No bad idea. Hobos always have knives. Not usually iPhones but always knives.

You would steal his phone because you gave him a single dollar? That's not a disproportionate response at all...

That's what I came here to say. If it was the latest iPhone that just came out a few days ago, fine, get mad. But it could have been several generations old and thus pretty cheap to buy used. It's pretty important to have a phone these days, especially for job applications.

Exactly this. Also, a cell phone contract is cheaper then rent, it's easier to keep than an apartment when you've gone broke. It's also at least as important in trying to find a way out of the shitty situation you are in. You can barely get a job without a phone number, in Texas you can probably sleep on the streets for a month or two without dying of exposure. The poor guy is probably just dealing with the hand he has been dealt, no need to be an asshole about it OP.

28, The new iPhone 5S and 5C actually haven't come out yet. It's only been announced. They come out next week, so it would be the iPhone 5 or earlier.

While I don't really care, I am not understanding why my comment was down voted. It is a true statement. Oh well.

an iPod isn't overly expensive and lots of pawn shops have them. also it doesn't take much to charge it, no monthly bills on it. I know a lot of after youth that held onto their iPods no matter what because that little possession and bit of music was comforting to them.

It's not about the amount he gave the guy... It's about the principle. That was a slap in OP's face for trying to genuinely help someone out who "needed it"

here is a thing. when you lose your house, you generally either have to move, or store or abandons most of your property. the phone may either have been paid for or his friend may have lent it to him. why? safety. you do not lose all your property. he may be paying his phone bills using his credit cards while they last. who knows.

Personally, I'd much rather buy my self food than be paying phone bills with credit cards as you say. Usually the people who are asking for money from others' should have done any and everything before resorting to asking people for money when they still own items that can be sold. Also, I don't know anyone who'd be willing to lend their friend a nice phone like that.

Bullshit. Do you know how hard it is to get back on your feet after selling everything? It's nearly impossible. If you have to resort to that, you're probably dooming your family to generations of poverty. If the US were a sane country, our social safety net would prevent this from happening and forcing people to sell everything.

#31 - It's an iPhone.. It's not really all that nice a phone..

having food is great at that moment, no phone though means no way for potential jobs to contact you and many will take the number from a homeless shelter as a huge negative. I wouldn't give up my phone.

110 - Ok but he doesn't need an iPhone. He could just buy a regular phone that just has talk and text.

yes, but you can get an iPhone real cheap on a plan, a few times I've seen them on a deal for free with a contact. Plus a smart phone is helpful for email, some places you have to apply online or contact you through email.

#21 I kind of agree. Yeah, it's all about the ethics but really. Unless op is poor one buck shouldn't break the bank

Some people just don't get it.

What I mean is some people are so focused judging this guy for having and iPod, like "if he was really poor he should be living worse than me, he shouldn't have things I have, or worse things that I don't have!" Give money or don't, haha don't post an FML about it because something didn't turn out they way you wanted.

It's not free at first though. You pay for the phone up front and they refund you the money later.