Getting Free Shit...All...The...Time...

[Anagor]

Also ... what I wanna add ...

It happened sometimes that I was sitting at my pitch late in the evening, playing my harmonica. Had eaten, not hungry. And people walked by and offered me the rest of their (now cold) pizza they were about to take home for later.

I could have said "no, thank you, I'm not hungry at the moment" and they would have taken it home.

But I always accepted, too a bite and said "thank you very much, have a good night!" ... even when I put it aside as they were out of sight and gave it to someone else later. (Or dumped it on rare occasions when the food was really not nice and nobody in need around anyway.)

Why?

I think accepting donations, busking or even plain begging can be a win/win situation. The donator has the good feeling he/she did a good deed and the receiver ... well ... gets the money/stuff ...

Not accepting stuff (especially food) can make the donator feel embarrassed (as said, mostly when someone is not obviously asking for something) or sad or even disgusted.

Like "oh, this guy only wants money ... most probably for drugs!!!!" ... and then perhaps next time they have some leftover food and someone else (being really hungry) is sitting there, they would not even offer.

In my opinion when you're on the streets, you are in one way on your own, can do what you want. But in some way you are also a "representative" of homeless people/travelers/nomads whatever you may call it. And everything bad you do can fall back on other people.

This is why I totally dislike unfriendly beggars, aggressive beggars, people sleeping in doorways leaving all their trash behind, people being totally wasted from drugs in public on a high street, etc.

So that's why I accept those offers and eat in front of the people who gave it to me, even while totally full. So that the next time they will hopefully do it again and offer to someone who really needs it.

 

[Anagor]

Like size 12 shoes... I'm never going to wear them, but if they're in good shape, I'll drop them where someone needing shoes is likely to find them. Then I don't have to feel like a jackass because someone gave me "useless" shoes...

Once someone offered me some shoes in winter cause my shoes were obviously totally fucked. I accepted, even while I realized they would be too small for me. He went away, I put the shoes in my backpack and carried them with me until I went to a food run (were they also give out clothes) and donated those shoes there.

Another time, same situation. Someone just coming out of a church offered to buy some shoes for me from a charity shop nearby. He was with his little daughter and she seemed so excited that her Dad would help me, I could not turn down the offer.

Would have been a bit weired to reply "no, thanks, I'm totally fine" wearing shoes I had problems walking in, falling off my feet basically.

So we went to the next charity shop and this guy bought me the only shoes they had in my size: totally ugly boots. I put them on, thanked him very much. He was happy, his daughter was happy ... I was ... hmmm ... those boots were soo uncomfortable, gave me blisters within half an hour walking (and were ugly) I changed back into my falling apart shoes later and left the boots somewhere I knew people would find them. (No space in my backpack for those.)

Seriously, if this guy would have been alone, most likely I would have declined, but I looked in the eyes of his little daughter and I just couldn't say "no".

 

[Ezra Fyre]

Once someone offered me some shoes in winter cause my shoes were obviously totally fucked. I accepted, even while I realized they would be too small for me. He went away, I put the shoes in my backpack and carried them with me until I went to a food run (were they also give out clothes) and donated those shoes there.

Another time, same situation. Someone just coming out of a church offered to buy some shoes for me from a charity shop nearby. He was with his little daughter and she seemed so excited that her Dad would help me, I could not turn down the offer.

Would have been a bit weired to reply "no, thanks, I'm totally fine" wearing shoes I had problems walking in, falling off my feet basically.

So we went to the next charity shop and this guy bought me the only shoes they had in my size: totally ugly boots. I put them on, thanked him very much. He was happy, his daughter was happy ... I was ... hmmm ... those boots were soo uncomfortable, gave me blisters within half an hour walking (and were ugly) I changed back into my falling apart shoes later and left the boots somewhere I knew people would find them. (No space in my backpack for those.)

Seriously, if this guy would have been alone, most likely I would have declined, but I looked in the eyes of his little daughter and I just couldn't say "no".

I go basically everywhere barefoot... I could run a shoe store if I said Yes to every pair of shoes people offer me... Ladies driving about cause accidents to pull their own flip flops off and offer them to me...

Shoes, Cats, and Clothes... 3 things i basically don't need more of... But man, people sure seem to think i do.

& Most the traveler kids i know, don't need clothes either... Except the kind avg Joe isn't trying to give away... Bras & Undies... Socks, eh, 50/50. Those are more of a ran out too soon. Lol

 

[Anagor]

I go basically everywhere barefoot...

That's cool!

I'm barefoot (or on socks) most of the time recently. Not yet a 100% barefooter but anyway, I like it.

I could run a shoe store if I said Yes to every pair of shoes people offer me... Ladies driving about cause accidents to pull their own flip flops off and offer them to me...

Haha. Yeah, can understand.

I'm quite picky about my shoes. If someone would offer me a brand new pair of Doc Martens, I would take them ... and donate them later. Don't get me wrong, I like the look of Doc Martens, I just can't wear them. Too heavy and stiff.

I like canvas shoes like Chucks or Vans. Once a friend of mine and me went to a place (organized by nuns) where you could get canned food, ingredients for cooking, vegetables and so on for free and also clothes. I got some shoes and my friend asked me why the fuck I took the only shoes that were super worn out ... she couldn't understand that. But for me the only choice ... they were Chucks.

Shoes, Cats, and Clothes... 3 things i basically don't need more of... But man, people sure seem to think i do.

Haha ... well, nobody offered cats to me yet, but yeah. I gave away lots of clothes people gave to me (especially in winter). I like my clothes to be more or less ragged.

& Most the traveler kids i know, don't need clothes either... Except the kind avg Joe isn't trying to give away... Bras & Undies... Socks, eh, 50/50. Those are more of a ran out too soon. Lol

So true. Those were the only clothes I was always really grateful for. Socks and undies. I don't mind wearing a shirt, jacket or jeans for a month or more without washing, but underwear and socks you should change on a regular basis. And since I rarely had the opportunity to wash something ... yep, was always really grateful for those.