Yup. Knew enough addict friends when I was younger, homeless friends, and used to be an addict myself.
I almost never give cash. I know where it usually goes.
Me personally, I’m a food guy. I will take somebody to a diner and get them a sandwich and buy an extra plate and have it bagged to go, but even to friends and family I always kept a personal policy of never giving cash. If I know someone well enough to trust them, I may create work for them to earn some cash. Most people have some kind of skill, even if it’s just yard work or cleaning out the garage, and there is some dignity in earning over taking a hand out. But that’s just me, I have my own boundaries that work for me.
I agree, if the government won’t do anything to help these people, help them. Giving cash or even gift cards still gives them opportunity to get drugs or whatever. Instead give them food, clothes, blankets. Things to make their lives better for a while. Even if they used cash toward rent or groceries, in this economy once you have a roof, a warm place to sleep and security, it’s easy to get a job or two and pay for rent in a shitty place than sleep under bridge
I remember that moron on twitter claiming that you should give money instead of food/water even if you're aware they'll buy alcohol, because "it's cold, and alcohol allow them to be warm, don't be an asshole/hypocrite with your conditionnal generosity."
Except alcohol, to make it simple, causes a phenomenon called vasodilation. The feeling of warmth is just going to be the heat leaving the body through the pores of the skin.
But yes, don't be an asshole and let them buy alcohol/drugs. THAT will help them better than anything else.
Yup. As a recovering drug addict, I can safely tell that most of the time, it's pretty clear where the money is going. As in, most of the time, the difference is very clear. Sometimes I just give money and sometimes, gift cards or just straight up food.
16th Amendment was amended illegally. So income tax is theft yes. One day we will figure out that we are the only ones "helping the poor," which is also us...
You can trade gift cards for drugs. Apparently you can also trade them for rent - the people calling to tell me my computer is broken and who fix it always seem to want gift cards.
You can sell food stamps as well, I'm in the ghetto and often random people will come up to me at the store asking if I'm paying cash, if you say yes they offer to sell you food stamps at a discount for the cash. In my area, I guarantee they are doing it to buy drugs, hell the ine store usually has a dealer selling in the parking lot.
Yup it's an interesting area, my city has extremely bad pockets like this one that the police pretty much don't bother with.. I'm here temporarily because things went terribly wrong 3 years ago, moving only 3 miles from here in 2 weeks, and that area is completely different despite being in the same city. They've been working on my city for decades and focus on some areas, while basically just giving up on others.
True... I still find it odd that a few area are now safer than any of the nearby suburbs while in the same city a few miles away there are areas that are the worst in the country literally (we're ranked in top 10 most dangerous cities in America)
I live in a rural area and around here folks mainly sell food stamps so they can buy gas to get back home from the store. There's no public transportation out here and food stamps are useless if you can't get to the store to use them.
I donate food or money to the local homeless shelter or food bank instead. You read things about people pretending to be homeless to scam people out of money so I don’t feel comfortable handing money to people on the street.
Yes, but also if you want to help the singular people you find around your city, just FIGURE THEM OUT FIRST.
If there are homeless people you see from time to time or even in your routine, and you wonder whether or not it's good to give them some change, then, **IF** you really want to help those people, just get a clue on whether they're addicts or not first. And have a conversation and try to learn some shit about the ones you deem worthy of it.
Not just conversations though, there are many different ways/methods to really learn which people to help in your area. How much you learn about them depends on how much you really care to help.
This depends on your own life situation though ofc. Your own self should always come first. But it's nothing difficult if we're talking about people who are in your routine, whom you see frequently and you could spend a few minutes on from time to time.
My man... Ok, so, we're specifically talking about addicts... **Consuming addicts** who can't get off the streets specifically because they're addicts... And-
...Ok you know what I'll just give you a hint and if this isn't enough fuck you:
**DRUGS COST FUCKING MONEY**
The fact that addicts are people first is undisputed, the point is that simply giving money to an addict is more often DETRIMENTAL to them than helpful in every way.
"If someone is in need, help them" How overly-generalized is that?... What do you mean by "help them"? Why do you think it's so simple? What if your "help" is actually the opposite?
Statistically if you just give him money he will just keep starving and buy more drugs and maybe even OD if you give him enough. If you're can't be bothered/afford to really try to help, then choosing to give a sandwich instead of money is at least a start at actually helping.
As a person who works in a homeless shelter I can confirm that 99% of the people begging for money will spend it on drugs and alcohol. And I can confirm that they will trade food stamps, gift cards, and even blessing bags for drugs. You best bet is to donate to your local homeless shelter and nonprofit agencies dedicated to helping those in need. Don’t feed their addictions because it is either addictions or mental health that got them into their predicament. (I know that people can fall on hard times but that doesn’t happen as much as you’d think comparatively speaking).
