What happens if you give panhandlers a pre-paid credit card. - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

IliketoPuck · 08-30-2010, 12:35 PM

He peeled it out of an entire booklet though.

The other day I gave a guy a loonie because he asked genuinely and for whatever reason I caved. He turned around, gave it to his girl and she walked across the street to the Alcove....ahhhhh but what can I realistically expect?

Regorium · 08-30-2010, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

That's funny. IIRC, a double cheeseburger from rotton ronnies is $1.29. I guess it's the bums that are laughing at you.

Well maybe they should've went there instead of going to McDonald's for $8.69 a meal or to a restaurant for $21.54.

I never said that they can't buy food. I said perhaps they should consider cheaper, more sustainable alternatives - but I also said that it's not really possible to expect someone to spend a windfall in a disciplined manner.

What you're arguing was my claim that spending that sort of money on a single meal was crazy. I guess if you can find an example where you can get a good meal for $1.29, then paying $21.54 for a single meal really is ridiculous.

Whatever, argue semantics if you want. The point I was trying to make, and perhaps it is an unfair one, is that not a single dollar went towards moving towards a sustainable lifestyle. Many just treated themselves to one or several nice meals, and then spent the rest on booze. As was mentioned, $50 or $75 is not a lot of money to try to pull yourself up, but there was no attempt to do so at all.

DOK · 08-30-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regorium

Well maybe they should've went there instead of going to McDonald's for $8.69 a meal or to a restaurant for $21.54.

I never said that they can't buy food. I said perhaps they should consider cheaper, more sustainable alternatives - but I also said that it's not really possible to expect someone to spend a windfall in a disciplined manner.

What you're arguing was my claim that spending that sort of money on a single meal was crazy. I guess if you can find an example where you can get a good meal for $1.29, then paying $21.54 for a single meal really is ridiculous.

Whatever, argue semantics if you want. The point I was trying to make, and perhaps it is an unfair one, is that not a single dollar went towards moving towards a sustainable lifestyle. Many just treated themselves to one or several nice meals, and then spent the rest on booze. As was mentioned, $50 or $75 is not a lot of money to try to pull yourself up, but there was no attempt to do so at all.

It's a visa though. It's not like they could go to a bank and open an account and start saving. What, realistically, could they buy with that amount of money that would make a huge impact on their lives on the fly like that? Remember, they didn't know if the cards were valid, or how much money was on it. Proportionately, if someone were to give you a days worth of pay, would you pay off loans, invest, buy apples, or would you spend it on what you thought was necessary that day?

HPLovecraft · 08-30-2010, 02:40 PM

I think they should have bought a stove and a fridge for their back-alley cardboard box house, then purchased some nutritious veggies (in bulk! That's the best way to save) because it's cheaper to buy groceries that way than it is to eat out every day.

zuluking · 08-30-2010, 02:54 PM

Nah, they should've opened up a trading account, purchased some promising penny stocks, sold high and lived the good life. If I were a bum, that's the big break I'd be looking for!

valo403 · 08-30-2010, 03:15 PM

They should have bought frozen concentrated orange juice futures and put the Dukes out of business

bizaro86 · 08-30-2010, 03:40 PM

Thanks for the reference to an old Eddie Murphy movie! That could be one of the funniest movies of all time.

Michael

jayswin · 08-30-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regorium

As was mentioned, $50 or $75 is not a lot of money to try to pull yourself up, but there was no attempt to do so at all.

So basically, they weren't given enough money to pull themselves up......and they didn't attempt to.

In other news, I saw a Ferrari for sale today. I didn't have enough money to buy it, and made no attempt to buy it.

Mean Mr. Mustard · 08-31-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacem

I found her to be the biggest liar and feel the reporter got duped into giving her a second card. I have very little doubt she spent the first card.

I've dealt with many many down and out people. Even when you think you can be 100% sure that they are telling you the truth, they aren't.

That was the impression that I got, having talked to many homeless people in the past there are always some stories that they tell in order to pull on the heartstrings and get a little bit more sympathy out of someone. That is until you start asking questions about them and their situation, such as how much it costs during the average day in order to Skype with her daughters or if she has been without a job for 10 years and at that job she was a waitress, how she figures she can type at 90 words per minute.... At the end of the day it is likely just crap she fed to a reporter in order to get a more sympathetic story and likely fishing for some extra money for smokes or whatnot... plus how many convenience stores sell groceries that will help keep diabetes under control?

bizaro86 · 09-02-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

plus how many convenience stores sell groceries that will help keep diabetes under control?

You're saying 7-11 isn't a haven of low glycemic index foods?

Michael

Regorium · 09-02-2010, 09:31 AM

sigh nm. Just not going to bother.

icarus · 09-02-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Um, because more often than not you know exactly what that money is going towards before you give it (ie/ LCBO).

You want to believe in the best, but even this guy's experiment shows a lot of the money was used at liquor stores. Enabling is one of the worst things you can do for people who are addicted or otherwise troubled.

I don't think it would be immoral unless the person told you they would spend it on alcohol. Otherwise you it would just be a presumption which could be influenced by biases. Would it be immoral to give $75 to an 18-year-old college dorm resident?

bizaro86 · 09-02-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarus

I don't think it would be immoral unless the person told you they would spend it on alcohol. Otherwise you it would just be a presumption which could be influenced by biases. Would it be immoral to give $75 to an 18-year-old college dorm resident?

I don't think its immoral. After all, the college student might use the money for textbooks, just as some of the homeless people used the money for food. Now, if you were giving out liquor store gift certificates to homeless people...

Michael