Let’s have an argument. As we begin to discuss the topic of whether or not to give money to panhandlers, and under what circumstances or conditions, we’ll experience the need to define some terms and lay out some causal conditions. We may even have to refute the good arguments made by classmates. In fifteen minutes, I hope to be able to illustrate the basics of persuasive argument.
Sample Claims
I always give to panhandlers
I give to female panhandlers
I give to panhandlers who are missing a limb
I give to panhandlers who convince me they’re wounded or ill
I give to panhandlers if I have spare pocket change
I give to panhandlers if I don’t have to look through my wallet for a small bill
I give to panhandlers if they keep their distance
I give to panhandlers I see every day or so
I give to panhandlers I think I’m unlikely to see ever again
I give to panhandlers who look truly desperate
I give to panhandlers who appear to be very temporarily down on their luck
I give to panhandlers who look employable if they got a haircut and a clean shirt
I give to panhandlers if they offer anything in return
I give to panhandlers whose signs show wit
I give to panhandlers whose signs demonstrate real need
I give to panhandlers who say they’re single parents or veterans
I give to panhandlers who say they will work for food
I give to panhandlers who I feel certain will use the money for food
I give to panhandlers if their signs mention God
I give to panhandlers whose stories move me
I give food to panhandlers, never money
I take panhandlers into stores and let them buy things
I buy panhandlers meals at outdoor restaurants
I look at panhandlers and smile
I mutter something to panhandlers as I pass
I apologize that I have no money to spare
I say I’ll help them shortly and then do
I say I’ll help them shortly and then don’t
I have brief conversations with panhandlers
I pretend I do not see or hear panhandlers
I never give to panhandlers
I never give to panhandlers whose signs mention God
I never give to panhandlers who are dressed at all well
I never give to male panhandlers
I never give to female panhandlers
I never give to panhandlers who ask aggressively
I never give to panhandlers who approach me at a stop sign in my car
I never give to panhandlers who make me feel trapped
I never give to panhandlers who block traffic or the sidewalk
I never give to panhandlers who use the same spot for years
I never give to panhandlers who “clean” my windshield
I never give to panhandlers who seem crazy
I never give to panhandlers who have cell phones
Go on the Record
In a Reply below, lay out your position on panhandlers in a few sentences, citing claims like those above or others that work better for you.
- At a minimum, go on the record about:
- What you actually do
- What you wish you could do
- What you know you should do
When we’ve committed to positions, we’ll “mix it up” for awhile and illustrate the basics of persuasive argument.
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 
1.I give to panhandlers only when i have spare change on me
2.Give to all panhandlers
3.I believe i should care about the people i’m giving it too or the people who seem genuine behind their intentions but the reality is to me it does not matter what they’re using it for. Good or bad.
I think you have a really good outlook on this
I believe that giving to all panhandlers is not as sympathetic or productive as you may think it is. I’ve seen many panhandlers who appear to be on drugs. Giving them money might be putting you in the position of being an enabler to their drug addiction.
I do understand what your saying however i firmly believe that i am not responsible for the actions of others. I should rephrase and say that if someone outwardly says its for drugs or alcohol i wouldn’t. However i would still give money because that is my personal choice and what they choose to do with it is their own choice that i am not responsible for and i take no blame if they choose to buy drugs or alcohol later on but i do see your perspective.
I disagree with your last statement. I don’t think that we should just ignore the panhandler. I think that you should consider giving them money especially if you have some to spare. If you however are yourself struggling in your own way then you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to give what you barely have. I do agree that you should appreciate the small thing sin life that people may not have thought.
I agree with this stand, I also don’t always feel it’s best to just give money to anyone when you don’t know what the money will be used for. I like that it allows you to just be thankful for what you have in your life.
I think its good that you have conversations with the panhandlers even if there is a risk. Its good that you can appreciate the things you do have because you see other people in this situation.
Normally when I see panhandlers, I try to ignore them unless I genuinely can’t. I do usually feel bad about it but I’m pretty sure that’s the intention behind panhandling to begin with. If I had more money, I wouldn’t mind helping out some people who genuinely need the help because I do like to have faith that not everyone is lying to take advantage of others around them. I don’t actually know what I should do in all honesty because there’s the moral dilemma of seeing someone struggling and choosing to ignore their struggle, or the logical dilemma of the fact that most of the time, panhandlers lie about their situations or intentionally appeal to your emotions to use you for your money.
