Furthermore, it’s people operating withing a system that has failed them.

Hypothetically, where everyone is equal and starting on equal foot, giving everyone morem oney likely would benefit most.

But we don’t live in hypothetical land. Those resorting to begging are primarily in a bad state and we’ll down the path of mental instability, chronic homelessness, addiction, physical disabilities, or escaping abuse. They don’t have the education or mental capacity to make the right choices financially and don’t have safety nets to get them on their feet.

I don’t agree with it for two specific reasons, non is a judgement of character or moral failings:

1. If you are willing to give a beggar any amount, those dollars would be far more useful in the hands of a good organization whose aim is helping people. Want to feed them? Give them food or donate to the food back. Want to clothe them? Give to a shelter.
2. The reality is that these people are likely not capable adults due to a variety of reasons (no judgement). They are not capable making good decisions for their own well-being and giving them money is fueling an unhealthy choice, like short term happiness for long term pain and potentially death.

My belief is that we should mitigate suffering, help them live good lives, and set them up to be contributing members of society, and that isn’t accomplished by randomly giving people money.

“but at least we’re not as bad as the US” is Canada’s unofficial motto.

I replied to @SpaceFox@lemmy.ml, and you can find my reply here.

Here’s the things that actually helped me:

• Teachers/authority figures making me feel heard and valued. (From ECS to Highschool graduation, I had maybe 4 teachers who really went out of their way to help)
• Fellow students who stood up/spoke up for me (I had a group of boys corner me in the washroom and start berating me and until I broke down and started crying. A boy, who I didn’t even know his name, but was accqainted with came in and stood up to the group. I will never forget what he did.)
• Friends
• people going out of their way to make me feel welcome (when it happened I didn’t know why they were being so nice to me.)

Things I think would have helped:

• Knowing that it’s okay to need help
• someone telling me the things happening are not acceptable or normal

No idea what I was a part of, but it is special Ed adjacent.

I was forced into a program in Jr. High because I had behavior issues (of course nothing was done to the bullies and attackers, just the person retaliating). It was like a 3 week program where they analyzed you (poorly because I knew all their testing methods and was not cooperating), stuffed you in a corner, and told you do homework for the day and then an hour for phys-ed. I stopped doing the homework after a while and just started playing my GBA.

It was humiliating, but I will say, the kids removed from the their situations were actually really great people despite being labeled as trouble makers or problems.

Anyways, I changed schools, and then changed schools, then got expelled and changed schools again, and eventually I graduated highschool. I then attended university and completed two programs.

Now, over 20 years later, I am actively unpacking and working on these issues from school because I fell through the cracks and was actively punished for being a victim.

The other advice is solid, and I agree with it all as of this posting. I did want to focus on the money thing.

I think you should accept the money. Some people, particularly older generations, view money as sign of respect, and turning down is against their understanding of social protocol.

You could even use it to get her a nice gift (flowers, cards, gift basket, etc).