Foiling Panhandler

[PILOON]

There used to be a well-known guy who always sat in front of the corner entrance to the Laclede Gas building in downtown STL. He was dress very shabby, and sat in the middle of the sidewalk with his long skinny legs splayed out to the sides, mouth open and teeth protruding, and looking at passers-by as if he had no idea where he even was. A local paper did an exposé on him once. The reporter watched him all day, then followed him at the end of the day when he got up and got on the bus. He ended up at a nice home in an upscale suburban neighborhood. He estimated that the guy took in about $500 that day ... which works out to $130K/year (this was back in the '80s).

Yeah, and we pay taxes that support him. Bet he also gets welfare.
Sounds like those ladies that swap their fur coats for a well worn cloth one to get free food at the food bank. (leaving the BMW around the corner)
Have seen that all too often.

 

[shaeff]

Learned a long time ago that when one carries are gun, you keep your mouth shut. Seems some people still don't understand this.

There but for the grace of God go I.

Good advice, and exactly how I've always felt about it, too. Last thing on my mind is to escalate a confrontation into a MWAG situation. Things can go from "I feel like a bada$$" to "Why am I in handcuffs" way too quickly. Something I always compared it to was:

"Speak softly, but carry a big stick."

 

[oosik]

I always have a dollar or two up in the dash tray for when I'm "stuck" at an intersection with a panhandler. If they come out to my vehicle I can give them a buck. I will tell them to check in with Salvation Army because I give them annual donations. And I do give annually to SA.

 

[dmccarty]

Just recently in one of our local cities, a guy knocked on a door to a house at 0700. Someone in the house opened the door, :shocked::confused3:, and the guy asked for money. Sounds like they did not give him any money so he pulled out a gun, kidnapped the father, mother and two kids. He took them to a couple of ATM's to get cash and then went to Target to go shopping. :shocked: You just can't make this scat up. Eventually the dad was able to talk to a Target employee who called 911 and the begger/assault/kidnapper/robber was arrested. Given how many serious charges this guy earned in one morning, I don't think he will get our of prison.

Later,
Dan

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

NO! NO! NO! :mur:

Everyone gets this wrong.... It's:

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and he'll be gone for the entire weekend.

I thought it was:

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all weekend.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Just recently in one of our local cities, a guy knocked on a door to a house at 0700. Someone in the house opened the door, :shocked::confused3:, and the guy asked for money. Sounds like they did not give him any money so he pulled out a gun, kidnapped the father, mother and two kids. He took them to a couple of ATM's to get cash and then went to Target to go shopping. :shocked: You just can't make this scat up. Eventually the dad was able to talk to a Target employee who called 911 and the begger/assault/kidnapper/robber was arrested.

Given how many serious charges this guy earned in one morning, I don't think he will get our of prison.

Later,
Dan

I'll wager that was his plan all along.

 

[DaveNJ]

A long time ago I used to take a train to attend night law school in Philadelphia. From the train station to the school a gauntlet of panhandlers asked for quarters or dollars for a variety of purposes. I paid most. After the first week I would just say "hi, good to see you again- good luck" and they would leave me alone. Frequent traveler status I guess.

 

[CobyRupert]

I thought it was:

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all weekend.

I thought it was:
"Build a bum a fire, and he'll be warm for a day;
Set a bum on fire, and he'll be warm the rest of his life."

 

[Larry Caldwell]

saw on FB today where a lady I know offered a guy a job that was panhandling and he told her he made more money than she did so she took his picture and was trying to get the word out he was just a POS

It's true. If a panhandler is only making $20/hr he isn't working on it. Women do even better. Yesterday I got hit up for money outside of a liquor store. Really, dude? You couldn't walk 3 stores down and not be so obvious?

When I donate, I give money to the local men's shelter.

 

[Sprinklerman]

Had a shady guy come up to me while I was pumping gas .He got a bit too close asking for money . I pulled the nozzle out of my truck and pointed it at him and had a lighter in my other hand . He got the message real quick . I also left rather quick