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Do you donate when you see homeless people begging on the streets?(self)
9 commentsbyx0x7

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[-]Nashorn4(+4|0)

At one time, a long time back. But I realized they just bought drugs and alcohol with money. I would occasionally buy them something to eat.

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[-]x0x73(+3|0)

It can end up worse than that. In some developing countries like China, India, Latin America, there are gangs that mutilate people and then force them to go out begging.

If you give to street beggers you just increase demand for street beggers. Eventually you get to a level of demand where the gangs take an interest.

A lot of them aren't 100% lazy. Spending all day out in the sun on a median is about as rough as washing dishes. They go on the median because it pays more than washing dishes. So they really are working. The difference is one form of work does something. So all you're doing is paying someone to do a less productive job instead of a more productive job.

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[-]newJiminy2(+2|0)

If they're playing music I always give $20

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[-]RickSanchez2(+2|0)

Back in the 1990s, when McDonald's had food certificates, I would give away $5 or $10 in gift certificates to McDonald's. That way, they couldn't buy drugs or booze. Some are pandhandlers that make $50K a year begging on the streets and live out of a car.

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[-]newJiminy2(+2|0)

I read a Stephen king short story years ago, blind Willie, fake blind homeless man making thousands a day begging. I think it symbolized how they're all actors, faking it, even if they're really homeless they could get a job. But acting is the job and if you can convince marks, using great acting skill, you earned the money. Being blind helps get sympathy, so many fake blind blues artists like blind Willie mctell. Some blues men started wearing sunglasses just so you'd think they're blind.

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[-]RickSanchez2(+2|0)

They have fake violinists now who play an electric violin, but it is recorded music they play, and then ask for tips with PayPal or Venmo.

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[-]newJiminy0(0|0)

You'd think you could tell but maybe not? Are they using a loop pedal to record, that's still them playing so I'd give money.

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[-]LarrySwinger2(+2|0)

Yep. Not having to pay taxes over it helps them.

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[-]RickSanchez1(+1|0)

They are always at busy intersections with stop signs.

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