"Hey, can I borrown your cell phone to make a call?"

[quigboto]

(That's proverbial, of course. They probably didn't go to college)

[gichicago]

Happened to me once. I said sorry, but no. He asked me why not since it was an emergency and I said it's not my problem. Unless it's a 911 call, it's not an emergency to me.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by gichicago

Happened to me once. I said sorry, but no. He asked me why not since it was an emergency and I said it's not my problem. Unless it's a 911 call, it's not an emergency to me.

Good for you, keep that karma flowin!

[Chicagonuckles]

Never let anyone use your phone no matter how much they cry or beg they usually get your phone and take off and run with it
Best option refer them to a convenience store or a pay phone

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by quigboto

They're absolutely welcome to give it the ol' college try.

You are probably the type that would kick their face inn. There are some that would be rude to someone like that and not be able to defend themselves if something where to go down. Next thing you know is there is a story of someone getting robbed for for their cell phone.

Wasn't there a robbery in the south loop where a homeless person asked for some money and the lady told him to get a job. The homeless person beat her almost to death? Be careful out there.

[quigboto]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

You are probably the type that would kick their face inn. There are some that would be rude to someone like that and not be able to defend themselves if something where to go down. Next thing you know is there is a story of someone getting robbed for for their cell phone.

Wasn't there a robbery in the south loop where a homeless person asked for some money and the lady told him to get a job. The homeless person beat her almost to death? Be careful out there.

Telling someone to get a job (in that way) is antagonistic. It's not surprising that someone would react poorly to that. On the other hand saying "No" and nothing else is just that, saying "No" I don't say "NO, you frickin' hobo!" or "No, you filthy bum" I just say "No."
I don't offer them any further explanation, because I don't owe them one.

I have never kicked anyone's "face inn" either. I abhor violence, and as such, never incite it. I don't, however, live in fear either, and have absolutely no problem defending myself if necessary.

There is no shortage of people in my neighborhood looking for handouts or favors, and after 6 years of a direct "No" or "I can't help you" w/o further explanation, they see me and do not even bother to ask anymore. Not out of fear for having their face "kicked inn" but because they already know what the answer is, and we all arrived at that concensus without any face kicking (inn)

[sydbarrett]

This one did not end up too good. Of course, being in Englewood did not help either.

"South Side detectives today released a sketch of a man who raped a woman after asking to use her cell phone while they walked in Englewood on Sunday."

Cops: Man asked to use cell phone, then attacked woman - chicagotribune.com