Homeless man/gift-horse/mouth

spylon

A couple of days ago I found twenty euro on the ground of a shop. I probably should have handed it in to somebody at the till, but the place was very busy and I instinctively felt that rightful owner restoration was a low-probability outcome, regardless of my actions. I pocketed the note, guiltily exited the shop, resolved not to keep the money, rounded the corner, and saw a homeless man sitting on the side of the pavement. I approached him and produced the cash, explained what had happened, and said he could have it. He politely said no, that I had found it and so it belonged to me. I insisted, and said something like "you need it more than I do". This came out sounding a bit condescending and I immediately regretted it because he seemed to take slight umbrage. Was it really a rude thing to say to someone obviously living in the street and begging for a living?

He took it in the end, though I feel tainted by the whole thing. Wish I'd just handed it in at the till to begin with.

Overheal

Guy has like what, one iota of dignity left? And you poked at it.

RMD

Depends, did you say "you need it more than I do" in a snooty way or in a caring way?

If it was the first option, you're an asshole.

FunkZ

He probably thought you wanted a blowjob. No wonder he said no!

stovelid

He was trying to guilt-trip you into upping it to a fifty.

K-Ren

Maybe you should have just given it to him.

MagicMarker

Get a god-damn job Al.

abbococo

Why didn't you just give it to him and say nothing instead of having to point what a morally sound person you were first?

abbococo

K-Ren wrote: »

Maybe you should have just given it to him.

Damn my slow typing...

abbococo

abbococo wrote: »

Why didn't you just give it to him and say nothing instead of having to point what a morally sound person you were first?

He tried to just give it to him in the first place and the man was refusing. Read the OP.

Spylon, honestly, don't worry about it too much, it was a nice thing to do, you could easily have held onto it yourself but instead you used it for good and I'm sure the man appreciated it in the end.

MagicMarker

Deleted User wrote: »

He tried to just give it to him in the first place and the man was refusing. Read the OP.

You might want to read the OP again.

Dord

Would have been nicer to ask him how he was and if he needed any food or something hot to drink rather than thinking you can just throw money at him.

spylon

RMD wrote: »

Depends, did you say "you need it more than I do" in a snooty way or in a caring way?

If it was the first option, you're an asshole.

It wasn't like "ha, look at you"; it was pronounced more in a reasoning kind of way to get him to take the cash. I probably sounded anxious, since I felt vaguely criminal and just wanted rid of the ill-acquired gains.

4zn76tysfajdxp

RMD wrote: »

Depends, did you say "you need it more than I do" in a snooty way or in a caring way?

If it was the first option, you're an asshole.

Banned.

MagicMarker

As soon as he refused, you should have said ''Well fúck you too'', then went a bought a bag of chips and ate them in front of him.

mikemac

spylon wrote: »

A couple of days ago I found twenty euro on the ground of a shop. I probably should have handed it in to somebody at the till, but the place was very busy and I instinctively felt that rightful owner restoration was a low-probability outcome, regardless of my actions.

The duty manager would have pocketed it.
From handing in money in shopping centres and working in hotels I can say it's happens most times

Fair play for what you did OP

Lollipops23

OP you shouldn't feel guilty about it, I mean when a person is sitting on the ground begging, and someone is nice enough to give them money they shouldn't make the person feel guilty. Even if they don't want it (erm,why they sitting on the ground beggin then?) the person was just trying to help in a small way.

mikom

spylon wrote: »

He took it in the end, though I feel tainted by the whole thing.

You bummed a bum, ya filthy beggar.

i71jskz5xu42pb

It would have been nicer if you just bought him drink or drugs, in all probability that's what he's going to do with it, you could have saved him the hassle.

aDeener

Kane Numerous Colt wrote: »

Banned.

MagicMarker

MagicMarker wrote: »

You might want to read the OP again.

Why? He told the man he found this 20 quid in a shop and he could have it. It was only after the man refused that the OP said you need it more than I do. He did not point out how "morally correct he was"

You know the ones here saying "you should have just given it to him OP" are the same people who would have pocketed it so I wouldn't take too much notice.

walshb

No good deed goes unpunished.

dubtom

walshb wrote: »

No good deed goes unpunished.

Yes but unfortunately the little girl who went shopping with her mammy's last 20 quid and lost it probably will be punished, locked up in the coal shed with no supper perhaps. How could you OP.




:pac:

Numina

What does this have to do with horses?

MagicMarker

Deleted User wrote: »

Why? He told the man he found this 20 quid in a shop and he could have it. It was only after the man refused that the OP said you need it more than I do. He did not point out how "morally correct he was"

You know the ones here saying "you should have just given it to him OP" are the same people who would have pocketed it so I wouldn't take too much notice.

You misunderstood what abbococo said, his point was why explain why he was giving him the money in the first place? He should have just handed it to him and walked off. The man refused because the OP explained how he got the money. Explaining it is the 'moral correctness' abbococo is referring to.

As for your second comment, I don't know how you came to the conclusion that ''you should have just given him the money'' equals ''I shall keep this money for myself''.

Dudess

spylon wrote: »

A couple of days ago I found twenty euro on the ground of a shop. I probably should have handed it in to somebody at the till, but the place was very busy and I instinctively felt that rightful owner restoration was a low-probability outcome, regardless of my actions. I pocketed the note, guiltily exited the shop, resolved not to keep the money, rounded the corner, and saw a homeless man sitting on the side of the pavement. I approached him and produced the cash, explained what had happened, and said he could have it. He politely said no, that I had found it and so it belonged to me. I insisted, and said something like "you need it more than I do". This came out sounding a bit condescending and I immediately regretted it because he seemed to take slight umbrage. Was it really a rude thing to say to someone obviously living in the street and begging for a living?

He took it in the end, though I feel tainted by the whole thing. Wish I'd just handed it in at the till to begin with.

spylon wrote: »

It wasn't like "ha, look at you"; it was pronounced more in a reasoning kind of way to get him to take the cash. I probably sounded anxious, since I felt vaguely criminal and just wanted rid of the ill-acquired gains.

Dude, I feel like I've just read a passage out of Brideshead Revisited! :pac:

Anyways, well done on giving a homeless guy money and letting everyone know about it.

randomcorkgirl

well done... but if it was me i prob would have kept it... dam recessionary times

Borneo Fnctn

I would have kept that scrilla for my own self. Well done all the same OP.

JohnCleary

OP: If this is your biggest worry in the world... fancy swapping lives for a day?

I found a 50 in a shop about a week ago.

Just spent it...

Overheal

Found a $20 one time when I was kid and bought a turtle.

Must have been cursed though. It gave my sister Worms and I had to get rid of it.