Giving money to "bums"

[rualeb]

Hell no. In modern countries 'bums' have the chance to live in a shelter and be supported. They have the oppurtunity to change their lifes, all they need to do is put the effort forth.
No way in hell i will give money to a bum.

 

[Kylehnat]

Question for all of you. If you were a business owner/manager, and some filthy, smelly, unshaven person came in for a job interview, would you hire them? I don't think so. Friends of our family once took one of these 'bums' into their house, let him have a shower, gave him some of the husband's clothes, and drove him to the job interview. He got the job, and they let him stay in their granny flat, with fairly low rent, until he had been working long enough to be able to rent a house of his own. They have stayed good friends since then, and he has certainly made the most of the opportunity he was given.

I was going to point that out. Most bums are so disgusting in appearance and whatnot, nobody is going to give them a job even if they wanted it. However, if you really want a job, you'll do anything to get it, including finding a shower and a razor. The dirty, torn clothes aren't the main thing, it's the face and hands. If those are clean, it goes a long way towards impressions. That's a nice story of yours, but your friends are not too smart for taking one of these people in. The vast majority of bums are drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals, or mentally ill. You're taking a huge chance by letting one into your home. If you do, there's a good chance that all of your stuff will be gone if you decide to step out for an hour or two, and you'll find that same bum back on the streets, but now he'll have a bottle of cognac and a big bag of heroin.

Never give money to bums. Ever. Most of them are on the streets for reasons that would make you cry, and not in a good way. Victims of circumstance? Almost never. Slaves to drug addiction and crime? More likely. Think about it: if you lost everything, is there someone in your life who would take you in? For most of us, the answer is yes. For bums, the answer was almost always no, and that is nobody's fault but their own.

Furthermore, if people give bums change, they start to expect it, and become increasingly hostile when you don't give them anything. The bums in this area are very rude, hostile, aggressive and threatening if you pass them by with no "donation". They think that you owe them for some reason. My sister (who works in the same neighborhood I live in) won't even walk the couple of blocks to Starbucks by herself, because some of these people are genuinely scary and act insane.

When I first came to college, moving to the city after 18 years in the Seattle suburbs, I was just as naive as anyone about the subject of homelessness. One night, a younger guy asked for some change, and I foolishly gave him the 75 cents I had in my pocket. He thanked me, and I walked on. Three blocks later, he comes running up behind me, and feverishly asks "dude, do you have 50 more cents? That's all I need to get some heroin." That was the end of my philanthropy. I told him to **** off, and I haven't given a cent to anyone since. After that, the veil of naivety was lifted. Now, pretty much every bum I see has some evidence of drug addiction (includes alcohol), and I've seen bums doing drug deals on the street in broad daylight.

More disturbing, a couple of years ago, some fairly nice apartments were built in one of Seattle's most disgusting neighborhoods. Shortly after they opened, a young woman walking alone was followed home by a homeless drug addict, who subsequently stabbed her numerous times and left her to bleed to death in the apartment building lobby.

We're supposed to feel sorry for these people?

 

[Zrow]

I'll buy a guy a burger if he geniunely needs food, but cash isn't a good idea.

 

[rualeb]

you would give a guy a burger with more feces than meat but not money...thats just cruel haha

 

[FoolKiller]

you would give a guy a burger with more feces than meat but not money...thats just cruel haha

Who sells those?

 

[Seanman]

Ronald McDonald.

 

[EG6_GUY]

Once, in Detroit, a bum asked me for some money for food. He smelled of booze, so I was all like, "Hey, lets go to this burger stand and I'll hook you up with a meal." Then he said, "NO, thanks," and walked away. So the next time a bum asked me for money for food, I socked her square in the jaw. She was old, but sturdy.

 

[Kylehnat]

Once, in Detroit, a bum asked me for some money for food. He smelled of booze, so I was all like, "Hey, lets go to this burger stand and I'll hook you up with a meal." Then he said, "NO, thanks," and walked away.

Maybe he likes to eat healthy?

 

[Carl.]

^^

To answer the question: Never.

In Montreal, there are over 15 places that they can go to get free meals and/or and a place to sleep, and help to get back on track and find a job. So the majority of those who ask money on the street don't do it for their essential needs, or at the very least chose to do this. It annoys the hell out of me, especially aggressive "squeegees".

At best I'd buy/give them something to eat, and that's it, I won't give even a penny. Sometimes I'll give something to those who play music I like, or other kinds of performance.

