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What would you do if a scraggly homeless person knocked on your door, and all he asked was for a sandwich, a bottle of water, a bath, and perhaps a beard trim? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago by over_clox@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

146 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've actually skipped work just to help a homeless guy get his beard trimmed. Bought him pizza too. Kinda hard to get anywhere in life when you look like shit.

Be kind to the homeless, they just need a helping hand here and there.

What would you do?

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[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago (9 children)

You mean directions towards the nearest shelters? It's easy to tell someone to go away, but does it hurt you to try to help them locate proper shelter, instead of just tell them to go away?

[–] Waraugh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 1 month ago (4 children)

I got kids, I’ll get you a sandwich and water while you wait outside but I don’t know them just like I don’t know any other stranger that showed up unannounced, that I would also not let in. If it was just me I have a higher risk tolerance, it’s going to be pretty close to zero when I have others who are dependent on me under my care. Sorry, not sorry.

[+] over_clox@lemmy.world -7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)

Let's say we're in Arizona right now, hypothetical..

Let's say it's 120⁰F outside. You gonna leave the fella outside, only to die on your porch of heat stroke?

Edit: Ain't that cute, I see I've been downvoted. Welp, if such a hypothetical situation happens, and someone dies on your porch in the heat, then you'd basically be guilty of negligent homicide since you could have helped, but refused to.

I'm not exactly a fan of having people die on my porch.

[–] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Don't know where you're at, but where I am, I have no legal obligation to help anyone trespassing on my property. That said, I would call the cops, so they can help him. While they may not be great at this, it's their job (not mine), and I'm not risking my life. Maybe he's honest in his needs. Maybe he's not, and his intentions are nefarious. Do you know? I don't, and I'm not willing to risk my life finding out.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A person knocking on your door and asking for help shouldn't be outright considered as a trespasser, especially if all they're asking is help. Of course you can't trust just anyone, but still, if someone showed up and knocked on my door, sweating their ass off in the scorching heat of the summer and asking for help, I ain't about to leave them out in the heat..

[–] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

That's fine. If your risk posture allows you to do that, then great. Mine doesn't. I will give them as much water as they need, food if they need, even a change of clothes and a coolrag. They can chill in my yard under the shade of whatever trees they want. They can use my hose to cool off, wash, whatever. But, they're not coming in my home. [and they need to leave before that evening's up].