On a recent trip to Harrisburg I encountered a lot of homeless folks. I also witnessed a multi-person brawl on the street parallel to the one I was parked on. Needless to say after that I was even more wary of my surroundings and encounters with homeless folks. I've found it best to respond just as you assume most others would; politely but firmly say "no, sorry", and don't stop walking. That's what most folks do, so your response will be unremarkable among the multitude of responses the beggar has probably received that day. I had the same beggar approach me on two separate occasions and he totally sunk his first story on his second encounter. I wanted so bad to call him out on his 'Nam vet story but I resisted and repeated my first formal response.
That said, I have given things to homeless people; usually a bottle of water or a soda. Never money.
This is absolutely correct. Whenever I stop for gas in a seedy area (even in non-seedy areas if I'm not in a hurry) I'll drive around the station parking lot first and check everything out before parking at the fuel pump. Then I keep my head on a swivel.
Here's something I'd be interested in getting folk's opinion on; when fueling do you keep your driver's side door open or shut and locked/unlocked, and where do you keep your keys? If I want to get into my car ASAP to avoid a situation I see the locked and closed door as an impediment, but then again I don't want someone to walk over and jump in my car while I'm fueling. What I usually do is keep the door closed but unlocked, and the ignition key on my person (not in my pocket because I don't want to dig for it).
That said, I have given things to homeless people; usually a bottle of water or a soda. Never money.
One should always have his or her head on a swivel at a gas station. The hose and/or the car door limit(s) one's movement; the pumps and cars provide cover for one or more assailants; closing distances are short; and the station is, to borrow a phrase from Tom Givens, a veritable water hole in the Serengeti for car jackers, robbers, and kidnappers.
This is absolutely correct. Whenever I stop for gas in a seedy area (even in non-seedy areas if I'm not in a hurry) I'll drive around the station parking lot first and check everything out before parking at the fuel pump. Then I keep my head on a swivel.
Here's something I'd be interested in getting folk's opinion on; when fueling do you keep your driver's side door open or shut and locked/unlocked, and where do you keep your keys? If I want to get into my car ASAP to avoid a situation I see the locked and closed door as an impediment, but then again I don't want someone to walk over and jump in my car while I'm fueling. What I usually do is keep the door closed but unlocked, and the ignition key on my person (not in my pocket because I don't want to dig for it).