Buying McDonalds For A Hungry Person

[The Straight Story]

Buying McDonalds For A Hungry Person
updated: Aug 28, 2009, 9:02 AM

By Deb

I just had something disappointing happen to me at the McDonald's at LaCumbre.

As I walked into McDonald's there was a man was sitting on the ground outside who looked hungry. When I purchased my food items, I asked the clerk if I could purchase a meal for the man outside but as I was a little hesitant to hand it to him and asked the clerk if he or someone on staff could do it anonymously. The clerk was very touched and said of course.

When I picked up my food from "Omar" he handed me both bags and beverages. I quietly explained that I had purchased the additional meal for the person outside. Omar's eyes glazed over and he loudly began to berating me saying that he would not. I was so embarrassed for myself of course but mostly for the unwanted attention I drew to the man outside. I tried to interrupt Omar who was going on and on - finally I said never mind, picked up both meals and left. When I got outside I handed the meal to the man and walked to my vehicle.

As I was pulling out onto State Street I glanced back and saw Omar come outside. He walked over to the man and began berating him.

What is the matter with people now days. More and more people are losing their jobs and security. I just don't understand why do we so often chose nastiness instead of kindness. Anyone of us could be in that situation .... any of us!

I'm not sorry I bought the man food but I've learned next time not to say a word to restaurant staff and to just buy the food and hand it to the person quietly. My mistake! Lesson learned!!

http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1400&nid=21933

[maxpower]

1. This divisive culture in our country

is disgusting and just going to get worse I fear. Good on you for helping this man. Omar better fear Karma, it can be a bitch.


Peace
Max

[timeforpeace]

31. What was the point in writing this except to say "I'm a saint!". Fine, lesson learned, don't blab

next time. It's a shock to learn that food businesses don't like beggars hanging around? Anyway, random acts of kindness are ruined by self-promotion and become anything but random acts of kindness.

[blondeatlast]

38. What's the point in your response other than, once again, pissing on another's parade?

You are the DUltimate one-trick pony. :boring:

[closeupready]

54. I completely disagree - you have missed the entire point of the story.

n/t

[Quantess]

55. As always, I disagree with you.

It's amazing how consistently I can disagree with a particular DUer, no matter what the topic.

[adamuu]

67. The story makes no sense without the part about her buying the food.

It's key to the story.

I appreciated the story, myself.

[demwing]

98. Wow! You're an ass!

Take down your picture of John Lennon, you're an embarrassment

[Jim Sagle]

132. Here's what he should use instead:

[Th1onein]

113. You know, that's just bullshit.

I love to tell about the nice things that I do for people. There are reasons to do it. First of all, it's a model for someone else to follow. Second, it spreads the "light." And, third, it makes us happy that we did it and we want to share that happiness.

Don't put down the OP. Not everyone is you and has ulterior motives when they tell of a good deed.

[Ecumenist]

122. You ought to be ashamed of yourself...

that was NOT THE POINT AND YOU DAMN WELL KNOW IT.

[BOG PERSON]

142. My thoughts exactly. n/t

[LanternWaste]

153. They are also ruined by...

"Anyway, random acts of kindness are ruined by self-promotion and..."

They are also ruined by irrelevant criticisms and petulant denigrations.

I imagine that should either be the case, they could be easily contrasted against each other within the framework of our cultural mores-- one of them resulted in an absolute the good, while the other is mere chickenshit...

[musicblind]

162. Perhaps you are resentful because you don't have such kindness in your heart

... since we're jumping to conclusions at the moment ...

I agree with the person who implied Lennon would be ashamed at such a post aimed towards someone who tried to do something good in the world.

[pyoom]

183. Totally agree.

I don't know why the lady didn't just do it herself. She didn't need to say anything to anyone, and she must have known that beggars aren't usually welcome around businesses. She drew needless attention to the man outside.

[WillyT]

193. You're Are SO Full Of Shit

First, you do get to feel good about yourself if you do the right thing. The boy\girlscout who helps the little old lady across the street gets to feel a sense of pride for helping another person out.

It's the way civilization is supposed to work.

Second, I'm sure you'd regale us all with your personal history of self-sacrifice for others, if it weren't for your standard of not saying anything about it for fear of self-promotion.

Yeah... right...

:rofl:

[tsuki]

203. Wow. Are you sure that you didn't take a wrong turn on the internet? nt

[Bonobo]

214. Holy crap, what an asshole you are! Take off that Lennon avatar right fucking now! nt

[redwitch]

221. not a very peaceful response.

you might want to rethink your response.

[Dappleganger]

234. Wow

What a toxic attitude.

[Doctor_J]

60. Yep. Dollars to donuts Omar is a Limbecile

[Javaman]

2. Empathy is a learned trait.

sadly, most repukes and another slice of america missed that lesson.

people are needlessly cruel. The moron cashier sense of false entitlement makes him believe that he is better than someone else.

people like that, live miserable lives. I console myself that one day, that cashier will die. Maybe not today, nor tomorrow or years from now, but he will and his brand of ignorance will be gone in the form of one person.

I can only hope that that cashier finds himself in a similar position as the homeless man one day and then begins his education in humility and empathy.

on the other hand some people are just colossally stupid.

[omega minimo]

6. Empathy emerges from spirit. The experience of needing empathy can provide the lesson.

Don't we all?

[Enrique]

14. any empathy for Omar?

any imagination about reasons why Omar did what he did?

[Javaman]

26. I don't know how to empathize with an ignorant prick.

sorry, I missed that lesson.

[Enrique]

28. i see from your profile your hobby is "pissing people off"

therefore you go on ignore. Life's too short. :hi:

[Javaman]

30. oh sigh. jesus the world isn't about you, I was refering to omar.

but if that's the way you feel, knock yourself out.

man, some people will never ever get it. The only way they will is if they look beyond themselves.

good lord.

[Cha]

219. LOL! omar doesn't need empathy..

he needs a swift karmic lesson.

[rustydog]

70. My guess is Omar is a born-again Christian

You know, As you treat the least among you, you treat Me...

[northzax]

84. sure, I'll do it

and yes, I am prepared to be called an asshole for it. I routinely ask people to leave the establishment I work for. Yes, I feel guilty on occasion, but you know what? I have a business to run, and frankly, people don't spend as much money or come in nearly as often, when there are people asking them for money at the door. or on the patio. or for handouts. Sorry, but I am not running a shelter. the minute you do something to bother a customer, I am at risk of losing money, and you have to leave. if it's between you and someone who is going to be a paying customer, guess who wins?

sorry, but that's the way life is.

[asdjrocky]

198. Have you thought about trying to do something about it?

I mean, beyond just pushing the problem down the street.

[northzax]

235. What do you mean by 'do something about it'?

Do what? Personally I give a higher percentage of my personal income to charity than I put into my 401k. (10% vs 9%) And yes, I make not much more than minimum wage. What else can I do? I've been on the verge of homelessness myself, but for the kindness of friends, and if I lose this job, not I my will I be there, I won't be able to donate a dime. What else should I do?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

175. My theory about working class people who despise the poor:

It's a form of magical thinking.

