New trend in panhandling?

[Skiwi]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

Giving money is seldom a long term fix and often just re-enforces the behaviours that put them in the position of needing to pan-handle/beg etc.

I'd much rather spend ten times the amount they are asking for if they are willing to address the real reason they need to beg.

If anyone ever asks me for money for food/gas etc and I think they are genuine I will give them food gas etc, but seldom money.

 

[jonesg]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

Theres always free coffee and donuts at every AA meeting.
From there ,someone will take them to the soup kitchen.
They know this already, no need to tell them.

 

[hostage]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

I remember on a raining night my roomate got a flat tire. I was changing it for him, since he has never changed one before. While we were doing that some redneck looking guy stops and asks if we will pay him to change the tire, as he is almost out of gas and he needs money. We said no we could handle it as we were almost done anyways. He got a pissed off attitude. I was worried for a bit since I saw him drive by two more times.

I don't give anyone any money. I just don't have any sympathy for America's "poor", I feel it for people starving in other countries though.

 

[skargo]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

I remember on a raining night my roomate got a flat tire. I was changing it for him, since he has never changed one before. While we were doing that some redneck looking guy stops and asks if we will pay him to change the tire, as he is almost out of gas and he needs money. We said no we could handle it as we were almost done anyways. He got a pissed off attitude. I was worried for a bit since I saw him drive by two more times.

I don't give anyone any money. I just don't have any sympathy for America's "poor", I feel it for people starving in other countries though.

WOW, you do realize there really are poor people in America, right? I help at home before I help away.

 

[hostage]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

It really depends on your definition of poor. I have never seen an emaciated American. People in America have opportunity that other countries in the 3rd world don't. Also you don't know who is going to take the money and buy drugs or get drunk.

I would rather help someone who was going to die w/o food than someone who can't live w/o their cable TV. I don't even have cable, since I see it as unnecessary

There might be some people who are really poor, but they are more of the exception of the rule.

I will only give to accredit organizations like the Red Cross, etc.

I don't know about Maryland, but here in NY, we give our poor free cellphones. I would rather feed someone in the 3rd world, than pay for some person here to have such luxury. I would drop my digital cowbell in a heart beat, if my job didn't require it.

My family came from rag to riches story; poor Jewish family moved to NY from Russia in the early 20th century, grandfather never finished high school and worked. My old man became a doctor.

Feel free to call me callous. It all depends on your opinion of poor, but until all of us trade in our toy boats and give everything to the poor, then I don' know if we really have the right to judge each other.

-Hostage

 

[eclark53520]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

If someone asks me for money for gas/food/water/etc

I tell them i'll buy them whatever item they are looking for(unless of course they're looking for something illegal).

That will separate the fakes from the people really in need. If they really need gas in their car thats down the street, they will allow me to buy a gas can, fill it, and put it in their tank.

If they REALLY need food, they will take the food i buy them and not scoff at me and tell me they just need the money.

If they just want the money, sorry, i can't help.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

These people just cant handle the responsibility of having more than 2 dollars in their pocket at one time.

 

[18WCmerc]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

yeah, i dont buy it...must be 100 con artist to every 1 person in need. however,not to help this guy, rather pure entertainment for myself on my way home from the office. A guy on the corner of the highway exit knows my truck, if i can catch the light green i will do a high speed handoff of a dollar, its fun for me and him. Ive done this a few times, but then i got to thinking that this guy is a con artist, he will get wise and throw himself in front of my truck and get a nice fat settlement, so no more high speed handoffs for him.

 

[eclark53520]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

yeah, i dont buy it...must be 100 con artist to every 1 person in need. however,not to help this guy, rather pure entertainment for myself on my way home from the office. A guy on the corner of the highway exit knows my truck, if i can catch the light green i will do a high speed handoff of a dollar, its fun for me and him. Ive done this a few times, but then i got to thinking that this guy is a con artist, he will get wise and throw himself in front of my truck and get a nice fat settlement, so no more high speed handoffs for him.

On the other hand, he might get pissed that you stopped giving him a dollar and throw himself in front of your truck anyway, assuming that he either dies, or gets some money out of you.

Might be worth the chance to him.

 

[75TowerOfPower]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

They did a study/test a couple years ago in Cincinnati on panhandling. I forget if it was a news station or someone else but they panhandled for 3 months and went home to their house and family. Well they came up with an average of 60k tax free dollars by doing it in Cincinnati. They would even hop in their car infront of people that just gave them the money. I have never gave any of them money and there were a lot out west, Las Vegas, LA, and Phoenix.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

Just look at the beggars belly...if he looks like he's been eating well than he has. If it's gas they need...than they don't need it. No one needs gas, food yes, but gas is not a necessity.

Have you seen the sign that says "Will listen to advice on skill-building in hopes of becoming more employable?"

My Dad taught me how to donate if I do decide to though...as he told me to do "chuck the rest of your dorito's out at this bum when we pass by." This may appear insulting but the man got his food and gave me a thumbs up...the delivery method doesn't necesarrily matter.

