From Michael O'Hara
Kate Douglas suggests that if people get a buzz from altruistic acts, they are not purely altruistic (8 August, p 28). I can certainly attest to this. When cycling along a local street, I am occasionally accosted by people asking for small amounts of money. While I do not know if they are being truthful about what they need it for, I usually give them money anyway. It takes 5 minutes for me to stop smiling.
Redmond, Washington, US
