Homeless or Shameless?

Call me cold-hearted, but there is something that just irritates me about people who ask for money on highway off-ramps...especially when they clearly look like they are going to spend it on alcohol or drugs or both. Take yesterday evening, for example...

I was driving home from work, listening to the radio on the updates from Wisconsin :) when I came to the exit for Maple Grove. As I pulled up to the stop light to turn left towards the apartment I noticed there was a guy with a sign that read "Need Food." Of course, the sign was scribbled in all caps as though a 5-year old wrote it...actually I apologize for that, I shouldn't have insulted all the 5-year olds out there. Anywhoo...as I pulled up to the stoplight and to the begging hobo, I couldn't help feeling annoyed...for several reasons.

First of all this guy was probably not much older than I am - maybe middle to late 20's. I understand these are tough economic times, but someone at this age should not have to resort to begging for money on the street - you are young and the amount of opportunities in life are endless for you.

Secondly, this guy was dressed like he didn't have money problems at all. He had a nice, warm winter jacket on (I understand he could have gotten this donated or something), but he was also sporting a very nice pair of Nike's and some nice looking sunglasses...the big bug-eye ones like you would see on a metro kind of guy. My point is that he didn't look like he was homeless or that he needed money...at all.

Finally, and this was the kicker. As I pulled closer and closer to where he was standing I noticed something in his hand...yup a smartphone. Not just any smartphone, but an iphone. How on God's green earth could someone be that bold as to ask for money when they can afford to purchase an iphone and that data plan? Hmm?!?

The worst part of all this is that I saw some schmuck actually give this guy some money!!! Honestly....did this guy ACTUALLY think that he was going to buy food with this money? lol, some people are so naive...they give their fellow man a little too much credit sometimes.