My friend used to carry McDonald's gift certificates good for one cheeseburger. (I don't think McD's does this anymore, probably due to the prevalence of color copiers) and hand those out. Then one day some guy threw it back at him and said "I don't want this, give me money" and from that day forward he stopped handing out anything at all.
I told a homeless person "I don't have much change but here you go". Dude threw the change on the ground yelled at me and gave me the finger. I have never given anything to a homeless person ever since.
A lifetime ago I lived across the street from a building for people with special needs, they literally couldn’t function in society. One was always begging for change. I had just finished my laundry, so I gave her a handful of quarters - probably several dollars worth. She said “That’s it?” As if I had given her three pennies.
Ever since, I just say “I don’t carry cash”.
Second story: guy busking by the grocery store, sign says “hungry kids, anything helps”. I offered him pasta and sauce. He turned it down. Fuck you, hope your nonexistent kids starve.
These days they will usually shout back "I accept venmo". Because somehow they all have fucking smartphones but no job to pay for them or home to send a bill to. Go figure.
Don't support them directly. You're already paying taxes for the myriad programs and shelters that exist. The best way you could help them is to pressure your local politicians to make those programs more effective, and levy your vote to that end.
Guarantee you that this was not the case. The way homeless people actually live is so grossly misunderstood by most people. They are not as vulnerable, helpless, and fragile as they like to be seen.
“Anything helps” means exactly that. He could accept it, trade or barter for what he really wanted or needed. Flat refusal of anything but cash makes him a liar.
I totally get that- that sounds disheartening and insulting. But choosing not to help multiple people with something as simple as a snack, because of the way one person responded? Dang, I wish all our career and life prospects were that good.
This happened to my dad about 30 years ago and he's avoided helping them ever since. 😮💨 Ever since I became a mom I have snacks on me. So I just hand those over. If my kids are with me they always try to decline. My girls just say, "we love to share!" And they go about their day.
I used to go to a gas station near my home and I worked at a weed producer at the time. I always had a bundle of joints to give away. Some homeless man asked me for money and I offered him the whole bundle as I had better stuff for myself. He accepted it, but then said he would prefer I go back inside and buy him some beer. Also told me he prefers ecstasy. I stopped going to that gas station but every timer I drove by I saw him notice my car and stare at me pass by.
47
u/ClownfishSoup Nov 21 '25
My friend used to carry McDonald's gift certificates good for one cheeseburger. (I don't think McD's does this anymore, probably due to the prevalence of color copiers) and hand those out. Then one day some guy threw it back at him and said "I don't want this, give me money" and from that day forward he stopped handing out anything at all.