Stranger at the Dinner table
Oct 28th 2013, 4:07 pm
#16
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 18,840
Re: Stranger at the Dinner table
That's very funny,and as the others have said good on you for allowing it to happen
Oct 28th 2013, 4:34 pm
#17
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Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
Re: Stranger at the Dinner table
It reminds of a time I was heading down to play tennis at Malvern and stopped in Worcester to do some sightseeing and shopping. I'd just parked in a multi-storey car park, got out and literally had one foot on Worcester soil when a girl appeared from nowhere. She was probably 18 but looked decades older with eyes sunken and a long way away, track marks on arms etc.
The gist of her conversation was if I paid for a meal in Maccas I could have whatever I wanted. (Wasn't sure if that was referring to her or the menu at Maccas)
Very sad like OP's story. I politely refused then she asked for a few quid for a meal which I also politely refused and she just shuffled off to look for someone else.
The gist of her conversation was if I paid for a meal in Maccas I could have whatever I wanted. (Wasn't sure if that was referring to her or the menu at Maccas)
Very sad like OP's story. I politely refused then she asked for a few quid for a meal which I also politely refused and she just shuffled off to look for someone else.
Oct 28th 2013, 4:48 pm
#18
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 18,840
Re: Stranger at the Dinner table
It reminds of a time I was heading down to play tennis at Malvern and stopped in Worcester to do some sightseeing and shopping. I'd just parked in a multi-storey car park, got out and literally had one foot on Worcester soil when a girl appeared from nowhere. She was probably 18 but looked decades older with eyes sunken and a long way away, track marks on arms etc.
The gist of her conversation was if I paid for a meal in Maccas I could have whatever I wanted. (Wasn't sure if that was referring to her or the menu at Maccas)
Very sad like OP's story. I politely refused then she asked for a few quid for a meal which I also politely refused and she just shuffled off to look for someone else.
The gist of her conversation was if I paid for a meal in Maccas I could have whatever I wanted. (Wasn't sure if that was referring to her or the menu at Maccas)
Very sad like OP's story. I politely refused then she asked for a few quid for a meal which I also politely refused and she just shuffled off to look for someone else.
Oct 29th 2013, 2:20 am
#19
not sure...
Joined: May 2007
Location: out in the boonies
Posts: 1,537
Re: Stranger at the Dinner table
Aw, how sad that someone so young is that desperate for something to eat : (
Good on ye for allowing her to sit there and have her fill. Karma to you good man
Good on ye for allowing her to sit there and have her fill. Karma to you good man
Oct 29th 2013, 4:18 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 7,949
Re: Stranger at the Dinner table
As in?
1 I should have given her money for 'a meal'?
2 I should have given the world's oldest trade some trade to pay for 'a meal'?
I was 100% certain that any money I handed out would have soon gone into the pockets of a scummy Worcester drug dealer.
That's the Catch 22 - if you give money to beggars etc are you helping them or helping them sign their death warrant? Admittedly OP knew where his grub was going but usually you don't know if it will go for food or not.
FWIW I give a lot of books and other goods to charity shops who provide meals for such people and I also do voluntary work for charities so my conscience is clear.
1 I should have given her money for 'a meal'?
2 I should have given the world's oldest trade some trade to pay for 'a meal'?
I was 100% certain that any money I handed out would have soon gone into the pockets of a scummy Worcester drug dealer.
That's the Catch 22 - if you give money to beggars etc are you helping them or helping them sign their death warrant? Admittedly OP knew where his grub was going but usually you don't know if it will go for food or not.
FWIW I give a lot of books and other goods to charity shops who provide meals for such people and I also do voluntary work for charities so my conscience is clear.
Oct 29th 2013, 4:26 pm
#21
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 18,840
Re: Stranger at the Dinner table
As in?
1 I should have given her money for 'a meal'?
2 I should have given the world's oldest trade some trade to pay for 'a meal'?
I was 100% certain that any money I handed out would have soon gone into the pockets of a scummy Worcester drug dealer.
That's the Catch 22 - if you give money to beggars etc are you helping them or helping them sign their death warrant? Admittedly OP knew where his grub was going but usually you don't know if it will go for food or not.
FWIW I give a lot of books and other goods to charity shops who provide meals for such people and I also do voluntary work for charities so my conscience is clear.
1 I should have given her money for 'a meal'?
2 I should have given the world's oldest trade some trade to pay for 'a meal'?
I was 100% certain that any money I handed out would have soon gone into the pockets of a scummy Worcester drug dealer.
That's the Catch 22 - if you give money to beggars etc are you helping them or helping them sign their death warrant? Admittedly OP knew where his grub was going but usually you don't know if it will go for food or not.
FWIW I give a lot of books and other goods to charity shops who provide meals for such people and I also do voluntary work for charities so my conscience is clear.
Do you have anyone specific in mind?
Oct 29th 2013, 4:36 pm
#23
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
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Oct 29th 2013, 9:28 pm
#30
BE Co-Founder
Joined: Feb 2000
Location: Florida
Posts: 25,928
Re: Stranger at the Dinner table
I used to work for a non-profit that helped a lot of homeless people and I always wondered what to do when they I saw them begging at the intersections while cars are waiting for the traffic lights to change. As someone else noted, how can you be sure that the money you give them will go on food? So I was advised by a couple of people I worked with to keep a one or two packs of food (crackers, and cans of cold meat that could be easily opened with a pull tag thingy ... what ever they are called) in the car and then give that to them along with a bit of paper that listed help organizations. So thats what I did. May not have been what they were expecting, but at least it meant that ate that day if nothing else.