Hey man! Can I borrow your cell phone?

[Dirty Bob]

Brrlgrrl and others:
Very aggressive panhandling has sometimes seemed just a step (or less) away from a mugging. I was caught in Condition White in Berkeley on the day of the big Berkeley/Stanford game in 1989 by two guys. I gave them a few bucks and counted myself lucky when they left. I was with a female friend from work, and they cornered us in the doorway of a restaurant that turned out to be closed unexpectedly. We turned around after trying the door, and there they were!

They "behaved" like panhandlers, but there was an edge of potential violence there that had me wishing for a baseball bat (and three friends with bats).

The guy following me happened to a friend and I, coming out of the movies in downtown Santa Rosa, CA. He and I both got spooked, and we didn't reply. We wanted no trouble, so we were staying on well-lit streets and looking for a cop. The mendicant finally got tired of following and yelling at us.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[TxCajun]

In San Francisco, I saw more than one truly professional panhandler with a real sense of pride in their work. These guys had professionally printed, laminated signs from Kinkos or some place.

"Unemployed, hungry and stranded. Need to get back to (pick a state). Please help with bus fare."

Geez... What about the $14 sign? Idiots actually give them money too! (Where's the idiot smiley?)

 

[jdberger]

In my one block from the Bart station to my office, I see the same 4 guys. They are there for morning commute, lunch time and evening commute. Step out at 2:00 and the streets are empty. Essentially, these guys report to work every day. Pretty amazing.

However, I have seen some pretty interesting things. There was this guy who just showed up begging one day. He had two suitcases. A week later, one suitcase. As time went by, his collection of stuff got smaller and smaller. I don't know if he had to sell it or if it got stolen. It was actually pretty sad.

 

[Dirty Bob]

I've given money to people I believed were truly in trouble. I've taken people for lunch. The hard part is distinguishing between the "pros" and someone who's actually down on his/her luck.

I can't help forgetting that begging is also a good way to get close to someone and to have them look down (as they prepare to give their money). Give when you want to, but be careful! It's not a bad idea to have a loose $1 or two in a pocket for such things.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[zahc]

If I had a bad feeling about the guy, I would have said 'no'. If I was convinced he was legit, I still wouldn't have lent him my phone, I would have asked what his mother's number was. I can make the call for him.

I don't loan my stuff out anymore. This goes for knives too, I never loan a knife out, no exceptions, but if I'm always out to help and if someone needs something cut I will cut it for them.

I don't lie to people who come up to me on the street. I don't tell them I don't have a phone, I don't tell them I don't have any money. I just tell them no. I don't have to make up an excuse. It is my stuff and they can't have it.