mreh

[sorrento12]

So tonight after visiting Joanne, I ran into some guy on the street that was asking me for money for some food. Normally I would say I didn't have any money. But then I was feeling a little generous since UT Dallas is supposedly offering me a scholarship to go there. So I agree to go to Store24 with him to get some food for him and "his family," the likes of which I will never know. So along the way, we talk and he says he's a Vietnam vet and how he's going to school and working (and panhandling!). I took that all with a grain of salt, but I figured that I should help those that I can. So we make it to the Store24 and he goes and takes a bunch of stuff: 2 12-packs of soda, a package of chicken, and some frozen fish fillets. Total: ~22 dollars. I pay for it and I'm like whatever. Glad to help you out buddy. But then along tags this other homeless lady and they're chatting it up.

So I guess my moral dilemma is should I help people like this guy out? I mean, sure, he could be telling the truth, and either way I am helping someone out. But what if he was lying, and what if he was gonna trade the food for something vile? Is that now a result of my actions? Does my goodwill translate into something that is less pristine and moreso sullied? He said he was applying to the food stamp program and that he should get them next week. So I'm basically helping to hold him over until he gets the food stamps. But I dunno. Something tells me he was lying to me, but at least it was better than giving him money, with which he could go buy booze...

Any thoughts? Have a good night!