Are you getting more philanthropic as you get older?

[Cycleops]

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

Yes, some people do struggle to get through life. I applaud people like that who are trying very hard and not just sitting back waiting for the government to top up their benefits and complaining at the same time about how badly off they are.

 

[Slick]

Yes, some people do struggle to get through life. I applaud people like that who are trying very hard and not just sitting back waiting for the government to top up their benefits and complaining at the same time about how badly off they are.

I think a lot of people struggle.

For instance, there's some suggestion that up to 40% of households are 1 pay cheque away from losing their home.

If even half true, I reckon we are in a poor state.

 

[Andy in Germany]

You benefit as much as the recipient. Can you be called philanthropic if you're getting the benefit too?

I understand this. People sometimes say things to me like "You must be so patient." or "I could never do a job like that" and imply that I am somehow a "good" person because I work with people that have psychological issues.

This is kind of them, and I appreciate the recognition, but on another level I feel uncomfortable with it. I'm not a volunteer; I get paid for what I do.

On top of this, I couldn't be an IT manager or an accountant, or, heaven forfend, work with children...

 

[Rusty Nails]

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.

We've got a coffee kiosk in a local city centre park where, when you buy a coffee, you can give them additional money to allow them to give the local homeless a free cup. You do see quite a lot of people, who are clearly down on their luck, pop in for their coffee or tea, especially early, cold mornings.

 

[Cycleops]

I think a lot of people struggle.

For instance, there's some suggestion that up to 40% of households are 1 pay cheque away from losing their home.

If even half true, I reckon we are in a poor state.

That might also be because people have over extended themselves with too big a mortgage and when the rates go up the excrement hits the fan.
I was in that position in the seventies It was not because I was over extended but because interest rates went through the roof.
But I think we digress from the subject .

 

[classic33]

No.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Not sure how to measure philanthropy as it is not all about money , but I'm not sure that I'm any more philanthropic than when I was young. I just have more money to be philanthropic with.