The part of not everyone is lying to take advantage of other people who are actually is in need is what stood out to me because I do spot panhandlers asking for money even though they have a car with them. It is a moral decisions based on one’s beliefs.
I do agree with this because I am the same way. As much as I would like to help people who are genuinely in need, you never know what they could use the money for. Some panhandlers may lie and use the money for something completely different. I feel if we knew exactly what these panhandlers would use the money for, it would be easier to give them a few dollars you have laying around. Unfortunately, we do not know if they will definitely use the money for “food” or “soap” or whatever they may need.
When I do see panhandlers, I usually only see them when I am driving, so typically I wouldn’t stop to give them money. Although, unless I am with someone, sometimes I would give some change I have laying around only if we are stopped at a red light. I wish I could help out the ones who will use the money for their own good. I believe you don’t have to give to panhandlers, but it could be a nice gesture for someone who will use the money for what they are asking for.
Do you give more often when someone is with you because you feel a sort of social pressure to appear a certain way?
There is no law or mandatory rule that we have to give panhandlers, it is a nice gesture. It is funny because based on what you would do is that you wouldn’t give money if you are alone, but if you’re with someone then you would which would boost your image to that person. I’m not judging I just find it funny.
I totally agree with you. It shouldn’t feel like an obligation to give to panhandlers. I also see a lot of panhandlers while driving, but it can be dangerous to stop for them on the road. It is not only scary as the driver, but should also be scary for the panhandlers in the road.
In general, I try to help panhandlers in any way that I can whenever I am in a situation where I am able to. Meaning, if I am in a financial situation where I can afford to give either food, clothes, or money to someone in need, I will. I get this from my parents as they do the same whenever they have the chance. From the time that I was little, I would watch my parents give money to or take someone in need out for food or clothes and so I have picked this up myself, whenever I can afford to. I wish that I could give money, food, or clothes to panhandlers whenever I am approached because I want to spend my life helping as many people as possible, no matter how small it may seem, and this is a way that I contribute to that goal. I know that I should help whenever I am able to because I am in a much more fortunate situation than them that I never have to worry about where my next meal will come from or worry about if I will be able to survive the night due to weather. This is something that I have been taught both by my parents and by reading the Bible, and I try to live up to this to the best of my ability.
I give to panhandler if I’m walking in Philadelphia an if they go out their way to ask me for help. An if I’m near a restaurant will offer them food as an alternative. I wish we had better public housing for the panhandlers with open opportunities to pick themselves up. I know I should help anyone that cross my path. Whether it being with food, money, water, but I am nearly in the same situation as them if I weren’t living with my parents I would be in the same street.
I apologize, and claim that I have no money to spare when they asked me. Most times I would look at them awkwardly inside my car during a stop light or I looked down my phone pretending that I’m occupied. I wish I could have helped them a little bit, but I don’t feel remorse or pity to do it. True story, I was inside my car, and a panhandler approached me, and I noticed what that person was based on the way they dressed. The person asked me for money, and I said no, and then the guy banged my car window and flipped me off. I absolutely have no clue how to solve or do in that situation
I feel like in that situation you can only to not be blinded by their poor choice of character and hope they’ll grow as a person as they get through their situation.
1. I usually would give spare change that is in my pocket to panhandlers that actually look like they are homeless.
2. I wish I could tell if a panhandler is telling the truth about their situation. If I could tell this, then I would give to all panhandlers in need.
3. I know I should be more compassionate and not judge someone by their looks in order to determine if they are actually homeless, but in this world you can not trust everyone you see especially when they are begging for money. In the end, I probably should not determine if a person is genuine or not because in truth it doesn’t matter what they use that money for. As long as they are using it to help benefit themselves, even if it is bad, or others around them.
This past Fourth of July I was sitting at a fancy restaurant with my family and sitting right outside on a bench and holding a sign that said she was homeless was a young woman. As I sat there for upwards of an hour, person after person passed her by, enjoying their afternoons, and she began to cry. This almost brought me to tears myself as I felt she was genuinely struggling and felt severe emotions at having to be in this position. After our dinner was finished and the bill was on it’s way I told my family members that I was going to go over and pray for her and my family all chipped in a few bucks. After praying for her and giving her the money she prayed for me and my family as well. I know many situations where people are panhandling are ones where the people panhandling are trying to use you for some kind of personal gain. I think this situation particularly moved me because she seemed desperate for some kind of sympathy. The situation also made me feel privileged, which motivated me to give what I could. All this to say, I don’t often have cash but I feel if someone is willing to accept a simple prayer or encouragement than they are worthy of my time and sympathy.
