Comments on: Being Kind Because You Can, You Can Afford It

By: I Am Ugly, Stupid and Broke, Anything Helps | The Limelight – Live Creatively

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:24:34 +0000

[...] breeds contempt, and I can safely say that is true. While it has always been my habit to give my spare change away, I have actually found myself doing it less and less now that I have more opportunities to do [...]

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:55:03 +0000

Well Jendeis, I’m not going to say they aren’t true, but stories like that reek of urban legend to me. First of all, tha vast majority of people on the streets are suffering from some kind of mental illness ot trauma, and I think it’s unlikely they would have the capacity to save for a retirement, either mentally or logistically.

Secondly, the streets are not a pleasant place to be, anyone who was just simply lazy and wanted to retire without ever working would hopefully have the good sense to go to the Caymens early on in life and beg for money there ;-)

By: Jendeis

Jendeis — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:04:18 +0000

A very thoughtful post. What about those stories of panhandlers who choose not to have jobs, not to have homes and wind up retiring in the Caymans on the money they have collected? I’m not sure if any of those stories are true, but they are very disturbing to me.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:30:31 +0000

Thanks for all your comments.

Jordan, I am not in the states, I am Canadian, and I am not familiar with “The Big Issue”. Could you explain what it is?

By: Jordan McClements

Jordan McClements — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:59:18 +0000

I agree with Alicia.

The guy who ran the ‘Big Issue’ (do you have that in the states?) went on record saying that people should NOT give money to homeless people.

If they are selling the Big Issue – then by all means buy it – but don’t give them money that they can spend on drink and drugs….

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:28:35 +0000

I’m visiting here from NCLM. I wish more people had your outlook on this! Most of us don’t realize that we are only one illness and a few pay checks away from being homeless ourselves. I can only hope that if I’m ever in that position that there will be kind strangers like you on my street!

By: Alicia

Alicia — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:11:39 +0000

interesting post! I have worked and volunteered a lot with the homeless population. I also hate how people treat them as invisable. My friend and I also did our own research and became homeless for a weekend, and having people walk by me, prentending I was not there was so hurtful and so painful.

So when passing a homeless person on the street I say hi, I let them hold my hand if they want too, but I do not give them money. Our city has many many resources for them, free food, activities and lodging. Which I think is great and needed, so this money will no doubt be going towards their bad habits and I would much rahter walk over with them to the shelter and do some art, play a game, share a meal then give them change!

But I think its great that you are speaking about this issue and taking a different perspective then most!

take care

here from NaComLeavMo