 

[Gabkicks]

wouldnt it be awsome if all the super rich and wealthy celebrites put some moneytogether to help homeless people get off their feet instead of blowing it on liquer,drugs,whores and fancy clothes?

 

[ExigeEvan]

Alot of you guys look down on these people so bad. It's weird cause here one or two tend to become part of the community. If any of you were to end up on teh street I'd love to hear any complaints about lack of help from your fellow man.

For example there's a homeless guy in Swansea who is affectionatly know as 'Teabag'. Simply he smells and walks around with a black bin bag of stuff over his back. I know people who have spoken to him and apparantley he's a nice enough guy.

There's also the story of the homeless guy in Neath that was murdered in teh little shed he owned near the dual carrigeway. Alot of the older people in Neath knew him and there was a huge uproar when he was found dead.
Linky http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/4446745.stm

 

[Kylehnat]

Alot of you guys look down on these people so bad.

I didn't used to...and then I started having to interact with them on a daily basis. Their rambling stories and alcohol breath got old quick.

It's weird cause here one or two tend to become part of the community.

Maybe you have happy, friendly, loveable bums in Wales, but that is generally not the case in the United States.

If any of you were to end up on the street I'd love to hear any complaints about lack of help from your fellow man.

If I end up on the streets, it will be my fault, and my fault alone. I've been given the chance to succeed in life. If I waste it, who else can I blame?

 

[ExigeEvan]

I didn't used to...and then I started having to interact with them on a daily basis. Their rambling stories and alcohol breath got old quick.

Yeah, perhaps a daily basis is abit too much.

Maybe you have happy, friendly, loveable bums in Wales, but that is generally not the case in the United States.

It's not always the case in Wales either. Me and my mates have been told "We look like ******** trouble" for no apparent reason by a bum who had just bought a four-pack of Strongbow (Cider). I just think that too many of you use an immense stereotype on bums that isn't always neccesary.

If I end up on the streets, it will be my fault, and my fault alone. I've been given the chance to succeed in life. If I waste it, who else can I blame?

And you wouldn't ask or accept a chance to get out of the gutter? That's the sort of help I'm on about. Yeah alot of you will say they should do it themselves if they really want it, but not everyone is so highly motivated, unless they're given a push.

 

[Danoff]

Yeah alot of you will say they should do it themselves if they really want it, but not everyone is so highly motivated, unless they're given a push.

I have trouble figuring out how people can get motivated to help people that aren't even motivated enough to help themselves.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I have trouble figuring out how people can get motivated to help people that aren't even motivated enough to help themselves.

Simple....


Faith!






Not that I actually believe but it's a quick answer.

 

[McLaren]

Maybe you have happy, friendly, loveable bums in Wales, but that is generally not the case in the United States.

It may true the majority ar alcohol drinking pigs, but that does not give you a valid reason to generalize that they're all like that.

Bums in Dallas are what they really are. Bums. The people that beg for money are the people who have clean clothes and come up with silly stories.

I help when I can. Like I said, I don't give it to those who ask, but rather those who I know may need it. I don't care if they buy it to drink. I know a bunch of you could have given that $20 worth of beer to a charity.

You tell them to get a job. Ok, you come here to Dallas, dress, look, and smell like a bum. We'll see how far you get without a decent shave and clothes in the big business. Even the trashy businesses won't help you cause they know you don't have any other clothing or money to cover accidents.

As they say, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

I'll remember this though. If I see one of you on the streets, I'll be sure to walk by and say, "Get your own d*mn money bum."

 

[FoolKiller]

And you wouldn't ask or accept a chance to get out of the gutter? That's the sort of help I'm on about. Yeah alot of you will say they should do it themselves if they really want it, but not everyone is so highly motivated, unless they're given a push.

I direct you to reread this:

In Montreal, there are over 15 places that they can go to get free meals and/or and a place to sleep, and help to get back on track and find a job. So the majority of those who ask money on the street don't do it for their essential needs, or at the very least chose to do this. It annoys the hell out of me, especially aggressive "squeegees".

The charities are there and I will give to a charity because those are actually helping people by providing food, shelter, and a chance to recover with a shower and clean clothes. Some even do drug tests and require a period of sobriety before they give long-term help. This eliminates the risk that they are just trying to get their next score or drink. If I give to a charity that helps those that actually want to help themselves why should I give to the random bum on the street that has alcohol on his breath? If I can smell that then he isn't even attempting to help himself and I won't help him drink himself to death.

wouldnt it be awsome if all the super rich and wealthy celebrites put some moneytogether to help homeless people get off their feet instead of blowing it on liquer,drugs,whores and fancy clothes?

