If you have no friends or family that will help you out,in my opinion you've done something really bad.

And no it is not raceism either just who I saw doing it....if he were white or jew I'd say the same thing.

Or perhaps your family is no better off than you.. Or they live very far away and they're no better off than you OR you're to proud to ask them so you figure it out on your own.. OR you have nothing to do with them by choice so you don't ask... Loads of reasons other than doing something really bad...

When they ask if i have change i say "Yup, thanks for checking" and walk on by...but on occasion i give to one that dont have a bs story

I have no extended family except a mom who is a hag and does nothing for anyone....except herself. My few good friends don't live in my state and are struggling themselves right now...and I'm I haven't done anything terribly bad since I was a rotten teenager...

I always give to the "bums" if I have it. It is not my decision on what they use it for..if they need a beer to get through the day, or a smoke, then that is what they need. Is not for me to say what they use it for, only my choice to give or not.

I will give them all my change in my wallet..
or the smallest bill in my wallet.
if I'm with someone..they end up usually dragging my the other way...I don't like to walk away...knowing I could have helped someone..and didn't.

Chances are if I have it, I'll give it to you. I live in a small town so we don't really have a problem with this, but if I have something you need just ask...would rather someone ask me for it than steal it.

There is a spot at a local wal mart where these people hang out because there is a lot of traffic. I was there one day and 2 men were holding signs that they needed food. I had no cash on me. I came home and cooked a huge pot of spaghetti and filled up 2 plates and took it back to them. They ate like they hadn't eaten a week. I talked to them. One was quite old and said he got sick, no insurance, missed work and lost his job, had no where to go. The other was younger and said he was a desert storm vet..he was missing a foot..I saw it..had no where to go.
It was terribly sad..the older man was very sick, I could see it.
I cried the whole way home, wishing I could do more.

I have a problem with dishonest ones that are just looking to feed off of earned money...for instance last week a man asked for a cig and 50 cents more for bus fare home which was 50 miles away.I gave him 2 bucks and 4 cigs...2 hours later i see him in the same spot smoking a cig and asking others.
My gullibility meter was off i guess,but i know some actually can use help...i just prefer the bum on the side of a road with a "will work for beer" sign heh

Well I have on more then one occasion, but what is funny if you go by the same corner a lot and see the same person there then see them somewhere else.......

I did once there was a guy that I always saw on the same corner he was missing a leg and was on crutches... Heck I know he had to be making quiet a bit there. Went to the flea market like 2-3 months later and low and behold he was set up there selling all brand new items go figure...........then a few weeks later saw him on the same corner again.....

I had to laugh and thought glad I was not funding that one.....

Yep Me too. A lot of different reasons folks find themselves homeless and right now this country has a lot of folks just one pay check/unemployment check or severance notice away from it.

They call that Endeavor Capitalism

Nahhhh, I don't give them anything.... here in N.Y. they seem to be on every corner and by every store. I would be broke! I just avoid them altogether. I don't recycle soda bottles so I used to put them out on the lawn for the local bum to come get. But my neighbor started snatching them herself. I did tell one of the homeless guys where the city mission was when he asked for money once.

Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't have the energy, it's so annoying seeing generalizations all the time.

I am speaking of an experiance in Philly. A lady used to always stand on a particular corner and say "dime or a quarter please". One day my co-worker saw her in the bank one friday. He was right behind her in line. He saw over her sholder, the balance in her account. Yes it was Very big, over $100,000.00 . Never gave to anyone since.

I'm always a sucker for this

I give

My heart hurts if I don't

I tell him (or her) where the mission is. They have everything he needs there.

Giving is a human kindness towards humanity . Most people who beg have serious mental or other problems . I do not care what he or she does with the begged money because the look of human asking for help is something extraordinary .My principle is help the person for the sake of humanity and the rst is history .

I offer to get them something to eat and drink. I'm not going to contribute to someone's possible alcohol or drug problem, we have enough of that going on.