Foiling Panhandler

[MossRoad]

... But again most people are good and just need a little help. ...

And that's where all of us would be better off supporting local organizations that can better manage the money for these people instead of giving them the money directly, where 9 times out of 10, it goes to drugs or alcohol and does nothing to help the person get out of the situation they are in. Absolutely Nothing.

 

[Mace Canute]

Just tell them "Sorry. All my money is tied up in currency."

 

[thepumpguysc]

When asked for a "spare dollar" & tellum sorry, only 100 came in this bundle this time..
Same with the bum at work.. "gotta an extra cigarette"?? NOPE, only 20 came in this pack, no extras..

 

[Bird]

I've been known to tell one, "I don't have any cash; I use credit cards".

 

[mjarrels]

Decades ago 60 minutes did a story about NYC panhandles and you wouldnt belive how much money they made tax free, if I remember, over $50.000 a year and this was over 30 years ago.

mark

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Someone mentioned the "gas money"excuse; I have concluded that is a euphemism for "I need a fix right now". I have had it pulled on me several times...once by a guy who was doing some tree work in my yard; at noon he wanted partial payment for "gas money". I later checked the DOC website and found out he was an ex con in for among other things, drugs. Another time, a young lady asked me for "gas money", and a couple hours later, a police car drove by, stopped, and asked me if I had seen this same young lady (they had a picture) they were looking for her for failing to appear on drug charges.

 

[kenmac]

You know it's a lot easier and safer to just tell them "Sorry, I can't help you." and be done with it. They'll just walk away and bother someone else, VS giving them some advice or criticism that can escalate the situation and will do nothing at all to change their way of thinking. Just tell 'em "Nope. Sorry." and walk away.

Well, If you have to ask for gas money, You can't afford to be riding around in a car with 3 young males that appear able to work.

I first told her no. She didn't just walk away. She continued with a story line I really didn't care to hear. Had she just walked away after me telling her no. It would have been over.

I wasn't about to walk away. I was standing outside talking to a friend

There are those that can't take no for an answer

 

[Dftodd]

A couple years ago, I was at a Murphy gas station in town. Had a female meth head walk up to me asking for money. She was acting really sketchy while she as asking for money. I was pumping gas in my truck, and couldn't go anywhere.

When I told her I didn't have any cash, she walked in front of the truck and worked her way to the passenger side. Looking in the windows the whole time. When she was in front of the truck, I reached in my pocket and hit the door lock button on the remote. Good thing I did. Apparently the pack of smokes, sitting in the center console peaked her interest. She started trying to open the the door to the truck At this point, I lost my temper, told her she needed to get the h##l away from my truck, and I was gonna call the cops.

At this point, another patron of the gas station who happened to have a concealed carry stepped in and told her to move on as well, and showed her his gun. This ended the situation.

Wife and I both have our concealed carries now over that situation.

 

[Citydude]

I gave my last $20.00 bill to a guy at a gas station while filling my car. I never even thought about it, I just pulled it out and gave it to him. He said God Bless you to me and went in and bought some sandwiches and was eating one of them before he got to the cashier. Once in a while, there is a reason you are at that place at that time.

 

[square1]

You know it's a lot easier and safer to just tell them "Sorry, I can't help you." and be done with it. They'll just walk away and bother someone else, VS giving them some advice or criticism that can escalate the situation and will do nothing at all to change their way of thinking. Just tell 'em "Nope. Sorry." and walk away.

Try that in a train / hobby store and see how far it gets you

Used to fly the redeye from LAX to home back east every Friday morning. Was refueling the rental car when approached with "Hey man, my wife and kids are in the car a block over and the car has a flat tire. Can you lend me $10 to get my tire fixed so we can get home? I declined. Fast forward to the next Friday, same gas station, same time of early morning fueling up the rental car and here comes the same guy. He starts his spiel and I begin to match him word for word. He just looks at me with a confused look on his face and walks away

When working in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area there was a gentlemen panhandling at the end of the exit ramp by the hotel every afternoon during rush hour. He dressed the part except for very expensive highly polished shoes. It was obvious he had more money than I did.

