Flibbertigibbet

Shocking New York Thing #1

So, I love New York, but this is really taking some adjustment for me. The first thing that really, actually SHOCKED me about New York is this:

People actually give money to beggars.

I'm not kidding. I was on a train a while back and this woman came into our car with a sign saying how her husband left her and she has no job and all that. Then, she made herself cry and then proceeded to deliver a monologue of her woes and asked everyone for money.

About a half a dozen people in the car stood up and gave her DOLLARS. Not change, but dollars. I'm not even kidding, she made almost $10 on my car alone.

Then, last week, I was in San Francisco with some New Yorkers and this obnoxious woman in a wheel chair came onto our train in the airport and asked for money and BOTH of them gave her some dollars. She made $4.50 off of our car.

I can't believe this.

I regard beggars with open disdain. It's not that I'm uncharitable, it's just that I hate beggars. I don't mind the people who play songs or rap for me as much, but I don't give them money either.

Although, I was in the village earlier today and I heard a group of people singing "Why do I fall in love" and they sounded really great and I was tempted to go find them and give them a dollar. I didn't of course, but I thought about it.

But why in the name of all that is good in this holy land of mine are people giving money to beggars? This kills me.