My granddad said to me once, "If you ever see somebody in trouble, help them if you can." Great advice. It's just not from my book on the rules of social engagement. My book reads more like, "If I see somebody in trouble, I will help them as long as it does not inconvenience me." That's my book.Haven't you driven by someone who is having car trouble without offering to help? Maybe just asking if you can make a phone call for them? How many of you pass by people with a sign claiming they need food or work without offering assistance?
"Oh, but Raiderman that's different." Why? Why is that different? I get it now...see a pattern here? It's the strangers that you won't help regardless of whether they need it or not. Is that right? I mean you help your friends. After all, they may "talk" about you if you don't. You know...gossip.
My name is Raider, and I'm a hypocrite.
An old lady was standing on a street corner once as my sister-in-law and I were driving by. She held a sign saying she needed bus fare to go out of town. I rolled the window down against my sister-in-law's wish, and promptly told her to jump in the car and we would take her to the bus station and purchase her ticket.
Come on out there. Y'all know her response. The last time I saw her she was standing on that corner with a sign. Only this time her sign read "Need cash for a bus ticket and food." Seems to me that I have a reasonable excuse for not "caring".
I am a hypocrite and a cynic and recently I discovered that I am a homophobic Islamophobe too. Sheesh! I can't be all things to all people!
Now, time to go see if I can't get the neighbors dog to the vet for her. I hate the dog, but it's what granddad would have wanted. Have a great Monday whether you want to or not...
25 comments:
You forgot the God Bless at the bottom of the sign. That's what most of them say here. I don't help either. Just saying.
Have a terrific day. :)
I love the "homeless" folks with signs that swear at you when you pass them by. God bless 'em and their limited vocabulary.
Sandee: God Bless *not what I'm thinking*
nonamedufus: Hahaha! I just don't trust any of them anymore. Homeless around the holidays and selling drugs during the summer. Hell, they probably rake in more than I do.
Arrrggghhh, you've hit a real sore spot. I can't go anywhere anymore without someone holding some sort of sign asking for money. What ever happened to the days when they just mugged you?
Me-Me King: Haven't you heard? This is a politically correct version of "mugging".
I was approached (in my car) at a stoplight by a guy asking for money. I saw him coming and quickly rolled up my window and mouthed 'no thank you' to him through the glass. I felt guilty for a day or so until I saw him to it again and again AT THE SAME INTERSECTION around the same time each day. This dude had some nerve, eh? And that would be why I'm cynical about helping folks. Here's a concept--try helping yourself instead of taking advantage of others, creep.
I was approached in a shopping center parking lot by 2 girls around 19. They asked for gas money, said they were trying to get home from the beach. I let go of my cynicism momentarily and handed over $5. thinking that I would want a good person to help my own kids (dumb, because they would just call me) 2 days later the same girls were there trolling for money again!
A couple of years ago one of my co-workers on a city bus saw the manager of our office mailroom standing in the median strip with a sign and a cup begging for "donations". It made for quite the office gossip and controversy.
Lin: I agree. If they spent as much time looking for work as they do a handout, they could by their own lunch.
Buggy's: Sad because one in ten may really need it, but it's the bad ones that ruin it for the legitimate ones.
David: I saw on the national news a while back where some girl was panhandling at a mall even though she and her family had money. Her folks weren't aware she was doing this, but her friends saw her...She just wanted more money than her allowance I guess.
As someone who has suffered homelessness and brokeness, if just one person had offered me a room instead of cash, I'd have been a happy camper..instead I actually spent my time working my way out instead of the time it takes to make a sign and stand outside for hours.. You aren't a hypocrite, just honest..
nipsy: Thanks, and I'm very happy to know that somebody, i.e.you, would rather be self sufficient than dependent on others for everything under the sun.
Dang. I came over here for a handout. I guess I'll have to go to work instead.
Sheesh!
ReformingGeek: I'll give you a handout...just don't come at me with one of those infamous handwritten cardboard signs.
what kills me are the ones who claim they are a vet, which they might be, holding a sign in the same spot everyday begging for money and one time I caught him getting picked up in a brand spanky new toyota by some girl with a child in the back seat. me thinks a scam is somewhere in that.
There was a woman in a McDonalds that was obviously homeless but she wasn't holding up a sign. I handed her some money, about three or four bills I guess. Her face lit up until she realized it was only about 15 bucks.
Here's heartless for ya...if they're hungry, send them to the nearest soup kitchen. Offer them a job. But like you said, they'll just change their sign to avoid THOSE kinds of comments, too.
some people are abusing the kindness of others. They should try to look for a job or something. One time, one lady walked in our office, she was asking for help (money), we gave her money (small amount only), after she counted it, she asked "Only this?". Duh?!
blueyes: A vet? Oh! Veteran! I swear I thought you meant a veterinarian. Couldn't figure that one out. We have a lot of both down here so a homeless veterinarian would not be impossible.
MA Fat Woman: Next time you're in the mood for giving away your money and want somebody who will appreciate it to take it, I'm sending you my address.
Nanny Goats In Panties: We have a few, though not many, "soup" kitchens here that will feed and shelter them if they'd leave the Wal*Mart parking lots long enough to take advantage of them.
Sugar Daddy Dating: Unfortunately, somewhere a truly homeless person is looking for a legitimate handout to make it to his/her next meal. But because of all of the scammers, it won't happen. Too bad.
This made me think of the guy who comes in the store I work at (he's on welfare) and he sends western unions for hundreds of dollars to pay for his online gambling. Makes me sick to think my hard earned tax dollars are paying for that piece of....
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