You walk past a homeless person....what do you do?
So, as I am working in Baltimore this summer, I see at least 4 or 5 homeless people on the walk to and from the parking garage. I don't like saying no to people so I will give something if I'm in a good mood and have some change. But, most times I don't have any on me and I just don't like making eye contact. So my question is, how do you guys deal with it if you're not in a great mood/ have nothing? Do you nod and say hello? or do some go to the extent of saying a snide comment a la Patrick Bateman.
In before the American Psycho reference.
Those are usually really easy to do, but I literally just watched the video trying to find a good angle to quote here and got nothing. I always enjoy an American Psycho reference.
OP:
The way I see it, there's no reason for me to give them money unless they do something for it. In NYC, homeless people literally run around just asking for change. They yammer about their "tragic" story on the subway, then expect people to give them cash.
On the flip side, whenever I'm at the port authority bus terminal, there's this one guy who stands near the entrance and sees people as they walk in. If he can tell you're lost, he'll literally ask if he can show you to where you're going and what bus to get on. He looks as clean and civilized as he can and even makes conversation on the way there without sounding like some vagrant. Before you get on the bus, he casually mentions that if you have anything to offer, he'd appreciate it. $5 from me.
just say sorry and keep walking. keep it simple.
since he usually likes to give something. doesnt hurt at all by saying that.
Walk by, unless they appear intelligent enough to read a basic map and clock then I say "Hey, I'm Kevin from the food shelter downtown, and you look like you could a home cooked meal, on me. Here's the map to my place [actually my bitch ex-gf's house]. See you after 8pm and God bless."
BOOOOO
don't acknowledge them and keep walking
get a camera and throw some money between them.
"be gone human pigeon"
Do you realize how bad you smell??? You reak of $**T.... Get a g-d damn job, Al!
Personally I rarely get any utility out of giving away my hard-earned $$$
I feel like you just started this routine. After a while, you don't even notice them, they are just there just like a bench or a parked car.
When I first started in NY I was a bit awkward with that too but then I became desensitized.
Don't make eye contact or acknowledge their existence.
The only thing time I feel bad, is if someone is severely disabled. When I lived in new york I remember a vet who had his legs and arms blown off from an IED. He held his please help sign with his very mangled and burnedarm nubs. I gave him some $. That shit is fucking sad.
THE GUY AT LIKE 61ST AND MADISON!?
Okay here's my problem with those guys. I do feel bad for them, I really do, but I can't help but feel like he knows what he's doing by posting up on a street corner like that. He turns himself into an exhibition, and it's really sad. God forbid I or anyone I know is ever in a similar situation, but I feel like the best way to carry on your life after an accident like that is to try your best to overcome it. I'm sure there's a job out there somewhere that he would be capable of doing, and I'd feel more accomplished being able to work and go on with my life (in as normal a fashion as is possible given the circumstances) than I would being the PM of a $100b fund. It's sad because it happened and the guy's handicapped for life in one of the worst ways possible, but it's also sad because now his only way of getting by is by using his condition as a bargaining chip. I don't blame him for that, but it does feel a little bit wrong.
For the record, I know just how you feel, although I also think that in his condition, what can the guy really do if he's poor and has no one to take care of him?
Either way, this particular guy was at yankee stadium when i saw him. And couldn't have been older than early twenties, looked very young.
Whenever a homeless guy asks me for spare change, I always tell him "sorry, I only carry hundreds...."
i say exxcuse me sir get the fuk out of my way cuz im going to make models and bottles rain on my head while i make headlines of wall stret journal with loyd blankfine
Just walk straight, don't make eye contact, don't turn in his/her direction, don't acknowledge when they say something, ask for money or shake their cup at you.
I ignore them completely.
Dont feel bad. Those guys can almost always get three decent meals a day. They know where to go if they are hungry and want some good food for free. They also can pull a nice yearly salary from begging.
They drop all that shit on booze and drugs. Your money will not go toward food or anything else other then drugs.
the responses in this thread cannot be serious lol. I usually give homeless peeps job applications. got a few of em a job.
Sometimes I will buy them a sandwich if they are hungry. I never give out money.
Anybody can become homeless and a lot of folks who laugh at the poor later wind up on the street. So don't tempt karma.
I'd have thought you'd be pretty green over anyone who plays less rent than you.
I have my own issues with homelessness. If you give someone enough to be there tomorrow, they'll be there tomorrow. Its only when life gets unsustainable that people change. More needs to be done to find meaningful ways for them to contribute, rather than chuck enough scraps at them for them to survive and us to feel better about having so much more.
I think it's totally fine to say hi, hello, good morning - even if you have nothing to give (or want to give). They are still homeless "people", after all.
Personally, I've found 1-2 guys in the area who I give a couple of bucks to on a regular basis (usually Streetwise vendors - not sure if that's just a Chicago thing). If any of the other regulars hassle me, my guys intervene - golden goose.
"I'm not concerned about the very poor, we have a safety net there" - Mitt Romney
I used to give money, now I don't do anything.
If I have money on me, I always give them something. Then of course, I take 5 min to explain to them some austrian economics and how all of our problems come from the gov.
One time I was in the subway, and this 30ish guy asks me for 25 cents. Told him to go rob a bank. It's either he pull it off and he's rich or he get arrested and go to jail, i.e. free food, free housing, free gym, free cable tv + free education.
It's a win/win
Because that stupid gov taxes the hell out of the economy to pay for non-viable social programs that get politicians elected. By doing so, companies hire less = no jobs for college kids.
OH SNAP JUST GOTCHA JOURNALISMED U BRO
Well it's not like I really wanted him to rob a bank, lol.
I have two regular guys. I buy them coffee if the night was cold and just talk about life. They are nice guy's that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Give them some change and wish them the very best. You're not going broke over 25 cents.
Don't acknowledge them unless they offer value. Value is perceived in different ways, but the guy in the Port Terminal is a good example and another would be someone who looks like they are starving. I saw a fat man asking for money in NY. I thought to myself, "Are you kidding me?". Stop spending so much money on food! Our life is better in our perception to their life. However, it is a relative assumption and they make money off of that assumption. I've seen families without walls in their homes, children drinking muddy water, and the best part of the day is when they grab some mango with salt on the top. Those children and families are the ones who need money.
Plus, in NY there are literally dozens of charities that offer help.
It's a tough answer, but it's the reality. The reality is that they have the mindset of a scavenger.
You don't have to give them your "hard earned money" (a few pennies or even dollars break your bank?)but you also don't have to be mean. If you see them every day just say good morning, hi, or even just smile.
Being kind doesn't mean you be kind only sometimes. And it most certainly doesn't depend on your mood.
I ignore them. I've had a couple follow me a bit before & I hate it when they sit next to me on the subway. They smell terrible and keep talking/yelling at the people close by.
i pass the same guy every day on my walk home...and sometimes he's reading a book, so i'll give him a little change...when he's not, he doesnt get anything
there are just too many beggers and homeless people here
There has been a movie on mentally disabled people. There should be one on homeless people with Will Ferrell being the lead actor. I wonder what side conversations are like among that community?
What homeless person?
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