# No, I don't have $5 to give you for gas. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 22, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505 "2009-11-22T06:03:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/101 "2009-11-24T16:08:26Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Not everyone feels comfortable offering that kind of comfort (giving cash) and that is ok. But all the \*\*bullshit games \*\*to strip a man of his dignity to get him to admit he just wants a bottle…that gets on my nerves. bolding mine. Are those the bullshit games that lying scammers are using or the people being “stingy” with their own money ? I am confused here. Again, I’ve given money away here and there knowing damn well it was going for a smoke or a beer or maybe even a drug fix. But don’t outright lie to me. I imagine the very large majority of people who don’t give folks money to these scammers feel any sense of accomplishment in saying no. Saying no is harder than buying off your guilty concious because you happen to have a better life. But saying no is often based on some moral principle, not a “your not getting any of MY money” mentallity. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/102 "2009-11-24T16:13:33Z")
What is confusing? If you know a poor schlup wants 2 dollars for a bottle, and you offer him a bowl of chili, that is _bullshit_. Wtf. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/103 "2009-11-24T16:16:10Z")
I didn’t know he wanted 2 dollars for a bottle. He asked for chili, and I said I’d get him some, and he didn’t say, “oh, you can just give me the money”. He said, “Really? Thanks!” or something. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/104 "2009-11-24T16:20:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I didn’t know he wanted 2 dollars for a bottle. He asked for chili, and I said I’d get him some, and he didn’t say, “oh, you can just give me the money”. He said, “Really? Thanks!” or something. Chili was just stuck in my head from your post. It wasn’t directed at you at all. I was just making an example. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/105 "2009-11-24T16:25:19Z")
Now I want chili. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/106 "2009-11-24T16:29:20Z")
Sorry, all I have is fortified wine. Good day, sir! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/107 "2009-11-24T16:52:28Z")
We vacation in St Martin each year. A few years back I was approached by a panhandler. I was a little drunk, and very happy. He was asking for a coupla dollars, because (he said) the ATM was down. I gave him $20, and he was so happy that he admitted to not having an ATM card (duh) and suggested I take back $15. I told him to keep it. Well, the guy stopped traffic so I could pull out of the restaurant parking lot. Then, every time we would see him he would come over and ask how our vacation was going. He would answer local questions (where can we buy a hairdryer?) and would always stop traffic for us. He would accept no more cash, either. Since then, we look him up every year. I palm him a twenty, and he sorta looks after us a bit. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/108 "2009-11-24T17:07:39Z")
> [@rolandgunslinger](#): > > I had a guy ask me for gas money one night while I was leaving work. I gave him ten bucks and wished him luck. Another time I was at a gas station and some guy was trying to pay for three dollars worth with a jar of pennies. The cashier told him there was no way he was going to take the time to count all those pennies. I gave him three bucks and he thanked me and handed me the jar. > > I counted up what was in the jar and it was exactly three bucks. > [@kayaker](#): > > We vacation in St Martin each year. A few years back I was approached by a panhandler. I was a little drunk, and very happy. He was asking for a coupla dollars, because (he said) the ATM was down. I gave him $20, and he was so happy that he admitted to not having an ATM card (duh) and suggested I take back $15. I told him to keep it. > > Well, the guy stopped traffic so I could pull out of the restaurant parking lot. Then, every time we would see him he would come over and ask how our vacation was going. He would answer local questions (where can we buy a hairdryer?) and would always stop traffic for us. He would accept no more cash, either. > > Since then, we look him up every year. I palm him a twenty, and he sorta looks after us a bit. There’s decency left in some of us after all! ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/109 "2009-11-24T18:02:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > We vacation in St Martin each year. A few years back I was approached by a panhandler. I was a little drunk, and very happy. He was asking for a coupla dollars, because (he said) the ATM was down. I gave him $20, and he was so happy that he admitted to not having an ATM card (duh) and suggested I take back $15. I told him to keep it. > > Well, the guy stopped traffic so I could pull out of the restaurant parking lot. Then, every time we would see him he would come over and ask how our vacation was going. He would answer local questions (where can we buy a hairdryer?) and would always stop traffic for us. He would accept no more cash, either. > > Since then, we look him up every year. I palm him a twenty, and he sorta looks after us a bit. If I wind up going to St. Martin, can I get a referral? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/110 "2009-11-24T18:10:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Well, the guy stopped traffic so I could pull out of the restaurant parking lot. Then, every time we would see him he would come over and ask how our vacation was going. He would answer local questions (where can we buy a hairdryer?) and would always stop traffic for us. He would accept no more cash, either. > > Since then, we look him up every year. I palm him a twenty, and he sorta looks after us a bit. I don’t know about everyone else, but your adopt-a-bum story sure warmed \*my \*cockles. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/111 "2009-11-24T18:15:10Z")
