Clarification of a Past Comment I Made

I want to go back to a comment I made the other day about my co-workers giving money to the homeless man that sleeps outside our building before even giving me anything.  I don't want people to think I am some kind of elitist garbage.  I have my reasons.  First and foremost, I have been approached outside my building by some homeless people.  They all had the same story about a car being broke down or needing money to get a bus ticket.  These stories were not different.  It was the same story.  They get mad if you say you do not have money.  I don't carry cash.  If I did, I would spend it on junk food or soda.  When I say I don't have it, I don't carry it.

My next reason came from an incident when I was in college.  I was working in a movie theater.  Our bank was close to the theater and we tended to walk to get our change and deposits.  I know it sounds dangerous and sets up a pattern, but I was young and following the manager.  It was not a pattern that I liked.  It was the middle of the day.  We were walking by two homeless gentlemen.  I am guessing the more experienced one was giving pointer to the less experienced one.  He was going on that he did not have to work and that he made more money holding a sign on the side of the road.

I also have noticed that the signs have evolved over time.  They once said Will work for food or money.  Now they just say Down on my luck, please give, God Bless You!.  I wonder what happened to the work part.  Down in Orlando, we tend to attract all kinds of con artists, pedophiles, etc.  I once saw a woman, man and baby(in a stroller), in the middle of an intersection with a sign.  It was the middle of the summer and it was hot.  The cherry on top was that they were both smoking.  I guess they were using the child for compassion donations, but where do you think they were going to spend the money?  That is anybodies guess.

Finally, I have not delved to much in my past.  My father once hit bottom.  He asked for help from me.  I was in high school and working for my college money.  He told me that if I let him borrow $100, he would give double back to me.  From what I have written, do you think I ever saw that money?

I know that I might sound hypocritical, since we are asking for donations, but I have tried to give something in return.  I don't really want a handout.

Funny, I had to add this.  I was leaving the library the other day and I was approached by an older lady riding a kids dirt bike.  She started saying, "Sir?".  Before shoe could go into her spiel, I said "I don't have any cash on me".  She stopped coming my way and went to the next mark.