# "I'm not asking for money - just some gas..." **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618 "2018-05-22T13:58:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/121 "2018-05-24T17:56:27Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Any time there’s a long story, it’s a scam. Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/122 "2018-05-24T17:58:24Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I am a sap. Rabbi Moses ben Maimon told us that if we gave money to ten beggars and nine were lying to us, we have done a good thing. But look where the [Rambam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides)is today! ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/123 "2018-05-24T18:00:32Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Some panhandlers do ask for cash, and some people do give them cash. It’s not a matter of never win, but rather of only win some of the time. > > I choose to give what I can to organized charity rather than to people on the street. YMMV. I just resent the hell out of hearing stories, especially long-winded ones, that are clearly created to deceive me. My God, yes! As excited as I am for the long Memorial Day weekend, I just remembered that it’s the start of the aggressive panhandling season on the train. "Ladies and Gentleman, I am a homeless Vietnam vet…blah blah blah…just got out of prison…blah blah blah… And, of course, the ones who cross the street, stop you, and then try to pretend they’re not asking for money. Right, it’s 1230 am, you crossed the street where the 7/11 is and you decided to stop me and get in my face because you’d like to discuss the Brahms symphony I"m listening to while walking to the train after work! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/124 "2018-05-24T19:19:57Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So, again, should the homeless person just be straight-up asking people for cash if that is what he/she needs? Because posters here have said they’d reject that too. It’s a no-win. No, they shouldn’t be begging in the first place. They dont need the money, except to buy drugs or booze, etc. Food is readily available. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/125 "2018-05-24T19:28:52Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > But look where the [Rambam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides)is today! Dead for 880 years? Maybe he’ll get better… ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/126 "2018-05-24T21:07:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Dead for 880 years? > Maybe he’ll get better… He certainly can’t get worse. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/127 "2018-05-24T21:37:44Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > He certainly can’t get worse. 😉 He’s not hungry, and he needs no gasoline. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/128 "2018-05-24T21:54:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “Almost certainly?” Repeat panhandlers also learn what is legal, and what is not legal. If it’s not illegal to ask for gas, but it is illegal to beg for money, seasoned conmen/panhandlers will learn to ask their marks for gas in order to avoid an arrest. And they know that it’s easier to hand them a few bucks than to fiddle with the pumps for a few bucks worth of gas. So if they ask for gas, they might still get the money. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/129 "2018-05-24T21:57:23Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > And they know that it’s easier to hand them a few bucks than to fiddle with the pumps for a few bucks worth of gas. So if they ask for gas, they might still get the money. Given all the accounts of people asking for gas and then turning down the gas, I’d say they’re _relying_ on that chance. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/130 "2018-05-24T23:40:13Z")
You don’t owe jackshit to beggars/homeless people asking for money. I’ve been asked numerous times, and never give them anything. In many cases they get verbally abusive if I don’t give them anything - and in some cases I have come close to getting into physical fights with these assholes. Junkie scum-bags. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/131 "2018-05-25T00:15:22Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > About ten years ago(2008ish) I was approached by someone who said they needed gas money while I was putting groceries in the trunk of my car. > > My response to them was if I had money to give away I wouldn’t be driving around in a 1988 Chevrolet Celebrity that had rust holes all over it and noticeably bald tires. > > That seem to shut them up. > > I ended junking that car three years later and got a 2002 Ford Focus which I’ve had since. Agreed - I’ll have to use that line sometime. I’ve got a ten-year old car that’s a piece of shit (appearance wise) at this point, but still runs well. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/132 "2018-05-25T00:27:27Z")
My gut reaction is not to want to "support’ drug or alcohol abuse, but I think those things are health issues, not moral turpitude. Affected people can’t stop until they get to the bottom and get a good motivation to do it. If somebody lies to me to get cash and then uses that cash on drugs, it’s a bit less money that they have to obtain by illegal means like burglary or shop stealing. None of these social and health issues are easily fixable. In general, it is a better idea to support the organisations that are trying to help in an effective way, but if someone is “out there” in real need of help I’d feel better not judging and rejecting them than I do about losing a couple of dollars to a scamming fraudster. Begging is not legal here, and we have good universal social security, so it’s not a common thing to have to deal with. I was quite shocked when I travelled to Europe and saw so many people on the streets and begging. Then it wasn’t a question about helping all of them, so it became easier to pass everybody by. Here, I assume people are really in dire straits to resort to asking strangers. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/133 "2018-05-25T00:46:16Z")
