# Dear Homeless Person: Show respect when I give you spare change! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 21, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841 "2010-10-21T00:29:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/221 "2010-10-24T18:12:35Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > I’ve never in my life seen a plastic bottle containing beer. Do they really exist? You’ll likely see them at things like State/County Fairs, festivals, anyplace where having glass bottle are deemed a possible hazard. ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/222 "2010-10-26T01:03:48Z")
Whatevs. It’s threads like these that make me shake my head at fellow dopers. Fuzzypickle, I’m with you all the way on this one. Now, there’s always a chance the guy was mentally disturbed or not altogether there, in which case, you can write off his behavior to craziness. And you get to get it off your chest by pitting him here, which is a good thing. What DOES suck is all of the dopers here trying to tell you that you’re an ass for not giving the dude more than a quarter. Seriously. A quarter is a quarter. Maybe if you gave him a PENNY, I could understand why he’d be insulted. But it was a quarter. Save up enough, and you can buy yourself something to eat. Perhaps the uber-judgemental folks on this board could provide a breakdown for exactly how much money I should be giving to homeless people (if I give them money at all). ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/223 "2010-10-26T01:12:24Z")
DiD tHat UP abovE. IT’s haRd to FiNd the RiGht aNSweR BeCausE PapER MonEy FluTTeRs, & YoU migHT HAVE TO TOUCH THEM!!! Kruggerands chuck nicely, I understand. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/224 "2010-10-26T01:22:02Z")
> [@smaje1](#): > > What DOES suck is all of the dopers here trying to tell you that you’re an ass for not giving the dude more than a quarter. I believe the consensus is that he an ass because he demands recognition and praise for helping someone, not because he _only_ gave a quarter. At least that’s my position. Help someone because you want to help someone, not because you have an expectation of reward. If they scorn your offer, for whatever reason, scurry off. No big deal. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/225 "2010-10-26T01:30:30Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > I believe the consensus is that he an ass because he demands recognition and praise for helping someone, not because he _only_ gave a quarter. At least that’s my position. Help someone because you want to help someone, not because you have an expectation of reward. If they scorn your offer, for whatever reason, scurry off. No big deal. I second this, plus the fact that he tossed the quarter at the guy. Of course the street person could have had mental issues but if that’s not the case, I could see how, even if **fp** thought he had the go-ahead to toss the coin because he caught the guy’s eye, what could still have beena surprise toss (given he didn’t catch it), along with the amount might have been what bothered the recipient. For **fp** not to realize this _could_ have been the case, makes him tone-deaf to the tenor of his action(s), and his demand here for respect and appreciation for his largesse supports that notion. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/226 "2010-10-26T03:52:58Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > I believe the consensus is that he an ass because he demands recognition and praise for helping someone, not because he _only_ gave a quarter. At least that’s my position. Help someone because you want to help someone, not because you have an expectation of reward. If they scorn your offer, for whatever reason, scurry off. No big deal. Yep, that about sums it up for me. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/227 "2010-10-26T06:06:32Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > I believe the consensus is that he an ass because he demands recognition and praise for helping someone, not because he _only_ gave a quarter. At least that’s my position. Help someone because you want to help someone, not because you have an expectation of reward. If they scorn your offer, for whatever reason, scurry off. No big deal. Then the consensus should go back and read the OP. He didn’t want praise, he was upset because the beggar sneered at his offering. Apparently this particular tweeker had met enough folks that think that a quarter isn’t enough to give to those who would rather take drugs than work, that the attitude has worn off on him and he sneers at those who don’t “give enough”. I’m with the OP - if what I give you isn’t good enough for you, then you obviously don’t need my money. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/228 "2010-10-26T06:38:40Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Then the consensus should go back and read the OP. He didn’t want praise, he was upset because the beggar sneered at his offering. Apparently this particular tweeker had met enough folks that think that a quarter isn’t enough to give to those who would rather take drugs than work, that the attitude has worn off on him and he sneers at those who don’t “give enough”. I’m with the OP - if what I give you isn’t good enough for you, then you obviously don’t need my money. Why waste time reading the entire OP? The title itself and the following quotations are revealing: [QUOTE=fuzzypickles] \*\*Dear Homeless Person: Show respect when I give you spare change! \*\* Instead of saying something grateful, like "Thank you"or “Blessings of Akatosh be on ye,”… Not only did you spoil my Random Act of Senseless Kindness,… [/QUOTE] Sure seems like he was expecting recompense. The guy had no obligation to accept or even appreciate the OP’s unsolicited gift. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/229 "2010-10-26T08:31:05Z")
