Is this wrong...please fucking say it is!

[sally]

What homeless person is going to ask you for your doggie bag? That's begging. Buy the guy a meal. There is no generosity in giving away something you don't want. Nothing, nada, zilch....what's even worse is yes, it would have your saliva and maybe other contaminents.

I like Mock obviously because I've been coming here every day for years, but lately you motherfuckers have been hit by the retarded stick more than ever.

[Midwest Spy]

What homeless person is going to ask you for your doggie bag? That's begging. Buy the guy a meal. There is no generosity in giving away something you don't want. Nothing, nada, zilch....what's even worse is yes, it would have your saliva and maybe other contaminents.

I like Mock obviously because I've been coming here every day for years, but lately you motherfuckers have been hit by the retarded stick more than ever.

Sally, you can always count on me to come across as intelligent.

I may try and look up your skirt or down your blouse when I can, but I'll be the most normal of this bunch any day of the week.

Now, let's run to the ⁷⁄₁₁ and grab a soggy-bottomed 12 pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

[aussiefriend]

I like Mock obviously because I've been coming here every day for years, but lately you motherfuckers have been hit by the retarded stick more than ever.

When Clang offers you his leftovers, you really have to ask yourself, have I hit rock bottom or what?

[username]

People are digging around in garbage bins for food, FFS. If they want my doggy bag, I'd be happy to hand it over. A clean meal...Jesus, Aussie these people are living on the streets. There's nothing clean about their lifestyle.

[aussiefriend]

And you call Oprah a cunt!

[Cynical Ninja]

I like Mock obviously because I've been coming here every day for years, but lately you motherfuckers have been hit by the retarded stick more than ever.

Maybe, just maybe, we aren't the problem.

Maybe, just maybe, its not us becoming more retarded.

Maybe, just maybe, its just you being more fucking crabby and intolerant than usual because of nicotine withdrawal.

[Cynical Ninja]

The overall point being, is giving a homeless person your leftovers really true altruism?

I have in the past seen the odd homeless person in the city and I have gone to Greggs the bakers and bought them a pastry item and a bottle of water.

That to me is true altruism, not “here are my leftovers peasant you're welcome!”

[HairOfTheDog]

How is altruism the overall point here, CN?

No one claimed or implied that giving leftovers to a homeless person begging for food-money was a selfless sacrifice or any thing more than a simple gesture. It's been stated over and over that nobody cares if you wouldn't make such a gesture - your choice.

You and aussie have simply been arguing the point…against absolutely nobody contending the contrary....that it’s NOT noble nor altruistic.

And, no one claimed or implied that what’s considered a simple common sense gesture or standard practice for some of us would be done with the expectation or requirement of being thanked (that's not gonna happen a lot of the time and is not the motivation in any case). Those are again your thoughts and words on the subject, not mine or anyone elses.

I don't look at people living on the streets because they're schizophrenic, PTSD sufferers, or otherwise mentally ill and refusing treatment (which accounts for the vast majority) as "bums" and "hobos" who make a city less attractive or beautiful. You do. You are not alone. Different perspectives. There are a lot of individuals and groups here who make feeding the homeless their primary mission on a volunteer basis. I do consider many of them to be generous and altruistic; I admire and appreciate what they do - those are just my feelings.

Anyway, to be really clear for you and aussie (again) upon leaving the leftovers thread, I agree with you both that handing leftovers to a person in need of food is not an act of nobility or altruism. No one ever said or implied that it was. Also, if one or both of you consider it noble or altruistic to take a homeless person out for dinner or buy him/her a meal, you have my support.

[Duchess]

That to me is true altruism, not “here are my leftovers peasant you're welcome!”

Wow. I didn't see anyone say that or even imply that other than you & Aussie. I didn't see anyone who would give their doggie bag to the homeless looking down their nose at them either.

[aussiefriend]

Duch, that is clearly what the message is! Can't you see it? It's called a 'doggie' bag. The origin of the 'doggie' bag is that it is for the dog. These people are not sub-human, they are not worthy of someone's old coleslaw and soggy french fries.

I wouldn't offer a friend a 'doggie' bag. I wouldn't offer it to another human being. The notion that it is in anyway noble because homeless people have been observed 'digging around in garbage bins' then entitles them to Users leftover burrito is ridiculous.

The bottom line, to offer a homeless person your leftovers is not generous it's offensive.

[sally]

It depends on the leftovers. Offering someone a half of a perfectly good hamburger and fries you didn't touch is different than saying "hey you want this soggy box of mashed potatoes and a half eaten chicken leg". There is a seafood restaurant here that piles so much fish on your sandwich that if you take half off you can make two more meals out of it. And it's not because it's poor quality either, it comes fresh caught off the boat everyday. When I take it home my kids never have a problem eating it.