Well, lots of people have holiday homes, but not many people have holiday traffic control [del]devices[/del] people. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/112 "2009-11-24T18:47:05Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > If I wind up going to St. Martin, can I get a referral? Sure thing. He hangs out by the Brazilian Steakhouse called [Rancho](http://www.best-stmartin.com/detail.asp?storeID=3514&catID=6&typID=), in Simpsons Bay. We eat there once each time we are in St Martin, just to hear the band that plays. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/113 "2009-11-24T23:15:28Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > What is confusing? If you know a poor schlup wants 2 dollars for a bottle, and you offer him a bowl of chili, that is _bullshit_. Wtf. Well, then he can just say “Look, my life sucks and I’d like some cash for a cheap bottle of wine to take the edge off” and more people are going to say “Fair enough. Here’s some money.” But trying to maintain the charade that it’s for some “worthy” purpose is mildly insulting- I think it says to the askee “I think you’re stupid and I’m going to lie to you to get things and it will work because you’re stupid”, which makes people go on the defensive straight off the bat. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/114 "2009-11-25T01:13:15Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Well, then he can just say “Look, my life sucks and I’d like some cash for a cheap bottle of wine to take the edge off” and more people are going to say “Fair enough. Here’s some money.” > > But trying to maintain the charade that it’s for some “worthy” purpose is mildly insulting- I think it says to the askee “I think you’re stupid and I’m going to lie to you to get things and it will work because you’re stupid”, which makes people go on the defensive straight off the bat. I think I already said that. The last guy that just said “I need some money for a beer” I gave him more bucks than he asked for. The last guy that told me an obviously cock and bull story I told to go take a hike. I don’t grill people when they ask for handouts. Its usually either yes or no. But i you tell me a big song and dance I apt to just say no. Maybe you’re telling the truth but how am I to know? Sure, I’m better off than a homeless person but that doesn’t mean I have money to burn. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/115 "2009-11-25T01:19:58Z")
IMO I don’t think it’s grilling people or obnoxious to offer them food when they say they want food. I mean, seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/116 "2009-11-25T01:28:52Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > IMO I don’t think it’s grilling people or obnoxious to offer them food when they say they want food. I mean, seriously. No one has ever said to me “I am hungry. Can you please give me money so I can eat?”. So maybe my experiences are different. Usually its “Hey, I need a few bucks for (add completely unbelievable reason).” I used to give people a bit of coin just to get them to leave me alone. But then I saw a pattern. Some beggars depend on that. I had a guy follow me for a block in Amsterdam begging. He only relented for a minute when a policeman passed us, but once the cop was gone he was right on my heels. I had to threaten him with violence to get him to leave me alone. (Which I regret, but seriously, this guy would not leave me alone). A portion of my salary automatically goes to various charities (that I get to choose), some of which help the homeless. I won’t be bullied or lied to on the streets however. I’m willing to help people in need but experience has made me wary of taking the word of beggars on the street. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/117 "2009-11-25T01:45:33Z")
Well, I guess to me “I need money for food” isn’t that different from “I need food.” I still think that offering food is an appropriate response. That said, I rarely even respond to panhandlers. There are plenty of perfectly good food banks and other charities in this city, some of which I donate to annually, and I usually don’t have the time or the spare cash to give something to a panhandler. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/118 "2009-11-25T03:27:33Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > No one has ever said to me “I am hungry. Can you please give me money so I can eat?”. So maybe my experiences are different. Usually its “Hey, I need a few bucks for (add completely unbelievable reason).” Panhandlers around here almost invariably need the money for food. There are lots of guys who hang around by highway off-ramps with signs that say “hungry, homeless, gimme cash” or words to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/119 "2009-11-25T04:43:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Panhandlers around here almost invariably need the money for food. There are lots of guys who hang around by highway off-ramps with signs that say “hungry, homeless, gimme cash” or words to that effect. They must see you coming with your username written on your forehead or something. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505/120 "2009-11-25T04:46:04Z")
I like the ones asking for bus money… In the Ride Free Area. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-i-dont-have-5-to-give-you-for-gas/518505.md?page=7)