I just saw someone give a homeless guy a lit cigarette.

[Renew Deal]

It was half smoked. I guess it was a gesture of kindness. I can't decide if it was a nice thing to do or a well meaning assisted poisoning by a death merchant.

[B2G]

1. Guess you've never seen them picking butts out of ashtrays.

Happens constantly.

It was nice.

[yeoman6987]

4. They do big time especially near hospitals.

I think it was a selfless act by the smoker.

[B2G]

5. Happens in San Francisco constantly

I used to take an extra out with me in case someone came by the ashtray to dig.

A cigarette is the least of their worries.

[yeoman6987]

7. So true. The OP angers me. It's their opinion but still pisses me off.

[DawgHouse]

11. I used to leave one or two unlit cigarettes in the ashtray.

Being female, the homeless wouldn't usually approach if I were alone.

[Hortensis]

42. How nice. The others too.

[frazzled]

2. More immediate dangers this guy faces

1. Someone giving him a doggie bag of leftover food that gives him a fatal case of ptomaine poisoning
2. Being viciously attacked by a gang of hateful kids
3. Dying of overexposure in extreme weather
4. Drug overdose
5. Victim of gun or knife violence
6. Gangrene of the foot

A half a cigarette ... really?

[jonno99]

3. Yep - sometimes a nice gesture is just a nice gesture...nt

[Aerows]

24. No matter how decent or kind an act may be

there is always going to be somebody to stir up shit for absolutely no reason but to stir up shit.

I say this as someone that is downright absolutely delighted that I quit a year and a half ago.

[tallahasseedem]

28. For real...

the eye roll is hard with this one, LOL!

[Whiskeytide]

29. You left off the prospects of a Republican presidency! n/t

[Stellar]

6. When I used to smoke these homeless people would ask...

...for them just before I threw them away. It's sad but they would smoke after anyone. As if the smoke wouldn't kill them and/or me for that matter. What would you do, give them a fresh cigarette and talk to them about the dangers of smoking? I alway felt guilty whatever I decided to do.

[Brickbat]

8. You should have run up and knocked it out of his hand. You wouldn't let someone drink bleach,

would you????????????

[Renew Deal]

16. Exactly

lol

[Brickbat]

19. But why did you let it happen?

You could have saved him!1!1!!!!1

[lame54]

23. I guess he just doesn't care enough

[DawgHouse]

9. It was a nice thing to do.

[librechik]

10. when you're homeless, sometimes a cigarette is your only friend.

loyal, immediately responsive, and ubiquitous. Warm little friend.

and remember, my children, the world is NOTHING if not irony.

[Just reading posts]

12. Having trouble getting upset about this one.

[ret5hd]

13. You wanna come to my next party? I bet you're hella fun!!!

[Aerows]

25. Keep them away from the punchbowl. n/t

[liberal N proud]

14. A cigarette is the least of his problems

[Lars39]

15. Small pleasures in an otherwise miserable existence.

The homeless don't need to be hectored about smoking outdoors.

[jg10003]

32. well said

[suffragette]

36. + 1,000

[Nye Bevan]

17. Hey.... he was doing his part to solve the homeless problem (nt)

[charlyvi]

43. Ouch!

[FrodosPet]

18. This OP reminds me of one of the most powerful scenes in movie history

This scene perfectly shows the madness, cruelty, and futility of war.

[dembotoz]

20. nice thing to do

[Ilsa]

21. I don't smoke. Hate the stuff. I think it was an act of kindness. NT

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. it was a nice thing to do. nt

[HuckleB]

26. I've seen guys get very excited to find butts with enough left for a toke or two.

[arcane1]

27. When I used to smoke, homeless people frequently asked me for "the short" nt

[Person 2713]

30. I vote " assisted poisoning by a death merchant."

[Aristus]

31. I'm sure there are still GD-ers who remember my anti-smoking posts from a few years ago.

I was working at the time at our clinic dedicated to helping the homeless. I tended (and still do) to come down fairly firmly on my mainstream patients who smoke. But I always cut my homeless patients a little slack when it came to their smoking habit. Life on the streets must be a tough, relentless, stressful slog in the best of times. I wouldn't deny my patients the need for five or ten minutes of pleasure and relaxation with a cigarette.


During a new patient visit, I would always advise them against it, but would generally let it go if they expressed no interest in quitting.

[Renew Deal]

38. I knew when I posted that some nice posts like this would come out of it.

[etherealtruth]

33. It was an act of kindness

[TexasBushwhacker]

34. He may have asked for it

The person may not had cash to give him (or maybe didn't want too).

[Renew Deal]

37. He didn't ask

The guy was cleaning the area in front of the building and shouted over to him. I thought he was going to kick him off the seats.

[Skittles]

35. you remind me of my neighbor

"Why do you send cigarettes to our soldiers? It's bad for their health." I told her war is bad for their health.

[bigwillq]

39. In bigger cities, it's pretty normal to offer your cig

Instead of stomping it out and discarding it. I've done it many times in NYC, Philly, New Haven, Hartford.

[MiniMe]

40. I used to do that

The walk from the subway was about half a cigarette's walk. If I saw somebody who looked like they wanted it, I would ask if they wanted the rest of it.

[Exilednight]

41. I smoked for many years, but quit three years ago. BUT, every

now and then when I get stressed I buy a pack of cigarettes and smoke just one. Usually there is some homeless person about and I give them the other 19.

Keeps me from being tempted later.

And yes, I give them the lighter too.

[RobinA]

44. Excellent!

What a great idea. An answer to the "If I could just buy one cigarette..." Dilemma.

[postatomic]

45. Was just reading an article on how the Homeless 'age' quicker

They develop physical problems much earlier in life than those of us that have a roof. I hardly think a cigarette is going to make things any worst for this person.