Today I went to Whole Foods

[conuly]

Because I urgently wanted some dye-free Maraschino cherries, and I don't know where else to get them.

Outside the store was a guy with his calico on a leash. So I knelt to pet the kitten, and then it occurred to me - was this guy homeless? Probably. I mean, there aren't many reasons to sit on the sidewalk with a kitten in the city. But he had no sign, and he hadn't said anything, which left me in the awkward position of having to *ask*. I mean, you can't pet a panhandler's cat and not give him any money, right? And I get that giving to panhandlers is not an efficient form of charity, and that charity is no substitute for a real social safety net, but... you can't pet a homeless guy's cat and not give them money if they need it.

I'm still not sure if outright asking was the appropriate etiquette, though. (But I'm pretty sure it would have been a greater faux pas to not ask. I mean, once you actually interact with somebody and their pet, you have to help them out if needed, right? Oh, I'm definitely overthinking this one.)

(Edit: And for the record, he said yes he did need help, so I gave him some cash. Not much, but I didn't have much, and the social contract surely doesn't require a large fee for petting somebody's kitten.)

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Comments

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

So? Did you ask, and what did he say? Was he homeless? Was he panhandling, or just sitting quietly? Don't leave us dangling here; finish the story.

Actually, giving money directly (http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/12/can-4-economists-build-the-most-economically-efficient-charity-ever/266510/) is the most efficient form of charity: no middle-men, no administrative costs; 100% of funds go straight to the needy.

[conuly]

Oh, I thought I did say! I asked, he said yes, I gave him a couple of dollars. Which is what I had, I could hardly give him money that wasn't in my pocket.

[conuly]

Upon re-read I clearly didn't say, but I could've sworn I typed it in. Weird.

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

You probably did type it in, and then inadvertently edited it out again. That happens to me sometimes too.

Glad you had something to give the guy. When I go to Seattle, I try to remember to bring some cash for the buskers, because ordinarily I do everything by plastic these days, and thus don't have 'spare change'.

[conuly]

Well, he was right in front of a supermarket, and conveniently located near the farmer's market and several fast food joints. He wasn't going anywhere, so if worse came to worse I could've easily popped in somewhere and bought him something. Like any other business, success in panhandling boils down to location, location, location.

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

He probably could use a bag of cat food.