Wouldn't it be nice if the homeless people used the handouts to get on their feet instead of blowing it on booze and drugs? Honestly, people think that being rich immediately means everyone should have access to your money that you earned. If I work and become rich then it is my decision to spend it how I want.

 

[Kylehnat]

I just think that too many of you use an immense stereotype on bums that isn't always neccesary.

It's not a stereotype if it's true.

It may true the majority are alcohol drinking pigs, but that does not give you a valid reason to generalize that they're all like that.

Actually, that gives me a perfect reason to "generalize". In general, bums have drug problems. That doesn't mean 100% of them do, but 95% is a good first guess. That's most of them, and justifies the label.

Let me reiterate what I've already said: I used to be sympathetic towards bums. But, when you actually have to deal with them, the idealism goes out the window, becuase you see them for who they really are. These are not people you want to be friends with.

 

[cardude2004]

I don't ever give them money. Most of them never do anything good with it anyways, they just go buy some more ciggy's or alcohol and use it wrong, when they should use it to stabilize their life and find a job.

 

[ExigeEvan]

The charities are there and I will give to a charity because those are actually helping people by providing food, shelter, and a chance to recover with a shower and clean clothes. Some even do drug tests and require a period of sobriety before they give long-term help. This eliminates the risk that they are just trying to get their next score or drink. If I give to a charity that helps those that actually want to help themselves why should I give to the random bum on the street that has alcohol on his breath? If I can smell that then he isn't even attempting to help himself and I won't help him drink himself to death.

And thus I ask you to re-read what I was supposed to read...

In Montreal, there are over 15 places that they can go to get free meals and/or and a place to sleep, and help to get back on track and find a job. So the majority of those who ask money on the street don't do it for their essential needs, or at the very least chose to do this. It annoys the hell out of me, especially aggressive "squeegees".

AFAIK there are no shelters giving out soup and such in my town. There may be one, but I've never heard of it in general or seen it mentioned in the local newspaper.

Actually, that gives me a perfect reason to "generalize". In general, bums have drug problems. That doesn't mean 100% of them do, but 95% is a good first guess. That's most of them, and justifies the label.

If I was to go into a thread aboyt driving habits and state that "Americans drive huge gas guzzlers for no reason" I'm sure I would be quickly told where to go. But the fact is Americans do drive bigger and generally less efficient cars that most nations.

Although a high percentage might do it, the small percentage can actually be a very large population.

 

[GM]

I sometimes give money to GOOD buskers, never beggers though.

 

[FoolKiller]

And thus I ask you to re-read what I was supposed to read...

AFAIK there are no shelters giving out soup and such in my town. There may be one, but I've never heard of it in general or seen it mentioned in the local newspaper.

So there are NO charities and NO government programs in your town to help the homeless? You pay all those taxes and you all don't have anything like that even though Canada and the US do?

Heck, my town even has food drives and all thsi crap and tells us about all the homeless children and starving families in my city and I can probably count the number of bums I have seen (not counting hitchhikers) in my 27 years on my hands. You make it sound as if they are everywhere and the best you all can do for them is put some spare money in their can on the street? I find it doubtful. You might be unaware of the charities but I am sure they exist.

I sometimes give money to GOOD buskers, never beggers though.

What's a busker? Is that like the guy with the "busket" and dirty rag that tries to clean my windshield so I will give him money? If so, I've only seen those in the movies.

 

[a6m5]

I'm pretty much anti-homeless people for all the same reasons that's been stated in this thread about a million times, but I just realized something. As I was just going post about how there are so many jobs in Oregon, and the bums just don't want to work, so if nobody is giving you money, tough. That's when I realized that most of the homelesses are tweakers, drunks, and sometimes mentally ill. With those issues, it would be challenging to hold the easiest of jobs offered. Only way for people with those issues to get a job is to quit drugs, change lifestyle, and then they can start thinking about applying for jobs.

This really strengthens my anti-drug stance.

Edit:
Still, don't give them any change though. Directly or indirectly, you are sponsoring a bad habit 99%(rough guesstimate) of the time.

 

[Kylehnat]

But the fact is Americans do drive bigger and generally less efficient cars that most nations.

You could say that, but with a quick trip across the pond, you'd find that this percentage is not what you think. Just looking out my window right now, about 30% of the vehicles I see are SUVs. That number may be higher elsewhere, but the total percent of "gas guzzlers" driven in this nation is still well below 50%. Thus, your generalization that all (or most) Americans drive SUVs does not hold up to simple observation. Likewise, if I claimed that 95% of bums have drug dependencies, despite the fact that I had never personally seen one, that would be an unjustified sterotype as well.

