I give to street performers. I don't give to random people sitting on the sidewalk asking for money.
There is a courtyard right out front of my office building. It attracts all sorts of people, probably because it is "downtown" and right by a main exit from the underground train. Most of them just sit around smoking pot, being loud & making a mess. There are at least 5 trash cans positioned around this courtyard... yet these vagabonds just throw their crap on the ground. Not having a home is no excuse for not being a decent human being. I don't give money to them.
On some days people come to perform. Sometimes it is a band that is trying to sell their home made CDs. Sometimes it is just a guy playing bucket drums. I give to them on occasion. I'll give money to a guy playing bucket drums before I give to a guy sitting with an overturned hat and a sign.
I do that too. I like street performers and sometimes even wish there would be more (not poor, of course). They make the place much nicer. Sometimes the music is even great. I don't have problems with those, they earn their money.
In my case I was devastated by natural disaster, leaving me with challenging anti-social obligations.
When I am not worse off than the homeless or domestically compromised, I still help the ones whom I am personally
acquainted with, providing cash sometimes or rides in my vehicle.
There are numerous needy individuals I encounter regularly and they are not always worse off than me.
With needy strangers, until I am out of debt or at least have positive cash flow, I can usually be honest, and get an honest reaction when I ask if they have lost everything.
If so, it's easy to relate how I'm looking forward to working 12hours a day, 7days a week for a couple years
so that I will recover well enough to then have nothing myself.
For someone who is truly homeless, it's usually easy for them to understand that I am non-domestic myself, plus it takes a lot to keep a vehicle on the road so I really don't have anything to spare sensibly.
Since I'm older than most, the sensible beggar recognizes he may be worse off in my position.
This year I often have food with me when I am driving, so I sometimes can share some of my rations or occasionally even have surplus to give.
I am a surplus-seeking individual. My entire (ruined) operation was built with recycled or surplus materials.
One man gathers what another man spills.
I don't plan to beg on the street, I'll learn how to accept financial help from a capitalist instead, and I'm not looking for a donation unless a venture turns out to be a non-profit org.
Otherwise I'll make them as much return as they prefer.
But it has to be a generous capitalist with surplus funds to combine with my surplus technology, then we fly.
The same backing from a greedy partner could only offer further deficit for me, may still get off the ground
but not true flight with that baggage.
I look forward to the time when I can once again exersize my generosity to a greater degree.
__________
- now you're considering street performers while I was typing, so I'll post this here.
Don't think I'll do that either unless I finally lose critical mass of industrial surplus which could happen any time, but looks like I've got a better chance singing for my supper at my favorite restaurant than I would in the street,
which is illegal here except in the (uncrowded) museum district with a very restrictive permit.
sorry this message turned out to be so personal, hope it helps anyway, this one hit "home"
There is a courtyard right out front of my office building. It attracts all sorts of people, probably because it is "downtown" and right by a main exit from the underground train. Most of them just sit around smoking pot, being loud & making a mess. There are at least 5 trash cans positioned around this courtyard... yet these vagabonds just throw their crap on the ground. Not having a home is no excuse for not being a decent human being. I don't give money to them.
On some days people come to perform. Sometimes it is a band that is trying to sell their home made CDs. Sometimes it is just a guy playing bucket drums. I give to them on occasion. I'll give money to a guy playing bucket drums before I give to a guy sitting with an overturned hat and a sign.