I stopped carrying cash because of all the panhandlers. The ones that particularly annoy me are the ones that ride the subway/train all day, asking for money. I may have had compassion once, but being accosted on a daily basis by smelly, iffy characters demanding my hard-earned cash did wonders to drain that away.
“Here, have some stale death!”
Poysyn
What city pray tell? I would love to learn more about that.
Yeah, well…they smoke anyway! They have to be better than re-rolling cigarette butts…
I thought this post was about “boogers” not “beggers”
Pardon me.
I live in downtown Seattle, work in downtown Seattle, and pretty much spend all of my time here. I get asked by various people for various things (pretty much always money) at least once a day. They are always going to ask, so I’ve decided to only give money to those that do something to earn it. Read poetry, paint crappy little pictures, sing, play an instrument, do magic tricks, backflips, tell fortunes… I’ll give you some money (if you’re nice about it and speak without sounding belligerent).
Holding a sign or simply asking for spare change isn’t earning a damn thing. I don’t care if some people have it so bad that they don’t have the “drive” to earn money on the street. NO ONE should expect something for free.
It may be cold, but at least it’s honest.
A very neat story Audrey!
I usually give a begger money. Sometimes just the change in my pocket, sometimes I open my wallet. Last December I was in Pittsburg and a man asked me for money. I gave him a few dollars out of my wallet. My boss told me that I was too generous, but I figured that his day was probably much worse than mine.
Remember kids…
“Build a man a fire and keep him warm for a day,
Set him on fire and keep him warm for life.”
My experience is that homeless people rarely beg. It’s professional panhandlers who beg. I’ve had people walk up to me, wearing nicer shoes than mine!
Even those keys poysyn was talking about would more than likely sold or traded for booze in this city.
It’s not. It’s an irrelevant detail in my story, just as the fact that I was carrying shopping bags.
Don’t you want to know why I also said “middle-aged”? – that was in my description too.
Thanks for the replies, everyone. Very illuminative. I must confess I’m glad that I don’t encounter this problem everyday. It must be a tough making individual decisions whether to just ignore a person or give them your hard-earned money.
Those blue keys Posyn mentioned sound like a great idea.
I used to always give beggars money, no matter how little I had, but one day, walking to my car after work, this guy stopped me and asked for some money. I gave him a few bucks and then he grabbed me and kissed me I’m a very hands-off kind of person, and don’t want to be touched at all, and certainly not kissed, by anyone I don’t know well. I know the vast majority of beggars aren’t going to do the same thing, but I avoid them like the plague now. The only time since this incident I’ve given in, there was this guy with a dog on a rope holding a sign “Homeless, Will work for food or dog food.” I stopped my car and tried giving him some dog food, as I’d just been shopping and bought a bag for my dog. He wouldn’t take it, insisting I give him money instead. I didn’t, and he was very upset.
Also, there are so many newspaper articles out showing that professional beggars can literally make over a thousand a day. I don’t make anywhere near that much money, so why should I give my hard-earned money to someone that makes more than I do?
I don’t consider street musicians, jugglers, story-tellers, etc. beggars. Rather, they’re performing a service which I sometimes opt to pay for. I admire these people much much more than I do beggars. It’s a hard world sometimes, but these people, rather than expecting a handout and giving nothing in return, give back to the community with their service.
I see two kinds of beggars in downtown Denver:
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Career folks, that I’ve seen every day for the last four years. (and it IS a career, they just don’t pay taxes on their earnings.)
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Teenagers that can [old fart voice] go get a job![/old fart voice]
I also realized early on that I do give to charitable causes I feel are worthy, and if I gave to EVERY charitable cause I could, I’d be poorer than the beggars.
I sometimes ask them for money right as they’re about to ask me.
Or I completely ignore them, like they are invisible.
Occassionally I’ll talk to them if they’re not threatening.
Homelessness is somewhat of a choice. Not for the mentally ill, maybe, but most homeless have chosen a life of cheap thrills, addiction, whatever over responsibility and the boring humdrum of paying bills, going to work, getting up at 7am, etc. That sounds horribly cruel, but I believe it’s true.
