I gave $5 to a homeless person standing on the street corner with a sign

[Floogeldy]

I don't remember if I have ever done anything like that before, other than giving a homeless person a pack of cigarettes years ago.

I thought, "Even if he is going to spend it on booze, it might keep him warm tonight or he can buy a burger or alleviate some internal pain."

It is really cold here and he was standing out in 25 degree weather.

I'm glad I did it.

[Zomby Woof]

1. Booze makes it worse

The "warmth" an alcoholic feels is the dilation of their capillaries and the release of body heat! It makes the cold weather WORSE for them.

That being said, I won't denigrate you for helping someone in need, but PLEASE do not buy into the horrible misconception that alcolhol warms a person.

[sir_captain]

11. Technically

capillaries can't dilate--no smooth muscle. Perhaps some more precapillary sphincters open.

[Zomby Woof]

13. blood vessels

Yeah, next step up in size. In any event, anyone with a basic knowledge of alcohol's effects on the body can back me up.

[sir_captain]

15. Oh, no doubt

Alcohol out in the cold is bad for a number of reasons (well, as long as you're going to *stay* out in the cold.) For one thing, it causes a premature breakdown of vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone) which is the stuff that prevents you from pissing like a race horse all the time. Vasopressin is also a potent vasoconstrictor, so when you drink, your arteries/arterioles dilate and your blood pressure goes down. This is not so hot for you, no pun intended, when you're freezing your ass off outside.

[henslee]

2. I gave money to a guy with a sign that said: I need five dollars so I can

buy a gun, so I can shoot my mother in law." Cracked me up.

[Floogeldy]

4. I saw some college students giving cans of beer to a homeless guy . . .

. . . who had a sign that said, "Why lie? I need a beer."

That was funny too.

[alphafemale]

3. Off Topic a bit but ...There's an O'Henry story about a homeless guy

trying to get arrested, so he'll have a cot and breakfast.

"The Cop and the Anthem" is the name I believe

[NYC]

5. That was good of you.

As far as what he spends it on, it really doesn't matter. Being homeless has to be hell. If buying booze will make him feel better, it should be his choice.

You did a good deed.

[Zomby Woof]

8. Booze could KILL him

I won't aid or abet the death of an alcoholic that way. Either buy them food, or find them a place to stay, or something else humane.

But give them a crack at booze on a frigid night? No thanks.

[Floogeldy]

14. I have no idea whether the guy is an alcoholic or not

He wasn't anywhere close to a liquor store but there was a Burger King caddy corner from him.

[Floogeldy]

12. Thanks

[Mr. McD]

6. Once I had a guy ask for money out side of a restaurant.

He said he was hungry. I didn't give him money but offered to buy him lunch. He declined.:shrug:

[Floogeldy]

16. Maybe he thought you were going to hit on him

Heh heh. ;)

[Mr. McD]

17. I doubt it , I think he wanted booze.

[GRLMGC]

Yeah

We offered some leftover pasta from a restaurant we had just come out of to a homeless man and he didn't want it because he wasn't sure if he was allergic to whatever sauce was on it. Who knows? Maybe he was allergic.

[Floogeldy]

19. You're a nice person

I like that.

[mitchtv]

7. 5 times that will come back

charity, a virtue

[Rocinante]

9. Where I live,

a small town, I never used to see homeless folks. It's becomming pretty common to see them now, also I see folks holding signs saying that they will work for food. I drive to the nearest fast food place and buy them something to eat. Wish I could do more for them.

[HEyHEY]

10. I gave a homeless gu ybooze once - 3/4 of a bottle of rye

I had to get into a club..so I gave it to him..he seemed very happy

[mark11727]

18. I was in Orlando Florida a few years back...

...for a training course for my job, and trust me, this is NOT like Walt DisneyWorld... parts of it are really quite run-down.

Anyway, another fellow I was taking the class with found ourselves in town, looking for a quick meal for dinner, and ended up in front of a Subways (don't make fun, I like Subway).

There's a guy standing in front wearing what looks like a hospital patient ID band on his wrist, holding a folder full of papers, and talking a mile a minute.

He explains that he just got out of the hospital, he's got no money... blah-blah-blah... and could we please buy him dinner.

My buddy and I go in to eat, but something bothers me about the guy outside... if he's the real thing, I'd feel terrible NOT buying him any food, and if he's a fake, he's really putting a lot of effort into it.

I end up buying him a turkey subway, and my buddy buys him a Coke.

He sort of thanks us, then tries to hit us up first for cab fare (pricey), then tries to hit us up for bus fare (which is cheaper).

I still wonder if I should have given him anything else, but I didn't.

[SKKY]

20. I never give money, and once it bit me in the ass...

...the guy came up to me in Louisville and asked for some change to get some food. I told him, "I'm not giving you any money, but if you want to come with me into McDonald's, I"ll buy you anything you want." $12.00+ later, I was wishing I'd given him the change I had in my pocket and been done with it. That guy freakin' ate like no one I've ever seen. I guess he really was hungry.