On the one hand
I have a friend, who has worked with the homeless and knows people who still do, who refuses to give money to them as she claims there are hostel places for them all, if they will take it, so that any money given them will be for drugs/drink

On the other hand , on a human level, It's hard to say no to a human being who is suffering and I applaud Gonz for his decency. He is a better man regardless of her reality/motives.

It's all to easy to walk past and not even acknowledge the person in front of you as human.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:17, 1 reply, 14 years ago)

I'm not even homeless*
and I spend every penny anyone gives me on drugs and drink. 'LOL'

In truth I feel that in the middle of winter, stuck freezing your arse off in the street, some drugs and drink is probably just what will help for that brief moment. I would never be so sanctimonious as to deny someone some brief respite.

My brother only gives money to beggars who are honest and say they want a beer or whatever. 'Feed my dog' or 'cup of tea', my fucking arse.

*ask me again in a fortnight
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:22, Reply)

This is also a point.
I did once give a guy some cash because he honestly said he'd spend it on special brew, and I've refused a guy who asked for the price of a cup of tea and had no idea how much a cup of tea cost.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:24, Reply)

Fella with no top on bounced up to us on a roasting sunny afternoon,
and said "None of this '10 pence for a cup of tea' shit. I'm rattling and I need 50p for cider."
I gave him a quid.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:31, Reply)

Is cider really that cheap up there, or was 5this a while back?

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:35, Reply)

I am assuming he meant he needed 50p more
White cider's about £3 I think
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:38, Reply)

No idea what it is down here anymore.
in my younger days I could have told you, but that sounds about right. I applaud your decision, anyway.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:40, Reply)

I did this about a fortnight ago.
I adopted a stern tone and demanded he didn't waste the money on tea or dog food and made him promise to show me the can. He did, we lolled, the end.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Fri 21 Oct 2011, 13:39, Reply)