**Mince** , I don’t know whether you have met **curlcoat** here before, but I suggest (and many others will back me up) that engaging in argument with her might well be _at best_ fruitless, and at worst, leaving you banging your head against the proverbial brick wall to make the stoopid stop. Your choice and all, but be warned. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/230 "2010-10-26T13:23:36Z")
Well, \*\*fp \*\*did later say that he wouldn’t care if the recipient of the quarter had said nothing. It was his scoffing of the gift that upset **fp**. So yeah, his OP was a little over the top with demads of respect and whatever, but I can see where he’s coming from. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/231 "2010-10-26T13:31:08Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Well, \*\*fp \*\*did later say that he wouldn’t care if the recipient of the quarter had said nothing. It was his scoffing of the gift that upset **fp**. So yeah, his OP was a little over the top with demads of respect and whatever, but I can see where he’s coming from. His Money Bin? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/232 "2010-10-26T14:02:21Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Sure seems like he was expecting recompense. The guy had no obligation to accept or even appreciate the OP’s unsolicited gift. I believe that **fp** stated that the homeless person in question here did actually ask for a handout. The information that is missing has to do with the actual exchange: how far apart were they when the quarter took flight, and whether or not **fp** paused at all or if he tossed it while midstride, which, in my estimation, could have affected the speed of the airborne coin. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/233 "2010-10-26T16:19:25Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Then the consensus should go back and read the OP. He didn’t want praise, he was upset because the beggar sneered at his offering. Apparently this particular tweeker had met enough folks that think that a quarter isn’t enough to give to those who would rather take drugs than work, that the attitude has worn off on him and he sneers at those who don’t “give enough”. I’m with the OP - if what I give you isn’t good enough for you, then you obviously don’t need my money. Hey dimwit, read the title. He wanted the hobo/bum/beggar to SHOW HIM RESPECT! I’m with **Mince** and **mhendo** ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/234 "2010-10-26T16:49:34Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > What? You ran out of black people and Muslims to stick up for, and now you have a hardon for bums? Well, I _am_ an ass man. That wasn’t directed at me and the person is banned, but I can’t pass up a straight line. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/235 "2010-10-26T17:43:40Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Well, I _am_ an ass man. [Rodney Dangerfield] People always ask me what I am - am I a tit man, a leg man…I guess I’d have to say that I’m an ass man, cuz when I’m walking down the street, people always shout at me, “You’re an Ass, man!!” [/Rodney Dangerfield] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/236 "2010-10-26T17:58:17Z")
I swear t God, the longer I’m on SDMB (and it’s only been a few months now), the more I come to realize how endemic asshole-ishness is to the human species. When I started reading **fuzzypickles** ’ OP and got to the part where he describes his magnanimous gift of $0.25 to another person, and then his rage at not being “respected”, I knew I was reading a clever satire thread. Maybe a commentary on social activism, or a tongue-in-cheek critique of the politics of government entitlement programs… And then it became clear that the OP was being _serious_. I wonder if there’s an entry in the DSM-IV that covers **fuzzypickles** ’ pretentious megalomania? 'Cause it’s apparently pretty widespread. ---
**Author:** ![SubliminaLiar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SubliminaLiar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SubliminaLiar)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/237 "2010-10-26T23:17:29Z")
Doesn’t ‘change’ mean “change of a Dollar”? Like, \*“Can you change this Dollar into coins?” \* You didn’t give him a Dollar’s worth of coins, you gave him one coin. Also, when you buy something do you hand your money to the cashier, or toss it to them? You won’t catch homelessness if your hands briefly touch. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/238 "2010-10-26T23:48:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > I believe that **fp** stated that the homeless person in question here did actually ask for a handout. The information that is missing has to do with the actual exchange: how far apart were they when the quarter took flight, and whether or not **fp** paused at all or if he tossed it while midstride, which, in my estimation, could have affected the speed of the airborne coin. Only after he got his ass chewed out. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/239 "2010-10-27T03:28:28Z")
> [@SubliminaLiar](#): > > Doesn’t ‘change’ mean “change of a Dollar”? Like, \*“Can you change this Dollar into coins?” \* You didn’t give him a Dollar’s worth of coins, you gave him one coin. No. An excerpt from Merriam-Webster: > [@](#): > > c : coins especially of low denominations \ > d : a negligible additional amount \ > [@SubliminaLiar](#): > > Also, when you buy something do you hand your money to the cashier, or toss it to them? People still hand money to cashiers? > [@SubliminaLiar](#): > > You won’t catch homelessness if your hands briefly touch. No, but you can catch something else. It’s not a leap to assume that a homeless person has not recently washed his hands. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: > [@](#): > > Keeping hands clean is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness. Tossing a quarter to a homeless person is not something to get upset about. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841/240 "2010-10-27T03:49:47Z")
Small change bullshit. I just borrow my 4 year old niece and her puppy, rub a little dirt on em, park on the side of the freeway, throw my fake leg in the pickup and hop to the corner with a “Will work for food” sign and watch the money flow in. $400 a day tax-free baby! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-homeless-person-show-respect-when-i-give-you-spare-change/557841.md?page=13)