For the weak, no, for the lazy and the stupid, they are begging for it. Being ill equipped is most often a result of one of the latter two, seldom of the former. Even the poor and the crippled can do something to help their situation, even within their limits. What I have no tolerance for is the person who had every opportunity to prepare themself, to evaluate the risk ahead of time and make the necessary adjustment to mitigate what would be the most likely challenges, and did not avail themselves of the opportunity. They deserve neither respect nor sympathy. If we are all team members, then we are all expected to pull our own weight, and as a pitcher I may not be the one cutting the grass, but by God the guy that should be doing it better get it right, or he'll darned sure hear about it!!! I am not here to soothsay the failings of those who are in over their head. I would be ashamed of being in that condition myself, and I have no tolerance of it from others. It's no accident that people go about their lives unprepared for the sort of things we all know to be common events. It is a mistake, pure and simple, and my problem is their foolishness not only costs them, but those around them as well, and I am not in the business of bailing people out of their self-imposed misery. I abhor the notion that I somehow owe a duty to my fellow man to bail them out of their problems when they could've done so themselves. I may choose to help, but I consider neither an obligation nor a charity, for the undeserving individual will most likely not accept responsibility for themselves if so treated, nor will they learn from their mistakes as nature intended.

If I really cared about my friends, I would point out to them (should they be interested in listening) how they can improve their odds and what pitfalls they may avoid thereby. I did it for my own family, even when they didn't like hearing it all the time, but the gratitude later on when they managed to get through a tough situation on their own was well worth the attitude beforehand.

I am once again reminded of the fable about the ant and the grasshopper. I would prefer to be thought of as the ant, and the grasshopper can go suck lemons when the snow comes.