Deep down they believe that if they hate the poor enough and brag enough about how nobody ever gave them anything, it will prevent them from falling into poverty and homelessness.

Deep down, they know that they're just a paycheck or two away from homelessness themselves.

It's akin to the phenomenon of teenagers who think that old people are "disgusting." Deep down, they know that they'll be like that some day, and it terrifies them.

[JitterbugPerfume]

199. these are words of true wisdom

Thanks Lydia

[Enrique]

218. boy those working class folks sure are simple

you can analyze them so easy from a little anecdote.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

232. It's not from a distance

It's years of listening to working class people talk, including the three years when I worked as a temp in environments such as a balloon factory, a hospital laundry, and a metal plating plant--and not in the office, either. On the shop floor.

The closer people were to the edge, the more they went on and on about "welfare cheats."

[Barack_America]

15. Um, if I were Omar, I'd be pissed too.

What, this person was too good to give the food to the guy his/herself, but Omar, being a lowly fast-food worker, was suitable to interact with the homeless?

I'd be freaking insulted by the request as well. I'd give the guy the food, for sure, but not without giving the "charitable benefactor" a piece of my mind.

Throwing money at the homeless means little, interacting with them and recognizing them as fellow human beings means much more.

[Javaman]

29. True, but what of people who give anonymous donations?

are they any less of a person because they don't want their name used?

I give food to the homeless and sometimes I would prefer them not to know it's me, why? because rather than them thinking that there is "one good person", I would rather them think that there is "good in the world". That anyone could be that nice person.

Get the idea?

[Lorien]

147. Oh please. Most women don't want to hand donations to homeless men

because some see it as an invitation. She was looking out for his well being and for her own. Nothing wrong with that.

[JitterbugPerfume]

200. I have handed food to homeless men

I never really thought of it in that way, but it is somethiong for me to think about !

[timeforpeace]

32. Never waste an opportunity for a partisan shot. I love it.

[tabasco]

52. Better than your bullshit

astroturfing.

[blondeatlast]

104. Glad to know someone else is aware of it.

:thumbsup:

[Ikonoklast]

186. This one is transparent.

It will go over the line one day.

They all do, sooner or later.

[Javaman]

236. Huh, last time I checked this was Democratic Underground.

not republican underground. Democrats don't always hold the cards in morality, but given the last few decades the repukes haven't won themselves any awards in the area's of empathy, morality or ethics. So peddle your faux indignation elsewhere. it really doesn't play well,

[Gwendolyn]

118. No, it isn't. Empathy is an instinct and even animals show signs of it.

Some people are empathetic, but only towards their own gender, race, tribe, creed. Others are more open. No one knows why someone will leap into a fire to save children while others don't. Also, we don't know why people who grow up in loving environments grow up to be complete assholes. It isn't learned. It's a trait some have built into their genes from time's beginnings, that, along with the traits other people exhibit, have given us the tools for survival.

Just look at this thread. More hate and venom than you can shake a big mac at, from people who propose to be kind-hearted dems. People who have no clue who they're hating, just that they're angry.

[omega minimo]

3. It can help IMHO

preserve the comfort of the Good Doer and the dignity of the person on the street, to approach and greet them, how're they doing, and ask if they would like something, or ask "May I give you.....?" Most times that's affirmative and sometimes people don't want what's offered. It's the recognition and courtesy that can make the exchange more human.

[Ocracoker16]

35. yes, why did this person not give it to the homeless man himself?

He should have approached the man himself. Whenever I speak to homeless people, I am sure that I ask how they are doing while making eye contact. Many of these people are pleased to be acknowledged. People walking down the street usually hustle by while fixing their eyes on the ground.

The homeless man in this situation is probably wondering why this model citizen had to involve the fast food joint. The model citizen should have just ordered the additional food and not said anything to Omar about where it was going. Homeless people are frequently harassed about loitering outside of establishments. It isn't really a great idea to tell staff people that a homeless person is outside.

[omega minimo]

36. The poster seemed hesitant, which is why I made the suggestion

of a way to make the direct connection.

You're right, the recognition is important. "Many of these people are pleased to be acknowledged" And meaningful to the "invisible" when "People walking down the street usually hustle by while fixing their eyes on the ground."

[liberal N proud]

4. Omar probably was told to kick the homeless off the lawn so to speak

They usually don't like homeless hanging around.

We were in Clearwater Beach a few weeks ago and the police had a homeless man in cuffs. As we walked by, I overheard the cop tell the man that when people come to Clearwater Beach on vacation they didn't want to see guys like him.

Its about their image.

[rustydog]

71. My job requires me to remove "unwanted" people from our facility

It can be done with dignity, respect and kindness.

[vadawg]

75. and sometimes that dosent work, or its the 100th time for the same person

some people react differently, in these situations a lot of times theres fault on both sides and as i said its a lose lose situation that usually means i have to get involved...

[rustydog]

79. You still treat them like a HUMAN BEING, what does it hurt?

[vadawg]

81. yup you treat them as a human being, but that dosent preclude using choice words

and telling them to get to feck as you would anyone else who was hanging around your property...

[rustydog]

86. I don't have to use abusive words to achieve my goal...

cheap shots at others expense is counter-productive.

[vadawg]

87. well obviously you havent been out in the real world long

sometimes a well placed get the feck of my lawn goes a long way, much further than a hug or telling someone you understand why they are having a dump on your lawn...

[rustydog]

91. Actually, real world 55 plus years

too many years in the security field dealing with people from all walks of life, rich, poor, famous, infamous. gangbangers who wanted to kill me and various and sundry others.
I do not treat others rudely, I know what my objective is and I get more and better results being respectful and polite, yet firm in my dialogue when I need to remove someone.

[vadawg]

94. okay if thats your belief and it works go ahead, not everybody is like you though

and when dealing with people sometimes a hearty feck off works wonders whether you like it or not...

[rustydog]

97. And gets you punched in the face, or stabbed..but hey! you showed him huh?

Rudeness is not the answer my friend, it is self-serving and potentially life-threatening. We are not all Chuck Norris or Glenn Becks!

[blondeatlast]

105. Fer God;s sake; if you are that cruel--just spell it the FUCK out!

Geez...

[musicblind]

163. Actually no it doesn't. You catch more flies with honey than vingear. Most of DU would agree

you philosophy is incorrect. Any "working" you see from it is likely your own ignorance of other methods that could be more effective.

[LanternWaste]

155. I've found out that civility and dignity

Having been out in the real world more than long enough, and having dealt with a wide and varied entity of people on all sides and from all sides, I've found out that civility and dignity achieve a goal with much great effectiveness, efficiency and fewer negative consequences than what simple boorishness and base, common behavior may provide.

On the other hand, I realize it's not quite as viscerally satisfying to many.

[musicblind]

164. His comments make it clear he has not LEARNED from the "real world"

no matter how long he may have lived here.

You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar... as the saying goes. You are absolutely correct in what you just said.

"I've found out that civility and dignity achieve a goal with much great effectiveness, efficiency and fewer negative consequences than what simple boorishness and base, common behavior may provide."

I love that line ^^^^ because it is so true.

[bobbolink]

126. May you someday walk in those shoes.

That is all.

