The forgotten ones

[Koda]

Those who have been truly "down and out" at least once in their lives and hungry enough over a number of days to cause intense pain have a different perspective regarding panhandling (that is quickly noticeable) from those who haven't.

...and it's not necessarily favorable toward a panhandler.

All the evidence shows that the money is used only to fuel their issues. If someone truly panhandled for food they would not go hungry. This is actually a well researched subject....

Few years ago right here in Portland, an economics grad student did a study to find out just how much street beggers made.
He averaged $11.10/hr.
His worst day was $5.13/hr. Thats $205.2/week for food.

Side note, i think its safe to say panhandling wages are tax free.

 

[Member 24198]

As to the last handful of posts...

View attachment 1932114

I sampled @VinnieBoomBah, and he cares. He's also on NW Firearms, so NWF must care also.

 

[Old Dog]

If anyone would rather invest some of their personal time rather than some of their money, try volunteering at the Rescue Mission or a shelter. You will quickly be able to identify those who aren't addicts and are in real need of help -- food and clothing -- and you'll learn some stories that'll just break your heart. Volunteering at a shelter, the mission, the food bank, is rewarding, and it's something that will truly help you appreciate your own (and your family's) circumstances in life.

My dad volunteered at a shelter called "The Room at the Inn" until he was 92. Kept him cheerful and grateful 'til the end.

 

[SpudBob]

Things to consider when giving a hand out :

Cardboard signs can and will say anything....
Props are cheap and easy to find / come by...

Once you give something away...be it money , food , clothing , etc...
It is beyond your control with what happens to it next

Possibilities versus probabilities ....
It is possible that whatever you give actually goes to where it was meant / requested / said it was going to / etc.....
However...is that probable...?
In any event...as I said above....once you give something away..it is then beyond your control.

All of the above does read cynical ...or maybe realistic depending on your point of view.
And I am not saying that you shouldn't give someone a handout.

I am saying that if you choose to do so....do so with your eyes open.

Speaking of "eyes open"....
Be very situational aware when giving a handout to a street person.
It is easy to get distracted and focused on what they are doing and saying...while you are getting what is requested...
All while you are being set up for being robbed or worse.
Andy

This is what I experienced way back when and Im sure its the same now and worse. Thats why IF ii give I give to the shelter of choice direct. If you dont feel right giving money they take food too or like Old Dog said Volunteer!

 

[oremike]

I had an old beater Saturn 2 door 5 speed that ran good but was a 20 year old Saturn with a 5 speed. So I donated it to St Vinnies for the tax deduction. 6 mos later I get contacted by the State Police wanting to talk about the car being in a drunk driving hit and run on the coast. Fortunately we'd kept the donation receipt so could prove the car wasn't ours when the incident(s) happened. The funny thing was that a friend of mine when I told him I was getting ready to donate the car told me not to do it and told me a very similar story that happened to him a few years before. When I told him he was right he said I told you so. So no donations from me. You say food banks and the like, well where do you think all the garbage around homeless camps comes from? It's not all stolen, they mostly steal stuff they can sell. The garbage comes from people giving them stuff.

 

[albin25]

Considering the large number of tent cities and camps in parks /blocking sidewalks and empty lots in and around most major cities ….
…. It's pretty hard to forget them. Seems like it's more like they're being ignored!

 

[Old Dog]

Starting to feel like some don't agree with the concept of charity because they might get burned somehow or they worry about the trash around the homeless camps.

I can just picture Jesus now: "All right, guys -- John, Paul, Luke, you too Pete and Matt! We're not going to help that bleeding woman -- she's unclean and might infect one of us... and we're not gonna feed all these 5000 hungry people, they'll just trash the place with the fish guts, bones and breadcrumbs...

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I sampled @VinnieBoomBah, and he cares. He's also on NW Firearms, so NWF must care also.

Mostly what I care about is that the entirety of a group is not judged by the actions of a small part of a group. Saying that none of the people experiencing homelessness or any of the other issues surrounding it wouldn't be helped by money because of someone's interaction with a panhandler is no more valid than saying, all gun owners support magazine restriction and assault rifle bans because somebody talked to two or three different gun owners and they support those things

 

[Koda]

Theres a fine line between helping someone and enabling someone...

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Starting to feel like some don't agree with the concept of charity because they might get burned somehow or they worry about the trash around the homeless camps.

I can just picture Jesus now: "All right, guys -- John, Paul, Luke, you too Pete and Matt! We're not going to help that bleeding woman -- she's unclean and might infect one of us... and we're not gonna feed all these 5000 hungry people, they'll just trash the place with the fish guts, bones and breadcrumbs...

Paul might've gone along with that, he was actually kind of a jerk

 

[DB is Here]

Paul might've gone along with that, he was actually kind of a jerk

I think you mean Peter, also known as Simon..pretty quick tempered guy.

Paul was bad when his name was Saul.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

I

I think you mean Peter, also known as Simon..pretty quick tempered guy.

Paul was bad when his name was Saul.

Truth be told I figured at least two of them were a little sketchy so I had a 40% chance of getting it right if I just picked one at random

 

[slimmer13]

Starting to feel like some don't agree with the concept of charity because they might get burned somehow or they worry about the trash around the homeless camps.

