Ellener Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 I did nothing except let him know by my body language I knew what he was doing ( therefore so would others if he hung about ) so he left. I watched him leave and if he'd been stopped I was going to offer to pay for his food. I suspect a lot of the managers have been way ahead of me on the various humanitarian crises here though. What would you have done? 3 Link to post Share on other sites
SumGuy Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Would have said, hey man let me buy that for you no need to get into trouble for a little food. WWJD 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites
NuevoYorko Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 would have bought his food. What stopped you? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Angelle Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 I would have bought his food. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites
lana-banana Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 People need food and water to live. The least you can do is buy somebody some water or a meal. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
NuevoYorko Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 7 minutes ago, lana-banana said: People need food and water to live. The least you can do is buy somebody some water or a meal. That's a very un-American idea. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 15 minutes ago, NuevoYorko said: That's a very un-American idea. it seemed to be a very American idea back in the Great Depression 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
SumGuy Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Buying him the food prevents a crime. It's also the christian, and buddist and jewish, and probably even islamic, thing to do. It is most certainly WJWD. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
NuevoYorko Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 10 minutes ago, alphamale said: it seemed to be a very American idea back in the Great Depression Things have changed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Realitysux Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 3 hours ago, Ellener said: I did nothing except let him know by my body language I knew what he was doing ( therefore so would others if he hung about ) so he left. I watched him leave and if he'd been stopped I was going to offer to pay for his food. I suspect a lot of the managers have been way ahead of me on the various humanitarian crises here though. What would you have done? I would not have done anything. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 26 minutes ago, NuevoYorko said: Things have changed. i don't agree with that Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 If it was a big city, I'd know that there were other ways for him to get food, especially right now with milk being given away all the time everywhere due to covid and all the food handouts, but in normal times, food banks. Of course, was he stealing food or something else like cigarettes? If he was in a small town with no resources, maybe I'd have bought it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
nittygritty Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I would have told the store manager after he left. Let the business decide how they want to handle it. You have no idea what kind of person he is other than that he steals. Perhaps he is a violent criminal that will rob you or even worse. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Art_Critic Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 A homeless guy stealing food, yeah.. it's breaking the law but if you want to let someone break a law I would think that one is a good one to let slide. About 8 months ago I walked into the grocery store and while I was going in with a buggy a homeless guy was going out the in with one of those hand baskets full of food, meats and cheese.. I took me about 15 secs to realize what was happening but when I did I went to an employee standing there in the produce section and they said, thanks but there is nothing we will do, the homeless people do it all the time and the last thing the store wanted was bad publicity from stopping a man from starving to death. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Fresh_Start Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Many homeless people will commit petty crimes in plain sight because they want to get caught. Going to jail gets them off the streets for awhile, puts a roof over their head, and gives them a couple of free meals per day. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Many places you can't even arrest them for it anymore anyway -- a bad new law. But yeah, there are certainly times I'd help. It's better than giving them money because they might be a junkie or whatever. Doesn't hurt to give them food, but I have heard stories of getting sandwiches thrown back at you at the intersections because they want money for something that isn't food. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Ellener Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 4 hours ago, NuevoYorko said: would have bought his food. What stopped you? did not want to draw attention to him in the store. I looked for him outside but he'd gone. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Ellener Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 4 hours ago, lana-banana said: People need food and water to live. The least you can do is buy somebody some water or a meal. I wish we just put a shelf at the store entrance with free stuff for the homeless. Panera did an experiment at one point of letting people pay what they want so everyone can eat, those who could paid more. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
gaius Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Did you post this in this section because he was a black homeless guy?  I'd imagine in Houston there's a decent amount of homeless services where he could have gotten free food. So there's no reason to shoplift other than being an ahole. Being on the street doesn't give you the right to camp where you want, defecate where you want or help yourself to whatever you want from the local store. I've had people ask me to buy them food and sometimes agreed, depending on the situation. That's more honorable than shoplifting. Unless the guy clearly looked emaciated I wouldn't reward that type of behavior. Link to post Share on other sites
schlumpy Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Theft is overhead for the store. The customers will make up the difference by paying higher prices. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Ellener Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 2 hours ago, gaius said: Did you post this in this section because he was a black homeless guy? No. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Haydn Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I would have bought him a meal and a few quid to spend on whatever he wants. If i am ripped off, so be it. Most often than not, i am not. And if i was homeless in the depths of Winter, i would rather be off my face. May i be so bold to inject some levity? Bloke is begging in a posh part of London, Well dressed bloke walks by... `Hey mate, Got 10 quid for a bed at a hostel for the night?` `Certainly not!` `Got 5 quid for a meal?` `Certainly not!` `Got a few quid for a few beers?` `Certainly not!` Homeless man looks thoughtful.... `You better take my coat, you are worse of than me!` 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Libby1 Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 6 hours ago, Ellener said: did not want to draw attention to him in the store. I looked for him outside but he'd gone. I think I'd have felt been the same. I mean maybe there would have been an opportunity to quietly say to him "hey, I'll buy your groceries for you" or slip him a £20 - but not necessarily. While we all like to think we'd help, sometimes the logistics are more complicated than we might think. A staff member might have seen the two of you talking, thought he was bothering you and then come over and caught him in the act...and then you'd potentially be involved as a witness 1 Link to post Share on other sites
regine_phalange Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 (edited) I would not know how to react to be honest. I think it's sad if people have to steal food, but he could have asked. There's no shame in asking for food if you are hungy, and I think most people would help out. Edited June 29, 2020 by regine_phalange 1 Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 everyone has to eat 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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