A homeless (appearing) man just asked me for a dollar to ride the bus

[Dragonbreathp9d]

Around here, this is generally a ploy to feed an addiction, but being the person I am, I always give what change I had, even when I KNOW it's a lie. So I gave him all the change I had, he counted a dollar out, and returned the rest. Good people are everywhere, in every shape and form, keep karma on your side

[gateley]

1. I don't care what they use it for, if I have it, I share it. You did

good. :pals:

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Same here/ No matter how bad I may have it, a homeless person has it worse.

If I have money to give them, they get it.

[emilyg]

9. That;s exactly how I feel.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Here's to karma.

:fistbump:

Thanks for the thread, Dragonbreathp9d.

[monmouth]

3. I buy an "all day" ticket when I used the bus. My last trip is usually

late in the afternoon. I always look around to see who might be able to use it for the rest of the day and night. I always receive a big smile and a thank you. Makes my day...

[InvisibleTouch]

14. That's nice!

The remaining ticket doesn't "go to waste," so to speak, and it helps someone else out. Bonus, you get to feel good too. Thanks! :)

[gateley]

16. What a wonderful gesture! Very thoughtful! nt

[digonswine]

4. It reminds me--

I am from northern Wisconsin--when I got to Madison, I was first confronted with panhandlers. Those around me expected me to ignore them and walk by as if they did not exist. I am weak--it is good to be back in northern Wisconsin. How do those in cities deal with this?

[Dragonbreathp9d]

6. I spend enough time downtown that I know the regulars

The ones that are crack/meth heads, and those genuinely down on their luck. It has even gotten to the point where I don't bum cigs very much (or avoid areas that are inevitable for being asked) - I thought I was smoking 2 packs a day! I'm struggling alot too, but when I can help, I do. I also appreciate those that ask for change to get a beer- I appreciate honesty. The bums I see every day, I try to help once a week, but no more. Those I've never seen before I help out.

[JuniperLea]

5. Do the right thing, and let God/Karma sort out the rest...

The way I see it, even if someone is feeding an addiciton, they have a need. Showing them a little milk of human kindness will do them just as much good as it does someone who really needs the money for food.

I have this argument with my Fundy/Pubbie cousins regularly.

Nowhere did Jesus say check 'em out first to be sure they are hungry before you pass out any of those fishes and loaves... he just said go do it.

That little bit of change was a great deposit into your karma bank!

[TBF]

8. I keep change & small bills in my car for this -

who are we to judge? I would hope if I were homeless someone would help me out so I do the same.

[pitohui]

10. well when i was homeless no one gave me money

1) because i'm not a beggar and 2) because i'm a woman, i would be expected to give head or something to get money

so...i'm expected to give but there ain't no karma, when i was in need, i didn't "get"

yeah, yeah, i still give occasionally but i sure don't deliberately keep money around just to give to beggars, at the end of the day the kind of person who can be helped with a small amount of money is not the type of person who begs for the money

i don't know who this "we" is when you say "who are we to judge" so i will just say, i have a mind, i have some experiences of being on the bottom myself, and i am perfectly capable of making good judgments

give or don't give, but don't kid yourself that by giving, you guarantee that good things/good karma will happen to you, it will just make you more bitter when you learn otherwise

[TBF]

11. I'm not looking for any kind of return - karma or otherwise

just trying to think how I would feel if I were in that person's shoes. Given your experiences you may well be a better judge of whom to help. Since I haven't been in that situation I will continue to err on the side of giving. Well as long as I can anyway. There may be a time that comes where I don't have extra change to do that either.

I do have a question, since you have been in that situation and made the comment "at the end of the day the kind of person who can be helped with a small amount of money is not the type of person who begs for the money". Do you have any particular advice of how to help the homeless? Is it more important to give to certain organizations, or to lobby for certain legislation that could help?

[JoePhilly]

13. wow ... I've always had one mind set on this ...

If some one asks me for money on the street, I will assume that they need it more than I do.

And so if I can, I give them some.

I am not looking for a return, not expecting karma to kick in, nothing of the sort.

I simply think that if someone will ask strangers for money, they need some help, and so I will give some when I can.

I expect nothing in return ... no repayment, no improved karma, nothing.

And I hope that what ever I give them helps them.

[gateley]

15. Too bad you didn't run into some of the people here -

we would have shared if we could.

I remember giving $20 to a woman who was holding a sign saying she was hungry, homeless, etc., and she yanked it out of my hand and just strode on back to the car behind me. I wasn't expecting undying gratitude, but she was rude. But that didn't stop me from giving again and again. I figure we're all doing the best we can. :shrug:

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. +100

[applegrove]

17. If I have change I give. And I hate it when they feel they have to explain it is for food. I give

them money of my free will to do with it what they please.

[county worker]

18. If you believe in karma, you created good karma for yourself and for him.

That is what is important to me. I always give if I have the money in my pocket. Once I gave a homeless guy a $10 dollar bill. I could just see in his eyes that he suddenly had more opportunities for today then he thought he would have when he started the day. It made me feel good.

[Nye Bevan]

19. A common scam. People make hundreds a day doing this.

Better to save your change and small bills and donate it periodically to a *real* charity that helps hungry and homeless people. You only have a finite amount of money that you are able to give, so why not be 100% sure that it is actually going to those in need?

[Dragonbreathp9d]

20. Charities are subject to a lot of different variables

Especially down here, including lists that end and leave a lot left out, fraud, misallocation, etc. Some won't even take certain kinds of donations (non-food, under $20, etc)

[Dragonbreathp9d]

21. As clarification, I dent do this for good karma

I just happen to believe that the more positive energy you put out into the world the better chance you have of recieving it, an unintended bonus if you will. My main goal is to help humanity- it's why I occupy, and it's why I have been a part of Amnesty International for years. Karma is just a little sumptin extra