Giving to Beggars
Posted by davidmcnab 9 years, 1 month ago to Economics
After years of refusing beggars' requests for "some small change", I started to feel bad. So I decided to change my response.
One day, while waiting to deposit my business takings into the local teller machine, a lady asked me if I could spare a little money. Before I could even respond, she said "just give me a little, and I'll leave you alone". I said, "If you've got a few minutes, we could sit down together, and I'll tell you how to make even more money without having to beg. It's all about changing the way you see things..."
With that, she whirled and walked away as fast as she could. The look of fear on her face was almost like I pulled a venomous snake out of my backpack.
I recommend responding in a similar way to beggars. Or maybe ask them, "You want money from me? What have you got, or what can you do, that will make me want to freely give you money?" You never know, you might inspire one to go off, rethink, clean up, and work themselves up into prosperity.
One day, while waiting to deposit my business takings into the local teller machine, a lady asked me if I could spare a little money. Before I could even respond, she said "just give me a little, and I'll leave you alone". I said, "If you've got a few minutes, we could sit down together, and I'll tell you how to make even more money without having to beg. It's all about changing the way you see things..."
With that, she whirled and walked away as fast as she could. The look of fear on her face was almost like I pulled a venomous snake out of my backpack.
I recommend responding in a similar way to beggars. Or maybe ask them, "You want money from me? What have you got, or what can you do, that will make me want to freely give you money?" You never know, you might inspire one to go off, rethink, clean up, and work themselves up into prosperity.
That's not to say those street urchins that come and smear your windshield deserve to be paid, either. I didn't ask for their work, nor in most cases is the outcome satisfactory to my standards, thus I won't pay - not agreed to, nor acceptable.
However, there is one type of person on the street I willingly give money to - any busker of sufficient musical calibre who touches me at any significant emotional depth.
Contrast to one who was blowing some hauntingly beautiful sax, standing on the median strip at the car entrance to a supermarket. I made a special effort to scratch up some gold coins for him :)
Have fun!
Long ago I used to. I recall one guy claiming to be hungry. I said I was going on foot to meet my g/f who works at a restaurant. I told him they almost always have food that they give to their staff to take home or to anyone who wants it. He dismissed the notion out of hand. He wanted only cash. Any time I've politely offered to help them get a job, a sublet not requiring a credit check, or whatever, they don't even pretend to be remotely interested.
What interesting is when I lived in Tampa and Gainesville FL, they always had a sob story, sometimes with litteral sobbing. In CA they're more persistent but with less sobbing. In WI, they just shake a cup in their hand without explanation.
Sometimes I will give them something, sometimes I won't. My choices depend on my mood at the moment, whether or not I have food in my fridge first, and their demeanor.
I've seen young people selling their property, the last resort, on the streets of NY and Phila.
I saw a young woman street dweller cursed at by some businessmen, and she burst into tears.
I've seen a white-haired woman crouched in a downtown store opening who was only dressed in a tee shirt. I called the police for help.
I've seen kids nodding from sleeplessness in stairwells.
I've given money to people with only backpacks
who hadn't even asked for anything.
I'm well aware that some might be considered drug addicts.
I'm prepared to take a more lenient stance
Harry M
I am a strong believer that if our economy was truly allowed to run strong we'd have enough resources to deal with this problem. We don't. We're broke.