# What's the most you've ever given to a panhandler, and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246 "2010-01-01T01:38:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/41 "2010-01-03T20:37:11Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > I don’t give them cash, I usually give them food. I just object to this idea that they’re out there because they just didn’t try hard enough. I don’t think it’s true very often. On several occasions I have tried to give a beggar food and they refused, asking me instead if I had any cigarettes or money. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/42 "2010-01-03T20:45:45Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > On several occasions I have tried to give a beggar food and they refused, asking me instead if I had any cigarettes or money. :rolleyes: I have had that happen several times. I actually got called an asshole by a homeless guy not long ago for offering him a burger instead of a dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/43 "2010-01-03T21:18:14Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > On several occasions I have tried to give a beggar food and they refused, asking me instead if I had any cigarettes or money. :rolleyes: That’s been my experience, too. They don’t want food, they want money. And my husband used to try to hire the guys who stand on street corners holding up signs “Will work for food”, offering a hot homecooked meal AND cash, but he’s always been refused. Now he contacts the county or city agency, or Manpower, when he needs extra help. Or he drafts his grandnephew into helping. The grandnephew doesn’t mind, as he considers Bill to be another grandpa. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/44 "2010-01-03T21:19:39Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > I don’t give them cash, I usually give them food. I just object to this idea that they’re out there because they just didn’t try hard enough. I don’t think it’s true very often. Oh, I think that they’re out there because they’ve had bad luck, or medical (physical or mental) problems, or poor life choices. Usually, though, they’re on the streets because they don’t want to live by the shelter rules. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/45 "2010-01-03T22:02:12Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Uhm, last I checked no one went out and decided to have paranoid schizophrenia, but alcoholics and drug addicts _did_ choose to drink/smoke/shoot up/whatever. That’s a pretty big difference. However, in the population of the homeless, mental illness and addiction are most often _coexisting_ problems. There are very few people who are choosing to live on the street for extended periods of time solely because they’d rather drink or do drugs. There are other problems in play that are driving their choices. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/46 "2010-01-03T22:16:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, but because he just keeps getting cash, he doesn’t seek out services and treatments. We have programs, shelters and ect for the homeless, but many prefer “the freedom of the street”. No more cash, they come in off the street were they could get treated, cleaned up, trained, etc. You’re not doing them any favors by giving them cash. Electroconvulsive therapy for the homeless? Interesting idea. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/47 "2010-01-04T06:26:20Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Electroconvulsive therapy for the homeless? Interesting idea. Huh?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/48 "2010-01-04T23:55:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Huh?😕 You said “We have programs, shelters and \*\*ect \*\*for the homeless,”. I don’t get to hot and bothered about most misspellings, but for some reason I find the use of ect instead of etc. particularly grating. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/49 "2010-01-05T00:15:48Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > No, it encourages them to continue begging rather than actively trying to improve upon their situation themselves. If someone gave you money for doing nothing, what would be your incentive to get a job? Two points. First, “begging” is not “doing nothing.” I imagine it’s more difficult than some jobs, especially in bad weather. Second, they’d still have some incentive go get a job, as you really can’t improve your situation much by begging even if you’re sucessful at it. A place to live, with all that comes with it, might be incentive for someone to get a job, even if they can “survive” by panhandling. Recently read a book written by a homeless man “Breakfast at Sally’s,” that was very interesting. I’ve given more to homeless people since reading that book. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/50 "2010-01-05T02:01:46Z")
Disdane. I usually give nothing. Its the least I could do. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/51 "2010-01-05T02:07:46Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > You said “We have programs, shelters and \*\*ect \*\*for the homeless,”. Oh,I see, a typo. Hi_lar_ious. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/52 "2010-01-05T03:26:55Z")
As I’ve mentioned before, my best friend survived by begging (although he was not homeless, but living with his sister) for a period of time after fleeing his abusive and homophobic parents. He told me that a refusal with a kind word was almost as good as money back then, because it meant he was being seen as a human being rather than as just a feature of the landscape. Knowing that, even though I don’t always give to people asking for money (although I often do, seeing alms-giving as a religious practice), I always spare eye contact and an “I’m sorry, but good luck.” The most I have given was when I encountered some young people, two of whom turned out to be in situations similar to my friend, on Pride day. I gave them each $5, as well as a referral to a community social services organization. I haven’t seen them again so I hope they found some help. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/53 "2010-01-05T03:28:15Z")
zero, nada, zip ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/54 "2010-01-05T14:54:05Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Disdane. And dis Norwegian, and dat Swede … ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/55 "2010-01-06T07:42:30Z")
One thing I do when I’m in NYC. I have a messagner bag that I use for my shopping. I am a Diet Coke addict, so I always have a bunch of bottles in my bag. When I see a “professional canner” I give the bottles to them. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/56 "2010-01-06T08:26:39Z")
€5, maybe €6. But after a couple of experiences with aggressive pandhandlers of late, I’m quitting giving a penny to any of them that ask me for it. Unless I see someone actually sleeping on the street, at night, I won’t give money any more. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/57 "2010-01-06T21:16:24Z")
$20. It was near Christmas, cold as the 9th Circle of Hell and I was up for a promotion at work and wanted to grease the good karma skids. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/58 "2010-01-06T23:00:37Z")
Ten bucks to a guy with a cold dog who looked hungry. I’m the biggest sucker for homeless people with pets. I usually give a couple dollars to the homeless, of which there are a fuckton here in Philadelphia, most of them suffering from some form of mental illness with few options for getting effective treatment that would get them off the streets permanently. I have lots of sympathy and very little judgment. No, I don’t care if they are addicted to crack. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/59 "2010-01-06T23:32:04Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > I have lots of sympathy and very little judgment. No, I don’t care if they are addicted to crack. So you don’t care if you’re paying for their drugs? Now that’s charity! ---
**Author:** ![NoiseBomb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/49beb7/32.png) [@NoiseBomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoiseBomb)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246/60 "2010-01-09T06:05:58Z")
$0.00. Too many scammers and con artists ruin it for the rare soul who legitimately needs help. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-youve-ever-given-to-a-panhandler-and-why/523246.md?page=4)