Crazy lady! Did I do the right thing?

[rottiegirl]

Ok, today I walked to walgreens and as soon as I came out this lady came up to me and started telling me how much she needs money and that she has two babies that need food and diapers. So, being the complete idiot that I am, I emptied out my purse and gave her all my money. I just felt so bad, and I know how it feels to be poor and have no money. I just hope shes not some drug adict that needs crack money. I am not totaly sure if I did the right thing. All in all, I felt good that I could posibly be helping out two little babies. I know I might be a little gulable (sp?). But oh well.

 

[GlassOnion]

Meh, you have a kinder heart than I.

I would've told her that I just spent my last bit of money in the store (or that I was broke).

You can't take people's word these days. There's a guy who's going around campus telling people he needs to get back home and if he only had $80 he could get a ticket back to his state (wherever that is).

So far, from reports of victims, he's recieved $231.82 and is still playing the same story.

I don't hold much faith in beggars now a days.

 

[rottiegirl]

I just felt so bad because the woman was crying! I hope she was telling the truth. The reason why I didnt tell her that I didnt have any money is because, well, I am a bad lier, and because I felt sorry for her.

 

[Kaleigh'sAdrienne]

I would've told her to get a job... no not really.. but I would've thought it. I wouldnt've given in though.. like maybe given her all my pennys or something.. I know Im so mean

 

[kelbel]

I probably would have bought her some diapers and milk or something. Then you know she's not gonna spend it on her next fix. You're good for wanting to help.

 

[MyDogsLoveMe]

I have done the same, sometimes you just dont know for sure, but I give a few dollars, if they are on the up and up then at least I know they may get a hot meal or food for kids.

 

[Chithedobe]

I probably would have done the same thing. I'm too much of a softy to turn someone who is that desperate down. My husband got very irritated with me a couple weeks back. We actually got a sitter and went "out". We went to a local bar district that boasts many beggars. I had dropped almost all of our Yen in hats by the time we met up with our friends at the club! We actually had to run back to the ATM on base, then he carried the money

 

[Martine]

I've done the same thing before, then saw the person 5 minutes later with a friend heading into the local wine shop....I was so disappointed. But if I was in your situation I'd find it hard not to do what you did - tears always get me.

 

[Dizzy]

I was at my bf's grandfather wake last tues. As these things usually go, we were a little.. tipsy and emptied what was left of the buffet into a bin bag!! Along the way, a lady comes up to me asking for 50p for some chips (fries)... So I give her my bin bag of food! No way was I going to give her money. Next thing, she is asking my bf's bro for 50p for some milk!! Cheeky!

I am unfortunatley sceptical. I used to be able to see the Big Issue sellers injecting from my window when I was a student (lovely accomadation, I know!!), so would not give even them my money!!

*Big Issue is a magazine homeless people can sell on the street to passers-by*

 

[Meggie]

Awww, you've got a good heart.

I never give money, I'm too cynical. But I will go buy them a sub or one of those hot meals from the grocery store. That woman I might've bought some baby food. At least then if she's after the cash, she'd have to work for it a bit by trying to convince the store to give her a cash refund.

 

[SummerRiot]

GRR, I really really dispise those type of people. its NOT hard to get hired by McDonalds to earn some cash!!

Working with Parking Enforcement, I came acorss those types every single day. within a couple of months, they all knew who I was and would shy away each time I walked down the street. It sickens me how people can do this. There are SHELTERS built specifically for these needy people, and yet they decide to turn to the public for help.

There was one homeless lady on the street up in TO that was making MORE THEN ME(with a full time job) panhandling, she lived in an upscale apartment etc.. now THAT makes me mad lol!! There was a news report on this lady a few years back, possibly some of you have heard of her. Because she was exposed by the media, she had to relocated.

I never give any of them my change, it just encourages them to do more panhandling, omg.. during work those jerks would panhandle to KIDS that are 12yrs old and under!! THat always made me mad.. lol

I was out of uniform walking Riot downtown one day and one of the heroin addicts came up and started touching Riot.. I told him to stop because I didn't want Riot handled by him.. I think Riot knew I wasn't impressed by this guy because had that "back off" stare on him.. i think once the guy realized who I was he ran and told his other drug addict friends and they resorted back to pan handling a few streets over.

*rant over* lmao!

 

[Dizzy]

Ok.. In response to riots post, fair enough, it is awful that they are begging, but I work in a substance misuse centre, and it isn't that easy to just get up and get a job if you are addicted to drugs...

