Do you give beggars coin?

[Boris Godunov]

If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor.

[Kitschum]

Coin? Yeah, rolled-up coin in a sock.

Actually, I have been known to give a few pennies to some elderly homeless gentlemen on occasion, but usually not. People my age (i.e. lazy druggies) and foreigners (i.e. Gypsies) get nothing.

[Fake Boris]

I don't make donating to beggars such a huge moral or intellectual concern. As DaShi said, I give randomly according to my mood.

[Fake Boris]

I usually say that I thought beggars weren't choosers.

That has got to be one of the most morally repulsive phrase I have ever heard. Heck, sometimes someone will give me something he doesn't need anymore, tell me it's not perfect but better than nothing, and then add that beggars can't be choosers, and at that point I refuse the gift. Yes, a beggar can always choose. He can refuse.

[Wezil]

Ben? Morally repulsive?

Say it isn't so...

[Wiglaf]

This morning I gave an undesirable (beggars are included in this category) my recently canceled credit card. I'm sure he's gleefully headed to a supermarket now. If you can't give them money, give them hope

[Wezil]

That's a good one Wiggy.

I always look for the amusement angle for these encounters.

[Fake Boris]

Wiglaf

[Wiglaf]

The other option is to report your card stolen and then hand it to an undesirable. (Works best for 20-something crackwhores who will unwittingly lead police to their larger drug rings)

[Wezil]

Yeah except you then have to replace your card.

It would be better to give them some other person's card and let them report it stolen.

[Wiglaf]

It's definitely not my routine, even though the cops tend to appreciate the sacrifice. But whenever you just need to cancel a card, or one expires, definitely give it to an undesirable. Preferably a busker. It's a Metro station, not American Idol

[rah]

There was one beggar in the upscale Michigan Ave area in Chicago. He made 75K a year begging and commuted in from a nice home in the suburbs.

I rarely give but do occasionally on a whim or to reward extreme creativity or hustle.

[Wezil]

Define "hustle".

Anyone that puts anything on your car windshield while stopped at a light should be executed in a public square.

[rah]

AGREED.

I'm thinking more of the guys that will help you hawk cabs when there are long lines and few cabs. Or play their instruments without overtly begging. (and can actually play said instrument)

[Caligastia]

I would reach into my pocket, pull out a buck and give it to them, but I detest manual labor.