• howrar@lemmy.ca
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      1 day ago

      The problem with directly buying them food is that it has to be eaten within a fixed time window. Money can be used to buy food tomorrow, or it can even become food five years from now while being trivial to carry around. Getting money affords you the chance to take some time off from panhandling to attempt to better your situation because you know you have that backup food in your pocket. You’re not going to get out of homelessness if leaving that street corner means you’re probably going to be one day closer to dying of starvation.

    • samus12345@sh.itjust.works
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      3 days ago

      Yes, and when they get mad and say they want money (which has happened more than once), you know what they were going to use it for.

      • explodicle@sh.itjust.works
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        3 days ago

        If a random guy on the street offered you a sandwich, would you eat it? Why not, you like to save money, right? What’s the problem, I’m a nice guy trying to help you here.

        • samus12345@sh.itjust.works
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          3 days ago

          I offered to buy them food. I’m not sure why you thought I’d just buy some first without making sure they wanted it.