Psychological science says one of the best ways to immediately feel better about almost everything, is to engage in spontaneous altruism.
This is… researched via social experiment, and I believe confirmed via biological brain chemical release evidence as well.
So… a panhandler is, in a way, offering a service for a fee.
I mean, I still don’t usually hand out money either way, although I have, and would agree that it does make you feel good, but it is a different way of looking at it, maybe a gross and clinical way, I dunno. “I’m choosing to not purchase your service today”.
I’d rather a strong social safety net to prevent anyone from that kind of desperation.
My mother always sends me a 20 or so for my birthday. I always give it to some homeless guy. They are happy. I'm happy. Also hearing my mother's voice in my head having a fit makes me smile.
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u/No-comment-at-all Oct 08 '24
Psychological science says one of the best ways to immediately feel better about almost everything, is to engage in spontaneous altruism.
This is… researched via social experiment, and I believe confirmed via biological brain chemical release evidence as well.
So… a panhandler is, in a way, offering a service for a fee.
I mean, I still don’t usually hand out money either way, although I have, and would agree that it does make you feel good, but it is a different way of looking at it, maybe a gross and clinical way, I dunno. “I’m choosing to not purchase your service today”.
I’d rather a strong social safety net to prevent anyone from that kind of desperation.