 

[KennyG]

You should never give money to a panhandler. I worked in Chicago for years and heard the same hard luck stories over and over. Today there are internet groups where panhandlers trade scams and stories to maximize the take.

I know several people who work with the homeless and they all say never give street people cash. It just enables them to stay on drugs and alcohol and avoid treatment and the need to make an effort to recover.

 

[jmc]

You should never give money to a panhandler. I worked in Chicago for years and heard the same hard luck stories over and over. Today there are internet groups where panhandlers trade scams and stories to maximize the take.

I know several people who work with the homeless and they all say never give street people cash. It just enables them to stay on drugs and alcohol and avoid treatment and the need to make an effort to recover.

Our town posted a bunch of signs encouraging citizens to contribute to social services rather than directly to panhandlers. Every sign had been stolen after one day.

 

[rgr33]

I guess I'm a cynic, but I never believe their stories. We give a certain amount to organized charities each year, as well as participate in a few fund raising functions for cancer research.

Giving panhandlers anything at all just enables them to stay on the path they choose.

 

[TomSeller]

I have been approached many times from both men and women asking for gas money. I always ask them where there car is and tell them that I will bring them 5 gallons of gas. I have NEVER been told where the car is, usually "it is a long ways away" or "I'm not sure" or something of that nature. I have given cash occasionally to women who seem to be genuinely down on their luck. Some cities give money to homeless without qualifying them as being in need which perpetuates the problem. I truly think many homeless are in need but the trouble is filtering out the deadbeats which I believe are the majority. No science behind my opinion but I have not seen any studies that I can believe. Donate to a trustworthy cause.

 

[bigtiller]

We don't have many panhandlers in Iowa. They use the computer to dial up crowd funding sites like GoFundMe and suckers all over the world send them money.

 

[crackerjack222]

I have been hit up a few times. I usually direct them to a church. I know our church will help folks truly in need and I know the church does a good job weeding out those who are just looking for a hand out to buy cigs, liquor or drugs.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I lived in the SF Bay Area, beggars where everywhere. At some grocery stores, their might be half a dozen of them asking for money. Some even demand you give them money. Then it got worse and they where standing around at the ATM's demanding cash. Somebody got stabbed and the local news did an investigation into it. They followed some of them to see where they went and where surprised at the new, high dollar vehicles they where driving. Then a story came out that the beggars in SF where making on average $80,000 a year tax free. Of course, this include the street performers. When the news person talked to them about it, they laughed and asked why would they want to get a job paying less money and have to pay taxes?

Over seas, it's common for parents to keep their young children out of school and send them out to beg. The money they make is more important then allowing them to get an education.

I never give anything to any of them.

 

[PILOON]

You should never give money to a panhandler. I worked in Chicago for years and heard the same hard luck stories over and over. Today there are internet groups where panhandlers trade scams and stories to maximize the take.

I know several people who work with the homeless and they all say never give street people cash. It just enables them to stay on drugs and alcohol and avoid treatment and the need to make an effort to recover.

Yep, new university course: Panhandling 101----5 credits!

 

[mapper]

Around here there are laws about aggressive panhandling that are enforced, I don't get approached very often. There are a lot of street corner beggars though, a lot of them occupy the same corner for years, most displaying signs with a variety of messages ranging from "disabled vet" to "stranded here, need gas to get home".
I seem to recall that the street corner begging started around here about 30 years ago, then the favorite sign was "will work for food" a friend of mine who was a building contractor offered several of them day work cleaning up on a couple of his projects, they turned him down flat!
We never give them a dime, instead we contribute to several local charities that provide food and support to those who are less fortunate.
As I seem to be unable to raise a two person vegetable garden our local food bank benefits from our surplus as well.
I will help any friend or neighbor in need no questions asked, but not the person standing on a corner begging, whose situation does not seem to change - ever!

 

[RSKY]

What is the old saying, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Let me change that to, "Give a man some money and he never works, deny him a handout and he has to go to work or starve."

I'm not very poetic.

RSKY