On the other hand, over 90% of the bums that I see with my own two eyes are drug addicts/alcoholics. Thus, my generalization about bums does hold up to observation.

Do you see the difference between the two types of generalizations/stereotypes? One is based on fact, and the other on assumption (which may still have some truth to it, but not enough to justify it). And nobody play the "you can't tell if a bum is a drug addict" card. You can, and it's quickly obvious in most cases.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

i dont give them money as usually i only have money on me that i need,normally though if i come out of a shop and i see someone collecting to charity i would sometimes give them some of the change.

 

[GM]

By busker, I mean more of a street performer, in Bath you get some pretty good bands that play on the streets, they are'nt bums, they are perfectly normal people who live in homes that come to Bath to play music and entertain people for money.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

By busker, I mean more of a street performer, in Bath you get some pretty good bands that play on the streets, they are'nt bums, they are perfectly normal people who live in homes that come to Bath to play music and entertain people for money.

bath is the first place ive been to where i didnt see any bums and the street performers are fantastic 👍

 

[ExigeEvan]

So there are NO charities and NO government programs in your town to help the homeless? You pay all those taxes and you all don't have anything like that even though Canada and the US do?

There's council houses which are available but you must fulfill certain criteria to get one. And teenage girls with babies get priority.

Heck, my town even has food drives and all thsi crap and tells us about all the homeless children and starving families in my city and I can probably count the number of bums I have seen (not counting hitchhikers) in my 27 years on my hands. You make it sound as if they are everywhere and the best you all can do for them is put some spare money in their can on the street? I find it doubtful. You might be unaware of the charities but I am sure they exist.

I've never known a food drive for the homeless in my area. At harvest infant kids bring in food for the elderly in the area but that's because I live sub-urban, more semi-rural really, so there's fewer homeless people in the immediate locality.

Homeless people certainly aren't everywhere in Swansea, but they aren't completely absent either. If I walk down the highstreet I'll probably see one maybe 2 each time I go into town. I also regualry see people seelling the big issue in town. You can only sell it if you are homeless or 'vulnerably housed'.

I do buy the big issue if the front interests me, but otherwise I'd rather stick to giving the odd copper out.

The charities may exist, but I don't think I should stop giving small ammounts because of an assumption.

You could say that, but with a quick trip across the pond, you'd find that this percentage is not what you think. Just looking out my window right now, about 30% of the vehicles I see are SUVs. That number may be higher elsewhere, but the total percent of "gas guzzlers" driven in this nation is still well below 50%. Thus, your generalization that all (or most) Americans drive SUVs does not hold up to simple observation. Likewise, if I claimed that 95% of bums have drug dependencies, despite the fact that I had never personally seen one, that would be an unjustified sterotype as well.

On the other hand, over 90% of the bums that I see with my own two eyes are drug addicts/alcoholics. Thus, my generalization about bums does hold up to observation.

What's the average engine displacement? Average vehicle size and weight? How many diesels do you see on the road?

When did I state that Americans all drove SUVs? I said " Americans (do) drive bigger and generally less efficient cars than most nations.".

I've been across the pond to Orlando about 3 years ago, yes it was before the recent hike in fuel prices. But I still saw an abundance of cars with a larger displacement than those over here.

 

[GM]

bath is the first place ive been to where i didnt see any bums and the street performers are fantastic 👍

There are a few people selling Big Issues and I've only ever seen a few bums so I'm not surprised you did'nt see any, and yes the street performers are exellent 👍

 

[Max Powers]

I don't understand why there seems to be such a hatred for bums here. They're just as human as us, and not all of them are alcoholics or drug addicts, even though thinking that may make you feel better about yourselves. A lot of bums around here are people who used to live in mental hospitals which got shut down, leaving them with no place to stay.

That being said, I usually don't go out of my way to give them money, but if I've got a quarter or something, I'll help them out. I saw two homeless guys yesterday by a McDonald's that I was going into in downtown Pittsburgh, and bought them each a cheeseburger on my way out, they were both very friendly and grateful for such a small gesture that cost me maybe two dollars. Aggressive bums get nothing from me though.

Basically, even if you're not giving to them (which nobody should feel obligated to do, even if it is a nice gesture) at least treat them with respect. The homeless are people too, and you never know what led them to their situation, they're not all addicts who are too lazy to work.