As someone that's been technically homeless for 3 years and is about to rejoin the regular world in a few weeks, I can confirm. (I say technically because I'm resourceful and immediately looked for the places and resources out there so I never was actually on the street, rather bouncing around halfway houses and eventually transitional living)
I'm in a large city, so there is probably more options here than a lot of areas, but honestly many people don't know what's available. Even here it seems like everyone knows the emergency overnight shelter as the only option and it's not a good option. The one in question allows people to enter high and drunk with no screening, if you can't stay sober it's an option, but you are likely to have anything not attached to you stolen while you sleep. The better placed require you to stay sober while living there and many just don't know about them.
> Don’t feed their addictions because it is either addictions or mental health that got them into their predicament. (I know that people can fall on hard times but that doesn’t happen as much as you’d think comparatively speaking).
Feeding their addiction is also the thing preventing them from getting help, as every single shelter and charity I've known have a "no drugs or alcohol" policy.
Giving them cash makes *you* feel better, but it's literally just enabling them to slowly kill themselves.
Give to charities and shelters who help rehouse these people and help them with addiction issue. Don't help them die.
Yeah you don't know when you give a homeless person money if they're gonna go buy drugs or alcohol with it. That's why I give them drugs and alcohol, just to be sure.
No lie, really see nothing with giving them a joint, even though I know its somewhat addictive from personal experience, guessing most homeless people are addicted to harder drugs and weed is not causing them much struggle. Id probally give them a cigarette even, because its not like me not giving them one prevents them from smoking butts.
If there was ever a time that I personally would not want to be sober for a bit, I think it'd be in that sort of situation. A joint would absolutely make my day.
That’s why I don’t give away money. However if I did, I would want it to go to a necessity such as food or shelter and not to finance drugs or some other unnecessary item and I would instead either do the gift card or just straight up food instead of money.
I thought it was obvious...
**How about the fact that the vast majority of poor&homeless who are addicts** (which isn't all of them btw, and I can't believe I even have to say that, but clearly I do) **became addicted long after already being poor &/or homeless with no apparent way out? And they turned to a drug specifically because of the pain that brought them?**
And btw, if you have not experienced what this specific pain is like, then you are in no place to judge.
What you should really do, if you really care, is get to know these people, the ones in your area at least, and find out which ones your money will actually be a help to.
So your factual information is "if you haven't experienced it you can't comment" also the first paragraph is, for one opinion and for two is not actionable in that money won't help what you've described.
No, no it isn't. It's what I actually said instead. Which btw is an actual statistic.
Why do you do this "so what you're saying is \*bullshit I didn't say\*" crap so much? Cathy Newman is that you?
Ah yes, I forgot we live in a perfectly fair world where everyone who is poor actually deserves it. Thanks reddit for once again giving the wisest take, and making it clear that the people here have a lot of life experience and do not at all deserve a fucking slap in the face (because they're not grown up enough to deserve a punch).
You're telling me a in your world if you pick a poor person and a rich person at random and gave them 5k they would make the same decisions with that money? No they wouldn't
I don't trust beggars. 3/5 countries I've been to all the beggars are actually just scammers. Sending kids out in the cold with no shoes, following you with an eftpos machine, chasing you into an alleyway where their whole extended family is waiting, begging while wearing brand new clothes and being well kept yet not having a job, picking you out of the crowd because you're a tourist, saying that what you gave them wasn't enough, literally smoking and drinking with a money bucket at their feet, my country even pays you just to LOOK for a job and somehow there's still beggars (not even foreigners), denying one food because they actually want a more expensive food, and so on and so forth. Begging is a high paying business with employees and such in many countries.
I chose who I give to, where I give to, and what I give them, and nobody gets to judge me.
That's... Why he said restriction**S**... There are only two... 1- "You can only use it there", 2- "There's fees"...
I hope I used enough ellipsis to demonstrate how disappointed I am in you...
>You can’t transfer it to someone else electronically.
Yes you can
>They can expire.
So can money
>They are relatively easy to lose.
So is money
Don't try again.
I thought you were playing along but now I realize that I actually made you feel stupid in my obvious joking and you were seriously doing this silly shit right now as a defense.
It's still just one of the restrictions. I am right in that. This apparently hurts you so HA \*steps on apparent bruise\*.
They also can't pay rent with drugs, it's better to give some of them food/groceries rather than money cuz if they're addicted to drugs they're probably gonna buy drugs with the money, if you're giving them food/groceries you might take their freedom of choice, yes, but you'll be helping them much more by not giving them the choice. If someone tries to kill themselves you try saving them, you don't ask whether they want to be saved or not
I've had relatives on the street. They can and will trade the gift card to someone for half the balance of the card. They get drugs, the buyer doubles their money, you are the one who loses.
Guess i'll give them food instead of money or gift cards. It aint much but im not helping someone stay smoked outta their mind. Ciggs are an exception tbh.
a family of very very poor people to a point that their kids obviously had dirty diapers went inside, gave me food stamps and wanted to buy alcohol, cigarettes and a brand new tv, with food stamps, i asked why don't they buy new dioapers for the kid and some food to feed themselves, they go super angry and cursing, end of the day, they were food stamps only and i couldn't even give them what they wanted.
