Would you touch a beggar?

I, myself, would just not bother. I like giving away money to the needy and the poor. I don't mind if I just have to touch their hand.

I would not intentionally touch the beggar, I would not intentionally avoid touching the person either. If I do touch her/his hands, then I would probably just wash my hands with soap or rub some alcohol in my hands. It's not about being disgusted with the person, beggars are still human beings. It's just a fact that their hands are dirty and naturally, if you knowingly touch something dirty, you wash your hands.

It is human to take the hand of the person and express your sympathy towards him, but I have never done that. I have a feeling in mind that beggards don't keep themselves clean and there is a good possibility to get skin diseases by touching him. So, I never take the risk.

I'm generally against the habit of giving beggars arms. But this has happened to me many a times and I generally Squirm, but think its ok. "He is also human." But at times when the beggar is tooooo dirty i do feel completely repulsed and think "Oh god, dunno if he has taken shower."

Have you by any chance met beggars who touch you deliberately to make you feel uncomfortable? I have.

Nice point for discussion.
Usually i feel sympathy for any old aged beggar
I feel sorry for all thr troubles he/she goes through.
Even If I give them alms I would not touch them.
Not because of disgust but for reason that they are not
clean. But i give out something with sympathy
Happy mylotting

I'd love to pretend to be noble and say - what's the big deal, s/he is only human. But the fact of the matter is that i would, in all honesty, squirm, and wish it hadn't happened. I would reach for some wet wipes as quickly as possible and try and think of something positive to forget what just happened.

It makes me wonder, though.... what the beggar might be thinking.... of me...and the fact that s/he had to touch my hand!
Am I disgusting as far as the beggar is concerned? When the beggar looks at me, I wonder how s/he sees me. Some weird creature with wires sticking out of my ears and a huge tote bag that looks too heavy for me and a cup of coffee that is threatening to spill over?

Who knows!