Getting Free Shit...All...The...Time...

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So maybe I'm talking to the wrong crowd here, but does anyone ever feel exhausted from being on the receiving end of free shit when traveling? On my way back to Wa this year I scored a Canon 40D and a pair of brand new combat boots that I later found out to be worth 200 buckaroos. That on top of spanging, free meals, free rides and places to stay, I felt like an undeserving leech. Actually the only reason I took the camera is cuz the lady who gave it to me said she felt the same way from getting free shit from her friends and wanted to pay it forward. She also had 2 way nicer cameras and said she planned on giving the 40d away, so I said fuck it yolo bitch haha.
Anyway how often do you guys say no to free shit, and do you ever feel that build up of "I wanna pay it forward when I can"?
 
Interesting observation here - I know some of my friends have "complained" mostly about the big bags of dog food (and not near the brand they prefer) and stuff. Watched a kid I see a lot flying a sign at the expressway exit and I saw he had some bottles of water and a sandwich sitting next to his bag - then a car pulls over and hands him two big boxes of what looked like little debbie/hostess cookie/cupcakes - and he thanked her but I could see he really didn't know what to do with them atm.
 
being as i have a car and i don't really keep a large quantity of stuff relative to the trunk space..i never have trouble passing along whatever it is i get kicked down or otherwise obtain...food, clothes, tools, books, etc. if i have somehting i don't use I'malways thinking 'who would want this...?" ..but i could imagine the guy in @Tude's anecdote feeling overwhelmed...when i backpack - i.e. sans car - I usually have 30 or 40 lbs of shit... wouldn't be up for hauling a box of little debbies pastries or what have you.
 
i think it says something about your character that you at least question this kind of stuff and think about how you can at least pay it forward, which is a lot more than some folks do.

i do try to polietly decline things sometimes, but other times the most polite thing you can do is accept it graciously and maybe try to pass it on to someone else that could use it.
 
I like to help out the homeless when i can..especially the elderly or war vets...kinda cancels out the stupid stuff i do...which is reminding me of one of my favorite shows..My name is earl..But no man I dont think you should feel bad because you gotta take what you can get when you have limited funds!!
 
Ive turned down some stuff when out and about. Rides when I was on m


My phone is a POS to say the least. There was a post attached to that sentence fragment i promise
 
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Living off my bicycle in this "Homebum" situation for almost a year, I get an over abundance of everything - not solicited, just given. At first I was wondering "wtf?". Then I remembered a scripture I read once, about providing me a hundred times more than I am willing to share. So I kinda take it as providing even more to my Brothers and Sisters in this journey called Life. The end result, I end up carrying on average 40lbs more than I can consume lol and give it away everyday.
 
I believe there’s a god and he watches out for his children we are all unique and he provides not trying to be religious or ushimg my believe just sharing what I believe and a lot of us are Choosen and I believe my urge to travel is to not only seek what’s out there but to help others on the way
 
Thanks guys glad im not the only one who thinks of these things. I've definitely had to give away food too, cuz it was more than I wanted to carry. This all reminds me of how I forgot to donate to stp this last time off the road :eek:. I'll get around to it though haha
 
The ancient gods of travel smile down apon tramps. I feel bad taking things but if I have to much I pay it forward, or if anyone's in need, so i usually end up down to what I'm wearing and nothing else. . . but people tell me to take shot even if i don't want it or need it because il come across someone who needs it. I get a lot of , oh been holding onto give this to the right person who won't sell it. But yeah I think the street gods smile down on us dirty kids. They smile on me frequently.
 
Candice said:
I believe there’s a god and he watches out for his children we are all unique and he provides not trying to be religious or ushimg my believe just sharing what I believe and a lot of us are Choosen and I believe my urge to travel is to not only seek what’s out there but to help others on the way
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Im always feeding and helping homebums and those in need. If we look out for eachother and put forth good energys, we will become the change we want to see. I always had a stigma around the homeless, but once you become homeless its a real eye opener and if never been so humbled. When your blessed you have to bless others, because if you don't your a piece of shit.I leap ending up in the right place at the right time, receiving exactly what i need and when i need it. There's a synchronicity to life and when your in it its golden
 
And if all people in this world would be that way and spread love this world would be so much better but I still see some love and glad you have it never change it’s a gift
 
Over the past three years I've been hosting Food Not Bombs. There is so much free stuff people give us... some useless some useful. I try to take care of the needs of my friends & I as well as keeping a stockpile. We give the rest away and if no one wants something, we discard. For example, we used to get this donation of school lunches... enough to feed 500 people every Friday. We could have gone to this distro center and gotten the same amount every other day of the week but we didn't have transportation. Even once a week we couldn't deal with that quantity. On our best days we gave out 10% and the rest went in the trash. It made me feel awful for months.

After about a year of this, the ambiguous notion that our economy is designed to create waste was made clear through real life examples. You seem thoughtful and generous about this, so as someone who throws away a lot of useful stuff I give you my blessing to do the same.
 
I would like to start a fnb when I get stable. Its kind of my life's mission to help any and all. I use to work for mentor Oregon, taking care of mentaly and physically disabled. when I get a steady place I plan on making those bedrooms out of shopping bags, and maybe jacket sleeping bags or something.
 
ToadStuff said:
Anyway how often do you guys say no to free shit, and do you ever feel that build up of "I wanna pay it forward when I can"?
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I almost always accept. Even if I don't want or need what is given to me. But I never waste it, just give it to someone who may need/want it later.

But there were circumstances I declined. For example a friend and me were sitting in a doorway next to a supermarket. A couple came to us asking if we would like them to buy some food for us. We said "no, thanks, honestly we already have so much", showing them the big bag of food next to where we sat. Well, instead they bought us a few beers and the lady gave us a tenner ... so we did accept that. ;)

Matt Derrick said:
i do try to polietly decline things sometimes, but other times the most polite thing you can do is accept it graciously and maybe try to pass it on to someone else that could use it.
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Very true, in my opinion.

I declined food and money a few times as I started travelling (because I had money on me and in my bank account those days, I really did not need it). Lead to some embarrassing moments for the people who came to me. I learned from that and from then on just accepted the donations thankfully. And gave the money or things to other people in need later.

What goes around comes around. :)
 
I learned from that and from then on just accepted the donations thankfully. And gave the money or things to other people in need later.
What goes around comes around. :)
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I like this and other peoples philosophies on here. I think thats the way to go just accept what you can and give what you can. Awesome dudes!
 
I turn things down constantly... Housed up, I typically don't need the kick downs - But, if offered something i know a friend needs, I'll accept for them & pass it on... Normally I suggest the offerer find someone more deserving... Like the kid in the doorway with the guitar and the dog... If I'm available, I'll even middle man that too.. (mostly liquors and food) .... Someone is always hungry or thirsty in new orleans :)

... But, I can't just accept the things I won't use... That does make me feel guilty... & some folks are darned insistent! Lucky for my own sense of karmic balance, I know drop spots where hopefully items find useful homes, vs. landfills... Like size 12 shoes... I'm never going to wear them, but if they're in good shape, I'll drop them where someone needing shoes is likely to find them. Then I don't have to feel like a jackass because someone gave me "useless" shoes... :)
 
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