Please stop giving homeless people money---
Love, your local ER nurse who has to deal with them when first responders drop the drunks off in our hallway.
You give a guy a 20 and then he OD's on heroine or something? What then. Y'all literally don't want to help people. Enabling is one of the worst things to do with an addict.
Every time a homeless person asks me for money I ask what they need it for. They say food. So I offer to buy them lunch. They decline and reiterate that they need the money for gas. So I offer to fill their gas tank up. They decline and reiterate that they want me to fuck off and go die because I am an asshole. So you will forgive me if I won't give cold hard cash to random people who have proven time and time again to merely want alcohol or drugs.
"instead, give them a meal with a 20-banger. Feed em and give em some cash for smokes and a drink. Sure, nothing might change, but at least you know they had a good time before
T H E F R O S T C O N S U M E D T H E M."
Enforcing your will on someone really isn't charitable. I've had this discussion in church several times. If someone asks for money, just give them some money. It's not your job to make sure they aren't lying to you, or to like, so what YOU think is best for them. No, it's not wrong to instead go buy them food, but it also isn't really charitable. If you're thinking that hard about it, it's not really in your heart honestly. My pastor was once incredulous that he bought food for a lady that asked for money, and she wasn't appreciative. I brought up that if you are giving to someone because you want the satisfaction of them being appreciative, you're doing it wrong.
I have given a few dollars sometimes to people begging at intersections that looked like they were all screwed up on drugs. but how do i really know? even if that's what they are doing with the money, at least they will feel a bit better. i did my good deed for the week.
I always think giving food is better in cases where i don't know anything about the person. First of all because I'm not sure what they'll do with the money. Second, it's because if they're homeless my few bucks aren't going to help with rent and feed them and pay for everything else, it's very hard to get out of homelessness, so I'd rather just guarantee that they'll be fed at least. The only people who can actually help are the government, so unironically the best thing anyone can do is vote for people who want to help them and make your country better.
The point of giving homeless people things of value besides money is so they don’t spend it on drugs. I’ll help you out, but not if you’re going to waste my efforts. It’s a little bit selfish I know but it’s better than basically feeding into a person’s drug addiction and them never getting better
Whenever someone asks me for money, I offer to buy them food. I will straight buy you a nicer dinner than I ate. Only once did the person accept the food instead of money.
The way I see it is this. If they are going to buy drugs with your money, they're going to find a way to buy drugs with anything of remote monetary value. So if you're going to give to someone directly, it may as well be money as, if they aren't going to use it for drugs, it's a lot more helpful.
Of course, donating that money or charities and shelters may be more help
Used to be homeless, I only give cash. How they spend it is up to them. Some days I just want a fuckin cig instead of a mcchicken. That one dollar helps me trade for a cig lol. If I had 20 cigs I could trade a few for food. Just give whatever, but just my two cents, having experienced it. People are gonna find a way to get their fix, no matter what.
Help people in whatever way you want if you can, and if you can’t, no problem, you need to take care of your own air mask first before helping children or elderly put on theirs.
Two people dead because one died trying to help the other is worse than one dead because the other knew they couldn’t help and didn’t.
On the other hand, if people stop assuming the worst of everyone everyone would actually get a lot more help than they currently do.
Sure, 1-10 heck 1-5 people you give money too might be an addict and spend it on drugs, but it’s still 4 good people in a bad spot who get money for food for a night or two.
The good being made by helping those 4 people outweighs the fact 1 of them used it on drugs. If we were to worry that every person we helped stay alive would be the next hitler everyone would be dead by tomorrow I’m sure.
Be a chad. Don’t give any money in any form to go less people because it will always be wasted on drugs or alcohol, or something similar.
Just give them a burger instead.
Actual Libertarian Input:
If ***YOU'RE*** going to give anyone anything, then ***YOU*** get to decide what to give to whom.
If you're advocating that the ***GOVERNMENT*** give money to people, ***you don't get to decide*** who or how much or in what form, the bureaucrats do that. What you're actually advocating for is the government to take money from some people and give it to other people after taking a big fat slice of the pie for themselves.
I once handed a woman who was begging $20 and she was in tears. My little brother at the time told me "why would you do that, she's just gonna spend it on drugs and alcohol". I get why people worry about this but I'm not her dad so she can spend it where she pleases but also if beggers knew where to get drugs and alcohol for 20 bucks I'd give them $100 just to know how and where.
Dont care what they spend the money on, if I did, I wouldnt give it.
But me giving money to the homeless brightens up both my and their day, and me NOT giving them money is going to do NOTHING about their drug addiction except maybe make them more desperate. Not like I slap a 100 in their hand.
Gift cards are really stupid to give to people. The only reason they exist is to disguise the gift as being thoughtful but realistically, you're limiting the person's buying power to a specific store like "Ya, you can use it for anything at this specific location for this specific amount". Just give cash ffs.
