Comments on: The Hierarchy of Handouts http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:54:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ron http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115489 Ron Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:38:50 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115489 I give a generous fast offering because that way I know I'm helping someone and not getting ripped off. I give a generous fast offering because that way I know I’m helping someone and not getting ripped off.

]]> By: louis vuitton http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115483 louis vuitton Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:00:12 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115483 Thank you for your article Thank you for your article

]]> By: john f. http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115465 john f. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:05:18 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115465 Give liberally, you won't regret it. If they're ripping you off, that's on their heads. Give liberally, you won’t regret it. If they’re ripping you off, that’s on their heads.

]]> By: Clark http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115450 Clark Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:25:10 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115450 To add, I react differently to obviously non-professional beggars. Including giving people my entire lunch. To add, I react differently to obviously non-professional beggars. Including giving people my entire lunch.

]]> By: Clark http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115449 Clark Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:24:28 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115449 Sam, that was back when it was just becoming a problem and I think many people gave instinctually (or guiltily) precisely because of King Benjamin's comments. I assume now that there are so many people have become more numb to it. The problem is that giving them money incentivizes them to solve their problems that way, making the problem worse. It's far better to give to services that help people in a constructive way. (And yes, I've worked in soup kitchens and the like here in Utah - it's not like there isn't a lot of charity done here) Sam, that was back when it was just becoming a problem and I think many people gave instinctually (or guiltily) precisely because of King Benjamin’s comments.

I assume now that there are so many people have become more numb to it.

The problem is that giving them money incentivizes them to solve their problems that way, making the problem worse. It’s far better to give to services that help people in a constructive way. (And yes, I’ve worked in soup kitchens and the like here in Utah – it’s not like there isn’t a lot of charity done here)

]]> By: Glenn Smith http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115435 Glenn Smith Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:07:22 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115435 Pay a generous fast offering and you know the money is used wisely. When approached on the street ( on the rare occasions I am in a city) my preference is to offer a meal instead of cash. The truly hungry are grateful. The guy after beer money goes without. Pay a generous fast offering and you know the money is used wisely. When approached on the street ( on the rare occasions I am in a city) my preference is to offer a meal instead of cash. The truly hungry are grateful. The guy after beer money goes without.

]]> By: bfwebster http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115434 bfwebster Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:06:56 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115434 Ardis: My sincere apologies if my comments came across as 'more generous than thou' -- I was simply trying to respond to the post. No comparison with you or others was intended. The simple truth is that for the last 15 years or so, I've made a comfortable living (it'd be even more comfortable if I were a better saver/investor). During the time we lived in DC, that was especially true. I usually had cash in my wallet, with a whole lot more in the bank account, and I often felt that I had no real excuse for not giving money. I tried to be both discriminating and inspired -- but I figured that if I erred, I wanted to err on the side of being generous. Didn't always succeed, but I tried. Nowadays, living in semi-rural Colorado and working from home, I have very few opportunities to give handouts. ..bruce.. Ardis:

My sincere apologies if my comments came across as ‘more generous than thou’ — I was simply trying to respond to the post. No comparison with you or others was intended.

The simple truth is that for the last 15 years or so, I’ve made a comfortable living (it’d be even more comfortable if I were a better saver/investor). During the time we lived in DC, that was especially true. I usually had cash in my wallet, with a whole lot more in the bank account, and I often felt that I had no real excuse for not giving money. I tried to be both discriminating and inspired — but I figured that if I erred, I wanted to err on the side of being generous. Didn’t always succeed, but I tried.

Nowadays, living in semi-rural Colorado and working from home, I have very few opportunities to give handouts. ..bruce..

]]> By: Sam B. http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115433 Sam B. Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:39:34 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115433 Although I must say, the most interesting service provider I ever saw was a guy who picked up a stack of the Onion (hard copies are available free in New York, among other cities) and was trying to sell them for about $1 each on the subway. Although I must say, the most interesting service provider I ever saw was a guy who picked up a stack of the Onion (hard copies are available free in New York, among other cities) and was trying to sell them for about $1 each on the subway.

]]> By: Sam B. http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115432 Sam B. Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:35:49 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115432 As others have said, anybody who thinks Salt Lake is the panhandling capital of the world has never been to New York. Or DC or Chicago or Sao Paulo or Amsterdam. Although the highest concentration of panhandlers I've ever seen was on Victoria Island, Vancouver. The biggest determinant of whether I'll give is whether I have cash in my pocket. More often than not, I don't. That said, I usually try to give to street performers. (In fact, the second she hears one, my four-year-old looks to me or my wife for money to give.) In general, I believe that giving to nonprofit poverty organizations is a better idea than giving to people on the street but, at the same time, the occasional $1 donation to someone on the street isn't really going to break my charitable giving budget. And Clark, while I'm sure there are people who rake in the cash ("rake," of course, being a relative term), I think they're probably in the minority. Maybe a guy with a prime location at the Times Square subway station, but certainly not most panhandlers. As others have said, anybody who thinks Salt Lake is the panhandling capital of the world has never been to New York. Or DC or Chicago or Sao Paulo or Amsterdam. Although the highest concentration of panhandlers I’ve ever seen was on Victoria Island, Vancouver.

The biggest determinant of whether I’ll give is whether I have cash in my pocket. More often than not, I don’t. That said, I usually try to give to street performers. (In fact, the second she hears one, my four-year-old looks to me or my wife for money to give.)

In general, I believe that giving to nonprofit poverty organizations is a better idea than giving to people on the street but, at the same time, the occasional $1 donation to someone on the street isn’t really going to break my charitable giving budget.

And Clark, while I’m sure there are people who rake in the cash (“rake,” of course, being a relative term), I think they’re probably in the minority. Maybe a guy with a prime location at the Times Square subway station, but certainly not most panhandlers.

]]> By: Clark http://www.mormonmentality.org/2009/12/31/the-hierarchy-of-handouts.htm/comment-page-1#comment-115428 Clark Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:16:10 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/?p=2778#comment-115428 The gift certificates a great idea. Me, I'd donate to a soup kitchen but if I had to pick from your choices I'd say the musician. Although there my feelings are like Ardis'. The gift certificates a great idea.

Me, I’d donate to a soup kitchen but if I had to pick from your choices I’d say the musician. Although there my feelings are like Ardis’.

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