Comments on: Upset at beggars? Pick the right target http://sf.metblogs.com/2009/06/23/upset-at-beggars-pick-the-right-target/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:13:06 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: util http://sf.metblogs.com/2009/06/23/upset-at-beggars-pick-the-right-target/comment-page-1/#comment-8889 util Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:04:44 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/?p=5779#comment-8889 I've definitely seen some beggars I recognize commuting via BART, but I guess most of the tickets they collect are destined to be resold at less than face value. If you walk around the Powell station long enough, you'll surely come across someone hawking tickets. Do the givers improve the world by not expecting something in return, by not expecting they'll put it to good use? Well, I guess they might improve it by not unnecessarily upsetting themselves. But if each gift did carry with it the message "use this to improve yourself", why would that be a bad thing? But I think a large part of what is really upsetting the givers is not that the money is not being put to good use but rather that they are being lied to, being manipulated. I’ve definitely seen some beggars I recognize commuting via BART, but I guess most of the tickets they collect are destined to be resold at less than face value. If you walk around the Powell station long enough, you’ll surely come across someone hawking tickets.

Do the givers improve the world by not expecting something in return, by not expecting they’ll put it to good use? Well, I guess they might improve it by not unnecessarily upsetting themselves. But if each gift did carry with it the message "use this to improve yourself", why would that be a bad thing?

But I think a large part of what is really upsetting the givers is not that the money is not being put to good use but rather that they are being lied to, being manipulated.

]]> By: sfintern http://sf.metblogs.com/2009/06/23/upset-at-beggars-pick-the-right-target/comment-page-1/#comment-8888 sfintern Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:38:33 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/?p=5779#comment-8888 Reserving judgment for homeless or people just begging is difficult for me too. I know I can't give money to everybody who asks me, but just walking by without giving acknowledgment makes it seem like I just don't care. I worked for a homelessness policy firm last year and would walk to work through the Tenderloin, so I would say to myself that I was working on the "larger problem." When I give, I definitely don't expect anything in return. My hope is that I have given that person an opportunity to do something good, but I know that might not be the case. That's why I'd rather buy someone some food. Lots of people ask for BART tickets too, which I guess means they commute downtown to beg. Reserving judgment for homeless or people just begging is difficult for me too. I know I can’t give money to everybody who asks me, but just walking by without giving acknowledgment makes it seem like I just don’t care. I worked for a homelessness policy firm last year and would walk to work through the Tenderloin, so I would say to myself that I was working on the "larger problem."

When I give, I definitely don’t expect anything in return. My hope is that I have given that person an opportunity to do something good, but I know that might not be the case. That’s why I’d rather buy someone some food. Lots of people ask for BART tickets too, which I guess means they commute downtown to beg.

]]> By: fsharp http://sf.metblogs.com/2009/06/23/upset-at-beggars-pick-the-right-target/comment-page-1/#comment-8887 fsharp Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:37:43 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/?p=5779#comment-8887 Giving to beggars is kind, as long as you don't expect something in return. Giving to beggars is kind, as long as you don’t expect something in return.

]]> By: Mark Pritchard http://sf.metblogs.com/2009/06/23/upset-at-beggars-pick-the-right-target/comment-page-1/#comment-8886 Mark Pritchard Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:25:44 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/?p=5779#comment-8886 fsharp, that isn't quite what I was saying. I'm not saying that giving to beggars doesn't constitute kindness. Clearly it was a kindness for the woman in the Chronicle story to give winter coats to the lady and her son. What I'm saying is that giving to someone doesn't mean you have a right to control or judge them. fsharp, that isn’t quite what I was saying. I’m not saying that giving to beggars doesn’t constitute kindness. Clearly it was a kindness for the woman in the Chronicle story to give winter coats to the lady and her son. What I’m saying is that giving to someone doesn’t mean you have a right to control or judge them.

]]> By: fsharp http://sf.metblogs.com/2009/06/23/upset-at-beggars-pick-the-right-target/comment-page-1/#comment-8885 fsharp Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:00:42 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/?p=5779#comment-8885 I agree that trying to change someone's behavior through the beggars cup isn't kindness. It's not a gift at all. The war on drugs and prop 13 aren't going to really change things. There is an endless supply of beggars in our country and and we are an endlessly giving city. I agree that trying to change someone’s behavior through the beggars cup isn’t kindness. It’s not a gift at all.
The war on drugs and prop 13 aren’t going to really change things.
There is an endless supply of beggars in our country and and we are an endlessly giving city.

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