Posted by octopusprime on March 30, 2004, at 0:06:36
In reply to I'm young and stupid, posted by Karen_kay on March 29, 2004, at 18:38:08
karen_kay: it's very rarely a good idea to give money directly to homeless people (and panhandlers, not all of them are homeless, and in my town some panhandlers are better dressed than i am).
you're not cold. i, on the other hand, walk by all kinds of panhandlers every day, and i don't think of parting with one red cent (until the united way or some other agency comes calling).
giving out money encourages panhandling. i have had many strange and frightening incidents with panhandlers and other people on the street. i personally would like to discourage panhandling in all its forms.
please give your money to organizations that give out hot food and beds instead.
(caveat: sometimes i feel like i've "given at the office". i've got panhandlers, homeless people, drug dealers, and thieves for neighbours. i've lost two stereos and a car window (and my car has been rifled through with no damage more times than i can count). sometimes i feel like there's no need to give when people will just take.)
poster:octopusprime
thread:330003
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040324/msgs/330179.html