfit. What is your IQ and what are the IQs of your immediate family? If you know them that is.

Seriously you should seek help. I can't help but be hostile to someone who believes they are somehow innately superior to others, those that hold such opinions are known as bigots. Bigots , bother me, and I will be hostile to them. I didn't attack you, I simply asked and I ask again Who the fuck do you think you are to decide who is "biologically unfit"? You seriously sound like a Nazi.

I do not apreciate your deprication of myself and my family, I did not insult you personally, please refrain for doing so in the future.

I used to give money to them, but I got fed up of being constantly accosted, so I just ignore them now.

The sheer hostility with which you attacked me makes me believe you or a close family member is unfit. What is your IQ and what are the IQs of your immediate family? If you know them that is.

I don't judge people based on their "physical fitness". I care about their morality and ethics. You have very poor ethics. You are an élitist collectivist.

No for two reasons one I am poor

(college student)

Two

I do not see that they invest it in things that will help them out in the long run (not necessarily drugs but sometimes they need more structure then the rest of us)
So what money I have I donate to homeless programs and shelters … places I feel that try to not only feed and cloth … but better the person

This argument has been used to justify sweatshop labor, and even slavery, so it really makes you seem like a heartless bastard

you are seriously fuked up man...

now after he came back

I did not insult you personally, please refrain for doing so in the future.
Now I not taking sides but that WAS kind of a personal slam before.

Both of you … settle

He communist does not believe in giving money to those he does not seem “fit” despite his fancy terms he essentially is saying those he thinks deserve what money he has gets it.

We all do things like that … unless you give money to EVERY Beggar you ever meet …

We make decisions like that often

Just a fact of life … he is just being a bit more self aware and analytical about it then we do … doesn’t make his choosing not to help any worse then us

I just don't want to help those I deem "Biologically unfit", because it is counter to the laws of nature to help the weak survive so they can eventually outbreed the strong and flood the gene pool with inferior genes.

The idea of "biologically unfit" persons with "inferior genes" is just sick, moronic NAZI ideology - there's no other phrase for it. The most mentally inferior people on earth are in fact Nazis, but even they deserve compassion and help with their pathology.

No. Giving a beggar a few euros will not help him.
Besides, many aren't really beggars anyway.

I give them cigarettes, unless its expensive pack. In which case I give them nothing.

I don't take well to being hassled. Which tends to not happen anymore, as I simply walk by the bums and just ignore them. I bet it sure sucks to be out on your ass, but unless your into drugs you can find work. The military is always there.


Get a job and stop asking me for my money.

UP, cigarettes are enjoyable and spreading enjoyment is a way to improve life.

If that answer doesn't work though, cigarettes cause cancer thus shortening their lives and bringing a quicker end to the misery!

Behold, for I am kind, and I am merciful.

No I dont, the majority of these scroungers have more money than i do!

I usually don't give beggars money. Mostly its because the people who ask me really give me a creepy vibe and I want to get away from them as soon as possible. Plus a couple of coins isn't going to do anything for them. Now if they are playing music (etc.) I will give them something if I enjoy the performance. Because I like what they are doing and I want to encourage them to continue.

No, they just go buy booze and drugs. And I don't feel a need to give anything to any one.

whenever i go into the city i usually have a pocket full of change and just give that to the beggars i see until i run out of change. then of course, i stop.

- there's no other phrase for it. The most mentally inferior people on earth are in fact Nazis, .

Yes the same people who without their work, the USA never would have made it to the moon, we'd not have jet fighters, we'd not have modern armored tactics and maneuver warfare theory! Yes the entire nation of Germany from 1933-1945 was under a plague of idiocy! No progress was made at all in the fields of medicine and science.

Wow, you sure aren't biased at all.

I come from a family that is fairly well off and find myself obliged to give money to people who I see begging on the streets although it can be problematic sometimes because I am making the transition from dependent to independent and am currently unemployed and poor. I have noticed that it is nearly, if not entirely, impossible to tell for what purpose a person is begging. I have had the experience of listening to a person's story and giving them money, supposedly for gas, only to find them back a few weeks later in the same place with the same story. While there are people who beg not because they have to, but because they choose to, I have also gotten great satisfaction from seeing people spend money I have given them immediately on food, just as they had said they intended to. I feel that being more than cared for myself I can give to whomever asks me without worrying too terribly about some money going to the wrong causes. In a moral sense the giving is important, not what the money is eventually used to do, and in a fiscal and practical sense, the real benifit to honest people is greater than the potential harm of those who beg based on lies.

The idea of "biologically unfit" persons with "inferior genes" is just sick, moronic NAZI ideology - there's no other phrase for it.

Nietzschian is one.

Anyway, I don't like to give to beggars personally. I'm always under the suspicion that they just want alcoholic bus fare. As it is, I'm too poor to give anything of significance, but I hope to, in the future, contribute to legitimate homeless shelters.

Yes the same people who without their work, the USA never would have made it to the moon, we'd not have jet fighters, we'd not have modern armored tactics and maneuver warfare theory! Yes the entire nation of Germany from 1933-1945 was under a plague of idiocy! No progress was made at all in the fields of medicine and science.

Wow, you sure aren't biased at all.

What's your point? Yes the German people were and are very smart and inventive - what has that got to do with the huge mistake they made in toying with Naziism? By far the great majority of Germans will today tell you what a self-destructive error they made in following the worthless Hitler.

If the German people can out-grow Naziism, why can't you? If you admire the German people you should learn from their modern example.

NO!

Let's allow the herds to thin a little. There's no acceptable reason to be poor in this country!

It depends if I have enough money on me at the time. I give what I can when i can.That's about the size of it for me too. The homeless situation here in San Francisco is so bad that I could give money a hundred times a day and not come close to giving to everyone I see.

NO!

Let's allow the herds to thin a little. There's no acceptable reason to be poor in this country!
No acceptable reason, huh? What are you, like 12 or something?

I do give, but never cash.

I've bought extra breakfasts and handed the bag to someone in need, and I've bought tee shirts, sweats, etc. and given them to homeless people who need clothes.

In terms of money, I write out checks to charities.

No one really begs in my city (300k people) although there are few homeless people around the place who most people recognise. Blanket Man is the most famous since Bucket Man died, but niether really ask you for money and the other homeless people don't either. Now and again you get some random saying 'Got a 2 dollars for the bus bro?' but they're usually on government funded relaxation..

Sometimes, it depends on the story, and the appearance of the individual in question.

Had one guy approach me to get money to get a tire fixed (a variation of the gas panhandle, I guess) and I amused myself by questioning him on what kind of car, and what type of puncture.

When he said "nail in the tire" I then said my own car was right around the corner, and I had a tire repair kit and would happily fix it for him. He muttered something (sounded somewhat like motherfuc$%^) or something to that effect) and hastily departed. Was fun.

If a beggar wants money from me, I give them something better: The truth about capitalism.

I am sure that that fills his belly, and keeps him sheltered from the elements: getting a lecture on the beauty of communism.

Hypocritical much, not giving according to need?

One time a homeless person asked me for money and a offered to buy buy him lunch at a burger king I was at, but he said that he just wanted the money and whan i told him no he got angry and left. giving is good but it should be done carefully.

three words: food not bombs (http://www.foodnotbombs.net/)

Depends

I just don't want to help those I deem "Biologically unfit", because it is counter to the laws of nature to help the weak survive so they can eventually outbreed the strong and flood the gene pool with inferior genes.


You'd hate to see what I consider morally unfit. By the way, Real Americans come in all shapes, sizes and colors. An immigrant nation, remember.

sometimes i do. mostly i don't.

once i did because some guys were "making love" (in pennies) on the ground, which i found funny, though god knows why. they then proceeded to ask for my number, if i wanted a cigarette, and if i wanted some weed.

i'm kicking myself for turning the last one down.

You'd hate to see what I consider morally unfit. By the way, Real Americans come in all shapes, sizes and colors. An immigrant nation, remember.


According to the Naturalization Act of 1790, which our founding fathers established, only Europeans could become citizens of the USA.


We even had a Chinese Exclusion Act in the late 1800s to keep out the chinese.

It's quite clear what sort of immigrants the founders wanted, and what sort they didn't want.

It's also quite clear in the 1800s what sort the masses wanted, and what sort they didn't want. It's always been the same.


We are a nation of immigrants, just certain kinds of immigrants.

According to the Naturalization Act of 1790, which our founding fathers established, only Europeans could become citizens of the USA.


We even had a Chinese Exclusion Act in the late 1800s to keep out the chinese.

It's quite clear what sort of immigrants the founders wanted, and what sort they didn't want.

It's also quite clear in the 1800s what sort the masses wanted, and what sort they didn't want. It's always been the same.


We are a nation of immigrants, just certain kinds of immigrants.

You do know that not all Europeans were welcome right? The Irish certainly were not, nor were the Italians. It must really burn, though, to know that without the contributions of Haym Salomon, there might not have been a Continental Army.

I really pity your inability to join the 21st century.

I never give to beggars, especially street musicians, if I wanted something to listen to, I'd invest in a walkman, and I shoot mimes on sight, so no victory there. The only exception are people who appear to be armed, or follow me around for a few yards. Better to give than be robbed, and its aalways fun to start a beggars parade.

Remember Children: "If you give a man a fire he will be warm for a day, butif you set him on fire he will be warm for the rest of his life."

Depends

adult incontinence products?