[vadawg]

216. and if i was tresspassing on private property i would expect getting told to get to feck as well

i see no problem with a business telling a non paying client or trespasser to get the proverbial feck of my lawn, its their property and they are entitled to keep people of their property...

[bobbolink]

222. May you someday walk in those shoes.

[vadawg]

227. may you someday walk in the shoes of a business owner who keeps having people trespassed due to

their interference with his/her business, this goes both ways, not all businesses are the devil and not all homeless people are caped heroes, there are good and bad in both, but i guess you cant see that.

[bobbolink]

125. Damn! That says it all! I get prejudice on a regular basis, and it HURTS.

p. 30 In the research of Fisk and her colleagues, people were asked how different social groups are viewed by their society. When asked a series of questions about social warmth and the competency of different social and ethnic groups, the answers clustered around four emotional responses: pity, envy, pride, and disgust. For example, people routinely reach to the homeless with disgust. This is puzzling enough. You might have thought people would pity the homeless, empathize with their position, and feel sorry for them. Not at all. And in a functional MRI study, when study participants were presented with pictures of members from each social and ethnic group, the medial prefrontal cortex--the site that registers the potential for an object's social action--popped for all but one group: the homeless. The homeless maybe seen as human, but not fully so, not as social actors.14


The Empathy Gap by J.D. Trout 2009

[Dora]

5. I bought rib dinners for a homeless man I saw picking out of the dumpster.

He was emaciated and obviously not well. I went into the restaurant that my husband and I had just left, and I ordered two rib dinners to go (it was two for one night). As the manager/owner was ringing up my order, I told her that this was for the homeless man outside.

She went pale and began shaking. She was infuriated that I was going to feed this homeless person who was picking through her garbage. She began hollering at somebody to chase the man off. I told her to at least wait until I had a chance to give him his food so that he could take it somewhere else to eat in peace.

I will never forget the change in her demeanor - from perfectly pleasant to shaking with rage - as she realized I was buying food for the homeless man outside.

[thereismore]

7. Jesus Christ what's wrong with people. nt

[anneboleyn]

74. Wow. This attitude is scary. Why would she even mind that you had purchased a meal for him?

I can't understand some people. I really can't. It is so disheartening.

[rustydog]

85. My son and Daughter-in-law and I ate quite well at a restaurant

before going to a Seattle Seahawks game. we got left overs to go and as we neared Qwest Field, a couple of homeless guys were standing at a garbage can panhandling. My Daughter-in-law took the food out of my hands, walked up to the men and asked if they wanted left overs!

They were SO appreciative of her act of kindness.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

99. I once took a homeless guy into an italian restaraunt w/ me.

I was walking to dinner and ran across a guy. Told him I couldn't spare any cash (I don't carry cash on me) but invited him to eat with me and told him to get anything there he wanted. We talked and the experience was valuable. No one really said anything and I never really noticed any negativity. Although I was not really paying any attention to other peoples reactions at the time.

Good for you. A couple bucks for us means a whole lot more for other people. You can't put a price on hope or kindness.

[rustydog]

107. Thank you for that...I want to be that kind too

O8)

[bobbolink]

128. I've experienced that a lot. People being "nice" to me...then they find out I'm homeless, and they

become jerks.

It happens a lot.

USians are such pathetic critters.

I hope that waitress walks in those shoes at some point--it's the only way she will "Get it"

[vadawg]

213. people are jerks including homeless people too, im sure there are a lot of stories

of homeless people who seem cool, or treat you with respect then change and become jerks for whatever reason. Just because someone is homeless dosent mean they cant be a jackass..

[bobbolink]

223. May you someday walk in those shoes.

[vadawg]

226. lol is that your standard answer, you think that people who have been poor

and discriminated against have to agree with you, sorry, but unless you dont believe anyone has a right to tell someone to get off their property especially a business then you got to get off the wear those shoes kick.

[Barack_America]

8. WTF? Why was this person "hesitant" to give food to the guy his/herself?

Was the homeless person beneath receiving his/her contact? Too frightening? Too dirty?

Was the fast food worker suitably low enough to contact the homeless person?

And the lesson learned was to next time "hand it to the person quietly"? Presumably to minimize interaction?

WTF?

[Lorien]

148. I'm guessing that you are male

because if you were female you wouldn't ask the question.

[Barack_America]

158. Try again. nt

[HopeOverFear]

180. THANK YOU!!!! Why the hell couldn't she hand it to him herself?

[Bonobo]

215. Would you take food from a stranger!? It could be poisoned. Duh.

That's why he went through the employee.

[Enrique]

9. there's probably some history there

between Omar and the hungry person.

Maybe Omar has even helped that same person many times before, out of his own meager fast-food-worker pocket. Who knows?

I agree with the writer that she should have given the food herself. I see absolutely no reason to involve the restaurant workers, who in all likelihood are not allowed by their bosses to give food to people.

[vadawg]

16. yup, through experience with the homeless and interactions with businesses

i can say there is definetly a hate hate relationship going on sometimes, we have no idea what had already occurred between this business and the homeless guy beforehand. Businesses whether you like it or not dont want homeless people hanging around their doors or their trash as whether you like it or not the clientele dont want to have to fight there way around the homeless to use the business and the business dosent want the liability of someone going throug their trash. all in all its a no win situation all around..

[Gman2]

10. Why do you feel embarrassed? That is the problem with liberals

When a sociopath tries to shame you, why the fuck would you cower? Call for his manager, tell that he was rude. Make it a scene if you have to. He is wrong, not you. Letting the evil do as they will, makes us responsible for it.

[The Straight Story]

18. I would agree (nt)

[Enrique]

23. ah, yes, get the McD's worker fired

go into the restaurant, involve the workers unnecessarily in your act of kindness (tell me again why she couldn't just give the food herself?), then when the worker doesn't respond the way you like, call his boss and get him fired.

I guess as the customer you are entitled to use the worker in any way you choose, including as players in your charity acts.

What a very liberal attitude toward "the help".

[Scout]

27. Omar behaved badly

if he thought the request was out of line, he should have directed the customer to the manager, not berated her loudly in front of the other people. THAT's what he deserves to get fired for. if he was working the cash register, he was most likely not allowed to leave his station anyway and again should have asked the manager to take care of the customer's request or deny it.

i've worked in fast food, so don't try to get all high and mighty on how liberal i am or am not.

[nini]

159. uh... the worker was a rude asshole who was publicly berating a customer

fuck him - he doesn't deserve any special consideration and perhaps a taste of his own medicine may wake his sorry ass up.

Liberals do not have to take being humiliated by a blow hard shithead like him, not to mention the poor guy outside who also had to deal with him.

[Chulanowa]

25. No, Omar was not wrong...

Up until he went outside to start yelling at the man, that is.

I've worked fast food. First off, management is going to have a holy fucking fit if they see you passing food to a homeless guy. Odds are it will come out of your paycheck, and the "charitable customer" excuse won't cut it. Second, it's busy work most of the time - you don't get to just leave the register, waltz outside, and hand food over. Odds are, Omar's two paychecks away from being the guy sitting outside that McDonalds, himself. Asking him to put his pay, and even his job at risk, just so you can feel good about yourself is unacceptable.

