Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr
I gave a sad looking Scottish beggar in Matera in southern Italy 20 euros as I felt sorry for him
30 mins later he was slumped over, eyes glazed over, spaced out but looking a lot happier
Was a good lesson for me that no good deed goes unpunished
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I carry packets of cookies or nuts, never give anyone on the street cash
One beautiful sunny day in San Francisco about 30 years ago, I saw this young girl, 18 maybe, sitting on the sidewalk on Judah St in front of a laundramat with a sign that says. "Pregnant and Homeless, Help"
I was going to school, had a couple jobs, because I always seemed to have more than one, so there was dough in my pocket. There was this little market about 4 blocks from where she was where I always shopped, because they had fantastic produce, and it was close to the Yellow Submarine sandwich shop. I would get a drink at the market, get a sandwich and go sit in the park, that was practically across the street. If you are ever in SF, the place is at 5th and Irving, get a hot sandwich, trust me.
So I walk to this market, buy a bag of groceries, they used to have fresh sourdough bread there that was great, everyplace in San Francisco has good sourdough bread really though. I take my $20 worth of grub back to this girl sitting on the sidewalk. I go to give it to her, show her the bread and fresh fruit, and she says, don't you have any money? I had some money, now I have some groceries. Took a bite of the bread and walked home.
I guess I should say, now, I carry packets of nuts and cookies