Is it inhumane to ask a homeless beggar to sing a song before giving him money?

[Bethany22]

Homeless people who beg for money on the street. What do you think about asking them to sing or dance before I give them cash? Would that be considered disrespectful/making fun of him?

[lightbulb27]

I wouldn't ask them that, it's like treating them like a dog. but if they were a singer or performer, then sure and some might appreciate just being engaged. Not everyone has the same talent, but everyone has value.

Engaging with them is good, as long as you feel safe doing so. I've done it many times. The worst one was the one I got covid from. Otherwise, a guy asked me for money for breakfast and I said... of course, but I needed help and asked if he could help me. He did I paid him for his work, talked to him for a while and we both appreciated it. he was much taller than me and a different color. It doesn't matter when you treat people with respect and give them their sense of dignity back. Another topic is to share their favorite memory, or best wisdom. It gets their minds working.

That said, some are on meds, very ill or have alterior motives so you must use your judgement. Be confident you can handle an adverse reaction. Spiritual power is valuable. And saying "yes, but first" is much better than "no". "No" will get you in trouble fast since it denies their reality and creates pain. Everyone likes to hear "yes".

Lucky for us, our system is creating plenty of them, so there is much opportunity.

[FunkyMonkee]

It's not a nice thing to do but I used to know of one homeless girl that used a bunch of kittens as a means to get sympathy money. If she's so poor that she has to sit on the sidewalk and beg, every day, how does she manage to feed those 5 or 6 kittens AND herself? She couldn't have been more than college age!! Why couldn't she get a job?
I used to work the graveyard shift at a convenience store and the doughnut guy would bring fresh doughnuts every morning about 4:00. So, rather than waste the older ones that were still just as good, I'd take those and either eat them myself or give them away to homeless people on my way home at 7:00 a. m.. One morning, I offered them to kitten girl and she refused them! How hungry can you be if you're gonna refuse free food?

Anyway, the point is, if you're gonna use kittens or puppies to get money, how beneath you would it be to sing or dance for some money? Besides, it might start a new trend for you! Sing on the street corner to get money rather than just SIT THERE!! LOTS of people do it!! Who knows? Some producer might see you and decided to make you a great star!!

[Pudsmucker]

It is even worse when they bring their children and set on the side of the street.

[FunkyMonkee]

@Pudsmucker There's also those young roaming beggars. They all dress alike in grey torn up clothes, but every one of them smokes and has a dog!! Most of the guys have nicely trimmed facial hair.
I used to work at a convenience store on a major university campus and we had this black kid standing at the door begging money and opening the door for people to get tips. In the meantime, he's got dreadlocks hat must've cost a pretty penny, very expensive sneakers, slightly well-dressed and always had fresh clothes every day, and would even show up with a very expensive 12 or 21-speed bike!!
Then there was the Rasta guy! He had VERY natty dreads that went down to his knees, a few of them were as thick as my wrist and one broke off in the middle and was only hanging on by a couple of strands in the middle of that bunch. I think he was transitioning because, half the time, I couldn't tell if he was a man or a woman, he tended to dress fem but, he lived in a fairly ritzy part of town and I've seen him ride the bus several times and get on and of in the same place Bus rides aren't cheap!

[whereismyjohnny]

It is disrespectful and humiliating. Honestly, I don't understand why would someone do such a thing. No one forces you to give them money. If you are going to do it, be a decent human and treat them with respect.

I doubt you would want someone to treat you that way if you were in their place.

[Anonymous]

Many do sing or perform in NYC to make a buck. People fill their tills. I would say to ask a homeless man to do this outright is just silly. Give from the heart.

[Opinion Owner]

Thank u. x

[Pudsmucker]

There is a difference between a homeless man and a panhandler. I don't feel sorry for panhandling on the side of the road. At one time I thought they were poor and down on their luck. I was doing some work and Nevada or casinos were prevalent. I saw this guy on the side of the road begging for money. I made a statement to a colleague as we were going to lunch how I felt sorry for them. He told me his viewpoint of what he has seen in the past. A few days later I was eating in a casino and I saw that person that was panhandling on the side of the road in the casino in a tuxedo playing at high dollar table. I start investigating on my own those guys at panhandle having a tendency to make more money standing on the side of the street then I was at my job.

A homeless person has a tendency to live in shanty camps. Made up of anything that they can scrounge up. A lot of times a homeless person is mentally unstable. They may has a drug and alcohol problem, maybe loss of home because of financial issues.

[Anonymous]

I’d say yes it’s wrong. No one is obligated to give a homeless person a dollar or two, and if they do then let it be a gesture of kindness and selflessness, not wanting to see someone humiliate themselves for spare change. That’s still a person down on their luck who would probably prefer not having to ask for help in the first place.

[Bolty44]

That's humiliation because they are malnourished from eating irregularly they are weak with imbalanced hormones which will only worsen their depression developed by their past life nightmares and the sadness they are going through now on top of that streets are cold both crowd and temperature wise. Be kind please

[Sparkie460]

I wouldn't put them in a position that would make them uncomfortable. I'm sure the position they are in is uncomfortable enough for them

[Sixgunsound]

Give them water. That way you aren't potentially enabling further bad life choices, and are still giving them something everyone needs. If they refuse it they aren't that homeless or desperate after all.

[Anonymous]

Inhumane but it they do nothing for me then I'm not giving them shit

Here it's illegal to beg for money but also to give a better money, both are seen as public order violations so you see singers etc. more often because legally they are providing a service for payment

[SnowedIn]

Inhumane? No. Disrespectful? Yes. Making fun of them... I'm leaning towards no. But, it's just unkind. Either give them the money or don't. Leave it at that.

[Sour-rose]

I think not. You want my money, you give me something in return. Not just a simple thank you, a dog can say thank you. But if it were me, I wouldn't give 'em shi, song or not.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

It's sad to do to a homeless person, but buying them a meal or coffee is better

[DJB72]

There's a basic human right to dignity so I'd say it's not a great idea

[Shy_Steve]

Depends on his Personality, If he hardly speaks then he probably won't like it or ignore you but if he talks a lot he might just do it.

[TheNameIsRob]

I’m sure they would do it as long as you weren’t obviously making fun of him lol.

[NathanDavis]

this just made me even more sad... lol

[Anonymous]

No I think that’s a good idea.

[loveslongnails]

That's a sick thought.

[Anonymous]

That would be very degrading.

[pizzalovershouse]

Not if he plays a musical instrument

[Debbie14217]

only if they are a good singer

[Alex8736]

beggars can't be choosers

[legalboxers]

offer them coffee, food, etc

[Preeti161101]

It's not good

[LadiesFavoriteToy]

nope might as well work for it.

[Sabretooth]

kinda

[PizzaPieMamaBear]

No I don’t think so

[melanieeeB]

Yeah pretty much

[SpringValley]

Go for it.

[Anonymous]

Not really.

[alice_durrant]

Vile thing to do.