However, when Omar takes time off to go outside and bark up the man, that's also unacceptable. If management doesn't want the homeless on the sidewalk, well let management handle it, my job is flipping burgers and delivering food, not screaming at the helpless.

In this situation, looks to me like everyone but the guy getting the happy meal was being a dick.

[Gman2]

34. I could give a flying FUCK what the management of a fast food rest thinks.

You have every right to ask anything you want of the cashier. He can say that he cant. If he yells, I might grab the fuck by the scruff of the neck. You risk much if you act like that to my face. If you threaten the guy outside, I might get right in your face. If you touch me, or him, I will stain the concrete. How dare you, fucking ghandi-poseur.

[vadawg]

37. internet tough guy or what, you have serious issues that go way beyond what omar has

im just glad that it wasnt you dealing with omar, he might of had to kick your butt.... im sure management wouldnt have like that one bit..

[Gman2]

41. No, I am a tough guy., I stand for the weak.

I have stared down crooked cops, judges. Crooked employers. Crooked landlords. I have saved many lives in my time. I have worked to better my community. I will not be cowered by the ill manored and sociopathic. We have freaks thinking they can scare us into complying with their threats. I am by NO means a internet toughguy. Seriously.

[vadawg]

43. okay links etc etc thanks

[Gman2]

44. If you were truly interested. I could give you references, documentation.

But I dont really think you are interested in anything but ridicule.

[vadawg]

46. i asked for the links didnt i, im sure as hell not going to beg

[Gman2]

49. Dude, very little of real life is linkeable. I have documentation, not links.

[Pangolin2]

58. A birth certificate?

Firstborn of Mr. and Mrs. Badass?

[vadawg]

61. lol you owe me a dry cleaned uniform, funny as feck

[musicblind]

166. You're being a bully. You can stop now.

If you are really interested to prove him false then he has offered documentation... take him up on that offer. He may be lying, may not, you don't know till you take him up on the offer and see. If he doesn't follow through... then you'll know. Unless you're just interested in mocking people...

I hate online tough guys as well, but there is nothing worse than the one who asks for links as a form of "quip"

[Pangolin2]

59. But can you leap tall buildings in a single bound?

BWAHAHAHA


:rofl:

[Gman2]

68. If you are crooked, and my security is threatened, if history is any indication

Absolutely. Most if not all here, are not crooked. I dont go swaggering. EVER. EVER. EVER. You would think me shy/polite, until you screweed up!

[Gman2]

69. If you are crooked, and my security is threatened, if history is any indication

Absolutely. Most if not all here, are not crooked. So, I dont go swaggering. EVER. EVER. EVER. You would think me shy, until you screweed up!

[Pangolin2]

130. Is screweed similar to seaweed?

:silly:

[Name removed]

177. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Chulanowa]

39. The irony of you threatening violence...

And then calling me a "Ghandi poseur" is pretty amusing.

By the by. It's "Gandhi." If you can't fucking spell, don't fucking type. I heard the little dude would lay down a Porbandar-style asswhuppin' to people who got it wrong back in the day. So you might want to keep that in mind.

[vadawg]

40. rofl, as much as i always disagree with you, well played

[Gman2]

42. Exactly. Letting yourself be stepped on, is not enlightenment.

[Gman2]

47. Also, I really do know how to spell it. Mistake. My screename in another

forum is Gandhi-zilla.

[WildEyedLiberal]

48. "You have every right to ask anything you want of a cashier"

What the fuck? Are you going to ask them to chew your food for you, too? Wipe your ass when you use the McDonald's toilet? Those people are there to do their JOB, not entertain self-important shits like you. But you're a real tough guy, threatening to kick the shit out of minimum wage fast food workers, so I guess I'd better watch myself :eyes:

[Gman2]

72. If I choose to, yes. If you choose to be rude, all bets are off.

You are going to make a law against asking shithole food stands questions? Allow them to ridicule customers?

[petronius]

76. "If you touch me, or him, I will stain the concrete."

Y'know, this really could be interpreted in two diametrically opposite ways... :rofl:

[Throd]

80. Is he a squid?

[petronius]

89. I take it back - looks like there's three ways! :-) (nt)

[Gman2]

102. Just a quite passive person. I garden, visit the zoo. Survive.

[Carni]

237. LMAO LMAO This is the funniest fight sub-thread...

that I have ever read on DU!

I don't know what to think of the whole situation written about in the original post--but I think in future, it might just be good to hand the homeless guy a few bucks so he can buy his own meal.

I don't believe that all homeless people will run off and buy booze, or drugs if you give them money -- I think it's sort of insulting to hand them food (like they are unfit and can't be trusted with cash.)

In any event I applaud the OP for TRYING to do something nice even if it turned into a debacle!

[vadawg]

83. rofl i totally missed that, well done, it makes more sense now

[Gman2]

93. I did actually pee, while I kicked the fuck outta a bully, in little league

It was traumatic, I ran a mile and a half, to the managers wifes house. I wanted to know why he wanted to hurt me. I didn't want to fight. Why did he make me? Yknow, I am not above fear. But, I have faced fear, and courage, that few of you would even contemplate. The fact, is that this generation, rhetorically speaking{three gens.}, is above showing anger, as the right, for many election cycles now, has made an angry liberal, the most heinous creature, known to man. Look what they did to Dean. Grow up, You are still being meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek, cuz THEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY imposed that upon you, as a liberal. You are to PROVE your farmore pansyass approach to everything in the universe, lest you be branded, an angry liberal. Man up now, and ammend your assumptions of proper liberal action, or, just bend over now.

[vadawg]

95. your my hero, seruslllly i actually worry about you..

[Gman2]

100. I do too. And I know who you are. I am serious. You are a good cop. And

I respect you, and all your ilk. Seriously. Seriously. You need not worry about me, other than what you dont know about me. I have heart failure. I am very vulnerable. And have been targetted by many forces. Including yours. I dont disrespect any human or animal form, ever. I respect even the position of cop. I just wish they did too.

[rustydog]

108. Incontinent! more than just a location on the planet!

:evilgrin:

[rustydog]

88. WHAAATTTTT? Chill pill dude really...

:eyes:

[Gman2]

96. I know, status quo, Republicans arent lying, threatening, spreading fear, and about

to act, cuz they think us fearful.

[JVS]

119. Way to show that peon behind the register his place

[Codeine]

160. Liberals treat the working class

with just as much contempt as the conservatives do, unfortunately. I live it every day.

[asdjrocky]

137. I can feed whoever I want to feed.

However I want to feed them. Being human gives me that right.

[Chulanowa]

171. Yep, you may.

Don't expect someone else to do it for you, though. I stand by what I said - If you ask someone else to give up their time and pay so you can feel charitable, you're being a dick. if you bitch at the person the charity is for, you're being a dick, too.

[asdjrocky]

202. Is that a picture of Gandhi?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

53. I thought the objective was to give the homeless guy food, not fuck up the McDonald's employees.

[Gman2]

101. What your intentions are, aint necessarilly, what the right thing to do is!

Situations evolve.

