Homelessness is prevalent all over the world, and our own backyards are no exception. People experience homelessness, poverty , and food scarcity all the time, but just because someone may need help doesn’t mean they’re always going to accept it.
Which is exactly what’s happening in this TikTok.
In the video, uploaded by @ashleychabli, a woman approaches a homeless man with the intention to give him food.
RELATED STORIES
She’s confused when he declines.
The caption within the video reads, “Tried to feed a homeless man [whose] sign said he was ‘hungry….’ he declined,” followed by a few perplexed emojis.
The comment section was completely torn.
Some people commented that he was probably “hungry” for other things (i.e., drugs), while others pointed out that he probably just didn’t want to be filmed.
Some people condemned the homeless man.
“So was he hungry or not? Them people be lying like hell just to get a few dollars,” one comment said.
Another commenter wrote, “They want money to get high some will take the food but not most of them.”
They also thought the man couldn’t afford to be picky.
“He needs to change his sign to ‘hungry but not starvin,'” said another comment.
All in all, there were many people who assumed the worst of this man, and of homeless people in general. Which is a shame.
Let’s not forget that homeless people are still people.
“Taking food from people is risky. I wouldn’t accept food from a random stranger. Nice gesture but it doesn’t mean he’s unappreciative,” said a comment.
You honestly never know what somebody could’ve done to that food, so it would make sense if a homeless person wanted to be a little cautious.
And of course, he probably saw the camera turned on him.
A comment reads, “Seems like he didn’t want you to record and make a spectacle of him.” He more than likely didn’t consent to being on film, after all.
Others noted that if he had taken the food, the video could have turned into one of those “good deed” videos with schmaltzy music shared for internet points.
There were other comments pointing out the importance of communication.
“The best thing to do is communicate w them and ask them what they need,” a commenter wrote.
At the end of the day, respect is key.
Even if her intentions were good, she probably shouldn’t have been recording to begin with, let alone uploading the video. Homeless people are as deserving of dignity and respect as anyone else.
h/t: DailyDot
