If you HAD to do one of these two things, for whatever reason, which would you rather do?
Borrow $2,000 From a Friend
OR
Rules and asides....let's say you can't immediately pay your friend back. You need that money for a legit purpose and they won't see it for awhile. And for panhandling, you can make a sign, walk up to people, whatever...but you are out on the street asking strangers for money.
The rules of Choose and Defend say you have to make a choice and then defend that choice in comments. It is as simple as that. So what will you do? Choose and Defend!
8 comments:
I'd panhandle. The Buddha was a beggar, not out of necessity but as sort of a sanity check. It's hard to be full of yourself when you're holding out your rice bowl.
I've actually considered panhandling as a social experiment for years. The notion that standing on a noisy, busy median sucking exhaust fumes and baking in the heat, being treated like The Invisible Man at best and less than human at worst most be remarkably difficult.
And yet we(the collective we)are adamant that panhandlers are getting away with something. I think a $200 dose of reality would do us all some compassionate good.
James: I hadn't thought of it from the Buddhist point of view, but the idea of begging as a sanity check is interesting! One for Panhandling.
I would not normally copy off of anyone else's answer, but James brings up a good point. I see panhandlers on the highways quite often around here and saw plenty while I was in California. I think the old adage, "Walk a mile in my shoes," might apply here. I am going go with Panhandle until I get $200.
Also, I hate borrowing money from anybody. I don't enjoy the feeling of having to pay them back.
I would borrow because I could pay it back. And that person would still be doing a good thing. I'll let others teach people about giving.
I don't think I could ask a friend for money unless it was a life or death situation. So I'd go with panhandling. But I'm sure it would be an incredibly humbling experience.
Jasen: It is true that there are people in need everywhere. As you point out, too, once you've asked and received that money is yours. A loan is a loan is a loan. Two for Panhandling.
NoRegrets: I agree that someone who lends a friend money is definitely doing a good thing! And not everything is necessarily a lesson. One for Borrowing.
Secret: I was hoping that each of these choices would be very difficult to make with this question. To me, they certainly are. Three for Panhandling.
Everyone: We are now at 1-3, with Borrowing from a Friend trailing Panhandling. I am enjoying the thoughtful answers to this question, so thank you!
I think I would choose to borrow the money. I don't think I'd feel safe out on the streets and because I have a home, I'd feel bad accepting money when my needs are not as great as those who are more deprived than me. It would feel like stealing from the poor.
FW: Wow, another twist on this conundrum! A very good point, too. Two for Borrowing.
Now at 2-3, the divide grows smaller.
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