On giving

[angeltemptress9]

I was walking across the parking lot to the grocery store today when a woman came up to me and asked for help. I've had this happen in my dance studio parking lot, and I've given a few dollars away without concern, as the people seemed to truly need the help

Comments

[azarule]

Probably the same thing that hits most of us eventually. I make a point to only give under extremely informed circumstances nowadays...Even those petitions people want you to sign usually have a nefarious backstory.

About five...or something...years ago, I was on lunch break from a terrible retail job, and walked over to the nearby Togos. I had only eaten half my sandwich, so when I passed the resident homeless person (complete with 'anything helps' sign) I handed him the bag containing my separately-wrapped sandwich half and an unopened bag of chips. My soda I kept. The guy looked in the bag, looked at me, and asked if I had any money. I said, "Not that I don't need right now". He then proceeded to tell me to fuck myself, and threw the sandwich at me.

Was this man hungry? I seriously doubt it. Was he insulted by my charity? The fact that he was sitting with a sign and directly asked for money both suggest that explanation is unlikely. Was he mentally ill? Given the coherence and logic of his actions, I doubt he