I can just picture Jesus now: "All right, guys -- John, Paul, Luke, you too Pete and Matt! We're not going to help that bleeding woman -- she's unclean and might infect one of us... and we're not gonna feed all these 5000 hungry people, they'll just trash the place with the fish guts, bones and breadcrumbs...

My thoughts on charity is that we absolutely as a society have a responsibility to help those among us that legitimately are unable to provide for their own needs. The disabled and elderly for example.

I also think that charity should be doled out as close to the people as possible. From the bottom up, rather than the top down. Families, neighbors, cities, counties, and then the state as a last resort to fill in the gaps Never from the feds. This keeps abuse of resources to a minimum because the people see where the money goes and where it's being abused.

I would guess that most people refuse to give charitably because they figure they already pay taxes for entitlement programs. The problem is that everything the government does, they do poorly and inefficiently.

As far as panhandling goes, for me the chances that the money will be used for vices is unacceptably high. If others don't mind, that's their call.

I defer to my wife on charity. She typically sponsors a family or two for Christmas and buys them a lot of needs and a few wants. She also will buy groceries for struggling families from time to time.

That's the way it should be IMO. If you see a specific need that needs met, the community should help meet it. Blindly giving money isn't the answer IMO.

 

[Member 24198]

Mostly what I care about is that the entirety of a group is not judged by the actions of a small part of a group. Saying that none of the people experiencing homelessness or any of the other issues surrounding it wouldn't be helped by money because of someone's interaction with a panhandler is no more valid than saying, all gun owners support magazine restriction and assault rifle bans because somebody talked to two or three different gun owners and they support those things

My point is that sample size matters. I've definitely got the biggest pecker in my pants. Which doesn't say anything about the rest of the population.

 

[monkeybutler]

My point is that sample size matters. I've definitely got the biggest pecker in my pants. Which doesn't say anything about the rest of the population.

Maybe best not to compare to a wider sample.

 

[ashtonjim]

There's this story, or suggestion, or command..in this old book I read years ago. Something to the effect of "don't be like those who show off and give to charity so they can be seen and praised for it. Rather..do so secretly".

Which is why I hesitate to write this. Because I don't want it to be about me, I want it to be about you.

There are a lot..too many...folks out there having a hard time. Who knows why. Mental issues, ptsd, grief, drugs or alcohol (which are basically self medication).

I'm not one who goes around looking for people to help. Far from it, I do my best to avoid people.

But for the past couple of weeks I've noticed something. There's been twice now I've run across younger men dealing with 'something'. The first guy was standing at the exit of the Burger King I frequent..with a sign. I didn't even read the sign, just thought to myself, I have a few extra dollars in my pocket, I'm waiting for my food in the drive through with the AC on..it won't put a dent in my pocket to help. So I stopped and handed it to him on the way out. He said God Bless, I said thank, you too..and that was it.

The other was this morning. I went to my local gas station and there was another younger guy with a large bag of cans he was trying to turn in for cash..and he had a dog with him. The store attendant would only allow 26 cans (which I think is $2.60). He was grateful and left. (While that was happening, my pup set off my car alarm ). As I was leaving this guy called to his dog to follow (looked to be an older labrador). The dog had a leash dragging on the ground and it followed him across the street to a convenience store. I said to myself eff it..I have $5 from change, so I drove over, rolled the window down and said "hey man I got a dog too..if this will help its yours"..and gave him the $5. He appreciated it..something about God Bless again..and I went my way.

So I say this because, both of these guys were "white males 30ish". Their identity supposedly puts them in a privileged class. A white male is supposed to be the one class that gets no leeway. It's ok to denigrate them.

But that's not true. People are people. Everyone can fall on hard times. It doesn't matter your color or gender.

I say this because I want this in your mind..or heart. If you can..take the one or two minutes out of your life to do something like that.

Yes it may help that person, but what it really does is helps you.

Try it.

Well said

 

[Member 24198]

Maybe best not to compare to a wider sample.

Sample size matters.

 

[Bobbygun]

My thoughts on charity is that we absolutely as a society have a responsibility to help those among us that legitimately are unable to provide for their own needs. The disabled and elderly for example.

I also think that charity should be doled out as close to the people as possible. From the bottom up, rather than the top down. Families, neighbors, cities, counties, and then the state as a last resort to fill in the gaps Never from the feds. This keeps abuse of resources to a minimum because the people see where the money goes and where it's being abused.

I would guess that most people refuse to give charitably because they figure they already pay taxes for entitlement programs. The problem is that everything the government does, they do poorly and inefficiently.

As far as panhandling goes, for me the chances that the money will be used for vices is unacceptably high. If others don't mind, that's their call.

I defer to my wife on charity. She typically sponsors a family or two for Christmas and buys them a lot of needs and a few wants. She also will buy groceries for struggling families from time to time.

That's the way it should be IMO. If you see a specific need that needs met, the community should help meet it. Blindly giving money isn't the answer IMO.

Other than removing "have a responsibility" and replacing it with "should want to" in your first sentence, your thoughts align with my own, right down to my wife's charitable activities mirroring your wife's.

 

[oremike]

I've definitely got the biggest pecker.

If you've got a big pecker, you better spit it out, it's not yours.

 

[nammac]

Paul might've gone along with that, he was actually kind of a jerk

Tax collector if I recall correctly…