Cynicism Is Learned From Others

[eggwards]

I do feel sympathetic to panhandlers at times, but since my own finances are pretty tight, I really can't help anyone, besides the fact that my money could probably be better used by a charity that takes care of these people. Too many times I've seen or heard stories that many of these streetside beggars are using the system and may not be truly desperate. Some, of course, are insane, and it's sad that they aren't better taken care of. Few of them seem to really want to actually work, those that can...well, let's move on...

So, I live close to Houston's panhandling central, Westheimer and Voss. At any given time there is anywhere from one to five panhandlers, and a Houston Chronicle seller, which is one step up from panhandler. They even tag team at time, and you really have to turn all of your feelings off to ignore them. It's tough.

So today we have a pregnant mom who's panhandling. She has a sign that says she's 5 months pregnant, but she's huge, much more like 8 months. It kind of freaked me out that she was out amongst the cars of one of Houston's busiest intersections and it was around 80 degrees. I did feel for her until...

After she tried to stare me don, she flags down a guy passing by and gets a cigarette and a light! Besides the irresponsibility of this guy, I can't believe she's smoking!

Consider the sympathy over.

What a truly life-affirming week I've had.

Comments

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

We've got a lot of panhandlers in Cambridge and Somerville, where I live and work. People will point out that Bostonians are notorious for our unfriendliness, but it's partly because we have to perfect our ignore-them blinkers.

And I'm a big old bleeding heart soft touch.

I give often. I notice I give more readily to people who are friendly about it. I don't mean "grateful," G-d forbid ... just somehow present, accounted for, and such. There's a guy in the area I'm starting to give to regularly. He just conveys somehow that I'm helping someone who actually benefits.

[denminn.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...

Well, smoking while pregnant is not good, but the woman is still poor, without a home and without good health care. You may not like that she smokes, but the fact is she is in a rough spot and deserves some sympathy for the tough life she and her unborn child faces.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

It's not so much that she smokes, but that I got the impression that she doesn't care for the welfare of her unborn child. Maybe she feels she has nothing to lose, but come on!

Sorry, I'm pretty cynical this week. Don't get me started about charity vs. government welfare, either.

[denminn.livejournal.com]

True. And no, I won't talk about charity vs welfare, I want my head connected to my body, thank you. :)

[garebear.livejournal.com]

I don't know about your area, but in the Los Angeles area, there are resources for the homeless that go unused. I've become very hard nosed on the subject. A woman who is knocked up and has no regard for her fetus? I feel for the potential baby, not for the mother.

I believe in what I call the "Law of 7-Eleven."

It's similar to Field of Dreams...If you provide, they will stay. If people give panhandlers money they will: 1) stay in the area (in this case, in front of the 7-Eleven); 2) You provide motivation for not changing their situation; and 3) You provide the means where they do not seek the social services that are available.

True, many of these people are mentally ill and all points may not apply, but providing a handout is possibly more detrimental to the panhandlers that one might think... as well as a drain on your neighborhood and wallet.

[t8r.livejournal.com]

My momma smoked two packs of Camels a day while she was pregant and I'm perfectly normal.

Well, sorta...