Yeah, for a while...
I don't mind that they're going to spend the money on drugs or alcohol. I will sometimes ask them as a truth test. When they tell me that they are really going to spend the money on gas to get home to their sick mother, I laugh and tell them I don't believe them. I still give 'em a few bucks, even though I don't believe they have a sick baby at home that needs formula.
I like it when they're direct and honest, but that hardly ever happens. But, once in a while I'll see someone with a sign that says they need money to get high or drunk. I get a kick out of their honesty.
Once you get out of the US and into undeveloped countries, the people begging are often really begging for food.
I don't see too many beggars around here.
Many of them find the means to migrate to warmer areas. I would expect cold weather is also a motivating factor, meaning if you're in the cold north you're probably gonna find a way to put a roof over your head - and that's not going to happen by begging. I'm sure begging really sucks when you're nut-deep in snow and the temperature is below freezing.
Yeah, that would really suck.
I just found a guitar tuner in my mailbox. Thank you kind sir
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