Stranded on the road? Would you give them a ride? (Sioux Falls: house, camp)

[MJ1986]

Good responses everyone. If I was a woman, I wouldn't pick up one either. And there is a difference between some dirty looking guy with a knapsack, and a guy wearing nice clothes with a nice car stranded on the road. Then again, you never know.
ashnat, when I was 19, I saw a guy with a cardboard sign in the Walmart parking lot in Sioux Falls on the westside. He had a sign saying "out of gas, need to get back to Bismarck". I felt bad, so I gave him $20. Now that I think about it, I can't believe I did that. Maybe I did help the guy... most likely not, but I think sometimes my kindness overtakes my brain .

[Chris19]

I gave a hitchiker a ride when I was going from Sioux Falls to Vermillion during my freshman year of college. It was snowing heavily that day. It was interesting visiting with him. I got him down to the Coffee Cup, where I dropped him off (about as far as I will go with him). It helped him. Normally, I am cautious about hitchhikers. Unfortunately, a few scary people people cast an unfair shadow over those who are in legitamite need of rides.

With panhandlers, I have been hit up various times in Memphis, Washington, DC, Nashville, St. Louis, and New Orleans. Most of the times, I do not give much. Five years ago, I along with two friends were in Nashville and gave a man $5 or so dollars and was dishearted to see what he did with the money an hour or two later when we noticed him walking around. There was one in St. Louis that was not satisified when I gave one dollar and I did not feel one bit comfortable having him around when waiting for a train. Luckily, I was with another person but were in downtown near the Mississippi River (it likely would have been worse on the Illinois side in East St. Louis). If I get hit up in a large city, I would offer them a meal (which will truely help them), but will not give cash with fear that it may feed an alcohol or drug habit.

When I went to a church youth convention in New Orleans back in high school, I can remember seeing panhandlers underneath the I-10 viaducts between the hotel and heading to either the Superdome or French Quarter along Canal Street. There was a lot of poverty there and this was in 1997, eight years before Katrina. There are some others who are more creative and play music or do tricks for money and the more creative and enterprising ones were along the French Quarter.

[luv_it_here]

I don't pick up hitchhikers - not a chance. I spent several years working behind the scenes in law enforcement - way too many stories out there. I will however, offer to buy a homeless guy in downtown lunch, sit down, and spend my lunch hour with them (did this more in Phx - not so much of a problem out here in Rapid) If I see someone broken down on the side of the road, I will pull over, and roll the window down, to see if they need a cell phone.

[stan4]

Not only no, but hell no. Not a woman, not a man...too many crime stories.

[Jammie]

We always used to feel sorry for panhandlers and stop and give them money, too. It was usually $5.00 which was actually a strain on our budget 30 years ago. Then I was reading an article and discovered that they don't work for a living and made a LOT more then we made by just standing on the side of the road with a sign. That kind of cured us from contributing.

[ashnat]

no doubt. Off Lacrosse and I90 I often see a couple with a baby stroller filled with diapers and wipes, asking for handouts. That drives me nuts! Using the "thought of a baby" to get donations! (there's no baby in the stroller because it's filled with boxed cases of diapers.)

[Chris19]

Not often, but there have been a few people asking for money on the 41st St. exit. The way they did it was rather tacky. Granted, there are people who legitimately need help, but the lazy and bad ones unfortunately cast a bad shadow over the legit ones who need a ride or help.

[DannyBanany]

Originally Posted by ashnat

no doubt. Off Lacrosse and I90 I often see a couple with a baby stroller filled with diapers and wipes, asking for handouts. That drives me nuts! Using the "thought of a baby" to get donations! (there's no baby in the stroller because it's filled with boxed cases of diapers.)

It seems like there are always panhandlers on the LaCrosse Street exit. I've also seen a lot of hitchhikers on the Heartland Expressway exit holding signs that say "Denver" or "Sioux Falls". Must be kind of a crossroads.

[MJ1986]

Hmm interesting.
I've seen the "panhandlers" on the Cliff Ave exit on I-90 too... But they don't have signs... I guess they just want a ride to another city.

[MJ1986]

Originally Posted by ashnat

no doubt. Off Lacrosse and I90 I often see a couple with a baby stroller filled with diapers and wipes, asking for handouts. That drives me nuts! Using the "thought of a baby" to get donations! (there's no baby in the stroller because it's filled with boxed cases of diapers.)

That is just ridiculous.