HRoth - 12:34 am on Dec 22, 2009 (gmt 0)

"Try giving them a meal or a shower and sleep in the form of a gift card, see what reaction you get." etc.

I consider that anyone who spends their time asking strangers for money has problems, whether those problems arise from a lack of money or not. I don't care what people do with the money I give them. Once I give it, it is theirs. It is a gift, not payment for a job. Nor do they have to "deserve" it. There is a guy whom I know is junkie who regularly hangs out in the parking lot of a nearby food store begging for money with some story about how he's stranded and just needs x amount to get the bus back to Waverly blah blah blah. I usually give him some, even though I know exactly where it will go. It is my way of thanking the divine that I don't have to live that way, not today anyhow.

However, if he asked for some of my widgets, I would tell him to go chase his tail.:) Widgets are widgets; money is my pleasure to spend as I will.