Are you getting more philanthropic as you get older?

[ColinJ]

He then said it wasn't enough and he needed at least a tenner. I was very tempted to ask for my change back, ungrateful #$#@@#.

Had he suddenly found out how to speak English then?!

Mind you, it would not take long to learn "No - Need more!!"...

 

[Andy in Germany]

Being in the dibble you figure out fairly quick who is a pro, who is in the position because of their own behaviour, and who is genuinely homeless through no fault or their own or at the bottom because of MH issues etc.

This is what my colleague pointed out; if you "save" money on Mental and psychological assistance for people, it'll cost you in the long run.

But I always offer to buy them food. It can't be spent on Scrumpy Jacks or drugs, and doesn't give profit to any handlers they might have in the background. If they're a genuine hard-up case they'll always be grateful for it.

Being in the social sector helps here: I know where I can send people for help. Stuttgart has a "one stop" system where several organisations are networked: if you go to one they'll use their network to make sure the person has a bed within 24h, and within a week they can be on the work assistance scheme I work on.

Of course, the flip side is that some of them had to work with me, but you can't have everything...

The same guy has been outside Aldi for at least a year now. I’m sure if he was an illegal immigrant he would have been checked out and dealt with by now.

Fair enough. Debt due to mental health is also an issue: we often find ourselves in conversation with clients tho can't understand the concept of money. Without help, I could imagine them spiralling into debt.

I still wouldn't give them money, though; either they're exploiting or being exploited.

 

[Drago]

In custody we'd often get foreign prisoners pretending to speak English.

We'd casually say, "oh, you've dropped a £20 note" and they'd almost without exception look down, and then we'd see the look of dawning realisation on their faces when they realised they'd blown it.

They think they're being clever or somehow gaining advantage, but all they're doing is extending their time in the cells by many hours while we'd go and have lunch in the pub while waiting for the interpreter to arrive,

 

[ColinJ]

In custody we'd often get foreign prisoners pretending NOT to speak English.

?

 

[Drago]

Yes. Sorry. My Engleesh no very good.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Yes. Sorry. My Engleesh no very good.

Duurn furriner...

 

[Punkawallah]

The same guy has been outside Aldi for at least a year now. I’m sure if he was an illegal immigrant he would have been checked out and dealt with by now.

Oh! Sweet summer child :-)

 

[Punkawallah]

There was one outside our Lidl last week. I've arrested him before so know he's just generally a bad 'un for all sorts of reasons.

Being in the dibble you figure out fairly quick who is a pro, who is in the position because of their own behaviour, and who is genuinely homeless through no fault or their own or at the bottom because of MH issues etc.

There was one guy, Thomas, who'd been successful in business and had a breakdown when his wife left him and lost the lot. Obvious MH problems and no one helping the poor bloke. We'd take him "expired" but still perfectly edible bits from the canteen that were being binned, and one winter me and another lad from RPU bought him a Mickey D's breakfast and a hot coffee one cold and frost morning (the other lad did it again for another guy, long after I'd left, and made the national media.) He got badly beaten up one night and we never saw him again, often wonder what became of him.

But I always offer to buy them food. It can't be spent on Scrumpy Jacks or drugs, and doesn't give profit to any handlers they might have in the background. If they're a genuine hard-up case they'll always be grateful for it.

It does sort the sheep from the goats when they are ‘hungry and homeless’ but turn down a M&S sandwich :-)

 

[oldwheels]

We have one that plonks himself at the exit from Aldi most days. While he is pleasant, it still makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. I never have cash on me anyway and I’m surprised that many people do these days, but he must be making enough to keep coming back.

A woman used to hang about Aldi in Oban. Some time later we were in an Aldi in Aberdeen and the same woman,( or her double ) was there outside the door. Strange.

 

[oldwheels]

When we lived in a cottage on the outskirts of the village of Maddiston there were regular what we called tramps calling at our door asking for food. My mother always gave them something and most ate what they were given but a small number just dumped the food when they were out of sight of the house. This was in the early 1940s.

 

[Cycleops]

Getting back to philanthropy I am compelled to give the mother of this beautiful little girl money every time time I see them as she is just the cutest kid I have ever seen here. The rampant inflation here (4th worst in the world) makes it very difficult for the less well off.

 

[Slick]

Getting back to philanthropy I am compelled to give the mother of this beautiful little girl money every time time I see them as she is just the cutest kid I have ever seen here. The rampant inflation here (4th worst in the world) makes it very difficult for the less well off.

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[Kingfisher101]

A very old lady here had her bike stolen from outside the supermarket. She was often doing rides for charity on it despite being mid 80s herself. Some low life stole it and thats all she had. I gave to the Go Fund Me and she got £500 for a new bike and better locks etc.
I donated all my old CD's and I've donated a lot of sports kit that I don't use anymore to Alpkit.
I wont give money ever to people begging, or approaching me in the street for whatever reason. I'll signpost them to where they can go for proper help/food etc. I've bought drinks before for homeless people but that's it.

 

[Gillstay]

One cold day I gave my body warmer to a big chap in Brighton selling the big issue as I had a spare. He burst in to tears as no one does things like that. I helped him put it on as he wanted it immediately and his gratitude made me very uncomfortable as I have doubted in the past.

 

[Slick]

One cold day I gave my body warmer to a big chap in Brighton selling the big issue as I had a spare. He burst in to tears as no one does things like that. I helped him put it on as he wanted it immediately and his gratitude made me very uncomfortable as I have doubted in the past.

Yeah, Mrs Slick has got me to do the same. I wouldn't have thought about it but she is a much nicer person than I am.

Great to get a reaction like that and is a clue to how much people like that struggle to get through life.