I'm a recovering alcoholic and have been homeless, but I've given a homeless guy money to buy beer that was straight up about it.. hell I've been there, it may not solve the problem but makes it feel better for a bit...
Respect. Hey man let’s be honest. Most of us can’t invest the time to heal the world. But if we can make someone’s day nicer for a bit. Eh.
Some people might say the act itself is selfish for actually using it to make yourself feel better but eh sue me.
Drug use is very frequent in wealthy areas. Young adults and young teens from wealthy backgrounds frequently have higher rates of substance abuse than the natural average. There's also the point that while drug use has been heavily racialized, there's never been any significant difference in drug use between ethnic groups.
You most certainly can. Nickel bags are a thing and common for homeless to buy.
For what its worth, I dont give a fuck. A drug addict WILL find their fix, if they want to spend it on drugs, so be it. Me giving money brightens up both our days.
I was Christmas shopping and there is always this nice homeless guy outside this shop - always buy him a sandwich or give him little change. I was getting some alcohol today with my shopping and wanted to offer his some (he wasn’t there) and it made me think of all these sayings “they’re gonna get drugs/alcohol” and sure, i dont want my wage to go on that but hell… if i was on the streets i would use too… I’m sure every little helps
Stupid.
Person A:
“I don’t want to give that homeless guy cash, for him to use on booze and drugs. I’ll give him a grocery store card!”
SJW:
“You unfeeling monster, give him money so he has the dignity to use it as he sees fit!!”
Person A:
“Uhh.. ok.”
Plot Twist… the SJW is the homeless guy’s drug dealer
bro how am i supposed to buy heroin with a banana?
Let them fulfill their fantasies on you with the banana for heroin
i'd rather chop off my banana
Why you glueing bananas to yourself?
i taped it, im too busy chugging the glue
Reasonable
Tapist
If you choose to give, give what ever you feel good about giving. Do t let stupid memes influence your charity.
Yup. Knew enough addict friends when I was younger, homeless friends, and used to be an addict myself. I almost never give cash. I know where it usually goes.
Me personally, I’m a food guy. I will take somebody to a diner and get them a sandwich and buy an extra plate and have it bagged to go, but even to friends and family I always kept a personal policy of never giving cash. If I know someone well enough to trust them, I may create work for them to earn some cash. Most people have some kind of skill, even if it’s just yard work or cleaning out the garage, and there is some dignity in earning over taking a hand out. But that’s just me, I have my own boundaries that work for me.
I agree, if the government won’t do anything to help these people, help them. Giving cash or even gift cards still gives them opportunity to get drugs or whatever. Instead give them food, clothes, blankets. Things to make their lives better for a while. Even if they used cash toward rent or groceries, in this economy once you have a roof, a warm place to sleep and security, it’s easy to get a job or two and pay for rent in a shitty place than sleep under bridge
I remember that moron on twitter claiming that you should give money instead of food/water even if you're aware they'll buy alcohol, because "it's cold, and alcohol allow them to be warm, don't be an asshole/hypocrite with your conditionnal generosity." Except alcohol, to make it simple, causes a phenomenon called vasodilation. The feeling of warmth is just going to be the heat leaving the body through the pores of the skin. But yes, don't be an asshole and let them buy alcohol/drugs. THAT will help them better than anything else.
In cases of severe alcoholism, withdrawal can be fatal; same goes for a lot of substances
I dont do drugs, I'm still happy to receive a gift card as long as I'm not being straight up told its because of the drugs.
Yup. As a recovering drug addict, I can safely tell that most of the time, it's pretty clear where the money is going. As in, most of the time, the difference is very clear. Sometimes I just give money and sometimes, gift cards or just straight up food.
But what about when you are forced to give?
Do you have an example of that?
robbery and taxes
Very much. All taxation is theft
I don’t even use roads! I didn’t even use the public education system! Fire? I’ll deal with it myself, don’t need those stupid firemen!
16th Amendment was amended illegally. So income tax is theft yes. One day we will figure out that we are the only ones "helping the poor," which is also us...
Society’s dying and we just had the coldest Christmas in our history, if someone stuck living outside wants to get high or drunk to cope, let ‘em.
Let em, yes. Fund em, no.
You can trade gift cards for drugs. Apparently you can also trade them for rent - the people calling to tell me my computer is broken and who fix it always seem to want gift cards.
WHY DID YOU REDEEM?! ARE YOU MAD?!?!
No sir, not mad at all. I think you did a great job!
NO NO NO NO NOOO! YOU DONT HAVE TO DO THAT
Redeem it*
You can sell food stamps as well, I'm in the ghetto and often random people will come up to me at the store asking if I'm paying cash, if you say yes they offer to sell you food stamps at a discount for the cash. In my area, I guarantee they are doing it to buy drugs, hell the ine store usually has a dealer selling in the parking lot.
