“ This homeless guy asked me for money the other day.
I was about to give it to him and then i thought he was going to use it on drugs or alcohol.
And then i thought, that’s what i’m going to use it on.
Why am i judging this poor bastard.
People love to judge homeless guys. like if you give them money they’re just going to waste it.
Well, he lives in a box, what do you want him to do? save it up and buy a wall unit?
Take a little run to the store for a throw rug and a cd rack? he’s homeless.”
There’s a similar story about CS Lewis that’s much older. I originally saw it in some print source, but this (unsourced) quick Google copy-paste gives the gist:
One day, Lewis and a friend were walking down the road and came upon a street person who reached out to them for help. While his friend kept walking, Lewis stopped and proceeded to empty his wallet. When they resumed their journey, his friend asked, “What are you doing giving him your money like that? Don’t you know he’s just going to go squander all that on ale?” Lewis paused and replied, “That’s all I was going to do with it.”
Obviously it’s funnier when a comedian says it, just thought it was interesting that the general idea has been around for a while. Probably as long as there’s been booze and beggars tbh.
And then i thought, that’s what i’m going to use it on.
That’s bad and you shouldn’t do that, but you’re also a functional adult with disposable income. The homeless guy is obviously not. The money you give him he will use to remain homeless. If you want to donate money there is no shortage of non-profits that will use that money to actually help him, as well as other homeless.
Well, he lives in a box, what do you want him to do? save it up and buy a wall unit?
Like, literally anything else? Food, water, a blanket, a ride to a job interview, hand warmers, shirts, socks, toothpaste etc. etc. etc., not a lot of deep thought required there.
Point out the part of your previous statement that indicates you’re not telling homeless people how to live, and the bits that indicate you’ve done anything to assist them.
If he didn’t he would probably be already dead.
I don’t think this conclusion is less likely than yours. It also has the advantage to not give up to pesimism.
If he wasn’t using his begged money to survive, he wouldn’t have been a beggar for a long time. Is that easier to understand?
You think your personal opinion is reality but others’ aren’t? Maybe you should read your comment again to see how you didn’t either bring anything else than your personal view. Don’t expect replies to do better than you did.
Between two personal opinions, I’d rather take the optimistic ones, because it has more chances to be helpful.
“ This homeless guy asked me for money the other day. I was about to give it to him and then i thought he was going to use it on drugs or alcohol. And then i thought, that’s what i’m going to use it on. Why am i judging this poor bastard. People love to judge homeless guys. like if you give them money they’re just going to waste it. Well, he lives in a box, what do you want him to do? save it up and buy a wall unit? Take a little run to the store for a throw rug and a cd rack? he’s homeless.”
There’s a similar story about CS Lewis that’s much older. I originally saw it in some print source, but this (unsourced) quick Google copy-paste gives the gist:
One day, Lewis and a friend were walking down the road and came upon a street person who reached out to them for help. While his friend kept walking, Lewis stopped and proceeded to empty his wallet. When they resumed their journey, his friend asked, “What are you doing giving him your money like that? Don’t you know he’s just going to go squander all that on ale?” Lewis paused and replied, “That’s all I was going to do with it.”
Obviously it’s funnier when a comedian says it, just thought it was interesting that the general idea has been around for a while. Probably as long as there’s been booze and beggars tbh.
That’s bad and you shouldn’t do that, but you’re also a functional adult with disposable income. The homeless guy is obviously not. The money you give him he will use to remain homeless. If you want to donate money there is no shortage of non-profits that will use that money to actually help him, as well as other homeless.
Like, literally anything else? Food, water, a blanket, a ride to a job interview, hand warmers, shirts, socks, toothpaste etc. etc. etc., not a lot of deep thought required there.
So willing to tell people how to live but I bet you don’t lift a finger to help them.
What part of my comment led you to believe either of those things were true?
I’d like to know what part of your comment you think indicates otherwise.
What part of your comment do you think indicates that you’re not a professional clown with a master’s degree in kinesiology?
So, you can’t?
… can’t what?
Point out the part of your previous statement that indicates you’re not telling homeless people how to live, and the bits that indicate you’ve done anything to assist them.
He will use the money to keep surviving.
I’m all for giving to homeless helping non-profits though, like the ones which serves them food.
And how did you come to this conclusion about this completely hypothetical homeless man?
If he didn’t he would probably be already dead.
I don’t think this conclusion is less likely than yours. It also has the advantage to not give up to pesimism.
That makes absolutely no sense.
I see, so we’re just setting aside reality to be “optimistic”. That explains it.
If he wasn’t using his begged money to survive, he wouldn’t have been a beggar for a long time. Is that easier to understand?
You think your personal opinion is reality but others’ aren’t? Maybe you should read your comment again to see how you didn’t either bring anything else than your personal view. Don’t expect replies to do better than you did.
Between two personal opinions, I’d rather take the optimistic ones, because it has more chances to be helpful.