If you see a panhandler smoking a cigarette do you give them money?
- Thread starter The Boys
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I didn't know that non-smoking panhandlers are more financially responsible. What if they have a cigar in their mouth ?
Cigarettes are $6 a pack............So they want my money to buy cigs, no thanks.
I usually don't give money to anyone that looks physically able to work... Smoking or not
- Apr 10, 2014
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i don't give them any money....sometimes i give them one of my albums.....its good to give back
hank
hank
I'm pretty sure you smoke cigs and chew. I'm a pretty good judge of that. Do you have many of your own teeth?
- Apr 10, 2014
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why you worried about my teeth? why don't you worry about yours? do they even have dentists in detroit?
:facepalm:
I never use to give anyone money but then someone change my mind on it. On Saturday my daughter and I were stopped at a light and a guy was sitting there, not asking for money but sitting there looking like he needed it. I called him over and gave him some money. My daughter asked me why and said that I knew he would go buy beer or drugs with it. I use to think the same was but realized by thinking that I'm judging that person and that's not my job in life. Yes more than likely he'll go blow it on something bad but that's not what I should base my decision on. A dollar isn't going to change my life but it might mean a lot to him.
I find too many of my friends and family judging people they don't know. It's easy to do when you don't know someone's background. I just spent a week with my sister in her rehab. She's been in it for 6 weeks and the last week was for our whole family to come in and be part of it with her. Watching the kids(20-24) in there and listening to their backgrounds was heartbreaking to me. My sister and I grew up in a perfect home and were given everything we needed in life. She ended up getting addicted to prescriptions and now has problems. A lot of these kids had family in there and it was easy to see why they had problems. Several parents were addicts and IMO the kids never had a chance.
There are no excuses to be a bum and to have to ask for money but I'm not going to judge. How do I know that one of these guys didn't fight in Vietnam, has no family and just ended up lost in the system. How do I know that they weren't raised in foster homes, molested as a kid, addicted in their teens and just never had a chance. I know, I'm making excuses for people but as much as anything when I give one of them money I'm giving thanks for my life.
I find too many of my friends and family judging people they don't know. It's easy to do when you don't know someone's background. I just spent a week with my sister in her rehab. She's been in it for 6 weeks and the last week was for our whole family to come in and be part of it with her. Watching the kids(20-24) in there and listening to their backgrounds was heartbreaking to me. My sister and I grew up in a perfect home and were given everything we needed in life. She ended up getting addicted to prescriptions and now has problems. A lot of these kids had family in there and it was easy to see why they had problems. Several parents were addicts and IMO the kids never had a chance.
There are no excuses to be a bum and to have to ask for money but I'm not going to judge. How do I know that one of these guys didn't fight in Vietnam, has no family and just ended up lost in the system. How do I know that they weren't raised in foster homes, molested as a kid, addicted in their teens and just never had a chance. I know, I'm making excuses for people but as much as anything when I give one of them money I'm giving thanks for my life.
I provide my 57 year old disabled brother with regular personal assistance (grocery shopping, laundry, bed bug infestations, doctor visits, etc., and etc.), and some modest financial assistance beyond his subsistence disability income.
When I am spoken to by a panhandler, I almost always tell them "Sorry, my money has to go to my disabled brother."
If I had 1/50th of the wealth of a Phil Mickelson, I'd probably give them all a couple of bucks, for the exact reasons noted by layinwood, but I'm not that wealthy.
On the few occasions I give someone some change or maybe $1, it's probably because (1) I'm feeling particularly flushed, financially or emotionally, like right after a Packer's victory, or (2) they remind me somewhat of my brother, and the homeless plight he would probably have fallen into if I hadn't been there for about the last 30 years, and certainly the last 15 years.
And in that regard, my brother smokes about 2 packs of cigarettes a day, more or less on my dime, and while I wish he would quit, his reality is expressed in his often repeated statement to me, "Cigarettes are my only friend." . . . So if a street person is smoking a cigarette, I'd say it's not going to be a deal breaker as to whether or not he's going to get something from me.
GL
When I am spoken to by a panhandler, I almost always tell them "Sorry, my money has to go to my disabled brother."
If I had 1/50th of the wealth of a Phil Mickelson, I'd probably give them all a couple of bucks, for the exact reasons noted by layinwood, but I'm not that wealthy.
On the few occasions I give someone some change or maybe $1, it's probably because (1) I'm feeling particularly flushed, financially or emotionally, like right after a Packer's victory, or (2) they remind me somewhat of my brother, and the homeless plight he would probably have fallen into if I hadn't been there for about the last 30 years, and certainly the last 15 years.
And in that regard, my brother smokes about 2 packs of cigarettes a day, more or less on my dime, and while I wish he would quit, his reality is expressed in his often repeated statement to me, "Cigarettes are my only friend." . . . So if a street person is smoking a cigarette, I'd say it's not going to be a deal breaker as to whether or not he's going to get something from me.
GL
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It's extreme weather here in Kansas. And there are individuals that stand out and ask for hand outs. It's a personal choice. Personally, when I feeling down or stressed I have refocused that energy on something positive, in this case taking some stuff to goodwill, buying some items for packaged handouts for everyday needs. Currently it's winter weather care packages in a gallon zip lock bag. 40 bottles of water is 3.40 at sam's. Can of tuna, socks, hand wipes, gloves.
The point I try to make is giving any thing and looking people in the eye and letting them know you see them as people... it can make a huge impact. Make it personal.
Now where I say NO it any "Awareness" event similar to the NFL or Susan Komen. That money doesn't go back to the individual s you are hoping to help in most cases...
I mean chapstick is a buck... when you're living on the street it's a luxury...
Personal thoughts in the matter.
The point I try to make is giving any thing and looking people in the eye and letting them know you see them as people... it can make a huge impact. Make it personal.
Now where I say NO it any "Awareness" event similar to the NFL or Susan Komen. That money doesn't go back to the individual s you are hoping to help in most cases...
I mean chapstick is a buck... when you're living on the street it's a luxury...
Personal thoughts in the matter.
I've given used coats, various used clothing items, new toiletries and unopened canned or packaged foods.
But never will I give money.
I smoke when I go to Vegas, and whenever I return, I give whatever is left in the pack to a homeless guy that tends to stay near my office. He never bothers anyone (I've been seeing him since 2008 and never once have I seen him panhandle or ask for anything), and is very, very clearly mentally ill. I figure his existence must be a pretty miserable one, if he is even able to know what misery is. If I can give him some cigarettes and brighten his day 2-3 times a year after a trip to Vegas, I'm happy to do so.
:30 seconds, classical piano is like fingers against a chalk board for me. Glad she is good though
Many people who are on the streets are mentally ill. I usually give a dollar or two and I don't pay attention if they are smoking or not
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- Nov 13, 2009
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