@Perkup wrote:
@Cakers3 wrote:
@Perkup wrote:
I guess I've become a skeptic about these things. I have a hard time believing their "story". In our area it's so common it seems like an excuse not to work and live off other people. I've seen one of them get into a rather expensive car late in the afternoon. Dubious about their authenticity. I don't donate. If I did, it would be in the form of a hamburger or ???
I'm also getting very skeptical of all the "charities" that call each week to support the police, sheriff's office, firemen, etc. There can't possiblly be that many charities for each one. Overkill IMHO.
I continue to support those charities that pay smaller salaries to their CEO's, etc. DH checked them out several years ago. You'd be amazed at how much goes for the execs and maintaining fancy offices.
@Perkup I knew a woman whose husband tossed her out with nothing but her Cadillac. Nothing. She slept in it for a long time before there was room at the local woman's shelter.
She used to say that people most likely thought she was a scammer.
Without knowing any story, whether they have a nice car or are with a pet or what ever:
Give if you feel it is right to do so.
If not, then don't.
But never assume that a scam is happening "just because" something doesn't fit one's perception of how a homeless person should look.
When a very large, expensive van pulls up and picks up a panhandler from the side of the road, then goes to the next corner and picks up another and travels further into town, picking up a third with a dog you begin to wonder. When you're driving behind them and go all the way into the next little "burb" where they pick up yet a fourth, and IF you have a reasonable amount of intelligence, you can ASSUME that it's a scam. Unless, of course, you want to ASSUME it's just a nice guy who picks up panhandlers just to be a helpful citizen. He's probably getting a large share of whatever money they collect. (Per the police)
I am sure there are stories out there that can excuse or explain almost anything, but I see this almost every day at certain times of the day. I live about ten minutes from a major highway intersection and shopping area. Only the truly naieve could fail to see the difference.
By the way, Cakers, I hope that you helped this woman you knew who had to live in her Caddy. Did you offer her a place to sleep or food? Or money to survive? If I knew someone in that situation she would be sleeping in my guest room.
@Perkup You changed your story-now it's an expensive van going corner to corner picking up all those scammers. Originally it was one person getting into an expensive car.
You want to change your story, that's fine. But don't change it just to counter what I posted. Using words such as "reasonable intelligence" denigrates those who do not assume the worst of every person panhandling. And "per the police" is hearsay on your part-none of us can know if your police have actually said such a thing.
As far as the woman I knew-did I say I knew her at the time of her trouble? No, I didn't. You have no idea WHEN I met this woman or where.
And since you are so sure that an expensive car means a scammer, I tend to doubt that you would have been so trusting that she was not a scammer. After all, if she could afford her Cadillac she must be in the same league as the other "scammers" you are so sure exist on every corner.
So view the homeless as you see fit and I will view them as I see fit. Nobody is twisting your arm to give or to be trusting.
And BTW: Concentrate on your driving instead of worrying about the van stopping at every corner to pick up all those scammers. Kind of like texting while driving.
"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh
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