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What's The Difference?

Salt Lake City and other cities throughout the state are trying to get rid of panhandling. It is always a bit uncomfortable to pass by someone who appears to be in need and asking for money for food or for gas money to get themselves and/or their family "home." At the same time, one wonders what their money would be used for...drugs, food, shelter for a night? 

I'm pretty sure that every one of these people would have a story to tell if given the chance. Perhaps they are disabled, mentally or physically ill, or simply down on their luck. Some have served our country in a war, were uncared for by their parents, or struggling with addictions. Each story is unique and each would tug at our heartstrings. Perhaps each of them if they were listened to would be considered deserving of assistance from their fellow human beings. 

There is another trend that is picking up momentum thanks to the electronic age. There is a little thing called, "GoFundMe." It is an electronic site where anyone can put up a story, set up an account, and request donations. I have seen anything from requests for people with cancer, someone struggling with infertility, funeral expenses, adoptions, and overseas humanitarian trips. All appear to be worthy causes. All of them pull at our heartstrings just as the people sitting on street corners holding cardboard signs.

I pause to wonder what the difference is. The main difference I see is the method by which the request is being made, one electronically, one using a primitive sign. We may often personally know who is requesting money electronically or we know someone who does, but does that make them any more worthy of our donations?  While I am not judging either group, I am noticing that due to the age of social media we have opened up a whole new form of begging. The latter, for the time being, is socially acceptable; while the former may, in the near future, become not only socially unacceptable, but illegal.

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