Tired of the performative beggars and alcoholics this time of year

But I'm not talking about homeless people. I'm talking about people who beg.
You can laugh @Plastictrees , but the words are not interchangeable. Surely someone as knowledgeable as you would know that.

…or just homeless people.

Fine. People with addictions who beg on the streets amongst other hobbies and interests. Is that better?

I really wasn't criticising. How do you give someone a hot meal when it's possibly not something that they want - or will leave on the floor somewhere (see posts in this thread)? Buying sandwiches? How would you know if they're vegetarian/gluten free or whatever? All of those points have been made on previous threads and it really is a minefield.

I'm really sorry for Lunde's brother, it's a situation of the worst kind and I can't imagine how difficult it is for Lunde. I wouldn't have a bottle of whiskey on me but giving money would lead to the same thing. An addict would buy what they wanted. The point I was making is that really, posters have said that they will give money directly and criticised those who won't.

Everybody should follow their conscience. Mine is no longer to hand over money, not ever. I donate to shelters/charities and I believe that they're doing the job that they said they would.

I think it's too risky not to be mugged or pressed for larger amounts and for a woman to have an open purse is just asking for trouble. I'm talking of my own experience, we all are. We all have the circumstances we know of in mind when we post here.

There's troll hunting on the thread now so I think I'll leave it there but thanks for your post back to me, ThatKhakiMoose.

It is dehumanising, the same way as calling someone an ‘addict’ is. You are defining someone by an action. Rather than saying a homeless person.

Compassion itself is totally helpful. It absolutely motivates people to work in the field of addiction and mental health. It is not the only factor, but it is an important one. Compassion is a key part of the healing process in terms of healing from trauma too, which most homeless people have experienced.

There is an incongruence between the lack of empathy you display and the experience you profess to have.

I was disputing the assertion that handing over the contents of your pockets to every beggar you see is the only way to be compassionate or helpful.
Beggars is not dehumanising. It is a noun to describe someone who begs.
Compassion itself isn't helpful. Speaking as someone with experience in this and similar areas in multiple continents. Compassion isn't what gets you out the door to work in this area for years and years.
Don't put words in my mouth.

Hello Suella! Talk about a lack of empathy.
We all like to think it couldn't happen to us but it could happen to any one of us.
There but for the grace of God and all of that.

You appear to care very much.

Calling people ‘beggars’ repeatedly is de-humanising and stigmatising.

Compassion does indeed help people; it is often what leads to the ‘investment’ you reference and informs social policy and social change. Not to mention how compassion helps understanding vulnerable and marginalised groups. Compassion literally saves lives - look at frontline workers, third sector workers, food bank volunteers. The fact you don’t know this speaks volumes about you.

Charities for the homeless employ professionals to help their service users. People with multiple and severe needs require consistent and professional help if they are to stand any chance of improving their circumstances. It’s incredibly naive to think otherwise.

This is why I have a monthly direct debit to a charity who does exactly this. They work with the local council to source temporary accommodation, help with benefits, and with mental health / addiction.

Donating to charity doesn’t stop anyone from also making the time to chat kindly and respectfully to someone who is begging. That’s also helpful if it feels safe to do so.

I know that donating to shelters and homeless charities is the best way. I was saying that IF the person mentioned above HAD to give Lunde's brother something, make it a hot meal, not a bloody bottle of whiskey!

I don't care who gives her change to. But that isn't what she said. And she does appears to care what I do with my change.
Dehumanising how? What did I even say about homeless people specifically? There's several of on this thread pointing fingers and making accusations about anyone who doesn't do exactly as you do and it's silly and unhelpful. "Compassion" doesn't help anyone. Targeted investment does.

And you are? You come across as bitter, ignorant and utterly unpleasant. Why does it irk you so much that this poster chooses to give her change to a homeless person? Do you find it that hard to believe that some people are kind?

I would feel sorry for you, if your language wasn’t so thoroughly de-humanising and degrading towards homeless people.

Ok then, let's all do like you and do less than zero. Criticising people for dropping a bit of change. I was not competitive about it, I'm not a martyr. You certainly aren't helping anyone that's for sure.

I didn't take it literally. But this ridiculous hyperbole, competitive "compassion", shouting down anyone who isn't as generous as you claim to be is silly. Calling people Tories, tight-fisted, lacking compassion because they don't blindly empty their pockets is absurd.
You may not think you're perpetuating the problem, but you aren't really helping anyone either.

I think you have taken my comments about what I give really quite literally. Your thinking is quite rigid. I give what I can when I can and by doing so I don't really think I'm perpetuating the problem as such.

I'm not ignorant at all. I'm sure I understand far better than someone who lies about handing over all their money to every beggar they see and thinks they know more than any charity. Hand out your spare change if you want, but you clearly live a sheltered life if uou can do that every time. Lucky you.
Not a Tory sympathizer btw. Couldn't be more wrong.

Ah, the BMW. I was wondering when that would get a mention.

How would you go about calling the council and making sure the homeless person got the help they needed? Have you ever had any dealings with council housing? As it really doesn’t seem like you know what you’re talking about.

Always a great move to compare people
to animals

There was a guy around our ends who used to beg outside the train station. He had a bmw, he was my sisters neighbour. Some people are just taking the piss. There are also genuinely homeless people so I would call the council and make sure they are getting the help they need.

Where are you saying they normally are then? Are you claiming they have homes and are sleeping rough just to get money for their addiction? How do they normally get money?

Well, you seem delightful.

@Fluufer you're clearly very ignorant and no doubt a Tory sympathiser. Think yourself lucky that you don't understand the situation at all. I'll continue to dish out my change wherever and whenever I can. I won't pretend to myself I'm doing a kind and noble act but not giving a thing. Stop kidding yourself.