I gave $5 to a homeless person standing on the street corner with a sign

I don't remember if I have ever done anything like that before, other than giving a homeless person a pack of cigarettes years ago.

I thought, "Even if he is going to spend it on booze, it might keep him warm tonight or he can buy a burger or alleviate some internal pain."

It is really cold here and he was standing out in 25 degree weather.

I'm glad I did it.

The "warmth" an alcoholic feels is the dilation of their capillaries and the release of body heat! It makes the cold weather WORSE for them.

That being said, I won't denigrate you for helping someone in need, but PLEASE do not buy into the horrible misconception that alcolhol warms a person.

capillaries can't dilate--no smooth muscle. Perhaps some more precapillary sphincters open.

Yeah, next step up in size. In any event, anyone with a basic knowledge of alcohol's effects on the body can back me up.

Alcohol out in the cold is bad for a number of reasons (well, as long as you're going to *stay* out in the cold.) For one thing, it causes a premature breakdown of vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone) which is the stuff that prevents you from pissing like a race horse all the time. Vasopressin is also a potent vasoconstrictor, so when you drink, your arteries/arterioles dilate and your blood pressure goes down. This is not so hot for you, no pun intended, when you're freezing your ass off outside.

buy a gun, so I can shoot my mother in law." Cracked me up.

. . . who had a sign that said, "Why lie? I need a beer."

That was funny too.

trying to get arrested, so he'll have a cot and breakfast.

"The Cop and the Anthem" is the name I believe

As far as what he spends it on, it really doesn't matter. Being homeless has to be hell. If buying booze will make him feel better, it should be his choice.

You did a good deed.

I won't aid or abet the death of an alcoholic that way. Either buy them food, or find them a place to stay, or something else humane.

But give them a crack at booze on a frigid night? No thanks.

He wasn't anywhere close to a liquor store but there was a Burger King caddy corner from him.

He said he was hungry. I didn't give him money but offered to buy him lunch. He declined.:shrug:

Heh heh. ;)

We offered some leftover pasta from a restaurant we had just come out of to a homeless man and he didn't want it because he wasn't sure if he was allergic to whatever sauce was on it. Who knows? Maybe he was allergic.

I like that.

charity, a virtue

a small town, I never used to see homeless folks. It's becomming pretty common to see them now, also I see folks holding signs saying that they will work for food. I drive to the nearest fast food place and buy them something to eat. Wish I could do more for them.

I had to get into a club..so I gave it to him..he seemed very happy

...for a training course for my job, and trust me, this is NOT like Walt DisneyWorld... parts of it are really quite run-down.

Anyway, another fellow I was taking the class with found ourselves in town, looking for a quick meal for dinner, and ended up in front of a Subways (don't make fun, I like Subway).

There's a guy standing in front wearing what looks like a hospital patient ID band on his wrist, holding a folder full of papers, and talking a mile a minute.

He explains that he just got out of the hospital, he's got no money... blah-blah-blah... and could we please buy him dinner.

My buddy and I go in to eat, but something bothers me about the guy outside... if he's the real thing, I'd feel terrible NOT buying him any food, and if he's a fake, he's really putting a lot of effort into it.

I end up buying him a turkey subway, and my buddy buys him a Coke.

He sort of thanks us, then tries to hit us up first for cab fare (pricey), then tries to hit us up for bus fare (which is cheaper).

I still wonder if I should have given him anything else, but I didn't.

...the guy came up to me in Louisville and asked for some change to get some food. I told him, "I'm not giving you any money, but if you want to come with me into McDonald's, I"ll buy you anything you want." $12.00+ later, I was wishing I'd given him the change I had in my pocket and been done with it. That guy freakin' ate like no one I've ever seen. I guess he really was hungry.