Would this bother anyone here??

[jb666]

Yesterday, I was at a set of lights in Boston.. It's not uncommon for a homeless person to walk up to your car looking for change while you sit there..

Anyways, the window was about 2" down, and I heard someone say "Excuse me".. So I put my window down..

This guy puts a cup up and says "I'm from Haiti , could you spare $1?".

I wasn't too kind.. I was pissed that he would use a catastrophe like that to try to make a few bucks.. I hope he burns in Hell..

Maybe he WAS from Haiti, but I'm quite certain he didn't get survive the earthquake just to come pan-handle in downtown Boston... 

OK, I feel better now.

[Silver R/T]

that shows you how low some people can go. It's really hard to look at some of these bums on the corner but most of them can get a job and have all the limbs and live in USA- land of opportunity.
That's why my family came here years ago, to search for better life. We came here with whatever we wore on us that day.

[jb666]

that shows you how low some people can go. It's really hard to look at some of these bums on the corner but most of them can get a job and have all the limbs and live in USA- land of opportunity.
That's why my family came here years ago, to search for better life. We came here with whatever we wore on us that day.

Exactly.. But some of these guys see an opportunity to cash in and they jump on it. These low-life pieces of crap are making tax-free $$ and spending it on booze and doing it all in the name of a major catastrophe that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

[b5blue]

 

[nh_mopar_fan]

Yeah, I worked in Boston for 7 years and saw the same guys on the same corners every day, for years.

At some point, you gotta figure that's just the way they want it.

I lose sympathy at that point.

[b5blue]

I remember living in a nice tri-plex in a crappy part of town, the drunks next door to us would get into fights about who's turn it was to take the wheel chair and "ex nam. vet" cardboard sign down to the highway to beg!  Every morning they would push there stolen shopping cart around looking for cans and aluminum to steal.

[bull]

If there wasn't a social program for every problem imaginable in the US I could see giving money to "homeless" people. However, I have the feeling most of them make more than I do annually and it's all tax free.

[Silver R/T]

every time I see "vet needs help" I wonder how come US doesn't take care of it's veterans? What a bunch of crock, I don't like people who don't help themselves.

[b5blue]

We do! We take darn good care....I know, I'm a Vet. and have seen what is available. You have to want help and ask for it. I spoke to a man yesterday who was homeless just over a year ago, in the V.A.'s care he was nursed back to heath and wile under there care saved 3,500 of SSI to get a new start! Doing fine now and still has full care available. Drunks just want to be Drunks at some level. 

[skip68]

The thing I hate about driving the General Lee around is that's what you get alot.  Everybody thinks you have money.  I never give money to those that look like they just need more beer.   Awhile back my wife and I were leaving Walmart and there was a family sitting on the curb.   All the guy wanted was a job.     He said they didn't want money, just a job.  We have been having a tuff time like alot of others right now but not as bad as them.   They were just sitting there at the exit of Walmart.  The guy and his wife with 3 kids.     It was a warm day and we felt bad for the kids so my wife and I gave them $10 and some bottled water that we just got.   Those are the ones I will help.    Last year I had TeamRoth (members here) in my car close to the strip and had a few around us at a gas station.       These guys are the junkies and no way in hell would I give them a dime.  

As far as the guy from Haiti, yah right.   You should have told him to get back to Haiti because they are giving free food and water there.    

[charger Downunder]

They keep doing it because at the end of the day they earn good money.

[elacruze]

I did the math on a guy in Miami, 79th street on my way to work. He was old, and didn't have a schtick-just tipped his hat, walked the line of cars with a cup and a smile.
The light and line of cars changed about every 30 seconds. Assuming he got two quarters from every light cycle (it appeared he did much better than that) that's $.50/minute or $30/hour.

I've sometimes wondered what keeps me from doing this. There was a student down there who did a study-stood on the same corner for like a week in a tuxedo and a cup. Made an enormous amount of money...I chalked both cases up to people needing entertainment on their way to work and home.

