Scammed

[poliphilo]

 I got scammed yesterday. It's an occupational hazard for anyone who stands front of house in a place of worship. First comes the sob story and then- oh,  by the way, could you lend me the money for the train fare to X? It's urgent and you're my last hope. Afterwards one notices the inconsistencies and  improbabilities and kicks oneself, but in the heat of the moment one's sympathies override one's critical faculty. Ailz consoled me with the reflection that anyone who goes to the lengths these folk go to in their yarn spinning must really need the money- and could almost be said to have earned it.  This one even had a confederate who backed up the initial phone call with another from (allegedly) the Isle of Wight. 

I dreamed last night that we were being bombed by the Germans. The planes angled down one by one in broad daylight and dropped their bombs in a nearby street. There were big explosions.....

Comments

[cmcmck]

And sadly what they often 'need' the money for is noxious substances.

I do my giving of that sort via a local homeless charity knowing the money will go where it's actually needed and that that will happen locally.

[poliphilo]

We support the local food bank.

When I was a priest I knew other priests who resolutely refused to give money to beggars but I could never harden my heart.....