Homeless people, give or ignore? Options

[AyeVickaye]

Everytime I drive by Target Walmart, Food max, etc. theres always a homeless person asking for money or food. I used to always give change but Now I have second thoughts about them. Because they look young enough to still get a job, they either have a bike or dog with them & some even smoke cigs. Where do they get the markers and supplies to make their "have any spare change" "war veteran, needs help" or "anything will help" signs? I always wonder what they will do with the spare change that I give them because of chances of them spending it on food is '????' Cos some of those homeless people are/were drug addicts

I feel bad for them especially the ones that have a child with them but sometimes I don't.

[sixfive]

Nope. Maybe I was born into a more fortunate circumstance / family, but I don't believe that they're doing the best job they can by begging. Even if they're homeless, they can get a shit job or something, they can find a way to earn some money. I believe anyone can better themselves if they really put their mind to it, minus extreme cases. I don't believe that every homeless person is one of those extremities however who could do nothing better with their life than beg on a corner.

[Gigi]

Nope. Maybe I was born into a more fortunate circumstance / family, but I don't believe that they're doing the best job they can by begging. Even if they're homeless, they can get a shit job or something, they can find a way to earn some money. I believe anyone can better themselves if they really put their mind to it, minus extreme cases. I don't believe that every homeless person is one of those extremities however who could do nothing better with their life than beg on a corner.

Agreed.

I just think that if you keep giving them money, they're going to keep thinking it's okay to accept money and continuing living this way since there are always the suckers that feel sorry for them. It might seem like you're helping, but I feel like it's just encouragement for an unhealthy lifestyle.

[Joanne]

Agreed.

I just think that if you keep giving them money, they're going to keep thinking it's okay to accept money and continuing living this way since there are always the suckers that feel sorry for them. It might seem like you're helping, but I feel like it's just encouragement for an unhealthy lifestyle.

Yeah I totally understand where you and Steven are coming from, but I always think about the slight chance that s/he might have a psychological disorder. I mean, schizophrenics who were already financially unstable to begin with have a small to nonexistent chance of holding a job, or even relationships with people who could help take care of them. And thoughts like that always freak me out (or, I guess, guilt me) into giving them something.