Do you or don't you?

[mrviking]

Years ago the signs they were holding said something to the affect : Looking for a job or will work for food.
Now they simply state "Want $$$", At least there upfront now.

[MAniacTHW]

Originally Posted by MortonR

My favorite is the approach at the gas station - "I need $20 for gas to get to my Mom's in (wherever). Can you help me?"

My response - "Sure, I'll put $5 of gas in your car, but I'm not going to give you money."

I think in the 8-10 times this has happened to me I've bought gas once. When they find out you're not going to give them cash they walk away. If that happens I'll go inside and tell the person at the counter about them.

I was at Taco Bus a few years back (yeah, I know...) and some guy asked for money for food. I told him, "Sure, get in line and I'll add you to my ticket." He then told me that Mexican upset his stomach and he wanted to go to Checkers. "Sorry. Don't carry cash."

I was nicer back then. Now I just say no.

I was on my way back from Atlanta a few weeks ago. I was within an hour of Valdosta when I got one of the gas scammers. I said no. I then went into the gas station to let them know that they had a scammer. I got a blank look and a "no?" "Yeah, blond woman, pink shirt... Right there." "We haven't got any complaints." "Well, here I am..."

Needless to say, they allow her to beg.

[engineman]

I am reminded of a panhandler who was on the news some years ago. He commuted from New Jersey to NYC every day to panhandle. Was making good money at it.

[dothetwist]

I don't in the US. When I lived in DC, I would see them go into liquor stores after they collected some money. I felt I was hurting them rather than helping them be enabling them to buy alcohol.

We have a home in Mexcio, too. The beggars here aren't aggressive and are mostly badly disabled (no legs or no arms or club feet). I will give them small change as I exit a store and they sit there with a tin can. I have been told by other Mexicans that these are not scammers. Here in Central MX there is a strong work ethic. Those who cannot work are pitied. Mostly they seem to be victims of birth defects.

And by small change I mean under a peso, which is currently trading at about a US nickel.

[justthe2ofus]

I never give cash on the street. Food for sure.

[Roscoe Conkling]

Some years ago I worked with a charity that used to deliver sandwiches that had reached their sell-by donated from local shops to the homeless.
One night just after we'd delivered some to one homeless guy in a store doorway the sandwiches came flying back out with the shout " not f***ing smoked salmon again."
If you must give to panhandlers then always food and never money as you're often just feeding an addiction.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Roscoe Conkling

Some years ago I worked with a charity that used to deliver sandwiches that had reached their sell-by donated from local shops to the homeless.
One night just after we'd delivered some to one homeless guy in a store doorway the sandwiches came flying back out with the shout " not f***ing smoked salmon again."
If you must give to panhandlers then always food and never money as you're often just feeding an addiction.

Muffin stumps?

RM

[Concert D Major]

I don't give away cash, period. But I have bought food for beggars in parking lots a few times. Plus a couple food / school supply drives every year and maybe a Christmas toy or two. But I don't give out cash cos I don't wanna buyem a pack of cigarettes or a beer.

And I do get fed up with all the begging all over town though. It's every dang stoplight, every grocery store, every parking lot, every shopping plaza. "'scuse me, sir." "Hey, sir. Sir?" "God bless you, sir." Non-stop somedays. It gets obnoxious after a while constantly bein' heckled for money everywhere you go.