To give or not to give
Interesting debate on a Triad radio talk show this morning about giving money to street beggars.
The gist of the exchange between the radio personalities and callers boiled down to this: are those people you see on the side of the road or near shopping centers and malls carrying signs and asking for money really in need or are they swindlers?
It reminded me of some weird close encounters I've had in Greensboro.
One time a few years ago I was waiting for the light to turn green on Battleground Avenue when a disheveled, thin man in his 40s and waving a gas can approached my car. I rolled down the window, and he asked if I could drive him somewhere downtown so he could get some gas for his car and, oh, if I had a few bucks to spare.
It was one of those split-second decisions because the light just changed to green, so I said hop in. So I dropped him off at his old, beat-up car somewhere on East Market Street if I recall and handed him a few bucks. He was very appreciative and that was the end of it.
Another time happened here in the News & Record parking lot facing Market Street. As I was walking to my car, a man approached me, explaining he just got out of prison and was trying to get back on his feet.
I was a little leery, but then I'm thinking, if this is a smooth-talking swindler, couldn't he come up with something a little more endearing than I just got out of prison? Maybe your house caught on fire and you and your family are homeless, something like that.
Anyway, long story short, I gave him a few bucks. Maybe what I did was stupid. Or maybe it was the right call. Who knows?
Comments (4)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Just this past Saturday, when I was leaving the
COSTCO, on West Wendover. There was a
woman with a sign that read..."NEED HELP, I
HAVE CANCER".
Well, it seems to me, that if this person was very
ill, why was she out in the cold? Is this the way,
we as nation, take care of our people? Because if that is the way we take care of our people, we
are in a bad shape.
Posted on December 17, 2007 2:14 PM
Just this past Saturday, when I was leaving the
COSTCO, on West Wendover. There was a
woman with a sign that read..."NEED HELP, I
HAVE CANCER".
Well, it seems to me, that if this person was very
ill, why was she out in the cold? Is this the way,
we as nation, take care of our people? Because if that is the way we take care of our people, we
are in a bad shape.
Posted on December 17, 2007 2:14 PM
Those losers remind me of pigeons - they wouldn't come around if folks didn't keep feeding 'em -
Posted on December 17, 2007 6:07 PM
Giving to beggars is one of things you just have to use your own judgment. Some people really do need a couple of dollars for food and then there are those that use it for booze or drugs, or whatever their pleasure is. I once gave to people asking for money then I realized that it can be dangerous, too. Being a woman, I've had too many men walk up on me at night asking for change...its just not safe ...not saying that all beggars are dangerous but its better to be safe than sorry or last keep your begging to the daytime and in well lit places. I've even had some people get testy because you won't give them any money....sheesh, the nerve!
Posted on December 26, 2007 1:43 PM