I'm sure some folks will say aww how sweet and kind of you, blah blah blah. Ever think that you might be getting played? Would a provider ever give you money?
If this lady was an ATF or regular, then I can sorta see your proposed act of generosity. But a stranger in this biz? I know the scammers will certainly love you.
-- Modified on 10/8/2013 8:36:30 AM
It is never wrong to help another human being. I have, in some instances, spent money for food or, in one case, an inhaler for a sick child (and that was a provider's child, and she offered to come over for services but I was not, at that time, able to meet with her, so I just told her to just regard it as a gift), to people I just meet on the internet. Yes, there are some scam artists, but more often there are genuinely people in need. I feel much better about helping individual people rather than donating to bureaucratic charities where most of the money goes to administrative expenses. I always try to do good and think about other people. That's how I can stand to live with myself. If someone takes advantage of that to rip me off, they are really only harming themselves by not being a good person. I never give, or spend, more than I can afford, and never would, but in the instance where I sent someone food (ordered Chinese delivered to their place) I cut down on certain luxuries for myself that week to pay for it. I say good for you. And obviously, as the woman you made the offer to did not take you up on it, she was hardly trying to scam or rip you off.
I did get "robbed" once by a provider who took money out of my wallet in my place while I was in the bathroom and left. I didn't get angry, call cops, etc. I figured she had her reasons and must have been desperate.
Life is too short to always assume the worst of people. 99% of people are very good. Help them if you can. Five years ago, when I had my stroke, I was lying in a hospital bed thinking I was going to be dead. That quickly puts EVERYTHING into perspective. What's $100 here or there, even if you're relative broke (as I was and am) when you can't take it with you anyway.
I anticipate that there is a person or two on here who will call me naive. I don't care. I'd rather be naive than cynical. That's my 2 cents for today.
I tend to agree with Maybe. You are all correct about what you all have said, but having a positive, helping attitude has many merits of it's own. I always tend to tip more to a provider more in need than one who is not. I have never been asked for anything by a provider, but I have done my share of good deeds, not to pat myself on the back. I always try to be positive and gentle with my providers, and find it a tad uncomfortable when they want it more rough. Being kind has it's own rewards, however, common sense needs to be looked at as well.
I will say this much. I totally agree with the fact that to hold back giving to someone in need will make you feel worse in the long run than failing to give out of fear you are being scammed. As long as it is an amount you can well afford what real difference would it make if you were scammed. You know you acted out of the goodness of your heart & were well aware that you could have been the victim of a scam. Is that not better than letting someone in true need go without whatever help you could have provided but failed to do so just in case you were being made a sucker. Which feeling is worse to live with ? If you area self confident person with moral principles the answer should be obvious. I applaud you for what you did.
