Did I do the right thing? Or was it a cruel act?

Ireland
March 16, 2007 2:48pm CST
Okay I heard the door bell ringing so i opened it. Outside i saw a lady who was clean but looked really upset. She told me she didn't speak very good english but she needed some help. Then she gave me a piece of paper i took it thinking it was directions. It said: Please give me some money. I need to feed and educate my two children. I didn't see any children so i just stared at her for a few seconds the i said: Ah there is a church over there and today at the serman they said to help foringners (which it did). But the reason i did thins was not just because i saw how upset the woman was it was because i don't like the priest (he is a bitter old man who dosn't like anyone) Was this cruel?
2 people like this
5 responses
@nairdaleo (104)
• Mexico
16 Mar 07
So... I didn't get it, did you help her? Well anyway, I always think there's a limit in when "helping" becomes being someone's ATM. I don't really like people that just go around extending a hand and saying "give me money" wherever they're from, but if they're down on their luck, it doesn't hurt me to give them a small share. "There's no man so rich he cannot need, nor so poor that cannot give"
• Ireland
16 Mar 07
I didn't give her any cash. But i told her to go to the church instead. I achally couldn't off given her any money anyway becuase i have to really scrape to pay the heating bills.
1 person likes this
• Ireland
16 Mar 07
I didn't give her any cash. But i told her to go to the church instead. I achally couldn't off given her any money anyway becuase i have to really scrape to pay the heating bills.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Mar 07
The best way was not to give her any money, but direct her to someplace where she could get help. Many of these people assume that all Westerners are rich and they think that because they are foreigners and have a strange accent, they will get handouts. (I would expect this in Canada where it is multicultarism all the way) As you said, you saw no children. And the priest could have perhaps offered her a job like house cleaning or house keeping so she could make money to educate her children if she had any, herself.
@seamonkey (1976)
• Ireland
17 Mar 07
I think if people are going to take the extra step of actually ringing your doorbell to ask you for money, you are entitled to react however the mood strikes you. It was cruel to send her to the priest just because you don't like him, but since he had just been talking about helping internationals, it made sense. Why did she come to your door, anyway? Was she ringing all the bells? It sounds a little like an organized scam ring, especially with the print out.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Mar 07
I don't think it was cruel of you to not help her. I know I wouldn't have given her cash...maybe I would have stuffed a paper bag full of food instead.
@miejanne (222)
• Finland
27 Mar 07
I never give money to beggars. I bet that, if I would give them money, they would just use it to something else than they asked for. If you say them: 'No, I don't give you any money, but I can go shop with you and buy some food for you, ok?', you think they would be happy? I bet not, and probably they would say that actually they need the money for medication or something like that.