There is ALOT more too it, and working here has certainly opened my eyes to the REALITY. You can't just turn your nose up and hope the problem goes away. Often these people have had lives you couldn't even imagine.

And no, I won't give them money, as I said, but I understand they have far more issues than just needing a hit!

 

[SummerRiot]

The thing is, we have drug addict centers where they could go to get their lives straightened out. We have all of the centers they'd every want!
A woman abuse shelter, a homeless shelter, a food shelter.. even welfare agancies, but they still prefer to look sad and sit on the street.

I also knew backgrounds on most of these people and know that they just dont help themself, even though FREE help is there for them.

It is very sad. Also, I know not all of the homeless are addicted to drugs, I just posted about the Heroin addict, because that was the only occurance I've had with them when having Riot with me

BTW, your pup is adorable lmoa love the eyes!

 

[Dizzy]

Riot - I am not having a go, I am in a BAD mood If it was as simple as walking into a shelter and getting fixed, we would have no drug abusers and no homeless people


*thanks - she is pretty gorgeous *

 

[avenlee]

I have never been approached before, but I probably would have given a buck or two also.

Oh, and sometimes its hard to get a job when you can't provide an address or even social security card to the employer.

 

[DanL]

I wouldn't give money but I've offered to buy them a burger or something. At that point, they move on because a lot of them don't want food.

 

[Chithedobe]

In one of my behavioral science classes we had to read a book called "Nickle and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America". It was written by a Barbara Ehrenreich, who decided to dedicate several months of her life to this "study". She went to several cities within the US with minimal money in her pocket for start up costs. Then she would try to find an apartment (many times rented rooms by the day in the worst of the worst areas) and try to find gainful employment. I think she spent a month in each city. Now I wish I hadn't sold the book back.
It was written with a VERY liberal slant and I had to take it with a grain of salt because I am a conservative but slant aside it really changed my views on certain aspects of those who are addicted, who are homeless or just very, very poor.
For many it's not just so easy to get a job at McDonald's and even with a minimum wage job, full time, if there is a family involved, it is very difficult to make ends meet. Additionally, she contacted shelters for help, and although they were well intentioned did not have enough resources to help everyone in need. Soup kitchens on Wednesday are great but pretty non-effective when you're starving on Monday.

 

[Becca_]

When we was in NYC I felt so bad for all the homeless people we seen and the beggers. Just broke my heart. I wanted to give each one money but my husband wouldnt let me. Then later that night as we was living the area I seen a man I had seen earlier begging. Instead of needing his cane to walk as he did earlier, he was now carrying the cane, swinging it around as he walked, very well without it.

When my youngest daughter first married, had their baby and lived in a apt she would ask to borrow money for food. Soon figured out she and her husband would then go eat out and still have no groceries in their house. I stopped giving money. When she said they had no food and needed to borrow money, I brought her groceries. When she said she needed money for gas in the car I took them to the station and we put gas in the car. She learned quick not to ask me unless they really needed something. I dont mind helping but I'm not helping them or anyone else be watseful. I want to know where my money goes. I think I might have asked the lady what size diapers she needs.

 

[Dixie]

I agree, never give money, give them what they specifically need. IE- take them to McD's for a hot meal, if they need clothes take them to the Goodwill store or Salvation Army to purchase clothes. If they need a job help them get a job, if they need a place to live help them get low-income housing.

50 years ago when people were honest you could give a dollar or two and see them in the burger joint eating a burger. But now days you have to actually give them what they need, not the money to get it.

Also I like your idea of when they ask for gas money, you take them to the station fill up their cars, and if they need food, you take them grocery shopping. they may not have cash but at least they have what they need.

-Dix

 

[Buckshot]

There comes a point when we continue to reproduce passed our ability to provide. In nature a parent that cant provide for their offspring dies along with the offspring and that line of genetics ends. This thins the gene pool of the organism and makes for stronger generations. To provide sustanance for the weak, weakens the gene pool of the organism and creates an unnatural enviroment that it can only survive in with assistance or outside help. If for some reason this outside interference ends the organism dies.

Although, I think your actions were very caring but they didnt make this woman earn to provide for her children. With no outside help I doubt she would just die, but rather find a different way to survive.

I can not understand how anyone can be homeless in the great abundance that is avaliable now days, specifically in America. I could lose every thing I own, be placed in a state where I am not familliar and have enough money to feed myself and a couple of others in a matter of days and could get food for those days with no outside help.

In America there is no homeless. There is drunks and drug addicts. Until they get a handle on that, they are unhelpable. There are many organizations who help those with mental/physical illness. Most people who appear homeless are there because their families have given up on them because they refuse to help themselves.