tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post9062648431906858096..comments2023-07-28T03:07:26.414-07:00Comments on Jimmy's Opinion: Homeless or notJimmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-71598248009289226742015-01-21T11:28:31.827-08:002015-01-21T11:28:31.827-08:00I wrote a similar post over 3 years ago. Skim it i...I wrote a similar post over 3 years ago. Skim it if you'd like. http://btdas.blogspot.com/2011/11/panhandlers.html<br />Looking at the comments of your readers, I see that people are still divided on this issue. I haven't given in quite a while. (I used to be a giver; though a very small amount.) Actually, after I wrote the post, I slacked up. (Cathartic perhaps?) Also, I seem to be in a hurry when I'm out and don't take the time to "think about" it - giving or not.<br />Your example is sad. Sometimes I get mad at people like that, but mostly I feel pity for them. I wonder why their self-worth is so low and if they even realize it.<br />Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180243708565855383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-56921292324174146622015-01-11T22:33:16.326-08:002015-01-11T22:33:16.326-08:00Oops! Happy New Year to both you and your lovely ...Oops! Happy New Year to both you and your lovely wife!Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-51102555395301287392015-01-11T22:32:06.649-08:002015-01-11T22:32:06.649-08:00I'm pretty much like you on this subject. I...I'm pretty much like you on this subject. I'd rather error on the side of giving money to someone that doesn't really need it, than to not give it to someone who really does. My problem with the whole thing is this... Back in the day, if you saw somebody that was homeless (called hobos back then) they were almost always down on their luck, or homeless by choice. That has all changed. A large percentage of the people out there now are mentally ill. Another thing that has changed is it seems that many people would rather help animals, than other people. <br /><br />The so called "wars" in Afghanistan and Iraq cost us more than 6 TRILLION dollars. Harvard University said that six trillion dollars is equivalent to giving each and every American household seventy five thousand dollars. Based on what is now happening in both those countries, I believe that money was wasted and could have been put to better use (like taking care of our homeless problem. We are living in scary times and (IMHO) our system is broken. Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-54981323509046223052015-01-01T19:38:26.406-08:002015-01-01T19:38:26.406-08:00Hi Valerie, Seeing people singing and playing inst...Hi Valerie, Seeing people singing and playing instruments for tips is a good way for them to earn their money in a sense, and would make you more likely to give, the woman you described is the type that gets to me, using her child in this manner is a shame.<br /><br />Happy New Year to you also my dear friend, I do appreciate you.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-6096545519795730522015-01-01T02:52:12.636-08:002015-01-01T02:52:12.636-08:00I never see anyone begging and I wouldn't know...I never see anyone begging and I wouldn't know the right thing to do if I did. Where I live there are out of work people who earn money by singing or playing an instrument etc, and others who are 'employed' to sell a magazine called The Big Issue, which we buy. It's our way of helping them. I used to see a woman and baby in Italy who sat and pleaded for passers-by to save her baby from starvation... yet she had a great car parked round the corner. <br /><br />Happy New Year to you and Cindy, oh and thank you for all your lovely comments on my blog. Stay well.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099030819314552958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-52890552023589699472014-12-31T19:58:26.119-08:002014-12-31T19:58:26.119-08:00Handing out cash on the street would not be the sa...Handing out cash on the street would not be the safest choice I suppose, and with that said I have to agree that donating to a shelter or volunteering at a soup kitchen would be the wisest choice.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-42859842326561690532014-12-31T19:55:02.694-08:002014-12-31T19:55:02.694-08:00It is scary how quick people can lose everything a...It is scary how quick people can lose everything and find themselves on the streets, I'd like to think if something like this happened that I would have family that I could go to, but a lot of folks don't have that luxury I suppose.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-27442070610673065942014-12-31T19:52:53.646-08:002014-12-31T19:52:53.646-08:00Living in the city I imagine that you do see a lot...Living in the city I imagine that you do see a lot more than we do when it comes to people both homeless and panhandling, you have to go with your gut and if in fact you help one person then you have succeeded, volunteering and donating to charities that you are drawn to is admirable and most times the safest way to assure that your donations actually help those in need.<br /><br />Happy New Year Buddy!!Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-22163485902631182402014-12-31T19:48:44.462-08:002014-12-31T19:48:44.462-08:00Thank You Jim, and God Bless you with a happy new ...Thank You Jim, and God Bless you with a happy new year also my friend.