# Aggressive panhandling is getting worse

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressive-panhandling-is-getting-worse/801559>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 13, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressive-panhandling-is-getting-worse/801559 "2017-11-13T22:20:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2017, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressive-panhandling-is-getting-worse/801559/42 "2017-11-19T21:49:46Z")

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We need the pedestrian equivalent of those signs that used to announce “no radio.” Some item of dress or ornament that means: I don’t carry cash, don’t waste your sob story on me.

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**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressive-panhandling-is-getting-worse/801559/43 "2017-11-20T01:47:20Z")

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> [@rat\_avatar](#):
>
> To the OP, please read this as not being judgemental but trying to be helpful in reducing what you find as an uncomfortable situation. The problem is most likely escalating because you are looking at them with disgust, contempt and treating them as sub-human. If when asked you give them a polite and compassionate no the number of “aggressive panhandling” incidents will reduce significantly. While I may be wrong and miss-reading the tone of our original post, most people will be more aggressive when someone dehumanizes them.

Housing is cheap in my area so your assessment of the situation is not universal.

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**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressive-panhandling-is-getting-worse/801559/44 "2017-11-20T08:09:55Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> Housing is cheap in my area so your assessment of the situation is not universal.

The post I was responding to was about Seattle, but it is a complex problem.

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**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressive-panhandling-is-getting-worse/801559/45 "2017-11-20T22:56:03Z")

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> [@rat\_avatar](#):
>
> The post I was responding to was about Seattle, but it is a complex problem.

It’s not complex at all. Stop giving them money and they go away.

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