I worked with the homeless for over 10 years. Most of them will refuse to take food or beverage that is not in a sealed container right from the grocery store. This is not pickiness, it's survival. Horrible people sometimes do unspeakable things to food or drinks before giving it to homeless people. I've heard stories from some of my clients about people peeing in their drinks, hiding cat poop in a hamburger, or even worse. If you want to give a person on the street a hamburger or a cup of coffee, invite them into the place to order for themselves and you pay for it.

People are weird...I've been homeless for years.ive got my own place now. The gentleman sounded like he was polite. And the lady felt like she was appreciated. Her comment about and her defense was worrying about the trolls on the internet. The homeless man let her know he preferred coffee in case he was about to make a new friend.

I don't recall him begging in the first place. He was homeless; that doesn't put him under any obligation to anyone. And as Tracey Hirt points out, there are truly horrible people out there who make accepting unsealed food a danger.

In defense of the "ask them first" vote, I generally CAN'T drink tea. Some herbal and especially fruity tea is great (I love hibiscus) but black tea, green tea and many others actually make me throw up. I think my body just says "NOPE this water is dirty as hell!" On another note, I've always wondered if the common gesture of buying a cup of coffee is good for people with such irregular diets and oral hygiene.

This is why I hate canned food drives and don't donate to them or buy those food bags at the grocery store for donations. People don't want that nasty can of beans you have had in the back of your pantry for 6 years. Donate money and let people shop for themselves rather than being left with a box of mac and cheese and a can of crushed tomatoes. With money they can go get fresh food that they actually want. Just don't donate food, donate some dignity. Damn.

The fact that they are homeless doesn't mean they can't like/dislike things like any of us... You'd think an adult would be well aware of that fact ...

I don't have a problem just giving people cash (I try to keep some loose bills in my pocket, since my own sense of survival tells me not to get my wallet out...). But that's mostly when I'm not likely to meet the person on a return trip. If I pass someone outside a place that has food/drink, I will ask what they would like, and the request is almost always canned goods (soup, chili, etc.).

Man standing in the middle of the street. I had change to give him. He turned it down. Only wanted folding money.

It's important to realize when you say "homeless person" you are not talking about a homogeneous group where an answer applies to all. From my experience over the years I would say that a substantial percentage of people in that situation are dealing with problems that create "challenging" behavior. They may be drug or alcohol addicted, or suffering mental illness (two of the leading causes of homelessness) or they may be suffering serious stress from, you know, being homeless. It all tends to create a situation where there is no "normal" behavior or response, you just try to work with what you get and help as you can. If they say "I won't take that", (you should have asked first, really) the appropriate response is "Oh, sorry. Hope things get better for you." I very rarely give money, and seldom buy food or anything for an individual any more, I find that organized programs actually do a much better job of getting my help to people who really need it. I will take time to talk though.

This makes me think of the time I was out with my sister and we stopped on the way home so she could get coffee. She comes back to the car with an extra large milk shake cup, she hands it to me and says here see if you like this... I was really excited, I thought she'd gotten me some kind of fancy milkshake. I just about spat out what I drank, while my sister about pissed herself laughing at the face I pulled. My sister had given me a milkshake cup full of milk with a sprinkling of coffee in it. Turns out the barista began making a mocha and then realised it wasn't the right order. My sister wasn't trying to trick me she honestly thought I'd be able to drink it because it was so weak. Anyway point is some people have really strong taste buds, you can be a the nicest, sweetest angel on the earth I will not be able to drink a cup of coffee if you give it to me. Your chancing getting coffee accidently spat at you and I will insist on you buying me a second drink to save me from the first.

So beggars CAN be choosers?

This man WAS NOT BEGGING, SHE OFFERED........HUUUGE FREEKIN DIFFERENCE!!!! And even at that, he has his right to like and dislike what he wants! Even if he WAS begging, SHE accepted the position of getting him something he WOULD eat and drink. She wasted her money by NOT bothering to ask what he wanted. EVERYBODY has choices.......even homeless people!!!

Don't just buy food. Ask. Usually they need smth like toothbrush, towel, ect. JUST ASK

Why he does not have a Home?

hobos have standards too y'all

BS. Sorry, but if you are homeless and begging for food you can't turn down something that a nice stranger offers you.

I tried to give some corn cake to a hungry stray dog once he was following me. And he smelled and refused everything. And I didn't got offended.. so why animals can but humans not? He should be treated like a human being.

I can’t get humble or accepting on this. When you visit a foreign country where you see hungry children who literally ask you for table scraps, even if you took a bite from it, you’ll turn your nose up about someone being a choosy beggar.

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And many also don't like shelters (rules), taking their prescribed meds (can sell them for drugs, alcohol, or money) or any kind of responsibility.

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I don't think she helped him because she wanted to help him, she did it so she could feel good about herself.