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That's how I feel about the ones on Franklin St. in chapel Hill. They are aggressive, to the point that I feel it should be considered robbery or at the minimum harassment. I do not want them to step in front of me, try to impede my walking, and "demand" that I give them money. That's robbery in my opinion. I've encountered a few aggressive ones in parking lots at big stores too. To me, that's borderline behavior, and shouldn't be tolerated.
They do get right in front of you on Franklin St. in CH. I go down every 5-6 weeks to get my hair cut and I get more and more uncomfortable with having people stop me in my tracks and ask for money. I will tell them I have an appointment to get to and I'm sorry I cannot help them. But it's startling when they stop you while you're walking.
I've seen panhandlers and performers in all of the big touristy cities, places like Times Square, Key West, Honolulu, etc. You have the ones in costume who pose for pics, the ones who weave palm fronds into hats, etc. But you still get the semi-aggressive panhandler types who try to intimidate you into giving them money. I'm sure it works enough that it encourages them to keep doing it.
The ones in Chapel Hill though, I've never encountered like them, anywhere else. Maybe the town has cracked down on them, and they aren't as bad as they used to be. But it used to make me angry to walk down Franklin St, and have these guys harass me every step of the way until they reached the end of their "turf" and the next guy took over. I've even seem them fight over "turf" before. I've visited a lot of places, but never seen it as bad as I've seen it in Chapel Hill. I have no idea WHY the town let's it continue, if they still do. It's a horrible way to welcome guests, and it's a terrible thing to let your citizens be harassed like that. I rarely go there any longer. I think the last time I walked down Franklin St was last summer...and we literally stayed on the next block over till we got to our destination, a restaurant. I did not venture down the heart of Franklin St, and haven't in a few years now.
I have no idea what you are talking about BigKahuna. I have never seen that and have lived in Chapelboro for 30 years and am downtown quite frequently. I don't doubt your experience, but I don't think it was a common one.
Begging on Franklin Street has been a longstanding problem in Chapel Hill, and something the town council discusses from time to time. It's driven largely by two factors: The proximity of the men's homeless shelter/IFC kitchen at Columbia & Rosemary, and (2) the fare free bus system in Chapel Hill.
The shelter is relocating to an area near MLK and Homestead, which might help alleviate some of the problem.
That isn't a panhandler, that's a busker. There is a difference.
Huge difference. I always give to buskers. I've only been asked for money directly from someone once. It was at a gas station. I told them I wouldn't give them cash, but I would put gas in their car. I put in 10$...the woman said thank-you and was very polite.
I have no idea what you are talking about BigKahuna. I have never seen that and have lived in Chapelboro for 30 years and am downtown quite frequently. I don't doubt your experience, but I don't think it was a common one.
It must have just been my lucky day, each of the days that I went there and saw the stiff-armed robberies going on in broad daylight. Worst exhibit of aggressive panhandling I've ever witnessed in my entire life and travels, happened on Franklin St. I saw it numerous times.
If "cashless living" becomes too common, panhandlers will have to start asking you to PayPal them some funds from your phone...
The last time I gave money (more than loose change) was several months ago. It was a lady at a bank parking lot, who said the ATM was out of order, and was worried about having sufficient gas to get to another bank branch. I gave her 3 bucks or so. I figure everyone does something absent minded once in a while.
How were they aggressive Big Kahuna? I find it strange they seem target one person over another eg why beg from Big Kahuna and not poppy dog?
I dunno Angelkitten. I do almost always see panhandlers on Franklin St, but mostly they're just sitting on a bench with a cup or box for change or standing in a doorway with a sign that asks for money. Occasionally they might ask me if I can spare any change, but that's about it. I haven't had any of those folks be what I would term aggressive with me — certainly no more aggressive than the college students asking me to give money to Greenpeace or whoever. There's also a high school kid who does pretty good magic tricks frequently and the occasional buskers. The son of one of my neighbors sometimes plays the bucket drum up there for tips.
I did have a guy approach me at Carr Mill in Carrboro the other day and say he was trying to get a prescription filled for a bee sting on his cheek. His cheek was puffed out and there is a drug store right there, so although I doubted the veracity of his story I gave him a little money anyway. I felt like there was a possibility that it could be true and I appreciate a good story.
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