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-32788952567362123132014-12-31T19:47:21.329-08:002014-12-31T19:47:21.329-08:00I do think there is help for those who truly need ...I do think there is help for those who truly need it, but don't you think those running these scams make it harder for the ones truly in need to get those resources?<br /><br />Begging with children should be illegal, it's hard enough being a kid without being used in a scam situation like this.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-50780956814803535522014-12-31T19:40:25.778-08:002014-12-31T19:40:25.778-08:00Amen to that, their days are indeed worse than our...Amen to that, their days are indeed worse than ours and like you said no matter what they use the money for their day was still worse, I don't much worry about what they are going to do with the cash, once it's out of my hands it is no longer my decision.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-47748907913226721752014-12-31T19:37:59.658-08:002014-12-31T19:37:59.658-08:00We have a row of offices near the hospital, a lot ...We have a row of offices near the hospital, a lot of specialists and such, early mornings on the way to the lab I have seen people sleeping in the doorways here.<br /><br />Donating to the shelters and soup kitchens is an excellent way to help out.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00079471254681821763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-77795487736777163052014-12-31T18:38:59.246-08:002014-12-31T18:38:59.246-08:00Unless I go into a city, I don't see it, but m...Unless I go into a city, I don't see it, but my spouse does everyday, working downtown. He said he often sees what you saw.....panhandler who hops into a BMW in the parking garage. As a female, I wouldn't feel safe handing cash out on the street. Better to donate to a shelter or volunteer at a soup kitchen.Bijouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05788630004051883635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-18408498390238816172014-12-31T18:10:24.869-08:002014-12-31T18:10:24.869-08:00It's a difficult decision...how do you judge w...It's a difficult decision...how do you judge who is truly in need and who is just greedy? I have to admit that most of the time, I look the other way when I see someone begging for money at a red light.<br /><br />And then I feel like crap, because I had a co-worker once who had a middle-class family, a middle-class car, a middle-class job, and owned her own mobile home...and within the course of just a few weeks came so close to being homeless that it really shook me up. Before that, I had never realized how fast homelessness can happen...Pixel Peeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17553862902461169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-32221588101517165022014-12-31T17:35:45.032-08:002014-12-31T17:35:45.032-08:00Living in a city, I see this kind of thing a lot. ...Living in a city, I see this kind of thing a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. So, I go with my gut, and if something tells me to give money, I do. But if I don't get that feeling, I won't. Overall, I would rather give of my time for volunteer work, or give money directly to charities I feel drawn to do so. <br /><br />Wishing you and Cindy HAPPY NEW YEAR! And I look forward to blogging with you in 2015!<br /><br />Cheers, my friend!Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15977027331657615697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-19137732615421908072014-12-31T15:06:54.918-08:002014-12-31T15:06:54.918-08:00As you said... "I would rather lose a few dol...As you said... "I would rather lose a few dollars once in a while to someone who really doesn’t need it than pass up buying a burger for someone who is actually hungry." My sentiments exactly, Jimmy. God bless and here's to a happy and healthy new year for you and yours!Suldoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07778845367184916684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-42895113271333304232014-12-31T13:58:29.002-08:002014-12-31T13:58:29.002-08:00I don't like seeing panhandlers. In Oregon it&...I don't like seeing panhandlers. In Oregon it's illegal to beg with children, but I notice a lot of these people with puppies begging for food for their little dog. It's such a scam. In our town we have food banks and shelters and all kinds of provisions for the needy. Like you, I sympathize with those unfortunate souls caught in a bad situation, but I do believe there's help for those who truly need it.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-35647122991571296132014-12-31T12:16:13.656-08:002014-12-31T12:16:13.656-08:00i'm so sorry folks are so low to impersonate f...i'm so sorry folks are so low to impersonate folks who truly need help. when i commuted into dallas, i often gave a few dollars to those i saw on the streets. even if they were scamming, their day was worse than mine. and whether they used it for booze or drugs - their day was still worse than mine.TexWisGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641962051044162710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677172151591739382.post-34908035258456296392014-12-31T11:20:43.047-08:002014-12-31T11:20:43.047-08:00Yeah, that's why I don't give cash to the ...Yeah, that's why I don't give cash to the "sign holders". We have a couple of shelters and soup kitchens that we donate regularly to. I see a lot of homeless people when I go into the city and wonder where they spend the night.<br />Abbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853360875281742784noreply@blogger.com