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As a counter-example, I had a similar experience with a mother and her daughter, except that they were still there when I came back out and were thankful for th
by khedoros 10y ago
As a counter-example, I had a similar experience with a mother and her daughter, except that they were still there when I came back out and were thankful for the food. I'm not saying that they're not bad at managing money (maybe they are), but there are more than one group contained within the label "that kind of person".
I've had other experiences with homeless men turning down food when I offered it. I know that my father-in-law would be (and has been, in the past) happy on the street, using his money for cigarettes and gambling with his friends. There are a lot of different kinds of people that would need to be accounted for and different motivations.
- blktiger 10y agoAgreed, which is why I prefer to provide goods rather than money. Plus I usually don't carry cash anyway.
- KC8ZKF 10y agoBut the alcoholic might need the drink more than food, and the drug addict might need the drugs more than a place to live. Perhaps not being sick for a couple more hours is the best thing for them at that moment. I'm not suggesting that you are under some moral obligation to buy them drugs, only that not giving them anything is not a moral position in itself.
- DrScump 10y ago<But the alcoholic might need the drink more than food, and the drug addict might need the drugs more than a place to live.> You are confusing want with need. And if you feed/encourage harmful behaviors, you are enabling them and ultimately condemning the recipient. EDIT: I think the downvoters here like keeping addicts in place to have someone to feel superior to, rather than helping them confront self-destructive behaviors and realize their potential. I think it's an unnecessary tragedy.
- jacalata 10y agoDid you know you can die from cold turkey withdrawal on some drugs, including alcohol? Do you consider that irrelevant to "need"?
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- amake 10y agoI think you don't actually understand the needs vs wants of the people you're talking about.
- imtringued 10y agoThe only thing I've understood is that they don't want help.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- eru 10y agoThere are some "Managed Alcohol Programmes" that give out alcohol to the homeless (and encourage them to cut back). http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-01/ezard-homelessness-and-alcohol/7130482 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-01/ezard-homelessness-and...