[Codeine]

161. Someday you'll evolve, tough guy. nt

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

228. Ass. n/t

[Pangolin2]

57. The poster was not the person in the story...it was copied from someone's blog.

And how do you know "Omar" wasn't the manager? Anyway the business establishment has the right to
evict panhandlers.

[rustydog]

117. Make a scene if you have to? 2 wrongs make a right?

Doesn't make sense.

[Turbineguy]

11. There, but for the grace of God...

[Iwillnevergiveup]

12. Here's a K/R, Straight

Your one kindness totally cancels out the McD's employees' abject cruelty and heartlessness. As long as there are people in the world like you, there is hope for all of us.

[Enrique]

17. Omar probably isn't cruel

he probably has even helped that person in the past. The person writing this was in and out and has no idea what is going on at that restaurant day-to-day.

[Creena]

13. I received a lecture from the police.

I live in a suburban area surrounded by two gated communities, where an occasional homeless individual will make their way down from the city. The temperature was in the 90s, so I bought the guy a frozen yogurt, two bottled waters, and a battery operated fan with a supply of batteries. As I handed him the bag, the police rolled up to shoo him away and told me if people start giving items to the homeless, they'll think the area is friendly to "their kind." Absolutely disgusting.

[bobbolink]

136. "their kind". Alien?

You see, I know firsthand what this experience does.

If I actuallyy survive this, I will never be the same person again.

I've lost a lot.....faith in the human race, for one thing.

And, that is an insight into the experience...not an invitation for criticism.

[formercia]

19. Another day in Paradise.

A few years ago when we were in Hawaii, we stopped at a McD's for a bite. I noticed a Hawaiian woman in her early 20's had bought her young daughter something to eat but wasn't eating herself. It seemed to me that it was because she couldn't afford to, so I gave the staff some money and told them to buy her a meal of her choice. They were locals and understood her situation. They were very pleased to help.

We saw a number of obviously very poor Hawaiians who couldn't afford to live in their own land because of the cost of living.

[muffin1]

92. I love that.

My hubby has a friend who is quite disabled, lives alone, and has very few friends. An Arby's location near hubby's friend feeds this person a meal every single day for free.

Thank God for the good people out there.

[dembotoz]

20. i guess fighting healthcare keeps the churchs so busy they don't have time

for the parable of the good samaritan any more.

[vadawg]

22. WTF has mcdonalds to do with the churches, you need to hit downtown anywhere USA

and see the churches feeding the homeless every night, cause im pretty sure the foodlines i see every day on patrol are run out of and by the local churches...

[theHandpuppet]

45. That's quite unfair

I'm as big a critic of religion as there is, but in my town the churches are the ONLY sources of food for the hungry and homeless. And I'll bet the same is true in small towns across the country.

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. Paid for 2 gallons of gas for a couple out of gas. As I paid the station cashier he kept saying

"I hope they aren't just stealing from you" or "I hope they really need it" or something crazy like that. It was my few bucks.. he should mind his own business.

[elleng]

24. Sounds like Omar's problem,

not that of most of us.

[zbdent]

33. "Omar" has a career in Politics

ahead of him ... he's got Republican written all over him ...

[yost69]

50. So you would rather omar lost his job

when the manager saw that he was handing food to the guy outside? Then there would be two people jobless with nothing to eat.

[Pangolin2]

63. If Omar had been named Steve or Deion the outrage would have been minimal

around here.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

114. You haven't been around here long, have you?

LOL.....

[Gwendolyn]

120. No, it would have been much worse.

There would have been a bunch of posts about "Christians Who Don't Love" etcetera.

I do wonder why it was a big deal to mention the name Omar in quotes by the OP. Perhaps that was supposed to be some code for explaining the behavior. Not working for me, and was going to respond to it, but thought, why raise that can 'o worms. By the time I got here, people were talking about practically killing the Mcjob worker.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

51. Rule #1 of this kind of charity is: Do not get other people involved in your charity.

Especially not people who are busy working. Just do it yourself.

[closeupready]

56. Agree. Also, I'd like to know (but didn't see in the article) what led her to believe

this guy was hungry. I live in a city, so if people are hungry, they try and stop you on the sidewalk and ask for help - very direct. Sounds like she lives somewhere like Los Angeles where you and your car are married and there is no 'walking down the sidewalk' so, I don't understand. What, do homeless people do this kind of thing in the suburbs? I honestly don't understand. I mean, if I saw a homeless person outside a McDonald's, it would be a fairly normal thing, here in New York. If he/she looked hungry, I'd give them a dollar or buy an extra cheeseburger, and just offer it to them on the way out.

[David Zephyr]

168. I'm old enough, lived long enough to echo your advice which is very sound.

Do it and keep it to yourself. It's enough that you know.

[asdjrocky]

62. Rich people.

That's what's wrong.

[Pangolin2]

64. I hate rich people too. That's why I buy lottery tickets.

:eyes:

[asdjrocky]

103. Never have, never will.

I'd just as soon burn my money. If I'm going to gamble, I'll play poker.

[Gwendolyn]

112. You're right. Rich people all work at fast food joints.

[asdjrocky]

121. Nope. That's not it at all.

Rich people are CEOs of major insurance companies, pharma, oil companies. They give lot's and lot's of money to rw lunatic repugs and lunatic rw causes and timid blue dogs and conservadems. They give this money to make more money, and then to get more influence. That money gums up the works of a civil society and that society becomes more and more cruel. We're taught that money is the measure of self worth and the Madison ave types sell that self worth in neat little packages to morons like the worker at McDonald's who's learned, from Madison ave to distrust the poor and disadvantaged. That pushes the disease of homelessness and helplessness away from the McDonalds person who doesn't even realize he just got a raise because of liberal policies. Division.

What I'm getting at, with little grace, is when one guy making minimum wage learns to beat up on the one person that has less, there's more to it than simple disregard. It's the very division the very rich and the very powerful seek to create. If the white people hate the black people who hate the poor people who hate the brown people who hate the homeless people then who is left to watch the rich and the powerful?

Perhaps I should have said, very rich people, because I don't mean the Doctor who has done well and has made a few million, or the woman that started a company that made her and her family very comfortable. Those people are used as tools in the game of smoke and mirrors just like the fella from McDonald's and the homeless man.

The rich, the ultra wealthy. It's their fault and I stand by that statement.

[Gwendolyn]

123. You obviously have no family that grew up in a tiny village, somewhere.

You don't know how cruel poor villagers can be to their own.

You have no clue what the words "gossip," "fishwife," and "schadenfreude" truly mean. Poor people are just as cruel, spiteful, and horrid to those just a smidgeon below them, as the rich are to those vastly beneath them. Go out into the world and behold our humanity.

Who do you think "Omar" is? Just some schmuck who hates those only one bar lower on the financial scale than he is.

[asdjrocky]

133. I have learned, and I do know

not to assume I know something about someone based on so little information. It's impolite and it only serves to make me look like a blowhard. I have "no clue?" This is your best response? You going to tell me where my family obviously did or did not grow up? You're really good at debating, bet you win a lot of arguments.

I really have no way to respond to your question other than to repeat myself about Omar, and I choose not to repeat myself for someone who assumes they all ready know so much. But I will ask you a question, and I hope with all sincerity you think about it and give me an honest answer.

