Bums

[picklemonkey]

I suppose this is more for the uban people on the board than not, because I can see the rural people maybe being biased about the situation. Maybe not.

When I drive home from work, it seems like almost every other week there's a somewhat random homeless dude bum standing on a corner of an intersection holding a "feed me" sign or some bs. Lately I've seen the same guy standing at the same intersection a few times over the course of the past few months... I just feel sorry for the 'em. All of 'em. I get dependable paychecks, and I can afford a few bucks a month to make someone's day.

Every time I see someone like that I just have to fork some cash up. I was just curious how everybody else felt about this situation, because I know other people that think it's damned annoying.

[skahound]

If some dude is out leafletting some homeless newspaper (Cambridge, MA) or wants to wash my windshield (Baltimore, MD) I'll give him some loose change. If someone is just sitting there with a sign bellyaching about how hungry he is I don't even give him a second look.

It all stems from the time I was coming out of a store and there was a bum leaning up against the wall just to the left of the door I was exiting. A nicely-dressed man in a business attire walked out right before me and was approached by this degenerate asking for money. So the businessman did something I've never seen before. He reached out his hand and said, "Here, come with me and I'll walk you right over to that restaurant and get you something to eat." (There's a really nice mom-and-pop Mexican restaurant in the same shopping center). The bum then looked at him and said, "Nah, I'm sick, I can't eat, I just need the money." So the businessman just turned around and walked away. From that point on I've never given another dime.

It also goes without saying that I have and currently do still volunteer my time at the Coalition for the Homeless here in Orlando (among other agencies) and know for a fact that any one of these people can get a hot meal if they spent half as much time seeking out the organizations that have been established to help them as they do harassing hard-working people for money.

[Jibgolly]

they're not getting a dime from me. btw, i live in midtown atlanta. i have a bum asking me for change or anything every 30 feet.
some of you kids out in the sticks may not feel the same way about it, but come live in the middle of the city and see how you feel. these are the same people that break in to your car for a $5.00 cd player while you and your girlfriend go grab a drink around the corner, and go buy a Forty. i work hard for the change in my pocket, so can you!

[Digger]

Re: Bums



that page rock

[thrualoooop]

i hardly ever give money...... i try and give em a unopened cold water when i can......

[Garrick]

give them a mcdonald's application instead. carry them around in your car to distribute. i've gotten quite a few reactions doing this.

[picklemonkey]

^

I just feel bad for 'em. Sure they could go apply for a job, but who's going to hire a dirty homeless dude to work in food service? Most of the people here in Kansas City don't really harass you for it... they either hold a sign or just ask once and drop it if you say no. I've thought about buying people food before too, but it seems like there's never any restarunts next to the people when they ask, or I'm on a time schedule to get somewhere.

I live near downtown KC, but I don't walk around it much... that's why I run across them mostly while driving. They're definitely out when walking though, I can think of a few corners that I always walk past 'em if I'm out and about.

[ian]

I will never give them money. If I'm feeling generous I'll get them a Mars Bar or packet of crisps or something like that. I never give to someone that's smoking either - I just think if they gave up smoking, they could probably afford to eat!

[asdf_admin]

i do not care. no all people can drive audi s4 and have a big tits next to them.

one of those things about life. let them be. as long as they do not piss on your stoop.

[thesightless]

Re: Bums

that page rock

that guy is awesome, he hangs out right by office on west 29th in NYC. he is actually really funny. he does this little stand up routine sometimes.

on my personal experiences. i do toss them change and maybe a buck or two when i have it. i try to do the right thing when it comes to the less fortuate. but the one thing i always try to do in the cold weather is get all my left overs from restaurants wrapped up. i usually give em to the first guy i see. last year, i had a little jamacian guy cry when i gave it to him, he said he could eat for a week. that really opened up my eyes.

[Danil.]

Re: Bums

I just feel sorry for the 'em.

i too

[fishingnut]

i try to when i have it..

[asdf_admin]

i use toss them change.

when i lived in Seattle I gave this guy a buck late night. i had morning class ... as I went to school, saw this guy passed out in the middle of sidwalk, walked right over him. it was clear to me, I was helping his troubled habits.

[DreamGirlie]

I work in Boston in the most well to do area (back bay, Newbury St) and there is tons of homeless men constantly. If I gave them all a dollar I could easily be out a lot of cash a month!

I sometimes go to Avalon which is on Landsdown Street behind Fenway Park and there are three homeless men that consistently work there. They stand outside the ATM and get you asyou come out. They dont just beg they actually do stuff. This one man will sing you any song you request, its live karaoke and its funny as hell. He makes a lot of money!

There is one man that literally stands across the street from my job, or around the corner and he has a 'shoe shining' buisness. You see him working hard at each shoe and its sad he willonly make a dollar or two. I see him sometimes just waking up as i get into work and I honestly feel bad. The starbucks next to me always gives him coffee.

Download the song 'underwear outside your pants" pickle....

[CrazyMadFlyGirl]

One night (mornig) I was in YBOR (Tampa) & the guy said he wanted $ for food... so my friend & I actaully bought him 2 slices of pizza, after a little disagreement on his end & then - that Bastard went & tried to sell the slices to people - he was hammered & it probably was for boos.. or whatever, but that pissed us off! so my friend Pat went & grabbed the pizza out of his hands & threw it in the trash about 10 feet away from him.

I do have a soft spot once & a while & can't help giving, I agree - I think the water, candy bars, coffee, that stuff is nice to give. As habbit- I usually don't give money - but NEVER to the ones that come up & approach me rudely, or in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable..