Dealing with Uptick in Panhandling (Etna: crime, purchase, theatre)

[corpgypsy]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

Yeah, I've heard plenty of BS from Panhandlers too. Like the two that claimed after I gave them a few dollars that they would repay me. LOL

I find that sadly touching. ( NOT THE LOL) Possibly, they really wanted to. Possibly, they expressed that, in an effort to maintain some dignity. I can't imagine how it must feel to have to ask for help in such a humiliating way as panhandling. Truly wretchedly depressing!

[jay5835]

I gave .25 to a panhandler today in the name of guy2073, and .25 in the name of WILW Radio.

[WILWRadio]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I gave .25 to a panhandler today in the name of guy2073, and .25 in the name of WILW Radio.

At least I was more generous than that until I woke up and realized they are nothing more than con artists.

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by jay5835

I gave .25 to a panhandler today in the name of guy2073, and .25 in the name of WILW Radio.

Thank you, I am sure their life is much better now.

[erieguy]

If those that feel that these people really need help and would take a job, have you tried to get them a job? "Teach a man to fish..."

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by erieguy

If those that feel that these people really need help and would take a job, have you tried to get them a job? "Teach a man to fish..."

That requires effort

[mrcnkwcz]

For those people claiming that panhandlers are likely to be scam artists--how do you define that, exactly? That they're misrepresenting the real 'reason' they need the money? That's they're not as bad off as they claim to be, economically? If 'yes' being the answer to either of those is sufficient to render a beggar a scam artist in your book, well, your book is different from mine. So they have a drug problem and a low-rent housing situation rather than being legitimately hungry and homeless. Let's assume that's true in many instances. Those circumstances are still the furthest thing from ideal. The only way that I'd consider a panhandler to be truly scamming is if they were wealthy and doing it for sport. Such people have to represent such an exceedingly low percentage of all panhandlers that one wonders if someone meeting that description even exists (NY sociology prof who did the famous NYC subway experiment notwithstanding).

For what it's worth, I'm from Buffalo but was in Pittsburgh yesterday for a baseball game with my father, neighbor, and neighbor's friend. This is an annual tradition; what is not typically part of said tradition is the walk my dad and I took around the Hill District yesterday late afternoon. Much like Buffalo, Pittsburgh has a lot of people who need help economically. To think that panhandling is the worst of the possible options of 'obtaining' that help (as opposed to say armed robbery or drug dealing) is to be incredibly myopic and perhaps be guilty of being a military guy from Etna who somehow feels threatened by a bucket-wielding beggar tapping on the sealed window of his two-ton potential killing machine. Just an absurd perspective and failure to consider the 'life options' available to many people. Many of your fellow humans.

To the military guy from Etna: rather than relying on the implied threat of potential police presence, roll down your windows next time and say no yourself, at the very least. That alone is a significant step to take in the effort to lift oneself out of your current cowardly life situation, and I will congratulate you if you are able to honestly report that you were able to pull it off.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by mrcnkwcz

For those people claiming that panhandlers are likely to be scam artists--how do you define that, exactly? That they're misrepresenting the real 'reason' they need the money? That's they're not as bad off as they claim to be, economically? If 'yes' being the answer to either of those is sufficient to render a beggar a scam artist in your book, well, your book is different from mine. So they have a drug problem and a low-rent housing situation rather than being legitimately hungry and homeless. Let's assume that's true in many instances. Those circumstances are still the furthest thing from ideal. The only way that I'd consider a panhandler to be truly scamming is if they were wealthy and doing it for sport. Such people have to represent such an exceedingly low percentage of all panhandlers that one wonders if someone meeting that description even exists (NY sociology prof who did the famous NYC subway experiment notwithstanding).

For what it's worth, I'm from Buffalo but was in Pittsburgh yesterday for a baseball game with my father, neighbor, and neighbor's friend. This is an annual tradition; what is not typically part of said tradition is the walk my dad and I took around the Hill District yesterday late afternoon. Much like Buffalo, Pittsburgh has a lot of people who need help economically. To think that panhandling is the worst of the possible options of 'obtaining' that help (as opposed to say armed robbery or drug dealing) is to be incredibly myopic and perhaps be guilty of being a military guy from Etna who somehow feels threatened by a bucket-wielding beggar tapping on the sealed window of his two-ton potential killing machine. Just an absurd perspective and failure to consider the 'life options' available to many people. Many of your fellow humans.

To the military guy from Etna: rather than relying on the implied threat of potential police presence, roll down your windows next time and say no yourself, at the very least. That alone is a significant step to take in the effort to lift oneself out of your current cowardly life situation, and I will congratulate you if you are able to honestly report that you were able to pull it off.

What have you done to help them?

Potential 2 ton killing machine? How do you travel?

[mrcnkwcz]

Make eye contact, be respectful, give money when I can. If I were wealthy I'd do more. Once in Buffalo I let a guy sleep in my car rather than outside in the freezing cold. He was initially pretty threatening to anyone he encountered (including me) but ultimately was really appreciative (and interesting to talk to, especially as the vodka wore off). I drove him to a friend's house the next morning. There's another guy in Buffalo I semi-befriended. He wasn't homeless (I use the past tense because I haven't seen him in a few years and fear he may have died; he wasn't in good health) but was barely scraping by, selling scarves and handbags on the street for cash. Former musician; probably had a higher IQ than most of his customers. It's not much. I just hate the contempt/disregard that most people show.

[TechCom]

Originally Posted by mrcnkwcz

I hope my second post clarified it for you. Obviously the 'walk on by without acknowledgement' response is the most common. I saw it yesterday firsthand. It's disappointing but expected.

Okay, yeah didn't read the second post until now. I'm not giving anyone any money and I think doing so just encourages more to beg. I think they should be arrested for solicitation. They want help then go to a food bank or the million other charities out there.