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What are some of the worst cities to encounter panhandlers? I would rate not only on sheer number of beggars, but also methods they use such as knocking on windows, following pedestrians, misrepresenting themselves (selling otherwise free items/taking "donations" for something) and any other unique circumstances you can think of.
For me, Buffalo and Rochester are two cities where I can say I've almost never been able to visit the downtown areas without being asked for money. NYC has this, but primarily only around Times Square, Penn Station, etc. Washington DC is another place I've noticed especially on the metro.
Which cities have you experienced the most aggressive panhandlers?
Something I noticed: There were almost no homeless people in NYC and DC compared to what I'm used to here on the west coast (specifically Eugene, Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco). But the ones I did see over on the east coast were far more aggressive. I've only been approached here by someone once or twice asking for change. But on the east, when I was only there for a few weeks, I was approached by basically every homeless person I saw, which wasn't many, but still atleast 6 or 7 times.
Bunch of crazy a$$ people, year round due to the climate. I've been chased, followed, cussed at, and threatened many many times.
Yeah, SF has the chronic homeless and mentally ill who harass you nonstop and Oakland has the "I just got out of jail" types who try to intimidate you like they're still inside.
They take advantage of the laid back and liberal nature of most of the people living on the left coast. People in NYC and Boston have no problem telling them to F right off without guilt.
Can't say I'm surprised. That's where "Vietnam Tom" is from
I will say a man told me he was going to "blow my f***ing head off" on Yonge Street in Toronto when I didn't give him a dollar.
I'm in some bad areas a lot for work, and it doesn't really bother me.
But about a month ago, A homeless fella said he was going to slit my throats after I said I had no cash. I'm used to this, but this time was different. Dude started following me around as I walked around doing my job. He mumbling and such the whole time, I actually got a little nervous. So I took off running around a corner and went through an alley back around to my work truck and left for about an hour, came back and he was long gone
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