Panhandling $250 to $300 a week

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | Mon, Jun. 24, 2002 | MICHAEL HINKELMAN

[toupsie]

Living in NYC, I can't walk from point A to Point B without some disgusting crackhead hitting me up for change...even when point B is two blocks away from point A. The NYC bums rake in the big coin from tourists. So if you visit the Big Apple, please keep your change to yourself!!! Because at night, these guys a peeing 'a 40 oz.' in the street and screaming racist comments at the tops of their lungs

[Warren]

He outta be busted for failure to pay taxes.

[Bonaparte]

I once read about a school in NYC that trained people to be professional panhandlers. A very expensive program that taught acting skills, psychology, make-up, costume, etc. These people made a lot more money than the guy in the article. Many of them didn't even need the money. They just liked the idea of hoodwinking others while getting something for nothing.

[rockprof]

I never give money to panhandlers since most of them use it to buy alcohol or drugs and you're not helping them by handing them money - you're hurting them!

I do give money to the local Salvation Army and my church since I know these organizations give food and clothing to people down on their luck.

[College Repub]

Well, it's only a lie of the dude presents himself as homeless or poor, right? The guy that just goes around asking people if they can spare a buck or two is not lying...

[riri]

hmmmm...what are the chances this peice of ____ will use again..and soon? He still looks at his former lifestyle as pretty good, except for the stress ofcourse...he "loves using"...How many people like this are out there walking around? Scary.

[flying Elvis]

I wonder if he is related to Jethro Tull? ;)

[proxy_user]

"Omar's School for Beggars". It was a hoax played on the media by a famous hoaxer. There never was any such school.

[frmrda]

Chances are probably pretty good that he will use again. However, at least he is trying to do the right thing instead of being a panhandler again. I hope for his sake (and ours) that it works out for him.

[Conservababe]

Here in my small town, the panhanders sit on the road shoulders near a stop light. They hold signs saying "I will work for food".

Once, a guy I worked with gave a man five dollars. He is really soft hearted. He drove on to a convience store to buy gas and pick up twelve pack of beer. When he got in line to pay, guess who was in front of him. Yes, the panhandler with a twelve pack of Bud. My friend had a much less expensive beer in hand.

He says that he is now cured of his soft hearted notions now.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"I love using...I been doing this for 16 years, and it's been, you know, like a pretty nice thing..."

Unusual candor. I suppose it's too much to hope that the San Francisco Chronicle will reprint this article?

[dmz]

oh my god!

what beer could possibly cost much less than that god awful swill named Budweiser, yech.

your friend is the one I feel sorry for.

[southern rock]

When he got in line to pay, guess who was in front of him. Yes, the panhandler with a twelve pack of Bud. My friend had a much less expensive beer in hand.

Oh, no big deal, IMO. Once you decide to give someone money, it's really none of your buisness how they decide to spend it.

[Conservababe]

Around these parts, we like our Bud. LOL

[toddst]

I never give money to panhandlers since most of them use it to buy alcohol or drugs and you're not helping them by handing them money - you're hurting them! I do give money to the local Salvation Army and my church since I know these organizations give food and clothing to people down on their luck.

More people should take your approach - and just say NO to the thinly disguised muggers. That's why people give them money, most are afraid not to.

A little spine and a concealed carry weapon are the right way to go IMHO. Why should we give the streets over to these slugs?

[weegee]

And then there's that guy that stands out on the corner with the sign, "I won't lie, I just want to get a beer".

Newspapers will occassionally print photos of these panhandlers so there could be one in your town now...

The one I've seen stands near downtown Houston at Richmond and HW59.

[weegee]

Got their own kingdom now!

[LetsRok]

This reminds me of the episode of the "Andy Griffith Show" where Opie and his friends befriend a bum living in the woods outside of town. When Andy finds out and confronts the bum about working, the bum makes up a bunch of excuses why he can't work. Once the fraud was revealed to Opie, I bet he didn't contribute to these people again.

[weegee]

I guess that the last fundraising campaign at DUh didn't go so well:

[tdadams]

I seriously detest panhandlers. Anytime I'm approached by these guys, I refuse to give them money, but offer to buy them a sandwich. In ten years of living in the city, I've only had one panhandler take me up on the sandwich offer. I happily obliged.