Why are you picking a fight with someone to defend rich people?

[Gwendolyn]

139. I don't defend rich people, or anyone.

You have made HUGE, HUGE assumptions about this one OP.

It wasn't my intention at all to make you look like a blowhard, and what you say has merit. :) I have won some debating arguments in high school, but as I was taught, "argue ideas after facts." You have none of those. Just a bias. On a message board, those ideals don't matter so say what you like.

Please don't think a response to what you've written is a fight. It's a message board and the point is for the exchange of ideas. Poor people, just as much as rich people, can give at will. And as I have said, poor people are just as cruel as those who are rich. I'm surprised anyone would be offended by that but if you can give me an argument to say it isn't so, please do.

[asdjrocky]

140. Cute.

But cute doesn't win arguments either. Cute is still cute and it can be appreciated in its own right.

Here's the problem, I have a conviction, and you have an assumption. My conviction is this, I, or any other human, has the right to feed any other human however, and wherever I see fit. In fact, if that person is hungry it's more than my right, it's my duty. It is my conviction that all the poor and homeless people could be fed if the rich and powerful would do the right thing. So yes, I still see the top 1% as the problem.

Your assumption, back a long, long time ago when this whole thing started was that I thought all people who work in fast food are rich. Clearly someone here may be a blowhard, I'm not saying who. :smile: You'll notice by my statement in my original response to you, before we really started having fun, I answered your original assumption. Want me to read it to you?

I will give you the good pick up on my use of the word "fight". The cute stuff was not so good, but that, our good Witch Gwendolyn , was very very good.

We could do this all night.

[Gwendolyn]

144. Cute?

:) Should I be insulted as a woman that you have relegated me to cute?

Your first comment was that the reason Omar didn't or couldn't go outside to give a shitty burger to the poor person was because of the corp thingie.

My conviction is that people will do what is right when the impetus hits them, whether or not they are rich or poor. You have some sort of convoluted argument that poor people will always do what's right if only the corps weren't there. Is this what you would like to argue?

I don't have the heart for it, but sure I'll argue my point of view, if you stop trying to make me sound like a brainless twit trying to sound cute, and/or like a witch. How very patriarchal of a shitty assed argument is that? Amazingly, I don't really mind, but feel I should make a stand about that. :)

[asdjrocky]

149. I didn't say you were cute-

I said your response was cute. It had nothing to do with you being a woman, but I do think you winked first.

As for the witch comment, it was meant as honest humor, but thinking back I remember it was Glenda that was the witch and perhaps because of age, I've forgotten who Gwendolyn is at all. All apologies if I offended. Perhaps I was trying to be cute.

I still stand on my original premise, divisions are created by the moneyed interest in America, and that's why we get Omar behaving like Omar did.

I think your premises, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is that poor people are just as mean as rich people. I disagree.

[Gwendolyn]

150. I know you didn't say I was cute...

you dismissed me with the cuteness comment. :)

Yes, we'll have to disagree. I do believe that poor people are just as mean as rich people, and it's a crap shoot as to who will serve the community and who will be the next rapist/serial killer. Oh well. At least, we're on the same side of the political coin. Peace to thou.

[asdjrocky]

154. And peace to you.

It's been fun. And I'm not saying that in that crappy sarcastic way that some people say it.

[rustydog]

129. Very true, well said

If they can keep us divided, we don't look at them.
Hell, how much does the CEO of McDonalds make? How many burgers did he/she flip or fries did they make to earn the enormous salary?
How much does Omar make?

[asdjrocky]

134. Absolutely rustydog.

Just imagine what might happen if we were all on one side, just onec. That's what scares them.

[JI7]

145. i would say the person working at McDonalds most likely wasn't Rich

[asdjrocky]

172. Would you please read back a bit.

I don't have time to do this all over again.

[pipi_k]

65. I think next time you might want to speak to the store manager...

Ask if he, or one of his employees under his direction, could please hand the food to the homeless man with the statement that one of the patrons had paid for it...it wasn't being provided free by the restaurant.

Unlike a few others here, I can perfectly understand why you would want to be anonymous.

Sometimes the act of giving can cause the person who receives the gift to feel...I dunno...sort of creepy. I myself would rather get something anonymously just so I wouldn't have to face a person whom I felt pitied me that much. Many people enjoy handing over things themselves just so they can feel superior.


One of the most poignant examples of anonymous giving happened after my grandson was born. He spent a bit of time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a local hospital shortly after birth. When I saw him for the first time, he was wearing a little knitted cap that some anonymous person had made. It touched me deeply...someone cared enough to knit a lovely little cap and donate it anonymously to a baby they would never meet.

I started doing the same thing...making up little hats and sweaters and burial gowns for that same NICU, for babies I'll never know, and I hope that these items bring some comfort to the parents.

I don't need for those parents to know that the person who made those was ME! ME! ME!. I don't need to screech "YOOO HOOO...parents of premature babies...parents of babies who died...look over here...I MADE THOSE!!!!"

Please don't let the crappy comments get you down...your heart was in the right place, and I admire you for that...that some people can't look beyond the unfortunate circumstances involving Omar and see your kindness is their problem....

:)

[The Straight Story]

78. It wasn't me :) I just posted the news item (nt)

[pipi_k]

82. Oh....

duh.... :dunce:



well anyway, if you ever do get an urge to do it, talk to the manager first...

:7

[Gwendolyn]

111. With all due respect Pipi, that isn't the same thing at all.

Anonymous giving is probably one of the finest things a person can do. I believe the Jews have it as one of the really, really big mitzvas.

But the example you've given is where all the parties are connected within the giving, all want to be in that position and no one is forced to feel put out or is made to feel as though they "must" be a part of it because they, even for a split second while the transaction happens, work for you. Would you knock on your neighbor's door and say "could you drive this contribution down to the homeless shelter, yeah, thanks."?

Ordering a meal at a fast food joint, and then saying, "here you give it," to someone who has not volunteered or wants to be part of the giving, is both condescending and rather weird behavior.

[MilesColtrane]

66. I wonder what reason Omar gave for not delivering the food to the guy?

And, why Deb didn't include that in her story...

[MellowDem]

73. Buying McDonald's for a hungry person....

I wish there were better, healthier foods to feed the hungry. Indeed, cheap shit food is about all the poor can afford, and while it's so damn cheap that they can afford it, they poison themselves in the process and have no choice but to do so.

[vadawg]

77. lol if your hungry you dont care what you eat, never in my life when i feel my stomach walls

touching have i turned down some rabbit or a mcdonalds thinking mmmm what i really need is a nice healthy salad....

[MellowDem]

204. Exactly nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

109. Oh, brother.......

I wondered how long before the food police showed up and started bemoaning the fact the guy had to eat a hamburger. I guess he should have chosen Whole Foods to hang out in front of.

[MellowDem]

205. Uhh, I didn't berate the guy or anyone...

just the fact that he has no choice. I don't know why you're taking it that way...

[Posteritatis]

124. I'm pleasantly surprised it took 73 posts for this kind of inane response to show up (nt)

[MellowDem]

206. If you think it's inane...

then your response to it is rather inane, isn't it?

