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What are your thoughts on giving money to beggars? (reddthat.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by Pro@reddthat.com to c/asklemmy@sh.itjust.works

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I am asking because I know people from both sides:

People who discourage it: usually talk about how the beggars might spend their money on, how they might be lying, How donating to them will encourage them to keep begging and how they should be looking for a job instead (My commentary: finding a job is impossible for them this days, matter of fact there is literally hundreds, if not thousands of articles online talking about how hard and impossible it had become).
People who encourage it: to be honest here, they usually talk only about religious reasons.

(Note: I know that the overview about both sides are highly unbalanced, but I preferred to keep it limited to my personal experiences rather than expanding it from myself, as I intentionally not looking for theories and objective logic, rather I am looking at people reasons and opinions as this is highly subjective matter.)

Anyone got any thoughts about this?

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[–] Peruvian_Skies@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

If they had a better way to get five dollars, tbey wouldn't be begging for it on the street. I don't care if they're "going to spend it on drugs" (though I'd love to know where I can get drugs for five dollars), their choices are obviously limited and shitty. And "not being a solution to a widespread systemic issue" isn't a reason not to help the real human being right in front of me.

I give money to beggars because I picture myself in their place. Not for religious reasons, I'm not religious. It's just basic human decency.