Who Deserves Your Hard-Earned Money?
I just moved back to Chicago after a year-long culture shocking stay in the south suburbs. Now, when I step out of my place I’m greeted by beggars, thieves, street performers and ten-year old mini-preneurs – It’s truly the feeling of home for me. I live in a very mixed neighborhood that offers a taste of yuppie and grungy, so there’s plenty of opportunity for an eager peddler to make a buck.
But what separates beggars from creative street-preneurs, and who deserves your spare change?
Last Sunday morning I wished I had buckets full of silver dollars to give to the cute little girl who stood the sidewalk out of a bar and squeaked “please support the walk for breast cancer…please” to everyone who walked by. People flocked to her. If the adults in charge of her were using her to get sympathy out of passersby –it worked! I gave her nothing but told her to keep up the good work.
I gave her nothing because I reasoned that I didn’t have enough to give. I used to walk around without cash in my pockets simply because I didn’t want to get suckered into a scam. But, I have a child now – and I need to carry emergency money.
Farther down the same neighborhood street on the same day – I caught up with a “theatre usher.” Or perhaps he caught up with me. And I’m still wondering if he is an usher. I stood outside the theatre reading about their upcoming shows, when he began to suggest which ones I should check out.
“I’m just an usher here, he said.” And he actually mentioned that too many times for me to believe it was true. I could sense that he wanted money. “If I could just get your signature,” he asked. “Let me see,” I said. He had a dirty pamphlet full of names and dollar amounts. “Oh,” I said… you want money. “Just a dollar.” He looked at me in disbelief when I told him I didn’t have a dollar. He looked at me with puppy-dog eyes as if I was a liar.
Chicago offers peddlers’ licenses – so for some, this is a career.
So, who do you support? Do you give money to the woman with dirt on her face who stands in the alleyway, crying? Do you give 50 cents to the kid who tells you he needs change to call his mom? How about the awesome street band of teens, who drum on buckets and boxes? The guy who paints himself silver? The mobile puppet show? Subway singers? “Stranded Students” with cardboard signs?
I’ve been had several times, when I thought I was doing good. Once, I bought a bag of groceries for a “homeless” dude, and watched him trash the whole thing when I walked away. I SPENT MY HARD-EARNED MONEY on that dude. My heart goes out to the people with sad stories, but honestly my budget just really can’t include them right now.
I do have to hand it to the folks who dress up, and perform with dignity. They are earning their money (if not mine). But, are the sob stories really true? And will the five bucks you were going to use for laundry make a huge difference in their lives? Or, would it be more beneficial to smile at them, discover the reason for their story, and lend them an ear?
Would a sob-story turn more profit than the subway singer?
What do you think? Would you give more money, if you had it?
9 Comments
David Askaripour
June 14th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Wow, I’m right at home when reading this article. As you know, I live in NYC and this is so, so normal to me. It’s like an army out there with all the pot dealers, subway singers, drunkards asking for a dollar, college students with the cardboard signs, etc., etc. . I used to be the person who gave $1 to “all” of them. It didn’t matter to me, I just gave and gave. And though I still give to this day, I am now more selective. I try to actually help the people who are really trying to help themselves. Like the kids in the train selling candy to make a living and not pretending to be selling it for school or the cello and violin players who truly entertained me while reading my book — or the painter who inspired me as I watched him create a masterpiece — I love helping these people. And, of course, if I happen to see a charity that I truly think is legit, I’ll spare some change for its cause. Though I won’t just give to anyone, I do actively give. This is something that was instilled in me as a young boy… It can be difficult though, especially when you are an entrepreneur running a startup. I guess it doesn’t really matter how much you give or how often, it just matter that you are
Sharat Thakur
June 14th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Well, let me add a spiritual connection to this post. Every human being deserves the state they are in, and what they are basically in their present life is a reflection of their own deeds in the past ( past life or past deeds in the present life ). If you give/take stuffs, you create an account with them, be positive or negative. Somewhere down the cosmic cycle of your being, you need to reap what you have sown.
As I say this, considering the human angle, we all need to come out of our comfort zones and see that there are lots of people who need us. We should help the needy, and try to inspire those who have lost track and can work on their strengths so that they survive on their own.
Gina Laverde
June 14th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Beautiful comment Sharat. Sometimes, I wonder if my dollar is Really helping the homeless man who’s just going to use it for alcohol. I wonder how much a little money can help them. I know that every bit makes a difference — but would I be better off sharing a meal with him? I’ve had good and bad experiences with this.
Dave, thanks for that. yes, it is important to give.I’m uneasy aboout the “money” thing (considering that these people may not be truthful. Perhaps that’s why I feel slightly guilty for not sharing money with these folks as much as I used to. I do pick and choose who I support. But I always wonder about that one chick who I passed by in the alley. I wonder if I could’ve helped her too. I don’t know — maybe I’m just struggled with my inner martyr
Sharat Thakur
June 14th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Let me tell you a story - There was a hard core criminal who was into robbery, stealing etc. He used to land up in jail every now and then. He had a friend who used to care about him a lot. He had bailed him from jail many times. But eventually he got frustated that even though he is trying to help his friend by trying to bail him out from jail everytime, but his friend took it for granted and continued with his criminal way.
One day he met a saint and the saint asked him to take him to the jail. Once the saint met the criminal in jail, he was totally changed. The saint had told him about life’s wisdom, and what he needs to do to come out of the rut. After this meeting with the saint, the criminal guy changed completely, and took the road to better life.
Moral of the story - “There is no point helping people to get them out of temporary relief. Do things which can empower him to change his wisdom and his outlook in life. After that he will become self sufficient.”
lawrence
June 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
that ‘teach a man to fish story vs giving him a fish’ is much, much more easier said than done…
it requires various city gov., slow beaurcratic changes. if anything at all will be done. it’s a very political process, needless to say.
fools are fools, i’m convinced they’ll buy themselves booze and continue to be a leech in society. so i don’t give a penny.
coming back to the tile of the article, who deserves your money?…Me! it all flows back into the operation/growth of your business.
Sharat Thakur
June 15th, 2007 at 9:29 am
Lawrence, I agree it is easier said than done, but great people have proved in the past that it is possible. Changing people’s behaviour is difficult, but not impossible. Well, Entrepreneurship is all about making a change in the world. If we all can come together to make this change in our own small way, then eventually it will be a mammoth change, and believe me if we can even achieve 1% of this change, the world will be a much better place to live in.
Gina Laverde
June 15th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
The most essential tasks are easier said than done, and that’s why it takes special people to acheive them. We should all strive th give the most we can, be it money, time, a lended ear — or even to help turn someone’s life around. We can’t blame government or leave everything up to them either. Our country affords us the right to pave our own way. we can make positive changes.
The point is to keep moving and keep improving what we can. For some, it’s important to change government — and I am grateful for these people. They are making improvements each day.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts1
Peace
Mark Bowness
June 17th, 2007 at 4:27 am
Great article! I hear you. It is easy to get cynical when we hear these sobs stories and in all honesty we have every right to be cynical. When you hear a sob story and you offer something different, instead of the money - food, a drink, a bus ride home, whatever they usually back off… because it is the cash that they are after. Street performers…. there are just so many of them, they show creativity but I cant give money to them all. It is a tough call.
Mark Bowness
http://www.peoplepassionplanet.com
David Askaripour
June 17th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Mark, so true. It doesn’t always have to be about cash. Help can come in many different forms.
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