That’s terrible, I think it’s worse when you are like seeing them the whole time. Usually when you encounter a panhandler, you’re not even near them after a couple minutes but watching her for even just almost an hour really puts things into perspective.
I rarely give money to panhandlers because I myself am broke. On the rare ocassion that I have cash on me, I will try to give a few dollars. It doesn’t matter what they look like or what I believe they will do with the money because anyone who is commiting their day to panhandling is clearly in need. I wouldn’t do anything further then that for my own safety, unfortunately this world is filled with people willing to to use emotional manipulation to lure people into dangerous situations. I’ve been asked to drive a “panhandler” before and as much as I empathized with the man I couldn’t risk being robbed or murdered. I wish we lived in a world where no one had to panhandle, or at the very least a world where we could trust all of them. I would love to go out of my way for someone who is worse off then me, but you just never know who you would be dealing with. I wish I felt safe driving panhandlers where they want to go, or getting them the food they need but I just don’t. I think what I “should” do is exactly what I’m doing now, if I have the money and I can easily and safely give it to them I will. What I will not do is put myself in any serious risk just to feel like a good person.
I give to panhandlers if I have spare pocket change, this happens only on rare occasions, because I hardly carry cash. however, over the summer I was driving in Camden and at a red light I saw one of the panhandlers on the side of the road, and I also had two dollars, I rolled down my window and told the panhandler to come and get the money. Sometimes I wish that I can give the panhandlers food instead of money, because you never know what they’re going to do with that money. What I know I should do if I come across a panhandler again is just be nice and give them something, if I have spare pocket change.
Panhandlers: I usually see them while I am in the car so I cannot stop to give them money if I am driving. If I am at a stop though and someone comes up to my window I will give them money or whatever I have like a granola bar. I wish I could give everyone I see on the streets panhandling money but I myself don’t have that kind of money to do so. I know that I should help who I can when I can as long as I don’t put myself in jeopardy like losing the money I don’t have or being put in a dangerous situation.
Why should you help? Why are YOU obligated?
I do not give out money or food to panhandlers. I sleep sound at night. Why? because I am in college. Since when do college students have money to give? First rule in any situation, whether on a plane with a hole in it or in a warzone, take care of your own situation first (mask-up/ bandage-up), then once (if) you are in a position to do so, you can embark on an effort to assist others. So, I might have a different answer in a few years if I happen to be lucky enough to become a billionaire and money is almost meaningless. Emphasis on “if”.
I have been fooled/ there have been exceptions. Once I gave water to a man who looked like I might have to call an ambulance for otherwise on a hot day. Once I gave money to a man who said he didn’t have money for a bus (before I knew that was a scam).
I’m human, it is not comfortable to see someone that appears to be suffering. I imagine many of these panhandlers look like they are suffering. In a world with magic wands, I would like to wave a magic wand and say “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” and do some Cinderella magic for them.
However, we live in a world where there is no magic, unless you think money is magic. Money or rather a stream of it over time is what the person needs, there is most likely, but not limited to, a systemic issue, as to why a hypothetical panhandler is not able to harvest enough money to avoid resorting to panhandling.
There is not much my dollar donated can do besides help contribute to a temporary reprieve that some food or a vice might give them. If I really wanted to “do something” I would volunteer in a meaningful way that addresses, the issues that people associated with panhandling face (yes, we are beating around the sensitivity bushes).
Well said. Completely fair.
I give to panhandlers if I have spare pocket change, this happens only on rare occasions, because I hardly carry cash. however, over the summer I was driving in Camden and at a red light I saw one of the panhandlers on the side of the road, and I also had two dollars, I rolled down my window and told the panhandler to come and get the money. Sometimes I wish that I could give the panhandlers food instead of money, because you never know what they’re going to do with that money. What I know I should do if I come across a panhandler again is just be nice and give them something, if I have spare pocket change.
What you actually do
1.”I apologize that I have no money to spare”, “I give to panhandlers who look truly desperate” I often don’t have cash on me, so most times I don’t have money to spare. But the times I do, I give, especially to those who look like they really need it.
What you wish you could do
2. “I always give to panhandlers” If I could always give to panhandlers, I honestly would. Its better not to judge and instead give without prejudice. I have no control what they do with what I give, but at least I tried to help. Its about caring for our fellow humans. Simple kindness is not hard.