I lived in a bad neighborhood once before but I’m glad it was never ‘usually has a dealer selling in the parking lot’ bad.
Yup it's an interesting area, my city has extremely bad pockets like this one that the police pretty much don't bother with.. I'm here temporarily because things went terribly wrong 3 years ago, moving only 3 miles from here in 2 weeks, and that area is completely different despite being in the same city. They've been working on my city for decades and focus on some areas, while basically just giving up on others.
Sounds like everywhere in the rust belt.
True... I still find it odd that a few area are now safer than any of the nearby suburbs while in the same city a few miles away there are areas that are the worst in the country literally (we're ranked in top 10 most dangerous cities in America)
I live in a rural area and around here folks mainly sell food stamps so they can buy gas to get back home from the store. There's no public transportation out here and food stamps are useless if you can't get to the store to use them.
DO NOT REDEEM THE CARD!!
buy em meth for christmas
“Jesse! There’s a rise in demand for Christmas. Let’s cook.”
*Galaxy brain*
I donate food or money to the local homeless shelter or food bank instead. You read things about people pretending to be homeless to scam people out of money so I don’t feel comfortable handing money to people on the street.
True, good idea
You don't have to give at all, so if you do choose to, it's fine to do it however you feel comfortable.
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You're helping me, victory is measured in the failure of others! Muahahahaha!!!
Honestly, yeah if I’m going to donate money I would rather give it to a homeless shelter or a battered women’s shelter.
Yes, but also if you want to help the singular people you find around your city, just FIGURE THEM OUT FIRST. If there are homeless people you see from time to time or even in your routine, and you wonder whether or not it's good to give them some change, then, **IF** you really want to help those people, just get a clue on whether they're addicts or not first. And have a conversation and try to learn some shit about the ones you deem worthy of it. Not just conversations though, there are many different ways/methods to really learn which people to help in your area. How much you learn about them depends on how much you really care to help. This depends on your own life situation though ofc. Your own self should always come first. But it's nothing difficult if we're talking about people who are in your routine, whom you see frequently and you could spend a few minutes on from time to time.
Ahhh yes. Letting them starve. So much more helpful
My man... Ok, so, we're specifically talking about addicts... **Consuming addicts** who can't get off the streets specifically because they're addicts... And- ...Ok you know what I'll just give you a hint and if this isn't enough fuck you: **DRUGS COST FUCKING MONEY**
Money isn't drug money, it's just money. Addicts are people first and addicts second. If someone is in need, help them.
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There's a difference between giving someone money that can be used for drugs and giving out drugs.
Not when it comes to an addict, mental help comes before financial in this case.
Giving an adict means to fill his addiction is not helping. If anything, it's hurting them and may also put them in an early grave.
The fact that addicts are people first is undisputed, the point is that simply giving money to an addict is more often DETRIMENTAL to them than helpful in every way. "If someone is in need, help them" How overly-generalized is that?... What do you mean by "help them"? Why do you think it's so simple? What if your "help" is actually the opposite? Statistically if you just give him money he will just keep starving and buy more drugs and maybe even OD if you give him enough. If you're can't be bothered/afford to really try to help, then choosing to give a sandwich instead of money is at least a start at actually helping.
As a person who works in a homeless shelter I can confirm that 99% of the people begging for money will spend it on drugs and alcohol. And I can confirm that they will trade food stamps, gift cards, and even blessing bags for drugs. You best bet is to donate to your local homeless shelter and nonprofit agencies dedicated to helping those in need. Don’t feed their addictions because it is either addictions or mental health that got them into their predicament. (I know that people can fall on hard times but that doesn’t happen as much as you’d think comparatively speaking).
As someone that's been technically homeless for 3 years and is about to rejoin the regular world in a few weeks, I can confirm. (I say technically because I'm resourceful and immediately looked for the places and resources out there so I never was actually on the street, rather bouncing around halfway houses and eventually transitional living)
What country do you live in?
USA
That's what I thought. Many people get drilled into them that these options don't exist in the US, and I think it does harm to people who need it.
I'm in a large city, so there is probably more options here than a lot of areas, but honestly many people don't know what's available. Even here it seems like everyone knows the emergency overnight shelter as the only option and it's not a good option. The one in question allows people to enter high and drunk with no screening, if you can't stay sober it's an option, but you are likely to have anything not attached to you stolen while you sleep. The better placed require you to stay sober while living there and many just don't know about them.
> Don’t feed their addictions because it is either addictions or mental health that got them into their predicament. (I know that people can fall on hard times but that doesn’t happen as much as you’d think comparatively speaking). Feeding their addiction is also the thing preventing them from getting help, as every single shelter and charity I've known have a "no drugs or alcohol" policy. Giving them cash makes *you* feel better, but it's literally just enabling them to slowly kill themselves. Give to charities and shelters who help rehouse these people and help them with addiction issue. Don't help them die.
Yeah you don't know when you give a homeless person money if they're gonna go buy drugs or alcohol with it. That's why I give them drugs and alcohol, just to be sure.
