To give to the beggar who's hanging with his friends and says he wants a soda, or not to give to the beggar?

I usually give, because I cannot imagine what circumstance would make me willing to ask in the first place so I figure they are much worse off than I am.

Well, its YOUR money

but then it comes down to your feelings, and how “kind” the person asking looks. I would like to see what he will get first.

In theory, I would give the money, but I would have to buy it for him.

If the kid was hanging out with his friends and they weren’t willing to by him a soda, then he probably has already borrowed to their limits.

If he’s 20 and doesn’t have $1.50 then he shouldn’t be hanging out in front of the mall.

But the impulse to just give is always there, so it is tough to say what i would so at the time.

That’s a call I can’t truly make in advance.

It doesn’t hurt me at all to give him a buck, so why not?

I can’t imagine what his situation was, that he had to ask random strangers for money. Fuck, I should do that.
I only give when I have something to give..which is rare. I don’t carry money on me. But, I use discretion when giving to the needy, maybe it’s mean but they have to at least look like they need it.

I would probably give him any change I had.

This reminds me of older teens who don’t dress up for halloween but still knock on your door. They don’t even say trick or treat, they just kind of stand there like can I have some candy. Get a job. Ask the young man if he knows what formula costs. Just say no.

If I had the money, I probably would. There was a very short time in my life when I was on my own and out of money. My roommate and I had to beg for money for food. For five days we ate because of the kindness of strangers.

I know he was just asking for soda, but you never know what his life may be like at home.

It’s all, subjective. But THAT kid. Sounds like a no. He’s always hanging around with that no good Eddie Haskell

@fireside I like what your saying there, if your 20, you should be carrying around a buck or two, hell im 13 and carry around about 30 dollars whenever im “out” in the mall or something.

@jonsblond according to the OP, he seemed decently dressed.

@bluedoggiant
You’re 13!! Oh my, I have to rethink my approach.. Isn’t there a kid’s table?

@bluedoggiant I was 18 and decently dressed when I had no money. You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.

@jonsblond

Hmm, thats reasonable. But then comes the trust factor.

@bluedoggiant I doubt that the young man was asking twenty different people for a dollar so he could go buy a dime bag, but you never know. Having to rely on the kindness of strangers for food once in my life made me want to return the favor if I ever got the chance. One of my biggest problems in life is expecting the best out of others and it has gotten me burned many times, but it’s just in my nature to want to help out. He very well could have been an Eddie Haskell, but he was just asking for a $1.50. :)

part of what i was feeling was that if it were me, and i didn’t have $1.50 for soda, i would drink water out of the water fountain, or go home.

@jca I agree with you. I’m not a soda drinker and I hardly ever have it in the house. My teenage sons hate me for this! :) I feel that children drink too much of the stuff. The young man may have just wanted a beverage that he could carry.

not to trivialize his desire for soda, just that if you want something and can’t afford it, don’t beg, just do without for now. i feel giving to someone begging in that situation encourages that type of behavior. i don’t know if i have a harsh attitude.

all i can think of is that episode of south park with Nessy asking for threeee fitty….

anyways. my friends and i have actually been guilty of asking people at school for donations, but usually it’s just, ‘do you have any spare change?’ hoping for 10 cents, not the full cost of something. and it’s more often that not people we know at least somewhat. if this guy was short a quarter or something, then i probably would give it to him, if i had it on me. 1.50? maybe. maybe. it depends on how he asked. if he seemed to be a genuinely nice dude and i had money to spare, then i guess i would.