Scam Artist? Final

Who are those people that beg for money in the median at the stoplight or outside of the coffee shop downtown? It is difficult to tell whether they are actually in need or just scam artists, pretending to be homeless as they earn their living making people feel sorry for them. Hard working citizens approach these people in different ways, usually based on past experiences, stereotypes or need for personal fulfillment. Some people give the underprivileged money and feel that they have done a good deed, others ignore the “beggars” every time without a second thought, and the remaining individuals are puzzled with what to make of the situation, much like Deborah Hefferon, author of the article, "A scam artist or person in need?"

When some people see a dingy, haggard, and presumably helpless person on the side of the highway holding a sign, they stop and give them their loose change sitting in their cup holders, believing that they are supplying the homeless individuals with funds that will be spent on necessary items such as food, water and shelter. In return, these giving people feel that they have done something inherently good and that they are making an effort to help out those less fortunate. It is important to have people like this in the world because if we didn’t, then charities and non-profit organizations that are established to help those in need would struggle to provide funds that aid in helping people.

However, others believe that the people begging at busy intersections and downtown areas are con artists. The reason for this skepticism is that some people believe that if they give a begging person the money they want, they will just turn around and spend it on booze, drugs, or cigarettes—none of which are necessary to survive. This in turn, would only add to crime and problems that take place on our nations streets, especially if the homeless are under the influence of drugs and alcohol. These skeptics who choose not to donate to the homeless, struggle to find justification in doing so because they are not guaranteed any certainty in where their hard earned dollar will end up. People with this point of view also don't want to fuel the homeless person's bad habit.

The remaining group of people in this scenario are confused. They want to help those that are less fortunate and actually do need help; however, it is the uncertainty that rests in the back of their mind that drives their decision to second guess sparing that loose change sitting in their ashtrays and cup holders. These people would have no hesitation in giving a homeless person their spare change if they were truly certain the person was homeless and was going to buy a necessary item with that money. Confused citizens find that something about these people is hard to trust. Whether it is because they don't know the homeless person or whether it is because the homeless individual doesn't have much to lose by scamming the charitable person. The confused citizens frequently ask them self, “What are they REALLY going to do with the money I give them?” “What if they turn around and buy drugs or alcohol with this money?”

This group of indecisive people who react on instinct happens to be the group that I belong to. I feel terrible about it, because I too want to do good things and help people who are less fortunate than me, but sometimes, I think that the folks sitting on the same street corners and busy intersections are pretending to be homeless because they know that people will give them money. I know there are shelters and organizations that can help the homeless get back on their feet. It is the lack of motivation and personal empowerment that sometimes plagues my mind with indecisiveness when it comes to donating my hard earned dime. Their are plenty of opportunities for these people but sometimes they just need someone to point them in the right direction.