What you know you should do
3. “I pretend I do not see or hear panhandlers” This is what I was told growing up, and advised that that was what I should do. I suppose for safety, cause people are unpredictable. Sometimes those who’re homeless are on something and are erratic, sometimes not, so for safety I was told not to interact.
What I Do
“I pretend I do not see or hear panhandlers.” I am already socially uncomfortable, I cannot handle this level of social discomfort. It gives me anxiety.
What I Wish I Could Do
“I apologize that I have no money to spare.” I never carry money, and even if I do, I do not feel comfortable giving them money.
What I Should Do
“I give food to panhandlers, never money.” Everyone needs to eat, and if I can guarantee my money will be spent on food, I will buy it.
I give to panhandles if I have spare pocket change. whenever I have extra cash or food on me I give because my mom has a business that helps the less fortunate and since I’ve been around them my whole life I help even if they are fake that’s for them to take up with God. I wont stop helping because of one fake person, that’s not right. it makes it hard for the people that actually need help to get help. I wish I could do more since I usually don’t carry cash on me.
I recognize where you’re coming from, and I feel like I react similarly. There are so many things that we wish, as empathetic humans, we could do, but we realistically cannot.
I never give anything to panhandlers.
It may seem cruel, I get it. But there comes a point where you just stop caring about the problems that other have usually. I grew up learning from my father, who grew up in NYC, and taught me very early on that in life, people don’t care about you at all, and only see you as a way of getting more money. It’s cynical, but to me I don’t see any gain in giving away hard earned money. I sleep soundly at night, I acknowledge them as human, of course, but I don’t feel pity or see the plight they have by giving them a few cents, or a few dollars to “Help” their life.
I wish I could feel pity for these people, it’s the thing a good person does, and what I strive to be every day. Yet my entire life I’ve learned how the world operates, how while yes there are those down in the dumps or with bad luck, but I can’t for the life of me see panhandlers as less than swindlers trying to pull money out of my pocket using pity, which is something I don’t have.
I’m both glad and distraught of my choice. I’m damn glad that I can easily just walk by panhandlers, completely tuning them out or straight up refusing to give them money and walk away and push the entire interaction out of my mind. Every time I refuse is more money I save, and nothing in these people’s lives change. If they are swindlers, that’s less money they get, and if it’s really someone down on their luck, there are plenty of more people who give in to emotion and pity them, giving them their spare change.
What a twisted, yet understandable, perspective.
I give money to all Panhandlers, no matter what they look like or whatever they might be doing. I wish I could make some kind of an organization or a business where I could take all the panhandlers and help them find jobs or create a business and hire them so they could make me and themselves some money. I believe if someone has the privilege of giving someone a few dollars without it significantly effecting them, they should always give the panhandlers a chance with that money, the panhandlers could always change or try to change their lives into something better, they might buy drugs with it but we cant control that, we should do our duty and provide them with a chance.
I find it Naive, yet understandable to try and take a moral high ground.
When I see panhandlers, I typically at least smile at them, but I find that I am more likely to avoid eye contact if it is a man and there are not enough people around who could help me if something were to happen. I am also more likely to smile or engage with panhandlers if I have pepper spray on me, just in case someone were to attack me. I’d most likely never give a panhandler more than 5 dollars, so if I only have 20s on me, I am probably not going to give them anything. It also depends on my financial situation, how recently I got paid and how soon I will get paid again. I will never roll my window down for a panhandler because I am scared of them trying to break into my car. Rather than giving to people on the street, I will often donate to Go Fund Me’s when I see them for causes such as homeless shelters or people who lost everything in situations such as house fires. I wish I could help everyone, but realistically I know my 5 dollars is not changing any lives. I know that I should try my best to help those who are less fortunate than me, and I should engage in conversation to make them feel a sense of humanity. But I also feel a need to protect my own safety, and sometimes that means not engaging with strangers on street corners.
I give money to handicapped, old panhandlers, and families with children.
1. What I actually do is give panhandlers food but never money. I always give them food because that is usually what I have on me.
2. I wish I could ask them what they need because maybet what they need is a blanket or a jacket and maybe some women just need sanitary items. I wish I could ask them but you also never know how someone in distress is going to react and also I can’t just stop on the side of the road to ask and have a conversation if I am in a rush and on my way to work.
3. I know I should ask what exactly they need but some people could just use money for things that I don’t agree with such as like drugs or take your kindness for granted.