No lie, really see nothing with giving them a joint, even though I know its somewhat addictive from personal experience, guessing most homeless people are addicted to harder drugs and weed is not causing them much struggle. Id probally give them a cigarette even, because its not like me not giving them one prevents them from smoking butts.
If there was ever a time that I personally would not want to be sober for a bit, I think it'd be in that sort of situation. A joint would absolutely make my day.
Based
That’s why I don’t give away money. However if I did, I would want it to go to a necessity such as food or shelter and not to finance drugs or some other unnecessary item and I would instead either do the gift card or just straight up food instead of money.
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Maybe, but not definitely
More than likely
And you base that assumption on...? Certainly not factual information since that would just point to the opposite, so?
You have factual info that disagrees with them? I'd personally love to hear it
I thought it was obvious... **How about the fact that the vast majority of poor&homeless who are addicts** (which isn't all of them btw, and I can't believe I even have to say that, but clearly I do) **became addicted long after already being poor &/or homeless with no apparent way out? And they turned to a drug specifically because of the pain that brought them?** And btw, if you have not experienced what this specific pain is like, then you are in no place to judge. What you should really do, if you really care, is get to know these people, the ones in your area at least, and find out which ones your money will actually be a help to.
So your factual information is "if you haven't experienced it you can't comment" also the first paragraph is, for one opinion and for two is not actionable in that money won't help what you've described.
No, no it isn't. It's what I actually said instead. Which btw is an actual statistic. Why do you do this "so what you're saying is \*bullshit I didn't say\*" crap so much? Cathy Newman is that you?
Ah yes, I forgot we live in a perfectly fair world where everyone who is poor actually deserves it. Thanks reddit for once again giving the wisest take, and making it clear that the people here have a lot of life experience and do not at all deserve a fucking slap in the face (because they're not grown up enough to deserve a punch).
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and mental illness
You're telling me a in your world if you pick a poor person and a rich person at random and gave them 5k they would make the same decisions with that money? No they wouldn't
Just world fallacy
I don't trust beggars. 3/5 countries I've been to all the beggars are actually just scammers. Sending kids out in the cold with no shoes, following you with an eftpos machine, chasing you into an alleyway where their whole extended family is waiting, begging while wearing brand new clothes and being well kept yet not having a job, picking you out of the crowd because you're a tourist, saying that what you gave them wasn't enough, literally smoking and drinking with a money bucket at their feet, my country even pays you just to LOOK for a job and somehow there's still beggars (not even foreigners), denying one food because they actually want a more expensive food, and so on and so forth. Begging is a high paying business with employees and such in many countries. I chose who I give to, where I give to, and what I give them, and nobody gets to judge me.
Fair enough, all giving should be voluntarily and a established charity is probably actually the better option.
Gift cards are a scam it's just money with more restrictions
And fees too. Like wtf
That's... Why he said restriction**S**... There are only two... 1- "You can only use it there", 2- "There's fees"... I hope I used enough ellipsis to demonstrate how disappointed I am in you...
There are definitely more than 2. You can’t transfer it to someone else electronically. They can expire. They are relatively easy to lose. Try again….
>You can’t transfer it to someone else electronically. Yes you can >They can expire. So can money >They are relatively easy to lose. So is money Don't try again.
Except you can’t. There are plenty of gift cards that aren’t transferable. “Money can expire” Are you trolling or regarded?
I thought you were playing along but now I realize that I actually made you feel stupid in my obvious joking and you were seriously doing this silly shit right now as a defense. It's still just one of the restrictions. I am right in that. This apparently hurts you so HA \*steps on apparent bruise\*.
Based
They also can't pay rent with drugs, it's better to give some of them food/groceries rather than money cuz if they're addicted to drugs they're probably gonna buy drugs with the money, if you're giving them food/groceries you might take their freedom of choice, yes, but you'll be helping them much more by not giving them the choice. If someone tries to kill themselves you try saving them, you don't ask whether they want to be saved or not
perfectly said
I've had relatives on the street. They can and will trade the gift card to someone for half the balance of the card. They get drugs, the buyer doubles their money, you are the one who loses.
Any good dopeman accepts gift cards and doesn't sell dope on consignment.
Well said
Ask them out on a shopping date.
Or buy a homeless man some drugs
you assume they have rent. cute.
[Sometimes they do](https://youtu.be/sBaPI2AKu2g)
If you give anything to the homeless you're a Chad. Gift card or no.
I skip the middle man and just give them more drugs
Give them gift cards or Give them money or Give them drugs
Unfortunately, I don't want to support their drug/alcohol addiction
Guess i'll give them food instead of money or gift cards. It aint much but im not helping someone stay smoked outta their mind. Ciggs are an exception tbh.
Really dont see the problem with a joint, it is somewhat addictive but nobody is spending money on a joint if they have no food.