[Poll_Blind]

138. I think it's funny how the three people who consecutively pissed on your...

...response either didn't bother to actually read it or decided to twist your words far beyond all reasonable implication.

The level of discourse here is so fucking low no matter how succinct and sensible your point is- and your point was, someone or like 5 or ten someones are going to shit all over you for it.

DU is mostly patronized by upper-middle-class white people, very comfortable financially. Go Google the big survey they did here a few years ago, it sheds SO MUCH light on why there are responses like their to messages like yours. And by now, as you can also see, it's mostly turned into a big meta-game, not a forum about much resembling reality.

PB

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

197. You're making implications about the elitism of posters.....

....who obviously see nothing wrong with patronizing and eating at a fast food joint while someone you defend turns their nose up at it?

[MellowDem]

209. I'm glad someone understood my post!

I wasn't shitting on people who eat fast food or anything. I was just bemoaning the fact that the poor in this country don't even have a choice really to eat healthy.

[marketcrazy1]

90. WTF.

""I was a little hesitant to hand it to him"" this was probably the saddest statement in the story................

[Shagbark Hickory]

106. If the clerk was that mean I would have stuffed my happy meal where the sun dont shine. n/t

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

110. Once when I was in college...

...I was walking home with a bag of hamburgers from Burger King for me and some other people and this homeless dude stopped me and said he hadn't eaten in three days. I reached in and gave him a burger, and he slapped it away and said "I NEED MONEY, YOU ASSHOLE!". It really turned me off to the idea of direct charity, if you know what I mean.

I'm sure that's a one in a thousand story, but it was my experience.

[rustydog]

116. Your experience is akin to the people we see outside sports stadiums

asking for money for alcohol. I never give to them no matter how "honest" they are.

[Kaylee]

135. I've had my spare change thrown back at me in downtown DC.

I was a poor college student, he had his hand out, and I gave him what I had. I guess it wasn't enough. :shrug:

As a result of this and other incidents, I am very careful who I directly give to since many of the homeless in DC have mental issues (thanks to the reduction of funding for St. Elizabeth's Hospital under Republicans, many mentally ill patients were set free on the streets to fend for themselves). I tend to only give food or money to people that I recognize and "get-to-know" because they are always at a particular stop light on my way home or we cross paths on my way to work.

[undeterred]

141. A few months ago I was driving home from the food pantry

and I saw a couple by the side of the road with a cardboard sign asking for help. When I stopped I looked into my box of groceries and picked something consumable without cooking, and handed it out the window to the woman. She smiled. No words exchanged, the light changed, and I went on my way.

There but for the grace of God go I. I hope that if I'm homeless somebody will do a little something for me without judging me or my capability to spend money.

Just like I would hate to see an innocent person punished, I would hate to pass someone in need.

[JVS]

115. If you want to give someone a meal, you do it yourself. It is not the worker's job to deliver meals

If you don't feel like dealing with the man outside, what would make you think that the McDonald's worker wants to deal with him?

[Poll_Blind]

127. Ya, I don't get that part either. n/t

PB

[bobbolink]

131. I was wondering how long it would take DUers to get judgmental.

You can always find something to fault, can't you?

Peace.

[JI7]

143. well, it is a good question, why didn't he just give the meal to the homeless guy

why ask the people working inside to do it ?

[The Straight Story]

151. It was a she not a he

:)

[JI7]

152. so you think it was because she was afraid as a woman what

that man might to if she gave him the food ? or maybe get the wrong idea ?

i guess i can understand that. but i still have a problem with asking the workers to do it.

[The Straight Story]

156. Just pointing that out because a few thought it was me :) (nt)

[ecstatic]

167. If the homeless guy was "scary," then that just

bolsters Omar & the management's point about kicking him off the property. Not that it's right (I don't agree with what Omar did at all).

[Tangerine LaBamba]

165. Huh?

Your comment completely eludes me. Is there some kind of hidden meaning to it? Something requires a decoder ring, or something like that?

Judgmental? Asking why someone couldn't give a homeless man a bag of crappy food herself is judgmental?

Man, you must live in world that's about a razor blade's width................................

[bobbolink]

224. Thank you for proving my point.

I appreciate it.

[EFerrari]

170. DU authoritarians untie!

[JVS]

208. Pot, meet the kettle. Lambasting people for being insensitive to the homeless is your trademark

[bobbolink]

220. Of course. Being insensitive to homeless people is a VIRTUE.

[JVS]

225. Ah there you go. Back to old form. Instead of accusing someone of being judgemental you can do ...

it so much better yourself. :toast:

[bobbolink]

229. You're right... I'm remiss in reminding people to care for those they see as beneath them.

Mea culpa.

[Lorien]

146. Viciousness and selfishness is very trendy now

I keep hoping that the pendulum swings the other way.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

157. Somebody with a good heart

bought crap food for a homeless person.

Why not just give the guy some cash?

I don't understand this "I bought a homeless person some food" gig - if you want to feed someone needy, why not get them a decent meal, something nutritious? Do they really need junk food?

Are your control needs that strong?

It was, though, convenient for the nice lady, who obviously doesn't mind feeding herself crap. And it made her feel better about herself, which is always good.

But, there's a disconnect for me here.

Why did she let "Omar" talk to her in such a way? Why didn't she ask to talk to the manager about that kind of treatment by one of his employees?

Why couldn't she give the poor guy the crappy food on her own? What kind of nebbish is she that she needs someone to hand over a bag to another person?

This whole story is just idiotic, and, honestly, I mostly feel sorry for the homeless guy, who probably could have done better with a five dollar bill than to have to endure McDonald's and another fucking Happy Meal, or whatever she got him.

Give cash, let the people decide what they want to do with it, and quit eating crap and expecting the unlucky among us to eat it, too...................................

[Rocky Sullivan]

189. the irony!

I don't understand this "I bought a homeless person some food" gig - if you want to feed someone needy, why not get them a decent meal, something nutritious? Do they really need junk food?

Are your control needs that strong?

Control needs? You're berating someone for feeding a hungry man some food because in your view it's the wrong kind of food, from McDonald's. It's pretty obvious you've never been truly hungry a day in your life. As if the homeless guy would have purchased a goddamn summer salad if she just handed him the three bucks. Clueless.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

191. Uh-huh

Your ability to cut and copy - in ITALICS, no less! - is duly noted, as is your lack of critical thinking.

Now, quick, back under your rock..........................

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

195. Oh, so I guess your OP was sarcasm

Thank goodness, I thought you were serious. :scared:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

211. No, I was serious -

and since you can't distinguish between the two, I'll just leave you to your kibble....................

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

230. Oh, I see.....

I'm sure you load a group of poor unenlightened homeless souls you find on the sidewalk in front of the corporate junk food factories into your hybrid every week for a trip down to the vegan friendly food co-operative, and issue them crisp five dollar bills so they may choose the healthy stuff for themselves. Of course, some of the stuff there you yourself might not care for, and you'll be sure to "educate" them as to why your vastly superior intelligence has shown you why not to purchase and eat such things. Why they keep wandering away is a mystery to you.....one you caught coming out of the Jack In The Box across the way that one time, and a tear came to your eye.

