I have no issues with the guy, I just wonder how he fell into the homeless hole & why he can't get out of it... and also I'm not going to pass any moral judgements, because I'm reminded of that saying about "never judge a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins..." but I don't make $400 a day by working hard.
Also, I'm amazed how it's always the people who can least afford it who give money to beggars. Those of us with more than we need (and let's not mince words here either, that's me) do it the tax deductible way... the people who give him cash money get nothing except a warm fuzzy feeling.
Anyway, my experience was an interesting one; as a general rule I turn down people on the street who ask me for money, but about 5 years ago, on the 20th December (a day of some significance in the Golightly household), also the day of our office Christmas lunch, I was going to the dentist. A man approached me and asked for $2.80. I just said "no, sorry" and walked on. Then I thought about why he was asking for such a specific amount, so I turned back & asked him. He told me he'd just been released from Prison, had accommodation for two nights & was trying to get the funds together to stay somewhere over the Christmas break, and thought he'd have more luck if he asked for a small amount. I gave him $50 without even thinking about it.
My husband's boss says I was scammed. I don't care, I have to say. What do you think?
Thank you, doll, for the nice things you wrote.
ReplyDeleteHonest to goodness, you are truly so kind.
This is a tough one--your heart was sooo in the right place that I think regardless of what he was going to do with that money (hotel or not) that he was going to find a way to do it with or without you.
Okay, so maybe he ran a muck with that money--but maybe he didn't...
Perhaps you turned his life around--and just perhaps he saw the kindness in humanity for the first time in a long time...if ever.
Peace, love and happiness,
~Jo
"Diary Of A Sad Housewife"
When I was a student I would give them money.Now I don't.I think you make choices in life and something they did or didn't do put them on that path.I also had an unpleasant experience with a guy on Oxford street once who was asking for money saying he was starving.I went and bought him lunch (salad roll,water,coffee),took it back to him and he shouted at me and tossed it all in the bin -except the coffee.He wanted to buy booze.You can't help them by giving them loose change.The people who help them are the ones who go out at night and serve hot meals and give out blankets.Earning $400 a day literally sitting on your bottom in a filthy city is an incredible way to earn a living.The woman up the street from me had her fifth child over the weekend.She said she'll keep having them because the goverment(us) give her so much money on welfare.I have become horribly cynicle haven't I?!?And I can't spell either : )xx
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