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wikiHow to Respect Poor People

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Whether or not someone is poor is a matter of opinion. Someone with an income of $120,000 dollars a month is poor compared to a millionaire. A millionaire is poor compared with the Sultan of Brunei. If you are unable to treat people you perceive as having less than you in some way, primarily financially, with respect, this article may be of some assistance to you. Read on from step one below for how to be a decent human being and value those around for the fact that they exist and not how much they have in the bank.


  1. 1
    Remember everyone is human and entitled to basic human rights. When you see poor person or a homeless people walking the streets or in the countryside, remember they are no different from you. Their economic position is different, their problems may be of a more severe degree, but they are a human being.
  2. 2
    Find a homeless person. Go to a shelter and volunteer. Get to know them. Get to understand where they come from. Understanding more about how people's situations can change, for example being made redundant, having their home repossessed, having more children than they can afford to look after etc makes people poor, and or homeless will hopefully help you to treat everyone with respect.
  3. 3
    Make your relationship with homeless people intimate and personal. Be aware that as with any other group of people, not all poor people will repay your kindness and understanding. Some are drug addicts, career criminals, dossers and economic migrants.
  4. 4
    Listen. Don't talk to them, let them talk to you. Strive to understand poor people. The biggest thing that insults poor people, and other groups such as disabled people, or people who have differences is to be ignored, taken for granted, or, worse, stigmatized.
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    Go places the homeless people go. Get to know the people they know. As much as you can, immerse yourself in their lives. Then toddlers home to you warm, cosy, three-bed semi......
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    Do what you can to help them, but don't think that giving a handout is a help. That's a step. A handout gets one past the next meal, but doesn't change the big picture. If you want to help, offer a place to live, a job, or a ride.

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  • If you see a poor person on the streets try to help out if you can.
  • If you can't help people one on one, send some clothes to charity
  • Help. Love. Because the poor are humans, just like us! Not aliens. Everybody needs love. Love is what makes this world spin. Not money, sex, and drugs! No. It's love and sympathy. We need to help our brothers and sisters and not alienate them, as we wish they would do the same and help.
  • Donate clothes you don't want or need. Because some family's can't afford clothes. You can also donate to the food bank.


  • Don't let your generosity to others make you poor.
  • Not all beggars are genuinely poor. Some people with state benefits that are more than sufficient to live on supplement their income by begging.

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Categories: Maintaining Relationships


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