How do you know that? How do you know that every homeless person is an alcoholic or an addict? Because that's certainly a false assumption right there.
I never said that every homeless person is an alcoholic. You have not read my posts. I said that most homeless MEN are alcoholics, and that's not an assumption, it's general knowledge.
And even if this individual was in fact an addict, you can't possibly assume it's "inconsequential." [...] Kindness and food can make a difference in someone's life, even if you refuse to give them money for good reasons.
The question was, would you give this person money. That was the question. The question was not, would you show this person kindness. I can do that without money. The question was about MONEY. I am being persecuted for answering the question as it was worded. If you wish to ask a separate question, then go ahead and do so. Ask, "would you show kindness to a homeless person?" My answer to your question is, yes of course. I do it all the time. I would not, however, show kindness to you. I would show you my fist.
Even if you aren't a person who takes joy or concern in alleviating human suffering for it's own sake, at least be rational enough to understand that feeding a homeless person isn't necessarily "inconsequential."
You don't know me. I work at a food bank for christ's sake. How dare you pronounce judgement on me just to aggrandize yourself?
I never said, "feeding a homeless person is inconsequential." You saw the words "food" and "inconsequential" and you immediately assumed that's what I meant. Someone else suggested that instead of giving money to the homeless person, why not use the money to buy him a meal. I agreed with him, but pointed out that whether you give him cash or a meal (both of which are charitable), either way, it's not going to help with his addiction. If you think he's suddenly going to turn his life around just because you bought him a meal, then I give up.
That being said, of course homeless people are better off if they have a place where they can get food on a regular basis. Any idiot knows that. The original question was not, "If you had tons of cash, would you donate some of it to open a soup kitchen for the homeless in your area?" It was, "If you had tons of cash, would you give money to a homeless man?" These are two different questions. I can't believe I had to explain that to you. Are you 12 years old?
