# Giving to beggars **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323 "2021-06-01T01:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/101 "2021-06-05T04:34:39Z")
Well, at the top end, $300 a day tax free is not bad at all. Combined with food stamps, etc, etc, that is pretty nice. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/102 "2021-06-05T07:36:17Z")
So many claiming they have it so good…and not a single one follows through with “…so I’ve decided to give it a shot”. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/103 "2021-06-05T11:41:50Z")
When passing a beggar/panhandler with a dog, a friend of mine will sometimes go out of his way and give them a can of dog food. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/104 "2021-06-05T12:08:58Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Pretty sure we’re gonna have to start using tags, as obvious sarcasm isn’t obvious. Perhaps recognizing sarcasm comes under “fighting ignorance”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/105 "2021-06-05T12:31:56Z")
Hence my convenient chart! ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/106 "2021-12-12T01:08:00Z")
After today’s experience, _never again_. I saw a family of three holding up a sign at the conjunction of an Arby’s, BP, and Food Lion. We stopped into Arby’s, paid with plastic, and converted our stash can money into a ten and two fives. I stepped out of the car, handed him the fives, and said, “Merry Christmas. The sun will shine on you again, someday.” Left, and ate Arby’s. It occurred to me that they may be homeless, and it’s getting cold. I called my former pastor, who gave me information on Suffolk’s NightStay program, helping needy families during the winter season. I got groceries, and approached the guy again. I asked him if he needed a place to stay, and he said he was okay. _And then he had the unmitigated gall to ask me for twenty more dollars._ Bitch, I just gave you half of my remaining emergency stash for gas for the rest of the month. Never again. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/107 "2021-12-12T01:15:07Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > _And then he had the unmitigated gall to ask me for twenty more dollars._ > > Bitch, I just gave you half of my remaining emergency stash for gas for the rest of the month. I’m honestly a bit perplexed by your extreme reaction. I was expecting the punchline to be that he pulled a knife on you at least. You were being incredibly kind to extend yourself to help him - but how could he be expected to know that? All he’s seeing is a guy who gave him some money, and who seems to want to help him some more. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/108 "2021-12-12T01:19:20Z")
You found the excuse you were looking for. Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/109 "2021-12-12T01:22:36Z")
If you aren’t familiar with it, please allow me to introduce you to the Marketing concept of RFM – Recency, Frequency, and Monetary value: > **[What Is Recency, Frequency, Monetary Value (RFM) in Marketing?](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rfm-recency-frequency-monetary-value.asp)** > > Recency, frequency, monetary value (RFM) is a marketing analysis tool used to identify a firm’s best clients, based on their spending habits. The guy was just using reasonable marketing analytics. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/110 "2021-12-12T01:26:02Z")
What makes it worse is that I told him I didn’t have any more money, and then he asked me again. Asked and answered. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/111 "2021-12-12T01:29:27Z")
When we live in a society which provides drug treatment, counseling, food, shelter, medicine, to those who are so diminished that they resort to begging, then I won’t give to beggars. Meanwhile … Beggars on the street are the sign that a society has failed its most needy citizens. I know that my bit of charity doesn’t fix anything, even for that individual beggar, but perhaps it saves him or her from one nasty self-righteous brush-off they don’t have to endure. I also give – a lot – to my local food pantry and other charities. The one has nothing to do with the other. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/112 "2021-12-12T07:36:46Z")
In a scene in the film The Fisher King, a beggar (Tom Waits) at a train station sits in a wheelchair, holding a paper cup. Somebody carelessly tosses him a coin and it falls to the ground. Jack (Jeff Bridges) picks it up, puts it in the cup, and says, “_He didn’t even look_.” The beggar responds, “_He’s paying, so he don’t have to look_.” Or maybe it’s without the comma: “_He’s paying so (that) he don’t have to look_.” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/113 "2021-12-12T13:35:24Z")
Marx famously refused to give to beggars. He was of the opinion that human suffering had to increase to bring on the inevitable revolution. You may take from that what you like. As for me, I give to those in need. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/114 "2021-12-12T14:42:28Z")
I don’t give to beggars. I’m sure I could come up with all sorts of socioeconomic justifications, but really I just don’t like random people asking me for money. So…no. I particularly don’t like being accosted by beggars while I’m with my kids. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/115 "2021-12-12T15:07:27Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Beggars on the street are the sign that a society has failed its most needy citizens. I know that my bit of charity doesn’t fix anything, even for that individual beggar, but perhaps it saves him or her from one nasty self-righteous brush-off they don’t have to endure. A significant number of the homeless **choose** to be homeless. Here in Colorado Springs, the local newspaper has run interviews with some of the homeless who openly admit that they won’t even go to a shelter if the shelter has any sort of rules regarding conduct–they would rather literally sleep on the sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/116 "2021-12-12T15:11:26Z")
The mere fact that _some number_ of people allegedly interviewed allegedly expressed a preference for A over B doesn’t mean they embrace A as a lifestyle. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/117 "2021-12-12T15:14:42Z")
Many shelters and homeless advocates [recommend _ **not** _ giving money to panhandlers](https://kmph.com/news/local/homeless-advocates-say-dont-give-panhandlers-cash). ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/118 "2021-12-12T15:19:45Z")
I never give to panhandlers. However, if someone is playing an instrument, say a guitar and have an open case on the sidewalk, that to me is different, they’re “earning” it, IMHO and I will contribute. A downtown bank branch I used to have to frequently visit commonly had a woman constantly asking for “spare change” just down the street from the main entrance. I always told her “no” directly to her. However, one time there was a “musician pan handler” close by so she saw me donate to him. When I saw we had eye contact I said “use your proceeds to buy an instrument and I’ll donate to you too”. That suggestion did NOT appear to go over well. 😲 ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/119 "2021-12-12T15:20:02Z")
Well, bless Fox’s heart. > Sergeant Robert Dewey heads up the Fresno Police Department’s homeless task force and says helping the homeless can be a struggle, because many don’t want the structure and discipline that comes with getting help. There are nights that I’ve been at friends’ houses, and either been too tired or too tipsy to drive. I remember how uncomfortable it felt to think I might have to crash on their sofa. For a single night. [And this is from an inveterate traveler and former work road warrior (ie, no stranger to sleeping in different places).] I can’t imagine what homelessness feels like, but I have to imagine that ‘not wanting the structure and discipline that comes with getting help’ is a radical over-simplification that radically misses the miseries and complexities of life without a stable dwelling. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323/120 "2021-12-12T15:21:58Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I particularly don’t like being accosted by beggars while I’m with my kids. I always experienced the exact opposite. I used situations where beggars asked for help as a learning experience for my kids. We’d have discussions about why people were doing this and what steps could be taken as a society to help. Discussions about caring, sharing, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-to-beggars/943323.md?page=7)