Posted on 02/22/2012 1:07:59 PM PST by SmithL
“, ever since people were put in poverty by a society that sometimes lacks mercy.”
Capitalism’s fault again!
99 times out of 100 I won’t give money to panhandlers. But I always make an attempt at eye contact when I refuse.
The first time I saw a panhandler in my home town was when I was twelve or so, before that I had only seen them in San Francisco, Seattle and other major metropolitan areas. Apparently there wasn't much of a “market” for what he was offering and HE WENT AWAY - probably to San Francisco. For the next five years or so I saw no panhandling or panhandlers.
Then around the age of 25 or so, when I would visit, I started to see a couple of them hanging around our little ‘downtown’. People were giving them spare change for their tattoos and piercings.
Now, over a decade later, I see a dozen of them shuffling around downtown. People are giving them money - so they continue to panhandle in my small home town. If people didn't give them money - hopefully they would GO AWAY!
Back to the major metropolitan areas where the modern day “urban outdoors-man” belongs!
A few years back, the do-goodniks in San Antonio decided to build a hundred million dollar homeless shleter.
That’s right. You read it correctly. $100,000,000.00
The homeless people don’t appreciate it. But it did accomplish one predictable goal:
It INCREASED the number of bums begging on the streets in San Antonio.
I often think about what I would do if I found myself in dire circumstances. In no scenario do I ever see myself standing on a street corner begging for spare change. I would take any job before begging in the street, be it working at McDonalds or pumping gas. If things were truly so bad that I could not find a job anywhere, I would probably go to the dirtiest section of town with a broom and a few trash bags and hang a sign that I am unemployed but will be cleaning up the streets and would appreciate any donations for my service. Then I'd get busy sweeping the street and filling the trash bags with litter.
I bet that approach would coax a lot of quarters and dollar bills out of passers-by and maybe even one of the local business owners will come out and personally offer me a job for my initiative.
This is where people around the world come for opportunity.
But some would rather stand around begging for change for their next alcohol (or other drug) fix.
And I’m just the opposite. When I’m hit up for money on the streets, I ignore them. I don’t look at them. I don’t speak to them. I just keep on walking.
I do go “on alert” in case this provokes them, but so far - so good.
On my last visit to my Daughters and Granddaughters in San Berdoo, Kalifornia, I would see teams of these moochers at every strip mall, 7/11, grocery store or where ever. Their clothes, although shabby, were clean, as they were. They probably live better than I do!
Several years ago they busted a guy who was pulling in two to three hundred dollars a day by holding a sign that said “WILL WORK FOR FOOD”.
What a great question!
My most treasured handout was to a very old Irish woman who lived on my street in New York City. I would buy her coffin nails. I can still remember her sweet “Bless you! Bless you!” as I went to catch the bus.
Actually panhandling "pays" way more than a typical low end service job. There used to be a woman who worked the street near my office. I used to feel pity for her story of homelessness, etc. until one day I saw her at the end of her "shift" putting her tattered coat into her backpack and taking out a nice coat. Then she climbed onto an expensive bicycle and drove off. Paying more attention to her I saw her buying breakfast with plenty of cash early in the AM and then doing her job for about five hours. She pulled in from 10 to 40 dollars per hour.
As for the panhandlers that aren't tricking you, you can assume whatever money you give them goes straight to the cash register at a liquor store or to the nearest crack, meth or heroin dealer. In my experience most of those folks don't want food, just money to spend on their addiction. They need real help, not cash to enable their substance abuse.
NEVER give money to an Obamazombie, it only encourages them.
NEVER give money to an Obamazombie, it only encourages them.
NEVER give money to an Obamazombie, it only encourages them.
NEVER give money to an Obamazombie, it only encourages them.
I have no idea why it posted this 4 times.
Best is to carry protein bars or bags of nuts and hand them to the beggars by the sides of the road. If they are truly hungry it will help them.
I have recently seen some of these people being “dropped off” at their exit in a nice car. Nicer than mine at the time. This angered me. I am wondering if there is a big pimp style organization that uses these people and collects The money.
I only say yes if they have a good story and reality has been kind to me lately. The story has to at least make it sound like this money could put you on the path to self sufficiency, I don’t care if it’s a lie, make it sound good. Panhandlers need to understand that they’re in the business of selling a sense of goodness, the person is giving them money to feel good about themselves. So sell it well.
I don’t let panhandlers approach me. I know of a guy from a nearby town who was in Pueblo, CO walking down the sidewalk when a man approached asking for spare change. While he was distracted the beggar’s partner came up behind and hit him in the back of the head with a 2x4 and they robbed him. He is now paralyzed from the neck down. Never let strangers approach you. Years ago I was almost robbed in the lobby of the hospital in Richmond, Virginia by two guys who wanted to know the time. They grabbed my wrist and went for my watch which looked expensive but wasn’t. Just then the elevator opened next to us and they ran.
well I know I’m considered the forums resident soft assed pu$$y
i give to folks whenever the mood hits me....hungry..dope..bottle...it depends....helps if they are polite
and yes ...in the third world where i where spent 20 years....Colombia...Haiti....Sierra Leone...etc
i gave too....limbless folks....kids with open sores and swollen bellies and rickets
yep gave to them too....
never knew they did all that to themselves on purpose so they could beg better
silly me
but you know the biggest jerkoffs I’ve given to have neen some on this very forum
either downright ungrateful or just shameless
i prefer to give to bums and blind kids
and no...i do not mean freepathons
JR and company are actually undercompensated considering the drama they have to endure
well I know I’m considered the forums resident soft assed pu$$y
i give to folks whenever the mood hits me....hungry..dope..bottle...it depends....helps if they are polite
and yes ...in the third world where i where spent 20 years....Colombia...Haiti....Sierra Leone...etc
i gave too....limbless folks....kids with open sores and swollen bellies and rickets
yep gave to them too....
never knew they did all that to themselves on purpose so they could beg better
silly me
but you know the biggest jerkoffs I’ve given to have neen some on this very forum
either downright ungrateful or just shameless
i prefer to give to bums and blind kids
and no...i do not mean freepathons
JR and company are actually undercompensated considering the drama they have to endure
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