Don’t Feed the Birds… Or the Homeless

by Gee Why on June 3, 2010

This is a sensitive one dear readers and I’d like your opinion. While at Costco, the epitome of abundance, there was an assumed homeless dude wandering around outside by the food court area. He’s a young guy, not harassing anyone. This little old lady says to him:

“Young man, would you be offended if I offered you this hot dot?”

He willingly accepted the offer, but then employees suggested she not offer food to the guy. The lady complained that she bought the hot dog and can do anything she wants with it.

I know the lady meant well but on the other hand, I can understand the view of the business not wanting to attract the “wrong element” to their location for potential run ins with customers. So what’s the right decision?

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http://faleafine.com NEENZ

It's tough. It's one of those situations where both people are right, however if this young boy were wandering around this kind-hearted woman's home, would it be OK for me to drop off a pizza? Probably not.

Still, I don't have any solutions to offer, just my own burdened heart. I would have given the hot dog too.

http://intensedebate.com/people/geewhy geewhy

Yeah, at first, I thought no big deal. But for the employees there all the time, I wouldn't want to deal with a potential problem.

dktr_sus

If we ignore them they will just disappear?

Move them on so we don't have to see their need?

If COSCO has this policy of not alloying food to be given to the hungry on site, then they should publicly post EXACTLY a poster of how much they are donating to the homeless (updated every day). AND they should offer to take customer donations on site. Only then would I have any respect for a rule that is designed to discourage the "wrong element".

http://intensedebate.com/people/geewhy geewhy

Thanks for the input. Just keep in mind that I don't know what Costco's official policy is about this. I merely witnessed this event and "wrong element" is my euphemism.

Is it Costco's sole responsibility of donating to the homeless? Again, different sides to this situation.

Dktr_sus

"different sides" = fair and balanced?

Decent humans don't question their responsibility to other humans,
tom

You really need to tune the “similar posts” bit… “feed the homeless” and “shine the turd” are related?

Our Costco (was there this afternoon!) is set back from the road and clearly on its own lot. The food court is also inside, so it’s pretty hard for someone without business at Costco to be there. Based on your photos, yours seems to be on the public sidewalk, so it might be harder to distinguish between customers and passers-by.

All that considered, I’m partial to letting Costco enforce a members-only approach. If it’s bad policy, their business might suffer. I have a hard time saying that they should allow loitering just because the “right” people are loitering.

I have no clue what dktr_sus is saying; Costco has no legal obligation to the homeless. Maybe they have a moral one; that’s between them and their customers. They could post a “we got a water truck just to make puddles that we can splash on the homeless” sign for all I care. Maybe dktr_sus won’t like it, and she can go shop at 7-11.

http://intensedebate.com/people/geewhy geewhy

thanks for your input. About the similar posts, not sure what methodology is used to pick similar posts (it's an automatic process, not done manually). At this Costco, the food court is outside so anyone can purchase food, not just members.
Yuri Thrall-Miatus

Maybe we can feed the turd to the homeless or put the homeless to work by shining the turd.

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Leah Beah Minora

If we ignore the homeless they won't disappear but if we exterminate them they will. I'm not opposed to busing them over to the ghetto either. Whatever it takes so that I don't have to clean up after them when they piss all over my store front or harass my customers for money. If this young homeless man wants some money perhaps he should find some work. I hear ACORN is hiring. Perhaps he can be a census worker. I don't care but I am tired of handouts to those who feel entitled. While feeding the hobo may fulfill dktr sus' misguided need to pat herself on the back for being a "decent human being", a Polish dog doesn't solve the bum's homelessness (nor his likely drug and alcohol addiction). If you give him a job on the other hand, you may be on the right track. As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for one day, teach a man to fish and when he becomes a successful fisherman you can tax him at a rate of 55% and and then be able to give more handouts to other bums, junkies and teenage moms".

http://intensedebate.com/people/geewhy geewhy

Do you have a twin?

Leah Beah Minora

Not twin but I have a cousin who is a bit heavier set and a little more hirsute. Funny thing is we share similar first and Middle names. She is Leah Bea Majora.