Every nowandthen I will chuck some dorito's out to these guys (regardless of what the sign says). At least I know they won't starve because of my actions.

I have a friend who makes a living riding a unicyle and juggling in Syndey. To me this is the same thing with less competition.

I ultimately believe people choose there own destiny. Everyone has free will to do as they want...it's up to them what they do with it!

 

[DJ]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

Just look at the beggars belly...if he looks like he's been eating well than he has. If it's gas they need...than they don't need it. No one needs gas, food yes, but gas is not a necessity.

You can't judge a book by it's cover. There are those that are
in need and those that aren't. Unfortunately, we're left to judge.

I've been "scammed" many more times than I'd care to admit. But, I do judge on the side of doubt. If I've got it, I'll share it. If I don't, I won't.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

I hate to say it but I will NOT give to these people. you never know who's scamming and who's not.

I was working at a jobsite and a guy cam up to us looking like he had been on the street for months. smelled bad looked worse, etc etc. he came asking for money for food etc. One of the guys I was working with said Sorry all i have is a hundred, the "bum" reached in his pocket, pulls out a wad of cash and said "thats ok I got change.."

First off it was stupid for the guy to say he had only a hundy... Lucky we didn't get robbed, but bottom line you never know. So I NEVER give. it only makes them money. if they really need food go the the shelters YMCA etc..

 

[korygrandy]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

I'm just saying one can get by without gas. I did help a lady out who needed gas money. Her car was at the pump and she left her wallet at work and looked extremely distressed. She wanted to mail me a check but I declined.

There is some good in me somewhere :redface:

 

[gonefishie]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

I'm just saying one can get by without gas. I did help a lady out who needed gas money. Her car was at the pump and she left her wallet at work and looked extremely distressed. She wanted to mail me a check but I declined.

There is some good in me somewhere :redface:

Was she hot?

 

[scipper77]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

I am not making this up.

We have a guy locally who has a sign that reads...

"Family killed by ninja's, Need money for kung-fu lessons".

 

[tburda]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

I am in the group of giving goods not money. I've often had some doritos, or what not that I had half a bag left. Hell, one guy got lucky and I had 2 fresh taco bell tacos I was too full to eat, just got them at the drive thru not 15 minutes earlier. I offered to buy a guy outside a McDonalds a couple double cheeseburgers since they were 99 cents, and I only had a debit card. He declined. I have no problem helping someone out that might need help. God knows how they got there. Hell I donated 7 full turkeys to a homeless shelter at thanksgiving 3 years ago. My work had extra (each employee got one) and they said "Take the extras or they'll go bad!" I couldn't think of a better thing to do with them.

There's a guy here in Detroit. Sits in a wheelchair at the top of the exit ramp for evergreen road, off of 96 east. Doesn't say a word, just sits. Looking pitiful. Never gave the guy a dime, nothing. He's been going there every day for years. Then the day I saw him there on his ELECTRIC wheelchair, yeah affirmed my beliefs. He should be out beating the streets for a job, not sitting not even trying to beg.

I have however helped the guy or gal at the gas station who you could tell was honestly in distress. Guy had a pickup full of tools and general labor stuff. Dressed to work with his hands. Told me he left his wallet at home that morning, didn't realize it til the way home. I Believed him, pulled the last 5 dollar bill I had out of my wallet and offered it. He insisted he give me a couple of tools in return as he didn't want a hand out, but I declined. I just hope if I found myself in the same position I'd get the same type of HONEST help. I see it as I can goto the bar and spend 5 dollars on beer and junkfood, I can sure afford 5 dollars to help someone get home. The 5 dollars really isn't being spent better either way.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

A lady asked me for 73 cents the other day at a Texaco, said she needed gas. I'm thinking "you ain't gonna get very far on that" and told her that I had no money and that I was filling up the company car on their card, which I was. My passenger however handed her a dollar and off she went into the store. I followed her in to get my receipt...

Guess what 73 cents buys you in Memphis...


1 cigarette!

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

This has happened to me a lot. Beggars coming up in cars saying they are about to run out of gas. Could I give them some money to get back home. I back up a safe distance and keep walking and just say no. People can get some kind of job if they really wanted to work.
I read that a good pan handler can make $40,000+ per year begging. I guess that is their job LOL

 

[ewenm]

Re: New trend in panhandling?

i was in Madagascar a couple of years ago, a very poor country, and we could have kids coming up to us begging, our guide clued us up, you offer them food, some would walk away, others would stuff it down like they really were starving, to them we always have some more.

i came across an old man trying to cook himself some food , he lived on a door step of an abandoned old French building, i gave him some money and he just looked up stunned and began to cry, heart breaking stuff.

another day at the markets, there was a man with crippled feet, and i meant to give him a 50 of the local currency (value = couple of dollars) but by mistake pulled out 50 euro (a small fortune, probably a years income) he looked stunned couldnt believe his luck

i know its a different story to what you are experiencing in your country, but man it makes you feel good to help people in REAL need when you can