There are many, many occasions where I've thought, "There was no need for that".
Therefore, for my anecdote I shall relate the most recent example: living in Cambridge as I do, I am constantly meeting poor souls begging, or trying to sell the Big Issue to disinterested punters. I generally have a lot of sympathy with anyone in this position (a small change of circumstances and I cold be in the same place), and I did voluntary work at a Homeless Shelter back home in Oxford, and in Cambridge I effectively got two lads off the streets in December when they were suffering from hypothermia. I'm no saint, but a little more conscientious than most of the other student population.

So, there's this one character, allegedly a Big Issue vendor, who I had met about six times before, and his line was always, "Oh sorry mate, I've only got one left - give me a little change and when I see you again, I'll owe you one" - I played along for a while, being a very generous bloke (my nickname is "Captain Host"), but the last time I encountered him, which was yesterday, he tried the same trick again. I told him that, contrary to what he might think, he should not be begging, but instead actually selling a product - I wasn't going to donate to his personal charity any longer. Having been generous before, and approaching him in good humour, I thought he would accede to my argument.

Instead, he called me a wanker, and, as I was walking away, perhaps having an insight into why the guy was homeless in the first place - he shouted after me "You're just like all the fucking students, you tight-fisted cunt!", causing a wave of passers by to look at me with scorn. No need for that mate, no need.

This may classify as a rant - if so, apologies.
( alcuin, Tue 21 Jun 2005, 14:54, Reply)