Author Topic: Do you give money to charity, hobos, buskers? (Read 3164 times)

Cerveza mas fina · « **on:** July 18, 2011, 03:57:40 PM »

Just wondering if you guys and gals give money to any of the above and your motivations.

Mupepe · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2011, 03:58:16 PM »

what's a busker?

Himu · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:01:02 PM »

I do.

If I've got some change and I'm driving I try to always give a little. I'm really nice, but I also think I'm TOO nice. I'm not sure if that's a flaw or what.

My mother on the other hand always wonders if they're going to buy booze or crack with the money and declines giving any.

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:03:05 PM »

A busker is a street musician. I guess you can put any type of street performer under that category.

Personally I give money to buskers and charities, but not hobos. Only very occasionally.

Mupepe · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:07:05 PM »

oh. i give money to all 3. It's usually insignificant amounts and whether they spend it on crack or booze I'm sure they're getting more enjoyment out of my 30 cents than I would.

Reb · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:30:44 PM »

Only charities.

T-Short · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:37:10 PM »

Only moroccans

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:38:20 PM »

Only in America.

demi · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:46:10 PM »

I dont leave my house, not an issue

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:47:21 PM »

I only donate blood, and even that's slowed down due to my low iron levels

brob · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:47:36 PM »

Quote from: Hyoushi on July 18, 2011, 04:37:10 PM

Only moroccans

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:49:25 PM »

sometimes.

Diunx · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:09:07 PM »

Just saw a hobo sleeping in the middle of a sidewalk with flies all around him and another one took an empty bottle of beer from the garbage and started filling it with leftover beer from other bottles in the same can.

cool breeze · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:09:57 PM »

to charity, sometimes.

the homeless resent you if you don't give them money. I try to avoid carrying coin change, and I'm not about to give a full dollar because some hombre asked for it. I usually apologize and the guy responds with "SURE OK FUCKIN BITCH" at least be glad that I acknowledged your existence! most people pretend to talk on their phone.

I remember a few years back a homeless guy asked a friend for money to buy food. This friend offered some of his bagels. The homeless guy said "but I want McDonalds" and went back to slum by the wall. What's that old expression? beggars can be assholes

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:18:29 PM »

Never pull out your wallet for a beggar, unless you're in a crowed area I guess. I used to run into a lot of them back when I rode the bus daily. If I had change in my pocket to spare, I might hand it over, often not though.

It's not that I'm afraid they'll use money for drugs - I can care less; my tax dollars fund far worse shit than one homeless guy getting stoned. I just assume beggars will rob if given the chance, so I don't give them that chance. It's especially bad at a bus transit stop, jesus. I'd always make sure to just carry my ID in my wallet on those days, leaving everything else at home.

brob · « **Reply #15 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:22:19 PM »

When I give money to the homeless, or just offer up small talk to pass the time sucking down a cigarette they are usually real nice. homeless/ex-drug abusers in my town also sell a monthly street magazine about homeless, articles about getting through drug abuse, interviews with famous people who are doing shit for organizations, etc. I try to buy that when I have the money too.

etiolate · « **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:27:25 PM »

Not to charities, but I give it to the homeless on the street.

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #17 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:34:50 PM »

Why that Etiolate?

@PD: Why are you worried they will run, aren't they usually sitting down at a spot?

etiolate · « **Reply #18 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:47:06 PM »

Why not to charities? I don't like intermediaries between myself and those I seek to help. I don't like conditional help, which a charity might be providing. There is also plenty of corruption and profit within the charity world. I want to know the person I am helping and I don't think a letter from Africa suffices. Something just seems strange about charity life in America. Sometimes it feels like paying off guilt debt for some people. If someone asks something of me and I can provide it then I try to do so.

Even though American money helps a lot with foreign disasters, I still find the person to person disconnect of charities to be strange.

Himu · « **Reply #19 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:48:36 PM »

Quote from: Premium Lager on July 18, 2011, 05:34:50 PM

@Himu: Why are you worried they will run, aren't they usually sitting down at a spot?

what in the fuck are you talking about

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #20 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:49:45 PM »

Oh shit I confused you with PD somehow, my bad

T234 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:52:54 PM »

I am the DIRECT DESCENDANT of South Carolina plantation owners and I don't feel the slightest bit of guilt, racial or otherwise.

T234 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:54:22 PM »

I'm not sure why PD would be worried either, 'cause I don't think very many hobos can outrun him.

Himu · « **Reply #23 on:** July 18, 2011, 05:54:29 PM »

White guilt makes no sense to me.

drew · « **Reply #24 on:** July 18, 2011, 06:04:28 PM »

no, never. I work my fingers to the bone in a horrible job that leaves me unable to enjoy my off time because I'm physically spent at the end of the day. all of which really makes me feel like every dollar I have is mine and mine only - I'm not even a member of the NRA

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #25 on:** July 18, 2011, 06:08:35 PM »

Remember feeling the same when I had a tough job Drew, I hear ya.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #26 on:** July 18, 2011, 06:11:30 PM »

Quote from: T234 on July 18, 2011, 05:54:22 PM

I'm not sure why PD would be worried either, 'cause I don't think very many hobos can outrun him.