[Duchess]

Duch, that is clearly what the message is! Can't you see it? It's called a 'doggie' bag.

It's just a nickname here, Aussie. It doesn't imply anything bad. Sometimes servers, when seeing so much of your meal left, will offer to "box it" for you.

[FAHQTOO]

Duch, that is clearly what the message is! Can't you see it? It's called a 'doggie' bag.

It's just a nickname here, Aussie. It doesn't imply anything bad. Sometimes servers, when seeing so much of your meal left, will offer to "box it" for you.

I haven't heard it called a doggie bag for years. It's called a box.

[aussiefriend]

Maybe it's a cultural thing. There are many local restaurants that I frequent here, quite often there are leftovers and they are taken away by the waiter.

There is an Indian restaurant here that I absolutely love. I always get take away from there because if we ate there, there would be leftovers and I would hate that. Their curry is to die for, not expensive either.

[Maggot]

Duch, that is clearly what the message is! Can't you see it? It's called a 'doggie' bag.

It's just a nickname here, Aussie. It doesn't imply anything bad. Sometimes servers, when seeing so much of your meal left, will offer to "box it" for you.

I haven't heard it called a doggie bag for years. It's called a box.

I call it a "get in ma belly" holder.

[HairOfTheDog]

The bottom line, to offer a homeless person your leftovers is not generous it's offensive.

"Generous", I don't see it that way. "Offensive", only someone truly clueless would continue to bang that defective drum.

In the many years that I've lived in Los Angeles and San Francisco, I've never encountered a homeless person who was begging and truly in need of food being insulted by getting a nice boxed restaurant leftover portion from me or anyone else.

Never had a hungry homeless person say anything like, "fuck you bitch, it's not good enough! - take me out to dinner or buy me a meal or I'd rather go without!". Not once. Nor have I seen a homeless person be insulted when given donated clothing in the winter, or demand poached salmon when they come to the shelter and left-over soup is being served.

I don't know how you've concocted the image of the snobby cleanly homeless person in your mind, but it's pure delusion. I don't insult the homeless by minimizing their challenges or falsely characterizing them, but you're free to continue doing so. It's quite reflective of who you truly are - not a reflection on the homeless person or the person who offers food on-hand when asked. That's the bottom line.

[QueenBee]

My husband's uncle apparently is the doggie bag king. He will not only take home leftovers, I guess he will take ALL the sugar and butter packets on the table, extra napkins or straws. He has even asked for more dinner rolls, and instead of eating them there, will take them with him.
I have seen the extreme cheapskates who take food from other tables. That is so wrong. I think American restaurant portions are obnoxiously large in many cases. I often end up bringing stuff home. Of course, sometimes I will order a larger portion on purpose just so I will have left overs,. We have a restaurant here that makes GREAT wings and ribs. I will often order the larger order just so I have some to bring home.

[FAHQTOO]

My husband's uncle apparently is the doggie bag king. He will not only take home leftovers, I guess he will take ALL the sugar and butter packets on the table, extra napkins or straws. He has even asked for more dinner rolls, and instead of eating them there, will take them with him.
I have seen the extreme cheapskates who take food from other tables. That is so wrong. I think American restaurant portions are obnoxiously large in many cases. I often end up bringing stuff home. Of course, sometimes I will order a larger portion on purpose just so I will have left overs,. We have a restaurant here that makes GREAT wings and ribs. I will often order the larger order just so I have some to bring home.

Shame on you. Aussie will need a paper bag to breathe into after reading that last sentence...

[Duchess]

Aussie will need a paper bag to breathe into after reading that last sentence.

I love Aussie to pieces but she's driving me nuts on this. I read a little about doggie bags, boxed leftovers, whatever one wants to call it, and it's somewhat frowned upon outside of the States. One reaction I read was, "eww". Haha. So to see Aussie & OP up in arms about it no longer surprises me. They sure are steadfast in their opinion too.

[FAHQTOO]

Aussie will need a paper bag to breathe into after reading that last sentence.

I love Aussie to pieces but she's driving me nuts on this. I read a little about doggie bags, boxed leftovers, whatever one wants to call it, and it's somewhat frowned upon outside of the States. One reaction I read was, "eww". Haha. So to see Aussie & OP up in arms about it no longer surprises me. They sure are steadfast in their opinion too.

I had an unstoppable craving for fish last weekend. I brought home 2 huge thick pieces in a 'doggie' box.

I don't have a dog, and didn't see any homeless people on any corners, so I had to eat that fish myself. I should probably hang my head in shame.