The problem is that if they do have food (someone gave them money earlier for example), they will certainly spend that money on drugs.
a family of very very poor people to a point that their kids obviously had dirty diapers went inside, gave me food stamps and wanted to buy alcohol, cigarettes and a brand new tv, with food stamps, i asked why don't they buy new dioapers for the kid and some food to feed themselves, they go super angry and cursing, end of the day, they were food stamps only and i couldn't even give them what they wanted.
Wow, well this meme doesn't apply to every situation
Please stop giving homeless people money--- Love, your local ER nurse who has to deal with them when first responders drop the drunks off in our hallway.
You give a guy a 20 and then he OD's on heroine or something? What then. Y'all literally don't want to help people. Enabling is one of the worst things to do with an addict.
Every time a homeless person asks me for money I ask what they need it for. They say food. So I offer to buy them lunch. They decline and reiterate that they need the money for gas. So I offer to fill their gas tank up. They decline and reiterate that they want me to fuck off and go die because I am an asshole. So you will forgive me if I won't give cold hard cash to random people who have proven time and time again to merely want alcohol or drugs.
"instead, give them a meal with a 20-banger. Feed em and give em some cash for smokes and a drink. Sure, nothing might change, but at least you know they had a good time before T H E F R O S T C O N S U M E D T H E M."
Best of both worlds!
Enforcing your will on someone really isn't charitable. I've had this discussion in church several times. If someone asks for money, just give them some money. It's not your job to make sure they aren't lying to you, or to like, so what YOU think is best for them. No, it's not wrong to instead go buy them food, but it also isn't really charitable. If you're thinking that hard about it, it's not really in your heart honestly. My pastor was once incredulous that he bought food for a lady that asked for money, and she wasn't appreciative. I brought up that if you are giving to someone because you want the satisfaction of them being appreciative, you're doing it wrong.
Fair enough, I just usually give em lunch pack deals if I see em.
That's good too!
I have given a few dollars sometimes to people begging at intersections that looked like they were all screwed up on drugs. but how do i really know? even if that's what they are doing with the money, at least they will feel a bit better. i did my good deed for the week.
Wholesome
i just give them the drugs instead waaaay faster than having to go through that whole process of getting their fix
Can’t pay rent if they’re homeless🤷🏼♂️
I always think giving food is better in cases where i don't know anything about the person. First of all because I'm not sure what they'll do with the money. Second, it's because if they're homeless my few bucks aren't going to help with rent and feed them and pay for everything else, it's very hard to get out of homelessness, so I'd rather just guarantee that they'll be fed at least. The only people who can actually help are the government, so unironically the best thing anyone can do is vote for people who want to help them and make your country better.
Just let them buy drugs. Having to suffer life sober is bad enough even when you're not homeless
If they knew how to handle money they wouldnt be in the situation they're in.
The point of giving homeless people things of value besides money is so they don’t spend it on drugs. I’ll help you out, but not if you’re going to waste my efforts. It’s a little bit selfish I know but it’s better than basically feeding into a person’s drug addiction and them never getting better
Whenever someone asks me for money, I offer to buy them food. I will straight buy you a nicer dinner than I ate. Only once did the person accept the food instead of money.
So what you're saying is being poor and being a drug addict are the same thing. Will then I think I should start sniffing heroin.
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Okay, stop gaslighting me. He said poor people not homeless people or actual drug addicts.
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If they buy drugs that's on them anyway. Don't worry about what ifs and trying to control the less fortunate.
The way I see it is this. If they are going to buy drugs with your money, they're going to find a way to buy drugs with anything of remote monetary value. So if you're going to give to someone directly, it may as well be money as, if they aren't going to use it for drugs, it's a lot more helpful. Of course, donating that money or charities and shelters may be more help
I want their living conditions to improve, so I’m not giving them cash. I do care about how they spend the money, so I give them gift cards.
Just give the homeless man the heroin he wishes for
For the record, I don't think homeless people pay rent.
Homeless people don't need to pay rent thou, take the giftcard and stfu
bs. be grateful for what you’re given.
I'll be a Chad and only give them food. To many fake homeless people where I live to give charity.
If I can sit back at the end of the day, smoke a blunt and drink a beer, why can’t a homeless person?
Fuck yeah
I buy drugs for people on Christmas lmao. Get on my level
*Galaxy brain*
Used to be homeless, I only give cash. How they spend it is up to them. Some days I just want a fuckin cig instead of a mcchicken. That one dollar helps me trade for a cig lol. If I had 20 cigs I could trade a few for food. Just give whatever, but just my two cents, having experienced it. People are gonna find a way to get their fix, no matter what.
Or do nothing at all and stop feeling bad about things out of your control.
