What do you do when a bum approaches you and asks for money? Do you give them the money or just ignore them?
If I were filthy rich, I would probably give every bum that asked me for money a couple dollars, but I am not filthy rich and I am not even close to being rich. Since this is true, when a bum asks me for money, I always either keep on walking or say that I don't have any cash on me (which is true and often the case). Unfortunately in this day and age, even if I did give a bum some money, they would probably go off and buy drugs or booze with the money I just gave them. I don't really support alcoholism or drug use so I would see that as a waste of my money because it is going towards something I don't endorse. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that all bums are druggies or alcoholics, but that is what one has to assume these days. This is quite an unfortunate assumption, but times have surely changed and you'd be a fool not to acknowlege that fact. On the other hand, if I were leaving a restaurant with my little take home box or whatever and a bum asked me for money, I would offer the food. I would do this simply because if the bum were truly going to use my money to buy food, then why not just take the food that is already prepared?
In my economics class, we had a long discussion about this topic and came to a couple general conclusions.
1. It is okay to acknowledge bums because some of them are just people that are down on their luck.
2. Generally, do not give bums cash because you don't know what they'll use it for.
3. It is okay to offer bums leftover food if they approach you after leaving a restaurant.
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