I give these people gas gift cards, then I find out if their story is true. ---
**Author:** ![Roy\_Batty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Roy\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roy_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/134 "2018-05-25T00:46:43Z")
> [@blob](#): > > Begging is not legal here, and we have good universal social security, so it’s not a common thing to have to deal with. I was quite shocked when I travelled to Europe and saw so many people on the streets and begging. Then it wasn’t a question about helping all of them, so it became easier to pass everybody by. Here, I assume people are really in dire straits to resort to asking strangers. I’ve traveled all over the U.S. & Europe, and have seen beggars everywhere. Many of them are just lazy & entitled scammers who are just trying to rip you off with a sob story. Anyone that thinks that _all_ US beggars are really down & out is an incredibly naive & clueless person: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/beggar-scams-kentucky-town-article-1.1275097 > **[The Fake Monks Are Back, Aggressively Begging (Published 2016)](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/02/nyregion/fake-monks-begging-buddhist.html)** > > After a short respite, pushy beggars with shaved heads and robes are impersonating Buddhist monks in the tourist spots of New York and other cities. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WvkZ-gzcaLs/hqdefault.jpg "PANHANDLING GYPSY FAMILY BUSTED AT WALMART! | Jason Asselin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvkZ-gzcaLs) ---
**Author:** ![timbered](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@timbered](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timbered)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/135 "2018-05-25T17:11:28Z")
> [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > I’ve traveled all over the U.S. & Europe, and have seen beggars everywhere. Many of them are just lazy & entitled scammers who are just trying to rip you off with a sob story. Anyone that thinks that _all_ US beggars are really down & out is an incredibly naive & clueless person: “Most” is probably correct. Ergo, there are some that are not scammers. Anyone that thinks that _all_ US beggars are scammers is an incredibly jaded and callous person. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/136 "2018-05-25T17:21:03Z")
> [@timbered](#): > > “Most” is probably correct. Ergo, there are some that are not scammers. Anyone that thinks that _all_ US beggars are scammers is an incredibly jaded and callous person. Well, they dont need the money for food. So, if they say so, they are lying, which makes them a scammer. And by giving cash to beggars, you encourage them to beg, instead of seeking out other avenues. Some get angry and aggressive when no cash is forthcoming. I had a co-worker in SF that was sacred to death as a homeless guy followed her for blocks, demanding cash. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/137 "2018-05-25T17:29:02Z")
> [@timbered](#): > > “Most” is probably correct. Ergo, there are some that are not scammers. Anyone that thinks that _all_ US beggars are scammers is an incredibly jaded and callous person. I don’t think that all US beggars are scammers. However, despite being unjaded I’m still callous, and thus (does mind trick gesture) not the mark/donor they’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/138 "2018-05-25T17:32:29Z")
> [@Roy\_Batty](#): > > Anyone that thinks that _all_ US beggars are really down & out is an incredibly naive & clueless person: Are you referring to me? If so, I don’t have any opinion at all about US beggars, I’ve never been anywhere there (which includes whichever specific “there” your links all refer to, they do identify a specific location, don’t they?) and I made no pronouncement about _all_ of anything. That would be as clueless as pulling out a few links and stating that that indicates that there are “many” of anything on that basis alone. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/139 "2018-05-25T18:43:39Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > This thread has given me an idea. I’m going to buy a bunch of $5 giftcards for places to eat and hand them out when I’m asked for money. And when Halloween comes around, I’ll get those Trick or Treat booklets from McDonalds or the ones Taco Bell / Pizza hut sells every so often. If I’m feeling generous, I’ll give them the whole book. If not, a free cheeseburger or Taco Supreme will stave off the hunger for a bit! > > I’ll also get some Starbucks and Jamba Juice cards because sometimes there’s someone really nice, polite or helpful, anyone who’s not in a position that’s usually tipped, and should be rewarded for brightening my day! If I hit the lottery and you meet me, better be really nice because I’ll up the cards to $50 & $100! 😛 > > On a feel good note. One day I stopped by the market to get a sandwich for lunch. I saw an apparently homeless guy sitting outside the store. I told him good morning and he told me the same without asking for anything. I thought about buying him a sandwich too, but didn’t. On my way out I looked at him again and gave him my sandwich. He thanked me and on my way out I looked back and saw him opening and eating it. 😃 Renewed my faith in humanity. My husband put together some backpacks of helpful supplies to have on hand to give to some homeless people who tended to be near his office - including some McD’s certificates. They were all thrilled. I’ve been hit by the “gas money” thing a few times. I’ll hand over a couple of dollars; I figure if it’s real, it’s helpful; if not, oh well. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-asking-for-money-just-some-gas/814618/140 "2018-05-25T19:45:25Z")
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