Quote Originally Posted by LivinInThe603 View Post
Sorry, I didn't pass out cash. I did buy a bracelet and bought two little boys a ting. I understand your statement, and truly hope to have the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way. I'm a teacher and hope to volunteer in classrooms over the next several years. Unfortunately, it's hard taking time off for no pay on a teachers salary! So I did give in to the "tourist" thing, but only because my heart swelled with love. I know there are other avenues and I know I can't do what I wish I could... Yet!

Sadly, they already know how to beg. In special Ed and dog training,it's the slot machine effect. One time you hit the jackpot, you're not going to stop til you hit again. It reinforces behavior. It would take every person who visits Negril to never give a hand out to anyone for that to stop, and over quite some time. I don't want to be "the problem" but I would buy a kid in my own city a ting if he asked. It's just part of who I am.
Well, if we're going to use the slot machine analogy... if you were a gambler, would you hit the casino's known to have loose slots, or the ones that don't seem to pay off very much? And if everyone kept that attitude, the problem will always be there. I'll buy things if I feel like it, but I never just give things to people who ask for them. Sometimes I'll surprise someone with something small, just a gesture really, but that's about as far as I'll go with it. I don't want to be seen as a "loose slot" (still talking about casino's here people).