So by giving them money, you’re not helping them. You’d be helping them by having them be so hungry and desperate that they’d change their lifestyle.
There are some beautiful people on this earth…
I am glad I read this thread tonight.
I feel this same way:
and I love the blue key idea, too…please tell us more, Poysyn!
Many homeless charities are only too happy to give you some business cards in exchange for a donation. Some have gone so far as to print up coupons. The best coupons or business cards have a mini map on them.
Generally, I don’t give to beggars, as I know that there are a LOT of professional beggars around here. The most annoying ones get written up in our newspapers every now and then, their stories, frequent haunts, and descriptions.
I usually spin kick them in the face. However, fun can be had at their expense. You have to be an open person though. I sometimes take out a 20 dollar bill. I ask if they want it. If so, I pull my pants down and thrust it up my anus. I then remove the bill and shove it towards the persons face, either in the mouth or hand. It’s funny the number of beggars that refuse the bill…
Another way to handle them is too stalk and harras them. Beg them for money and ciggarettes. Sometimes it works. It can back fire though, so be wary.
Another way to entirely rid yourself and others of these unruly, irritating beings is to keep a bottle of petrol on you at all times. Squeeze and light in a manner that is quick and efficient, stand back and enjoy the showand heat if it’s in the winter.
Oh the ways one can handle social situations…
Jeez, Govindha, I guess your location is right on the mark…
I’m glad you saw the humor in my reply. And yes, it is on the mark isn’t it…mahahahaha…just slightly over the line I’m afraid.
When I lived in Ottawa, there were tons of street kids downtown. I knew that many of them couldn’t “get a job” because in order to have one, you have to have an address.
A few times, I walked past a little redheaded girl who was so fair that she had pale eyelashes. She never asked anyone for money, just sat crumpled by the phone booth with her old, cracked Doc Martins curled under her, always in the same patched, black hoodie.
One morning my bus pulled in and, unbidden, I remembered that Jesus had said something like; “That which you do unto the least of my brothers, you do unto me.” I walked over to the pale-lashed girl and handed her ten bucks. She looked right up at me with her blue eyes and thanked me, and I walked to my connecting bus.
I felt touched by something outside myself that day, as if what happened was a story that was unfolding before and after I was a part of it. I wish I knew what that girl was up to now.
I encounter them daily. I live in Oregon and work on a street that is notorius for homeless/drug dealers.
I recognize the ones that frequent that area because I walk past daily. The regulars do not hassle me much, Most just say good morning now to me.
The newbies to the area hound you for money and when u wont do it they make rude comments.
If its a regular once in a while I will hand them a buck when they dont ask me for it. Just out of good faith.
Other than that when I am asked I just say I dont have any sorry and keep walking.
Very inspiring stories, both Lib and Audrey.
In Korea, there isn’t much in the way of governmental help for the indigent, but still, there aren’t that many beggars. Virtually all that I see are obviously physically handicapped, usually sitting near a subway entrance playing a harmonica or something. I often give to them, the equivalent of a dollar or two. I particularly remember an old blind man with bad scars all over his face, who used to sit near the subway entrance I used most. He played a bamboo flute, and he played it really well–soulful, mournful, sad music. I often gave to him, until one day when he just wasn’t there anymore. Maybe he found another place. I give to the less talented musicians too, or to those who don’t play anything. They really do have few options, and most try not to get in people’s way.
There are a few, though, who sprawl themselves across the sidewalk, dragging themselves along under the feet of the crowds, making themselves look as abject as possible. While I do sympathize with their plight, my sympathy is reduced by the fact that they force others literally to step over them, unless there’s a break in the crowd so people can step around them. I don’t give to them, though it makes me feel a little hard-hearted, because I don’t want to encourage that tactic.
I usually give while travelling in third-world countries, less often when I’m in the US. Mostly it depends on how aggressive they are, or how hard they try to make others uncomfortable.