Is Giving A Homeless Person $ For Drugs STO?

[sillypumpkins]

I resonate with Diana's view on the matter. It wasn't always that way for me though.

Before the pandemic hit, I used to walk to work, which was downtown in my city. My work was on a street that had a lot of homeless folk asking for money. I used to say 'no' to giving out money. Sometimes I would, though. But it would always come down to a judgement on my part, "does this person seem like they're going to spend money on drugs?"

I didn't like how I went about that. I mean, I am basing my decision based on a narrow-mind and shallow perception of the individual's look/vibe whatever. That didn't feel right to me.

This was also around the time when I began realizing that I truly don't know what is best for others. Seriously. Like Diana said, if somebody went off to the liquor store to buy some booze with the money I gave them, that is at their discretion, and that's clearly what they "need" right now. It's just..... really gray. If that's what you need to get through the night, man, I can't judge that. I don't know what their story is. I don't know anything.

So, instead of judging others and basing my money-giving on that, I just give money when I can. It's a gift, once it's left my hands, it's not mine anymore, and they are free to use it however they please. That feels more positively-polarizing to me.

With that being said, I do like to offer food when I can, especially when I don't have cash.

This topic is really enlightening for me personally, because it highlights how gray these things are, and how it's always about intentions. Love it, and all of you