My favorite bums are in Ottawa. They seem to have fixed posts, and they are polite. Really polite.

"Hey buddy, spare a dollar?"
"No? Well have a nice day, then!"

If you're going to beg, I'm thinking being polite is going to be the most successful.

anthroban wrote:

me_rational? wrote:I confess to (as a general rule) not giving money to those begging on the streets. I would rather provide them with food. Where I live there are many homeless people on the streets, children included. In some cases, I believe that giving them money encourages them (particularly the kids) to stay on the streets. We have shelters available for them, some of which will actually fetch the kids, provide them with food, shelter and get them into schools - however the kids then lose the income they make on the streets (sometimes a fairly good income) and they do not want to go to shelters where rules apply. I do however believe in supporting charities that work with the homeless or those in need. For me it is very sad that in any country there are people who live on the streets, who hunger every day, who sleep in the cold....

I rarely carry food in my pockets. However, I do, on occasion have a few spare dollars which can be exchanged for goods and services - this is how money works. For $2 this destitute family could by a large can of pea soup which would be extremely awkward for me to cart about in my trousers.

True - just that generally where I live, these homeless hang around the shopping centres, so it is easy for me to grab bread, pies, foodstuff or some such thing and hand it to them on my way out! But yes, I guess the $2 is better than not having food at all.

I used too. Not so much anymore. On my way to school I would drive by a few homeless people begging. Now though my money is tighter and it has been a years and the same people are still standing there, so I have become less sympathetic.

I've thought about offering to buy them something to eat, but the restaurants are little ways away and I am a little sketchy about offering to give them a ride since my car is like a mobile office/closet and we are right at the highway.

I have in the past but won't in the future. In New Zealand if you are homeless is is by choice which I know is not the case in many other countries.
The best sign I ever saw was in New York, which read "need money for booze, drugs and hookers. Please give". The honesty was both touching and hilarious.
I also refuse to give to religious charities. If there was one filling a niche that had no secular rival I still would not donate as in the long run they do more harm peddling superstition and dogma than good giving out a few meat pies. You are lying to yourself if you give to a religious charity and think less than 5% of the budget is for pure evangelising.

If I have change I give. I don't think about what they will use it for or if they deserve it etc etc. Giving is just giving without all the passing of judgement.

When I worked in London many years ago I gave to two men in the same spot three times a week. I lived in a crap area, worked late and walked a distance in the dark. I figured if anything happened to me they would know my routine and be able to tell the police something. Yep I was young and scared. They offered to share their fire come the cold weather. I was broke most of the time and was told later that maybe I was in danger from them but nothing happened and they always asked me how my day was.

Sylvie wrote:
The best sign I ever saw was in New York, which read "need money for booze, drugs and hookers. Please give". The honesty was both touching and hilarious.

I wouldn't assume they were serious so much as they were trying to make you laugh...entertainment is typically a good way to get people to give you money

I live in New York and if I gave to everyone who begged, I'd be broke before I got off the train. Charities that make sure people get what they actually need is my preferred method, though I don't give as much as I should.

If the person looks genuine, I'll give. Besides, I hate carrying change around. I'll also give notes – a fiver, a tenner, ten dollars, twenty dollars (depending on the country) – if I'm feeling particularly generous. Sometimes it's nice to make someone's day, if you can.

By the way, I also give to charities. There's just something I enjoy about helping someone right there at the moment, though. It depends on the circumstances.

I like to give if I can, not just money but a little time if I can spare either. I'm sure plenty of people are suspiscious and don't trust people begging because of a few tales of some beggars leading double lives etc but see how many are sleeping out in the middle of winter, you can generally spot those who are genuine. Take a seat on a bench near a homeless person for 5 minutes and watch how they are treated by the majority and just imagine being in their shoes for a while before you judge.

I've found that a quick trip to the pound shop can bag you cheap hats and gloves in one size fits all that are really appreciated this time of year. It shows homeless folk who often have no-one that somebody is thinking about them at times other than when they get under your feet or bother you in the street debasing themselves by eating the food we throw away or begging (just consider what that word truly means) for money that you can probably easily do without just to get by.

It brightens my day no end just to think that a complete stranger's life might be made a little more tolerable by a gesture, a smile, a kind word or two and just a little generosity. So they might spend the money on drink or drugs. So fucking what? I'd sooner they did that with money given than money stolen. Talk to some of them, it's all they have for now. I just like to think that even small gestures of kindness might restore some of their faith in humanity rather than the more customary sneers, disgusted looks, avoidance and rudeness that I so often see.

I haven't read the thread. I'm sure some people will disagree with my attitude. Hey hum.