Who is truly in need?

many people have there priorities in the wrong place and they need too re evaluate there lives they want too live in the fast lane with everoyne else have all the latest electronics and cant pay there bills there i think this is just stupid to me because the logical thing to do would be too pay your bills first and if you cant afford to pay your bills and your buying the latest electronics that you need to be slapped back into reality lol and do the practical thing and take care of there responsibilities first ans pay there bills and get the electronics toys later!!!!

I can see where you are coming from. I still would have helped the woman and given her some money. Just because she fell short in paying the grocer doesn't necessarily mean that her priorities aren't right. A lot of people have expensive things and their priorities are straight. However, sometimes accidents happen in day to day life. The woman was going to put her eggs back. It was good of you to think of helping her though.

I would have helped her, if she had told me that the Blackberry was not hers, and she had borrowed it and someone else had paid for it or she already paid for it and was using it until her cheaper model came along. After all, she might have bought that Blackberry when she had a good paying job, and she might also have paid for it in advance and it might have been her only phone and it might have been a business phone. So in that case, why was she using it for personal reasons? Still the same, she could have traded that Blackberry in for a cheaper model and still be able to pay for her groceries. But that is how things are. I see women and girls who are obviously poor, talking on cell phones. They were shabby clothes, they make less money then even my husband did. It is a status symbol. And a status symbol does not ingratiate you to charitable folk.

Several thoughts. First, it could well be that she had the money, and just not enough on her person at the time. I have done this myself and have had to go back later to get the item I couldn't before. I didn't see in the story where she asked anyone for help so I can't say she was bamboozling anyone, though it was generous of you to consider offering the help. I do believe however that though there are a good number of genuinely struggling people, struggling because of circumstances beyond their control, there are a good many who like you pointed out, have priorities out of order. People who are losing their homes not because of a "failing economy" or "mortgage"crisis", but because they tried to live beyond their means by buying a house they couldn't afford in the long run. People who complain they can't find a job yet when you point them to one, it is either something they don't want to d or feel it is beneath them and would rather draw unemployment instead of working at a job they feel doesn't suit their image. I Realize there are a lot of very realisticly needy people who are trying and struggling with genuine financial crisis, but the rest seem to get thrown in to the general catagory of the needy with them and go along for the ride.

That is true. It really is hard to know who really needs help any more. You see people who are having hard times but they still have cell phones, fancy clothes. When I help I like to know that it is really helping some one who needs it.

Hi clrumfelt, how are you doing? The way I see it in this particular case, maybe the woman with the Blackberry needed it for her job. Maybe not, but who knows? If I would have been there, I would have offered her the couple of dollars for the eggs, if I had it. Yes, there are disadvantaged people who are that way because of their misplaced priorities. There are also disadvantaged people who are that way through no fault of their own. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt in most cases. If someone is blatantly disadvantaged by choice (driving a Cadillac or expensive SUV, wearing obviously new designer clothes), I wouldn't have a problem with watching them have to put something back at the grocers. Otherwise, I would help. The only thing with this is, even though they are dressed to a T and drive an expensive car, this doesn't mean they don't have children at home who won't have enough to eat. That is the problem. You never know.

Its not America, such people are all over the world. Here in Pakistan, many people are like this. They don't know what their priorities are. They must be spending money on the wrong things, neglecting those which are required more. It was good that you did not offered to help that lady, as according to my knowledge, she would not have even thanked you. I came across some people like this who were so mean and do not realize at all that what the other person has done for them.

Hi circumfelt being honest with you I would of given her the extra money to get what she needed as have done in the past for a few people who you can see are finding it hard to make ends meet, even if they had a cell phone it wouldn't of worried me as how am I to know wether that is her main contact with her friends and family plus in an emergency when out she would need her cell phone..I have never judged a book by its cover and never will...I have always looked at it that one day when you are in need someone at sometime will help you..blessimgs littleowl

It's hard to say. She may have been given the blackberry by her employer (my job was briefly considering giving me one), or she may have purchased it before she fell on hard times.... Electronics have terrible resell value! I don't think the presence of a blackberry necessarily undermines her financial distress, I would give her the benefit of the doubt. If I had it to give, I would probably give. And if her misfortune is due to mismanagement, being given charity might be a good wake-up call for her. :-)

t really is hard to know who really needs help any more.

I do try to help people in need because most of them you dont know there situation. That blackberry could have been given to the woman by a family member that cares and and pays for it for the woman just so that the person can keep in contact with her. It could have been from her mother, you just never know. People are always doing things that they shouldnt. i know I do. I know lately my husband and i have been very blessed to be staying with my mother. He lost his job and I didnt have one. so they have been helping us until he gets another one. i know have this computer and that kind of thing but it was an anniversary gift from him over a year ago. Right now we may be struggling to make the bills that we have but he is going to start work this week so that will at least help us try to get back on our feet. I am trying to find ways to make money while i am on my computer, but so far i havent made much but at least i am trying. I know that everything will work out and we we are back on our feet and can save some money then we will try to get our own place. Everyone's situation is different so i do my best not to judge others.

For me that young woman is not needy if so why she had that gatget thats luxury she just doesnt know where were here priorities.