But certainly, us plebeians who fill our faces with fat and grease wouldn't have the intellect to discern such critical thinking from mere pomposity.






That was snark, by the by.

[Rocky Sullivan]

196. now it's called critical thinking?

I thought you were just being a self-righteous, holier-than-thou scold. Under my rock? What the hell are you blathering about? Are you naturally this much of a douche, or are you trying real hard?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

212. C'mere, you cute little sockpuppet -

and get all of this that you so clearly crave...................

[Rocky Sullivan]

231. back at ya, porkchop

You're clearly a buffoon. You say McDonald's is unhealthy... but Five Guys fries and a burger with extra mayo is A-OK, right? Check out the nutrition facts, see which is worse for you.

That graphic of the mouth is about right. Big show, love to open your mouth... but absolutely jackshit to say. Good talk.

[David Zephyr]

169. Interesting read. Sign of our times.

But the mistake was in telling in the first place. You just lend a hand and keep it to yourself.

[Name removed]

173. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Straight Story]

174. Have no idea about Omar (Author at link was not real clear)

But even in the Middle East there is a high jobless rate so one would think Omar would understand that (if that is where he is from).

Welcome to DU.

[Name removed]

178. Deleted message

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[demwing]

176. I recently lost my 8 year old son to cancer

During his radiation treatments, which were outpatient, we took him to a Sushi bar. He had never tried Sushi, and wanted to give it a shot. As long as he still had an appetite, we were eager to accommodate him. Really, who knew if we had many family dinners left in front of us? My boy had already lost his hair, and wore a little bandanna that said "Cancer fears me!" He was so excited.

At the end of the meal, the manager approached us and told us that an anonymous patron had paid our entire bill. We asked who, but the person wished to remain unknown. We were very grateful, and tipped the waitress nearly the cost of the meal.

How dare ANYONE castigate you for wishing to remain a silent donor! Sometimes people do amazing things, and I feel love for the entire human race. Other times, people do amazingly stupid or heartless things, and I just can't stand their presence on the planet. It fills me with horrible anger. I swear, some people are just too mean to give a shit about.

Interesting thing - when I see good, I feel universal love. When I see bad, I feel only targeted anger. That's got to be a defense mechanism, otherwise, every time we lose our temper we'd blow up the damn planet.

[LibDemAlways]

184. Sincere condolences on your loss. I hope the

love and support of family and friends has sustained you. You are in my thoughts.

[asdjrocky]

210. Did he like the Sushi?

Did he really have a good time? God I hope he did, and I'm so sorry for your loss.

[demwing]

233. He Loved the Sushi

It was the last time we took him out to a restaurant that he was able to eat.He had a blast, and tried everything.

I have a picture from earlier that day. We took him to Build-A-Bear and bought him a stuffed turtle with a karate outfit. Afterward, we went for food.



I miss my son so much, my life just does not seem real. I have this insane hope that one day I'll wake up and he'll be there, but it never happens.

He's gone. He's just gone.

[asdjrocky]

238. What a brave and wonderfully mischievous smile.

I can only imagine your pain. My sister lost her son, my nephew, to melanoma when he was barely 21 and that was devastating to all of us. She tells me peace comes, but it can take it's time.

A blessing on your house.

[chrisa]

179. What was his reasoning?

Though I can't possibly imagine he could have a good reason for not giving the guy the food.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

181. I'm guessing there are two reasons

Omar doesn't feel he's a waiter.

Omar might have had a run in with this homeless dude.

The author could at least let us know what Omar said, unless he was gibbering.

[LibDemAlways]

182. A friend's daughter took a job at the local Border's bookstore cafe.

Her first day on the job just before closing the boss told her to take the unsold baked goods and throw them out in the dumpster out in the rear parking lot. She gathered them up and headed outside. A homeless woman was out there poking through the trash. Not wanting to simply dump the food in front of a hungry homeless woman, my friend's daughter handed it to her and started to walk away. Another employee saw her and came rushing over telling her she could be fired, and in the future she must simply throw the food out. Back inside the second woman reported the incident to a manager and my friend's daughter was reprimanded.

Try to help a hungry person - risk losing your job. Disgusting.

[The Straight Story]

185. They would probably see it as a liability issue - fear of attorneys is greater than compassion

And one will see more of that here as well - folks who don't live their life perfectly (obese, smokers, mountain climbers, etc) will be seen as a drain on health care and penalized by people - all in the name of the almighty dollar.

[LibDemAlways]

187. It's a shame. I once read that a restaurant in the

tourist town of Solvang, CA laced its discarded food with rat poison when it was determined that someone was "stealing" from the dumpster. Killing the hungry is apparently preferable to feeding them.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

188. It's more likely they don't want a "food for your friends" deal

"Hey, meet me out back at 9PM when we toss the food if you want some free shit....."

[LibDemAlways]

190. If someone is reduced to waiting by a dumpster for

food about to be discarded, they are in dire straits. I'd rather they be fed than judged, but I know how corporate America works, and that compassion and concern for one's fellow man is the least of their concerns.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

192. You must not know teenagers too well

I knew a guy in high school who was setting up all his friends with food that they "threw out" at the local fast food joint. They weren't poor, they just wanted free grub. Why pay a few bucks when you could get it for free right when the place closed at the back door?

Obviously that's not the case you were describing, but that's why most of these food places are sticklers for making sure it gets to the dumpster.

When I worked retail, we had to toss magazines and paperbacks when their run was over. And yes, they made a big deal about them being tossed in the dumpster so no one could get them.

[LibDemAlways]

217. I have a teenager, but she's nothing like the ones you are

describing - though I don't doubt they exist. Still see no harm in feeding someone with food that's going to go to waste anyway - but that's just me.

The retail place that tossed the magazines and paperbacks could have donated some of them to a hospital or a library, but again, they apparently would rather shred and dump the reading material than see that it got into the hands of someone who would otherwise not have access to it.

[vadawg]

207. okay i take it you are okay with giving legal protections to businesses that give food to homeless

at the end of the business day, no matter what happens to the homeless person due to eating the food the company is not liable, then you might get teh companies to cchange, until then they are fearful of lawsuits due to someone eating say a peanut hidden in some other food and someone having an allergic reaction and dieing..

[wundermaus]

194. Thank you for sharing your experience and lesson learned...

I have also found it best (least disruptive) to give silently to those in need to avoid embarrassment for the recipient, but you may have also taught an unexpected lesson to Omar. I hope that someday when he is sitting outside a restaurant smelling the food he can not have, seeing the faces of denial and empty passive stares passing him by, that he remembers the lesson you taught him many years ago... and that it stings like the pangs of hunger he now feels. - And that he will reconsider his selfishness and arrogance. - and come to a better understanding of community, of compassion, and our duties to speak out and act in defense of the helpless.

[Iggo]

201. Easy fix.

Next time you see a hungry looking person outside a restaurant where you're about to buy food, and you feel like buying him/her some, too, say something like, "Could you use a meal? I can get you one if you want." Keep it between you and her/him.

And don't listen to the haters. It's good and right to feed people. Keep it up.

EDIT: Goddam I typ gud when Im in a hurray.