I broke one of my rules today.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

... there are enough people that have no issue with begging.

"Enough," that is an important point. I think we all have a threshold for what is "enough" to harden our attitudes toward beggars.
I've given to panhandlers who I quickly discovered were less than honest about their situation. I think I related the story of one here a few years ago. But getting burned a few times hasn't made me totally cynical about them. It makes me more cautious, but I can still be persuaded.
I do however, make less handouts and give more contributions to institutions to satisfy my sense of noblesse oblige and rely on them to distribute the donations. Hopefully they have better means of vetting the recipients than I have.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

"Enough," that is an important point. I think we all have a threshold for what is "enough" to harden our attitudes toward beggars.
I've given to panhandlers who I quickly discovered were less than honest about their situation. I think I related the story of one here a few years ago. But getting burned a few times hasn't made me totally cynical about them. It makes me more cautious, but I can still be persuaded.
I do however, make less handouts and give more contributions to institutions to satisfy my sense of noblesse oblige and rely on them to distribute the donations. Hopefully they have better means of vetting the recipients than I have.

On top of the scammers that do it because it's easy, I have a problem with giving someone money for drugs, alcohol, tobacco. And my guess is that most of the money provided is going to go to one of those items. Hell, those things are probably a big part of the reason why those folks are where they are. I'm sure there are needy folks that would be a great target for charity, but considering how many are not, yes, I think the better way to go about it if you want to give is to give to a group that helps the homeless, the folks that provide overnight shelter and meals, that sort of thing.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I would pay that guy $25 to $30 an hour if he had good attention to detail and could sand window frames and fans & housings. $20 if he could clean and media blast parts.

Bring your operation to Long Beach. I'll take the 20 AND do the frames. And your welding. And your metal bumping/straightening.

[Cairo94507]

We have what appears to be a Asian/Indian woman who frequents our local shopping centers, Home Depot, Safeway, etc. She always has a sign that says she needs money to feed her 2 babies and has a 2 child carriage with her. It is always empty- I have looked. She also has a car parked near that is currently registered and appears in decent shape. She looks to be maybe 33 years old. I give her nothing as it appears she is gaming the area for cash. Almost all of the businesses have Help Wanted signs and apparently she would rather beg for money and avoid taxes all while probably collecting other social services. I refuse to be a part of the problem of giving them cash so they keep coming back.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I would love to be in CA Milt but I am so firmly planted here in Boston I wouldn't even move to Brooklyn at this point.

[KNS]

Good article about the mayor of Aurora, CO (Denver area) who went to live on the streets with the homeless and find out what the real issues were. Most had drug issues and had no desire to clean themselves up. Food and money was readily provided by strangers wanting to do good.

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/homeless-mike-coffman-aurora-mayor-undercover-streets/

Shelters are great but many of the homeless aren't interested in shelters because they don't allow drug use. They choose to live on the streets instead.

[rwest]

It personally disgusts me when beggars bring along their children- likely the areas where they are standing have a high level of exhaust pollution, traffic dangers and not to mention setting a bad example for young minds.

I think child protection should investigate when children are used in this fashion.

[fintstone]

The photo reminds me of my father, my brother, and I at that age (probably a little younger). We were pretty poor and had no car or cooler (Dad was disabled and did not drive). Still, we spent the entire day (the three of us) working out in the hot sun in the summer (and we joined my father after school otherwise). My father mowed grass and we swept up, raked, etc. (and carried those tools for miles). There was no expense for childcare or vehicle maintenance. My father did pay taxes and social security on what he made and eventually got a small social security check after going back to the same type work after moving back into the city in his 60s (to get enough quarters).

I cannot imagine begging like that. There is plenty of work for an honest man.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by fintstone

The photo reminds me of my father, my brother, and I at that age (probably a little younger). We were pretty poor and had no car or cooler (Dad was disabled and did not drive). Still, we spent the entire day (the three of us) working out in the hot sun in the summer (and we joined my father after school otherwise). My father mowed grass and we swept up, raked, etc. (and carried those tools for miles). There was no expense for childcare or vehicle maintenance. My father did pay taxes and social security on what he made and eventually got a small social security check after going back to the same type work after moving back into the city in his 60s (to get enough quarters).

I cannot imagine begging like that. There is plenty of work for an honest man.

...that is dependable, responsible, stable, and shows up to work sober.

There, finished it for you. I have no doubt that there are some decent folks in a bad situation that could get and hold a job. I also suspect that (besides not wanting to hold down a job and/or having psych issues) that the majority of them wouldn't show up every day, on time, with a good attitude, and stay sober.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I would love to be in CA Milt but I am so firmly planted here in Boston I wouldn't even move to Brooklyn at this point.

I knew that. I was half joking, but if you WERE here, I'd do it. Not much work for old guys. COVID put a couple more years on me and by the time anyone would think about calling me for work, they'd remember I was old before the pandemic.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Dollars to donuts she was sexually abused by a stepdad for years and won't be able to turn her life around without a lot of help.

When I was in college I cooked at a French restaurant. Cute emo girl, dirty, rough, was sitting out front with a sign for money. I made her a nice meal, put it in a paper bag and left it with her. It was still there at 11PM when I went home.

A previous employee of mine used to buy special diet dog food for some guy who begged using his dog as the emotional hook. Expensive stuff, that food was, and she was barely scraping by while waiting for disability to be approved years after being hit by a car. She was really messed up.
One day, she found out that the guy had been throwing the food away. He was begging for cash so he could buy drugs to sell. Broke her heart to find that out.
She passed away a few months later, having never gotten her disability approved.

That being said, I've been awfully tempted to park with my 911 on a corner, with a sign that says "Please help, Need car parts" just to see what happens.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

That being said, I've been awfully tempted to park with my 911 on a corner, with a sign that says "Please help, Need car parts" just to see what happens.

"Worn 1st to 2nd synchros,
can no longer autocross,
anything will help,
God Bless"



"I can fly my friends to the Super Bowl like a MAN, not like some g.d. bum!"

[Zeke]

The best ever is 20 years old. Sign: "Why lie? I need a beer."

I was out of work in the recession of the '80's. I took my truck down to a busy street and laid out many of my tools including a chop saw and a portable table saw. Had a job in an hour.

I might be doing that again once the rain lets up.