[TylerCharger69]

Well....I've learned to NOT hand out money to anybody claiming to collect for "Jerry's Kids" during labor day time....people use that to take advantage of people and not at all for the real cause....If you want to make a donation.....send a check directly to the organization and not someone panhandling on the side of the road.....just my experiences.....so no...it doesnt bother me.

[Silver R/T]

This vet was homeless but got back on track and actually saved some people.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100123/ap_on_re_us/us_marine_proper_burial

[John_Kunkel]

I would have told the guy "I'm from Haiti too but I was smart enough to get out years ago". 

[Mike DC]

   
IMHO being homeless for 6 months is one thing, 6 years is another.  Most of the chronically homeless people in my town are either mentally ill, drug addicted, or they just don't want out of it badly enough. 



 
 

[b5blue]

True I read about how the mental heath care system has been allowed to fall apart.

[A383Wing]

They keep doing it because at the end of the day they earn good money.

I followed one guy years ago after his "shift",  he walked 1/4 mile from the freeway corner ramp he was on to the Albertsons grocery store where his car was parked. Top of the line Mercedes..he opened the trunk, put his dirty clothes in there, pulled out a nice leather jacket, got on his cell phone, got in the car and drove off.

[Smokey Bear]

The more that is given, the more of them will be standing there. Free money just enables their drug and drinking habits, nothing more.
It sounds cruel, but the best thing all of us can do is not give them a dime.

Oh, yeah.... it bothers me   : It bothers me that bleeding hearts give these people money to feel good about themselves when they are just making it worse for everyone. Give you money to the organized charities instead.... the bums go away, and the charities can ramp up their services.

[RECHRGD]

You even need to be careful of "organized charities" anymore.  Even the most well known charities have been under scrutiny in recent years for spending a large percentage of the donated money on themselves rather than the people in need.  It used to be that when disasters hit, you could donate clothing, food and water that would be shipped to the affected people.  I remember looking for a place to drop off some items after Katrina hit and NOBODY wanted anything but cold hard cash.  I'll pass.  Bob

[Silver R/T]

You even need to be careful of "organized charities" anymore.  Even the most well known charities have been under scrutiny in recent years for spending a large percentage of the donated money on themselves rather than the people in need.  It used to be that when disasters hit, you could donate clothing, food and water that would be shipped to the affected people.  I remember looking for a place to drop off some items after Katrina hit and NOBODY wanted anything but cold hard cash.  I'll pass.  Bob

yes, that's what I wanted to say. Charities are corrupt anymore and spend money on bonuses and other company quirks. If you really want to donate go to local church that does missions to Africa, etc and give them money.

[FLG]

Down here in Brooklyn we get em all the time begging.

I never give em cash, ever. If they are in front of some kind of establishment, i WILL say "Listen man, i aint giving ya money but i will buy you some food...what do ya want??"

Some simply ignore me because they know there using the money for things other than food. Most others will ask for a Coffee and something to eat. I know if i was homeless i wouldnt be sitting on the corner asking for cash...id be sitting on the corner asking for food, and i know most people would not hesitate to give someone in need something to eat and drink.

[Tilar]

That would piss me off too.

When I was driving truck, I used to get people come up all the time asking for food money when I was in the truck stop. The worst place was Albuquerque NM. You barely had time to get backed into a parking space before they were knocking on the window.

I always had food in the truck and I finally started offering them a can of beans and a plastic spoon. Most turned it down saying they didn't like beans or whatever it was that I happened to have at the time.  On the rare occasion that someone did take the can and actually wanted something to eat, I'd take them in and buy them the buffet dinner.

[Smokey Bear]

 

Charities are corrupt anymore and spend money on bonuses and other company quirks. If you really want to donate go to local church that does missions to Africa, etc and give them money.

Churches are corrupt anymore and spend money to hush up alterboys and cover up priests sexual quirks.


There are bad apples everywhere. Your stereotype does the majority of hard-working dedicated charities with respected reputations a great disservice 

[Mike DC]

When I was driving truck, I used to get people come up all the time asking for food money when I was in the truck stop. The worst place was Albuquerque NM. You barely had time to get backed into a parking space before they were knocking on the window.

A friend of mine lived there for a few years.  Don't even get him started on the subject of homeless bums.