The scenario suggests scam, with the boyfriend and the car parked across the lot, and it looks like the cops thought so, too. OTOH, it might just have been someone down on their luck. It would have been useful if you saw what her sign said.
I’m sure the dog was grateful, and not a scammer.
The sage also qualified levels of charity.
Where would giving to someone who was possibly scamming you because you felt sorry for the dog, rate on the sage’s levels?
Better than not giving to be sure. But closer to the end of giving to make yourself feel good about yourself than for doing the most good.
When someone asks me for my money, I have every right to be in that position. Still, others have just as much right to take another, different, even totally opposite position when approaching the same situation. The OP asked for opinions. I simply gave mine.
All of the above raises the question - If charity makes you feel good, is it truly altruistic/unselfish? Do people give to charity to help others or to feel good about themselves?
And, of course - does it matter?
Nope. Giving is a moral act. Doesn’t matter if you get a kick out of it or do it grudgingly.
[quote=“bob_2, post:64, topic:948105, full:true”]
All of the above raises the question - If charity makes you feel good, is it truly altruistic/unselfish? Do people give to charity to help others or to feel good about themselves?
And, of course - does it matter?
The last time I gave someone money, it was an elderly woman begging on the Kroger parking lot on a hot Summer day. I thought she might be screwing with me, but I thought, surely not.
There was a guy walking around another parking lot who I was almost sure was screwing me. A young woman I doubted was being honest, and a middle eastern woman with a child who I doubted. I gave them all five dollars. I have enough money to do that.
It would be good if all of them were screwing with me. I hate to think that there are people so bad off that they sit in a 90 degree Arkansas Summer in a parking lot and beg for money to be able to eat.
Most of them say, “G-d bless you”, which I take as a clue they don’t need to beg. At any rate, I told the elderly woman, “G-d bless YOU, ma’am!”
We need to consult a Rabbi, bob_2.
There’s no such thing as a selfless act.(if willing to dissect the act enough)
Does it tho? I mean, from the “boyfriend” maybe. But the girl may have not had a choice. It suggests exploitation of the girl (and the dog) to me.
Just because you have a car, a dog, and a boyfriend doesn’t mean you don’t need money - you may be living in the car.
Nor does the presence of a male at the car necessarily mean exploitation. It certainly could, but, as mentioned above, if you are in a relationship and you get to the point where you need to ask/beg for money, in general a woman (with or without a dog (or a kid)) is going to generate more funds then a guy.