...but I gotta lay into this one for once.
I read this article over on Microsoft's Money Central Blog titled "Why I Gave a Dollar". She basically gives some stranger on the street a dollar, without much thought, as is often done, and has some snot in a large SUV drive by and call her a sucker. At least, she claims he did this. I personally have no doubt, but in a sense, and I hate to support the guy in the SUV, but he's most likely correct. She was a sucker, personally selfish, and has only exacerbated the problem of homelessness. You give someone on the street a dollar, you ARE by FACT encouraging the problem. Most of the homeless are NOT there out of need, but out of bad decision and sometimes, regularly out of choice. Homelessness should be no more encouraged than drug usage or other bad habits. My response to Donna's posting was this:
"Rest assured, if you give, you are exacerbating the situation. YOU are the ones who are perpetuating the problems of homeless. Only about 3-6% of those that are homeless are there because they have to be. The other 94%+ of those people are there because they've made bad decisions or by CHOICE.
In a sense, a strange ironic sense, because YOU want to feel better about yourself you give one of these people money. The chance you actually gave it to someone who honestly needs it and is trying to not need it by getting a job or something is almost non-existent.
If you honestly don't want to be a selfish giver, you need to take that dollar and give it to a food bank or other charity. Those charities get to know these people, especially the "chronically homeless", and honestly help those people in ways that are truly benificial to them. If you give a homeless person a dollar, you're doing more harm than good.
So really, you're the asshole, and the sucker. You're perpetuating and encouraging the behavior and the problem. In addition by giving that dollar to someone who most likely could have prevented being homeless, you're preventing that rare person that REALLY needs help from getting it.
When you do things like this, think past your selfish needs, and think about how to actually remedy the issue. That is, if you actually want to help solve the problem. Otherwise, be an asshole, and give the guy a dollar to make yourself feel bertter.
Feel free to flame now, you can argue the point, but that is the cold hard reality of the human condition."
One great responses that enlightens and actually provides good solutions:
"Sorry....having lived in Seattle for 5 years and working as a county inner city ED nurse for 10 years....I have to just laugh at most of you. What a bunch of smug self-riotous do gooders.....the giving is all about you isn't it.....how it makes YOU feel. I have spent countless years volunteering in various hell holes around the world and as result have no patience for most of the attitudes on here....not to mention Americans that think they are down on their luck. Working almost exclusively with entitled populations have taught me several things.....the main thing being giving anything to anyone for free does NOT help them. Oh it makes the giver pat himself on the back and go through their day feeling all good about themselves but it creates a seething resentment and low self esteem in the recipient that results in what I call "spiritual colonialism" It was a sobering day when I realized that my very hard earned tax money goes mostly to people that not only despise me but regard all those that hold steady jobs with the utmost contempt. To be fair, I will admit that about 5% of my patients are hard working, down on their luck .....they are what keep me in the business....the other 95% need to be cut off at the knees. Want to help people....donate to doctorswithoutborders or kiva.org or oxfam" by Jenn
Another entry that caught me:
"I agree that it's difficult not to give, I always do. There are ways that I have learned to spot the scamers and the real down and outs if you see a panhandler daily with a sign requesting money at the same location then chances are that they are just out to get a quick buck and not have to work for it, where I live there is a group of people that ride in a van and everyday they drop off "panhandlers" at various locations and then pick them up at days end. I can't tell you how many times I have handed over spare change or several dollars to them but no more, These people drive a better car than I do! then there are the real down and outs, you can tell them apart because they have that look about them, desperate, hungry and really not demanding much, The money I donate to these people is well worth it, I hope and pry to God that I am never in such a desperate situation, I applaud compassionate people who give with love in their heart, God Bless Them." by Albert Rivera
This comment was interesting, because if you do live in an area, you could possibly pick and choose the actual needy people. Then feeling better is an honest feeling. Better yet, you could go buy them some food, or point out the new needy person to a local assistance program of some sort. Usually though, those that whimsically give a dollar here or there don't think it through, and when they actually can do something to help, such as buying the person food or something, they're too busy. Seriously though people, get with the program and be honest to yourself, stop being selfish, and work with society to resolve this problem. You filthy stinking dollar doesn't do anything to help.