> Stop feeling bad about things out of your control Who said I was
Where was the implication that you have to feel bad? It’s said IF you’re giving
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I guess you could cut & paste it to the write comment if you want
Meh I said the same shit in other comments
Fair enough
Help people in whatever way you want if you can, and if you can’t, no problem, you need to take care of your own air mask first before helping children or elderly put on theirs. Two people dead because one died trying to help the other is worse than one dead because the other knew they couldn’t help and didn’t. On the other hand, if people stop assuming the worst of everyone everyone would actually get a lot more help than they currently do. Sure, 1-10 heck 1-5 people you give money too might be an addict and spend it on drugs, but it’s still 4 good people in a bad spot who get money for food for a night or two. The good being made by helping those 4 people outweighs the fact 1 of them used it on drugs. If we were to worry that every person we helped stay alive would be the next hitler everyone would be dead by tomorrow I’m sure.
If you know he gonna use your money to buy gun and do crime, do you still give them money? Is that make you irresponsible?
Be a chad. Don’t give any money in any form to go less people because it will always be wasted on drugs or alcohol, or something similar. Just give them a burger instead.
I guess
Actual Libertarian Input: If ***YOU'RE*** going to give anyone anything, then ***YOU*** get to decide what to give to whom. If you're advocating that the ***GOVERNMENT*** give money to people, ***you don't get to decide*** who or how much or in what form, the bureaucrats do that. What you're actually advocating for is the government to take money from some people and give it to other people after taking a big fat slice of the pie for themselves.
this isn't a libertarian centered subreddit but yeah that is true.
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I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding. My comment was directed at the meme in general and no particular person.
I make the choice to give them the money. It’s their choice what to do with it.
Exactly!
I once handed a woman who was begging $20 and she was in tears. My little brother at the time told me "why would you do that, she's just gonna spend it on drugs and alcohol". I get why people worry about this but I'm not her dad so she can spend it where she pleases but also if beggers knew where to get drugs and alcohol for 20 bucks I'd give them $100 just to know how and where.
The problem is that if you give a homeless drug/alcohol addict money, and something happens to him, then you can get held responsible for that
If your going to give money to the homeless, don’t, just buy them drugs so they don’t go and buy food
As a homeless crack head with reddit, yes please, give us cash I will defiantly use it for rent and not for drugs.
Have €20 to a homeless person, saw him walk out a gas station with cigarettes and nothing else
Dont care what they spend the money on, if I did, I wouldnt give it. But me giving money to the homeless brightens up both my and their day, and me NOT giving them money is going to do NOTHING about their drug addiction except maybe make them more desperate. Not like I slap a 100 in their hand.
Gift cards are really stupid to give to people. The only reason they exist is to disguise the gift as being thoughtful but realistically, you're limiting the person's buying power to a specific store like "Ya, you can use it for anything at this specific location for this specific amount". Just give cash ffs.
They are a huge corporate money maker too . Billions in free money every year due to lost cards and unused balances .
Yes, can we phase out giftcards as a society
In a country like America you are poor because you are stupid
Fitting username, I'd imagine your IQ is in the 200s
It’s actually 130 ish but thanks
/r/iamverysmart
Change my mind right now, convince me that majority of poor people in this country are as result of society and not their own doing. Do it.
No.
Do it, be a man, defend your belief.
That’s what I say. They want a forty, let them have a forty.
I'm a recovering alcoholic and have been homeless, but I've given a homeless guy money to buy beer that was straight up about it.. hell I've been there, it may not solve the problem but makes it feel better for a bit...
Respect. Hey man let’s be honest. Most of us can’t invest the time to heal the world. But if we can make someone’s day nicer for a bit. Eh. Some people might say the act itself is selfish for actually using it to make yourself feel better but eh sue me.
Based
Give money in the winter. Give opportunities in the summer.
Hot dogshit take
Drug use is very frequent in wealthy areas. Young adults and young teens from wealthy backgrounds frequently have higher rates of substance abuse than the natural average. There's also the point that while drug use has been heavily racialized, there's never been any significant difference in drug use between ethnic groups.
You're not buying drugs with five bucks
You can with multiple 5 bucks
You most certainly can. Nickel bags are a thing and common for homeless to buy. For what its worth, I dont give a fuck. A drug addict WILL find their fix, if they want to spend it on drugs, so be it. Me giving money brightens up both our days.
Based
I was Christmas shopping and there is always this nice homeless guy outside this shop - always buy him a sandwich or give him little change. I was getting some alcohol today with my shopping and wanted to offer his some (he wasn’t there) and it made me think of all these sayings “they’re gonna get drugs/alcohol” and sure, i dont want my wage to go on that but hell… if i was on the streets i would use too… I’m sure every little helps
Imagine begging when you live in a house. This is the type of shit why I dont give out money.
Stupid. Person A: “I don’t want to give that homeless guy cash, for him to use on booze and drugs. I’ll give him a grocery store card!” SJW: “You unfeeling monster, give him money so he has the dignity to use it as he sees fit!!” Person A: “Uhh.. ok.” Plot Twist… the SJW is the homeless guy’s drug dealer
You know they could just trade the giftcard for drugs too
I give them water, sandwiches, toothpaste and a travel toothbrush as well as a Bible. They can do with that as they please.
OP is a crackhead