How do any of us know what this womans circumstances were?... or whether she paid for a ticket or not? or who she approached or not?
I see this situation this way....
Its not the amount, or generally the recipient......its the giving that counts.
All I know, is that if i would have been there and given the woman 20p... i would feel better within myself, that someone who refused to give based on supposition or feelings of greed, selfishness and feelings of self-importance.
Thanks for answering my question honestly.
I would probably have given something if I had it.
Maybe I am a mug, but I am of the opinion that I would rather be taken for a fool 100 times than pass up the chance to genuinely help someone once.
If it is a scam, it makes no difference to me anyway – I have handed over the money already so what it is spent on will not affect me. I do however have a warm feeling that I have tried to help someone. This is worth the price of a magazine anyday.
The problem is not giving at all.
It is assumptions.
Some people assume the worst of folk, others assume the best, most are probably somewhere in between.
Those who see the worst in folk see people who do give as being, as was stated before "a mug". Because of course they know best, they know that every beggar is a drug user, or a con artist. They know 19 out of 20 beggars actually have a fantastic life and spend the money on casual drugs, penthouse suites and an executive box at Chelsea games. They know that they are not giving one penny of their hard earned money to someone who is frankly, in their eyes, abusing the trust of others and is a work shy layabout who could easily improve their situation if they chose to do so.
Alternatively there are those people who see that given the current financial climate, the systematic financial ruination of a generation by greedy corporations, banks and businesses and the fact that people have less these days than they have had for a long time, or who have come from tragic backgrounds of neglect, abuse, drug use, illness or any number awful things, that perhaps there are people on the streets, amongst the con artists, who may need a bit of change now and then to get themselves a drink, or a bite to eat.
It must be so wonderful to be so clear thinking and have utterly perfect judgement in such matters. I for one don't. It is never as simple as some people or newspapers love to make out.
The world is not black and white, it's shades of grey.
I do not know if I would have given to the lady or not. In the past I have ignored beggars, and I have also given cash or food to them based on my judgement and financial situation at the time. But I know one thing, the world is a better place for those willing to help others out, than it is for those who turn a blind eye or who decry them and try to ignore them and make ill-informed assumptions and snap judgements as to why they are in the situation they are in.
Gandhi said "You must be the change you want to see in the world." It is very easy to say. Not so easy to do.
That isn't "rubbish". It's called altruism. This is not liberalist thinking, it is trying to be fair, whilst also trying to weed out those abusing that trust.
By the same rational as ignoring all beggars, should we not give to Live Aid because some of the money may not be used for starving kids and may go, perhaps to despot governments and warlords? Should we not support our troops in Afghanistan, because the taxes we pay may instead be spent on ludicrous MP expenses? I'm sure the money given to Children in Need ends up in the hands of a few businesses along the line, should we not give to that either? Cancer charities pay an awful lot for their drugs and equipment for research etc, should we not give to them because in the end it all ends up in the bank accounts of large and occasionally ethically dubious pharmaceutical companies?
In the end, beggars, like you and me, are human too. Whether they are drug addicts, con artists, or not. They deserved to be treated as human beings, rather than discriminated against because of their situation and a pre-conceived idea that they are all liars, cheats and con artists.
It isn't easy weeding out those in genuine need from the con artists. But it is a sad day when a simple, basic humanitarian effort, is deemed to be the action of a mug or fool.
I think every case should be judged individually and on merit, evidence available at the time and your own individual criteria. I also feel that people should not be mocked, and their beliefs called "rubbish" simply because some people choose to see their gesture of benevolence in a different way. They may be mugs, but they've proven they care. It may only be 20p to spend on a Chelsea season ticket, but they've proven they have a semblance of humanity and understanding. Which is worth a great deal more.
The day these people don't matter, is the day we don't either.
Well from what I have seen in the past is that most people tend to walk on by.
That being the case that the majority walk by, then I would class myself as one of the majority..............that will do for me thankyou.
No I wouldn't have given directly, as guilty as I would feel and as hard, I simply can't judge adequately under those circumstances and would prefer to know more before I gave any money.
I do give/help deserving causes, and I can't help everyone so I have to pick one and dedicate to that as hard as it is, otherwise, the type of person I am I'd give all my money to every sob story that came along.
There are hundreds of ways you can help people in need, not just through money, but recycling furniture to projects or on freecycle, gifting clothes and blankets to charities that help men and women who are left just with what they stand in.
Cold winter months means homeless charities need more food, help and blankets. If you can't donate these, you could volunteer your time or energy. Some people, those in genuine need, just need someone to talk to!
Raise funds for a local charity, £50 will help the charity toward doing many things. It doesn't have to be hundreds, small donations are as valuable, sometimes more if they can put it towards match funding!
I sound like I'm preaching and I don't mean to be but giving money does not have to be the sole way you can help people. You don't need to "walk on by" there are ways to help that take no effort but can mean the world to those involved!
i would not have given.
there are charitys out there that will assist with food and shelter.
if her story was true then the social pay out daily for those living on the streets, if it was a new claim and she was in hardship they have crisis loans till the claim is sorted.
i would not give cash to any begger. there are systems in place to support the basic needs.
if she wanted a fancier meal, bottle of alcohol then she should get a job.
if she has the bollocks and health to beg she can use that to get out of the system.
i work with homeless families.
xx fem xxx
Well splendid and resonance said it all for me.
Now Splendid please tell me who said that thing what u wrote, the first bit not the Kirsty lyric.
:worship: :worship:
