I am asking because I know people from both sides:

  • People who discourage it: usually talk about how the beggars might spend their money on, how they might be lying, How donating to them will encourage them to keep begging and how they should be looking for a job instead (My commentary: finding a job is impossible for them this days, matter of fact there is literally hundreds, if not thousands of articles online talking about how hard and impossible it had become).
  • People who encourage it: to be honest here, they usually talk only about religious reasons.

(Note: I know that the overview about both sides are highly unbalanced, but I preferred to keep it limited to my personal experiences rather than expanding it from myself, as I intentionally not looking for theories and objective logic, rather I am looking at people reasons and opinions as this is highly subjective matter.)

Anyone got any thoughts about this?

  • AA5B@lemmy.world
    3·
    27 days ago

    I no longer carry cash so the question is moot. Also a cheap way out ….

    I used to occasionally, but

    • I no longer work downtown so rarely encounter homeless
    • I am more likely to recognize scammers and am more likely to run into them. An oversimplification is the more aggressive ones are more likely scammers
    • I used to think it was a good thing to empty my pockets for whoever was in need, but too often they were offended I would offer change
    • if someone was hungry I used to buy them a meal, but too often it was an excuse to beg for a larger amount and they’d be offended at a meal

    Now I theoretically donate larger amounts to services for homeless …… although it’s been far too long since I have