[station909]

I do that too. I like street performers and sometimes even wish there would be more (not poor, of course). They make the place much nicer. Sometimes the music is even great. I don't have problems with those, they earn their money.

[danelectro]

In my case I was devastated by natural disaster, leaving me with challenging anti-social obligations.

When I am not worse off than the homeless or domestically compromised, I still help the ones whom I am personally acquainted with, providing cash sometimes or rides in my vehicle.

There are numerous needy individuals I encounter regularly and they are not always worse off than me.

With needy strangers, until I am out of debt or at least have positive cash flow, I can usually be honest, and get an honest reaction when I ask if they have lost everything. If so, it's easy to relate how I'm looking forward to working 12hours a day, 7days a week for a couple years so that I will recover well enough to then have nothing myself.

For someone who is truly homeless, it's usually easy for them to understand that I am non-domestic myself, plus it takes a lot to keep a vehicle on the road so I really don't have anything to spare sensibly.

Since I'm older than most, the sensible beggar recognizes he may be worse off in my position.

This year I often have food with me when I am driving, so I sometimes can share some of my rations or occasionally even have surplus to give.

I am a surplus-seeking individual. My entire (ruined) operation was built with recycled or surplus materials.

One man gathers what another man spills.

I don't plan to beg on the street, I'll learn how to accept financial help from a capitalist instead, and I'm not looking for a donation unless a venture turns out to be a non-profit org. Otherwise I'll make them as much return as they prefer.

But it has to be a generous capitalist with surplus funds to combine with my surplus technology, then we fly. The same backing from a greedy partner could only offer further deficit for me, may still get off the ground but not true flight with that baggage.

I look forward to the time when I can once again exersize my generosity to a greater degree. __________

- now you're considering street performers while I was typing, so I'll post this here. Don't think I'll do that either unless I finally lose critical mass of industrial surplus which could happen any time, but looks like I've got a better chance singing for my supper at my favorite restaurant than I would in the street, which is illegal here except in the (uncrowded) museum district with a very restrictive permit.

sorry this message turned out to be so personal, hope it helps anyway, this one hit "home"