There are some weird homeless people around the bus lines downtown, man. I've seen some crazy shit

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #27 on:** July 18, 2011, 06:53:11 PM »

there's no question that I have been extremely privileged and lucky, and so do feel a bit guilty about having much more than other people for no particularly good reason, though being white is just part of it.

jiji · « **Reply #28 on:** July 18, 2011, 07:05:38 PM »

I'm not sure why, but moving to NYC has made me more aware of my white privilege and more appreciative of it, plus it's cured my white guilt.

And I will give to buskers if I like what they're playing or performing. Homeless, no.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #29 on:** July 18, 2011, 07:11:14 PM »

no, because they don't need the money. the vast majority of them are scammers.

Bildi · « **Reply #30 on:** July 18, 2011, 07:13:25 PM »

I only started donating to RSPCA (animal welfare) over the last year. I'd generally rather help animals than people - many people receiving charity should be helping themselves.

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #31 on:** July 18, 2011, 07:14:30 PM »

i send money to a pair of local battered women's shelters and the gospel mission, because they actually HELP po' folks.

T-Short · « **Reply #32 on:** July 18, 2011, 07:56:57 PM »

actually, I gave a 10 SEK coin to a guy here in Gothenburg that was playing Liszt's "La Campanella" on his accordion. seemed worth it

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #33 on:** July 18, 2011, 08:43:37 PM »

Quote from: Van Cruncheon on July 18, 2011, 07:11:14 PM

no, because they don't need the money. the vast majority of them are scammers.

this is also true.

Bebpo · « **Reply #34 on:** July 18, 2011, 08:51:53 PM »

I donate to stuff like childs play and I donate to Nippon Ichi by buying their overpriced LEs and keeping them from bankruptcy.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #35 on:** July 18, 2011, 09:02:55 PM »

I don't give any money to people begging for it on the street. I know of several shelters in my town that offer food and shelter. I'm sorry that what's there isn't offering any meth pipes, syringes, or a handle of Thunderbird but thems the breaks.

Regarding charities, I'd like to donate to a women's shelters and animal rights groups (that is not PETA or some other batshit insane cavalcade of dumbfuckery) and I think that I'm at a good enough financial situation that I could make some donations. These are pretty much the only kinds of charities that I feel like giving to. I wouldn't mind donating to a food pantry or anything either because even if we're considered in a recovery, life will be shitty for a lot of people for a long time.

Bebpo · « **Reply #36 on:** July 18, 2011, 09:34:14 PM »

Quote from: dcharlie on July 18, 2011, 08:58:57 PM

Sponsor a child through the World Vision program

Part of the charity team here that run a finance/law futsal tournament for women/childrens charities

Charity runs - not sure they count! :/

Charity runs count! They bring in the money for good organizations.

I need to get in better shape and start doing some

CrystalGemini · « **Reply #37 on:** July 18, 2011, 09:43:58 PM »

I give food to homeless on the street (ie chocolate bars, cookies...etc) and buy toys for end of year toy drives, not usually money directly though. I've tried etiolate's method of giving and I am not sure I am convinced.

I do try to volunteer my time and donate my hair to those that need it. Volunteer time because picking up a trash bag and cleaning out the marshland around the bay or a few days a month helping renovate a children's nonprofit in one of the most ghetto cities in the Bay Area (no offense) makes a hell of a lot more difference than a $5 donation. Donate hair because...why not? It's growing anyway. If someone is living with a disease and must suffer through long term hair loss I don't see why I can't wait a little longer to get my hair cut so they can live life a little more comfortably.

The world is a shitty place but if everyone pulled together and helped out it'd make a huge difference.

Mandark · « **Reply #38 on:** July 18, 2011, 10:07:36 PM »

Van Cruncheon

Back in my strip-mall-retail days we had several "homeless" regulars who worked the shopping center and some nearby major intersections. Hardly any were homeless by any definition of the word, though we did have a couple legit crackheads.

Some people are queasy about charities because of the middleman issue or religious affiliations, but a good local charity (and there are tons of them) really knows its onions when it comes to the needs of the poor and how to help them. If you really want to help but think that cutting a check smacks of indulgences, volunteer your time. Odds are a soup kitchen won't turn you away cause too many damn people keep showing up to help.

Diunx · « **Reply #39 on:** July 19, 2011, 01:24:33 AM »

I never give money to any hobo or donate to any charity because I can barely afford to pay for all my needs with what I make, the day I have extra money is the day I start giving it away.

drozmight · « **Reply #40 on:** July 19, 2011, 04:01:33 AM »

To some literacy charities and local food banks.

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Author Topic: Do you give money to charity, hobos, buskers? (Read 3164 times)