The emaciated beggar says a meek "help" and looks around for someone to give him money.
In this city, people become quickly opposed to handing out dollars and change. Part of it is the widespread and rampant hard drug use. In a fairly small radius you could likely find any illicit substance - pills, powders, crystals, and rocks - in addition to random tchotchkes, single cigarettes and shots of cheap liquor.
So when this man says "help" my first reply is "help yourself" but then I remember he doesn't know how. He either forgot or never learned it.
There are people who commit their time and lives to the endless task of helping the poor - and where would we be without them? For as long as there are rich there will be poor.
Am I selfish for choosing not to contribute? Probably. I'm exhausted by everything. Constantly in pain or a state of self medication. An aching pain I feel in my soul.
And then I think of that man, who has lost many of his teeth, smells like shit, and lacks the current gumption or ability to take care of himself.