I’m reminded of a great story I once read: A few college guys were on their way to a party and were stopped by a begger. One of the guys gave him 20 bucks. The others said: “Are you nuts? He’s just going to spend it on booze and drugs!” The first guy said. “Yeah, but so are we.”
Khadaji- yep I had several conversations just like that with friends when I was in college. The big difference is we thought we were better off buying ourselves alcohol. 
i do not try to figure out “if the person really needs it” cuz you can’t figure this out. usually i do NOT give them anything. sometimes if a person at the subway station will ask me to swipe my card for him - i will do that. i don’t give because i don’t really sympathize with them, sometimes i do and then i give. once some crackhead type chick of about 18 years age came up to my car on a red light on intersection and asked for a quarter, so i gave her a few bucks 
i had no doubt in my mind she would use it for drugs either, but then i do drugs myself …
It seems there are other avenues for pandhandlers to use for help, it’s just that they chose not to.
If no one gave to the panhandlers, what would happen to them? These might be some outcomes:
- They would die of hunger on the street corner.
- They would take up a life of crime
- They would go to the government agencies/churches and get assistance.
- They would get a job.
I don’t think there’s dishonor in being homeless. I think there’s dishonor in not applying yourself. Just because your homeless doesn’t mean the only thing you can do to make money is stand on the corner and beg for money.
We have a place here where people go to be day laborers. They get picked up in the morning and spend the day working on any sort of job. It’s not easy work, but these guys are actually working for their money. I respect them for that. If you want to give those guys a few extra bucks at the end of the day, they deserve it. So anyone who can stand all day on a corner and beg is able to get some sort of paying job.
By giving money to panhandlers, there’s a small chance that it’s just the thing he needs to get back on his feet. But it’s much more likely that you’re just enabling that person to remain in that lifestyle.
That’s pretty much my attitude. I’ve never been homeless, but I’ve been completely broke and hungry before. And little things, like a sandwich or a couple of smokes, or a bottle of booze, could make it a hell of a lot easier to get through the day.
Sometimes I’m sure they can get a lot more out of the change in my ashtray than I can. I’d probably just waste it.
the problem i have with panhandlers is not giving money to them ( i dont care for that dollar really ) its how they annoy me with their begging. i also usually do not have any change less than $10 because there really ain’t ( despite that commercial ) anything you can buy for $1 so why would i carry it around ?
a lot of you said that you will not give in general, but will give if he plays music or whatever. well for me its the opposite, i will give him if it shuts him up, but if he makes me listen to his crap music - forget it.
I don’t give to the homeless for their benedit. I suspect most of them would use the funds they solicit in fashions I’d rather not support.
However, during a period of unemployment a couple of years ago, I gave a few bucks to the neighborhood bum every time I went to a job interview, just for good luck.
Didn’t work. The one time I couldn’t find my good luck bum before the interview, I got the job.
I do when I can spare it. A buck or two now and then isn’t going to make a significant impact on my budget, and a little good karma couldn’t hurt.
I do sometimes, depending.
I look at their shoes, if they’re in fairly good shape, theyre faking it.
If they clothes look new and decent, they’re faking it.
I give them food usually instead of straight money.
Like on halloween, me and my friend went all around downtown giving panhandlers candy.
I’m very skeptical of them though.
This one time here, Winnipeg, there was a story on the front page of how we treat the homeless and apparently we’re pretty rotten.
Then I looked at the girl in the picture.
She goes to my school
Her house is worth $500, 000 canadian.
Her parentd would never kick her out either, so she’s just some want to be anarchist punk trying to be cool by hanging out on the streets.