I'm so pissed. I can't believe what I did with this guy.

[Gord]

Obviously I am in the minority ...
... simply because I have no problem with giving a gift to a fellow human being expressing a lack, or limitation.

That's also known as "naivete". As others have said - why give 'em money? Ask them what they need money for, and then offer to help them out with that - watch them, more often than not, mutter and walk away! Quick, simple way to weed the lazy out from the, well, lazy-but-not-alcoholic.

At the local Walmart there are 10 or so people working together who will stand in a certain spot five days a week, two or three people per day, with various "help me, help me" signs - homeless, need food for kids, etc. There are a couple of young teens whose job it is to sit on the curb and look pitiful, and an adult or two each day - all wearing perfectly clean clothes (the 14-or-so girl is usually wearing immaculate white skate shoes and artificially worn designer pants) yet people still stop and give them money all day. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

They're raking in enough cash that they've expanded to the Walgreens directly across the highway and to the AM/PM a few blocks over.

I think I am going to try using the child protective services line on them or get someone older and more suit-and-tie imposing to do so.

 

[Shaughn Leayme]

Hook686,

I do go out of my way to support those who have had a rough time in life, by donating to churches, who have soup kitchens or clothing drives to help the less fortunate in the inner city and have bought a meal or two for someone down on their luck, have even treated entire families, when it comes right down to it.

Where I draw the line, is with those individuals, like the one who hopped on my unit, looking to extort money out of me by his actions. I have seen the guy on the corner with the sign, as has many others and very few of them, are needy, they just found a convenient way to make money and avoid the tax man.

I am not going to contribute to someones drug or alcohol, addiction by giving them money, that isn't helping them, that's just making them go away. I am not a man who is overly religous, but I know people who are affiliated with churches and are part of an outreach program, who can and will help, with food/shelter/clothing/counseling, job placement, all it takes on the part of the person "looking" for help is to call the toll free number on the card.

So maybe, you might believe that some of us are callous and don't care, we do, but we also know that some of our fellow men/women are ready willing and completely capable of exploiting our kindness to their own ends and what they "steal" takes away from someone who really needs it.

I extend my hand out to my fellow man, but do it in a way, that I know will actually help those who need it.

 

[Charles Martel]

Hook686 sounds like my dad. I now have THREE siblings who are on the dole - my dad's dole! I'm not a biblical scholar but I just know that Jesus Christ did not intend for us to enable those who refuse to work or whose simple task is to bamboozle us.

 

[jcramin]

Two rules for people who beg

People out of gas call friends.

True homeless people DO NOT beg for money or food.

 

[fp2000h]

In my opinion, the only real tactical mistake you made was turning away from the individual to reach for your change. If he had been armed, that would have been the most propetious moment for him to draw on you. I live in Austin and we have so many panhandlers. I don't even look at them when they're walking up and down the median. It's sad because they play on your sympathies but they're all crooks. There was one fellow, this one time, who showed up at my doorstep. He'd run out of gas and looked really pathetic. I had a few bucks in my wallet but it was right before payday and I was really hurting and I turned him away. I felt bad for him. I think he was really in a bad spot. I am human, after all. But, hey, I have to struggle to make ends meet sometimes. Sometimes, you just have to say "No."

 

[Crimp]

I donate to the Salvation Army. When I lived in the city and street people asked me for money, I told them to contact the Salvation Army for help and I kept on moving. I never felt bad about that.

 

[Lonestar]

Two rules for people who beg

People out of gas call friends.

True homeless people DO NOT beg for money or food.

+1 The guy was on a cell phone, and IF THE GUY OWNS A CELL PHONE, he does not need your money. If I broke down the last thing I would be thinking of is trying to beg for money.

The good thing about America is our poor may be hungry but they will never starve. There is so much Welfare, shelters, food bank, and other charities that Real Poor people don't need to beg. Some Beggars may be loners or mentally not all there or do not know how to work the system, but most of your beggers are Alcoholics, Addicts, and Scam Artist. I knew a few "no so poor" homeless scam artist, one had a nasty looking hole going through his forearm, and would go up to people and say that he need to go to a doctor but had no money or insurance. He was born with the hole and he would scam hundred of dollars a week. Don't be suprised that some people will panhandle for a few hours for extra bucks, then hop in a car and drive home.

 

[gunsmith]

I am hurting financially big time right now

the phone gets paid for because I'm looking for work, you cant get phone calls from employers without a phone.
I am due unemployment but for some reason I can not get info on my claim,(stupid website problems) I swallowed my pride and went to the food stamp place and waited for a hour or three to be told to come back later (I couldn't because I had a job interview) (& won't go back again , to demoralizing)
I wish someone would just give me gas as I have to drive to Truckee to get a CA dmv printout for a job I have been trying to get.

I've got 88 bucks in the bank, the only thing I would ask of anyone is a prayer.

The problem with helping out pandhandlers is you might be helping them to stick a needle in their arm.

 

[Aegis]

Generosity

I used to transport vehicles all over the U.S.; to get from one site to the next, I rode a lot of Grey Hound buses.
Virtually every stop at least 2 or 3 "s.o.b." stories poured out.
I fell for it a few times, but that really got old quick.
Finally cured of my "Humanitarian Generosity"; If you're too lazy to feed yourself, I'm not too shy about eating a steak in front of you.
You get hungry enough, you'll work... or die...or maybe turn to a life of crime; That's why God invented CCW.
It's all a matter of personal choice.
Guess that sounds kinda harsh, huh?

 

[JShirley]

Okay, this had some borderline on-topic stuff about situational awareness, but it's time to close...