This is a good point. The cigarette is not evidence of anything.
It’s easier to get a free cigarette than a quarter.
This wouldn’t be the multiple amputee with tatoos woman, would it?
I never give to panhandlers. My city is filled to the brim with them. The sidewalks are so chock-a-block with beggars that they finally painted corridors on the sidewalks where bums and street kids can’t block your way – they can loiter outside the boxes only. Every major intersection has sign holders, sometimes one on all 4 corners.
Yeah, I think she wandered down from the group of hippies that hangs out in Rittenhouse Square.
Didn’t notice any tattoos at all, I was so struck by the crossword puzzle (which I’m apparently alone in being bemused by). As I said in the OP, 20ish, dark blonde hair, not unattractive albeit somewhat grimy. All limbs intact.
Probably not. I tend to be selective on which panhandlers to give to, belligerent panhandlers and apathetic ones tend not to get anything.
Thank you. I didn’t want to say it.
The one time I remember giving money to someone was specifically because he said he wanted some money for beer. I was young, a drinker then, and felt like supporting his honesty.
These days I don’t carry cash, which is what I tell anyone asking me for money. I would be inclined to give food if I had it on me.
What I dislike immensely is being approached when I’m by myself in a parking lot. As a female, it instantly puts me on guard and at that point I won’t even acknowledge the person’s presence and either just make my way immediately to the store or get in my car and drive away.
I voted other because there wasn’t a choice for just “no” as opposed to “hell no”. I just don’t give to people on the street unless they are playing music or something like that. It has nothing to do with how they look or what their situation is. My contributions to homeless/low income come from working at and donating to shelters in my area.
Nope. I wouldn’t give to them.
I generally only give to the Streetwise people.
Didn’t someone once post here that they saw a panhandler with a sign that said, “Samurais killed my family. Need money for ninja lessons” or something like that?
I’d give that guy a buck just for the laugh.
I think everyone likes that one - there are several of those of the net, so here is one example.
http://www.galvestonmusicscene.com/Blog-Photos/sign-KarateLessons.jpg
I give panhandlers with signs or spiels that make me laugh money. I view it as no different than the over-priced sodas at comedy clubs.
I once gave money to a guy who told me he was going to use it to buy beer. He made me laugh and it was just a buck, so why not?
If you live on the street and a beer gets you through the night, it’s not my place to judge.
X and then some
I give money to beggars all the time. I shall repeat the same speil here that I tell my friends and family when they chastise me for giving:
No, I don’t think I’m being scammed. We all know these folks aren’t hungry because there are plenty of great do-gooder programs in place for them. I volunteered at one that served food until after midnight sometimes, so I know hunger is rarely the issue.
No, I’m not concerned about ‘enabling’ a drug habit. If I start getting invested in that, then I have to ask myself if the local artist that I like to buy from is using the money for the drugs that it is obvious he takes. Is my hairdresser spending my tip on her cigarette habit? Is the movie ticket I’m buying going to fund the drug habit of any of the actors, staff, cameramen, boom mic grips, extras…I mean, I’m not getting invested in all that.
My philosophy is hey, they are probably pretty miserable, feeling a bit hopeless and maybe battling some serious demons, up to and including a physical dependancy on drugs. If they need a drink to take the edge off, then I got their back. I may even have a drink with you, if the circumstances line up right.
Before I switched to work-from-home, commissions were sometimes very nice, and boy was it fun to share a windfall with some unsuspecting beggar. Nowadays, the money aint really flowing like that, but I still try to have a little something to offer.
Sometimes, I don’t have it, or for whatever other reason I’m not able to give. In those cases I just decline to help. I can’t imagine cigarette smoking or crossword puzzles factoring in, though.
[quote=“Nzinga_Seated, post:75, topic:547806”]
My philosophy is hey, they are probably pretty miserable, feeling a bit hopeless and maybe battling some serious demons, up to and including a physical dependancy on drugs. If they need a drink to take the edge off, then I got their back. I may even have a drink with you, if the circumstances line up right.QUOTE]
I’ve had some very interesting conversations with panhandlers over beer and mini-mart food. Street people can often be useful for information.
What Rand Rover said, except for the last sentence.
I know. One time, I met a guy who was so deep, I thought he was some kind of buddha. He told me, “I don’t worry about a thing. The people bring me what I need, and I just stay here to teach anyone who wants to come and learn.” The lessons he was teaching was Rastafarianism. But I found it interesting that he didn’t see himself as a beggar…he felt that he was being ‘taken care of’ by the masses, as if Jah were sending people to him with food and money. Also interesting was that I had talked with him many times for a long time before I realized he was a beggar, or homeless or whatever. I mean, he was raggedy, but I thought that was a part of his raggamuffin lifestyle or something. Anyways, yeah, he was very nice to talk to. Haven’t seen him around in a long time. Think of all the times that I didn’t give him money before I realized he was a beggar. He must have thought me not sent from Jah!
The difference is, those people are earning their money and they are also along with any possible illicit habits, paying back into society. They are also providing some sort of service for earning their money. So if the hairdresser goes home at night and lights up some herb, courtesy of the tips she earned, like as not she’s not weaving and puking all over a public sidewalk 15 minutes later, or passing out on the sidewalk with her head in the roadway causing a public nuisance or safety hazard. Vagrants however are neither being productive with, nor earning, the money they get.
During the “Spring” (where I’m sure you’ve heard the song, it’s 40 below) this year 12 chronic public inebriates all homeless, were found dead under mostly gruesome and sad circumstances. Usually, they just pass out and die from exposure, but one crawled into a cardboard recycling machine and was crushed to death. A few weeks ago, another one was killed under similar circumstances. And this is no “it’s no great loss” kind of thing either. They may be “bums” but they have families and friends. It was bad enough to watch their loved one pass through alcoholism and/or addiction to homelessness, but then they have to live with the knowledge that their loved one basically killed themselves WITH their addiction.
Well, this is why many of us offer a meal instead.
Nope me either. My “hell no” vote was for any vagrant, regardless of their reading or hobby habits. Judging from the other posters, their take on it is similar.
Hell no.
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She’s sitting around not doing a single useful thing for society, for me, or even for herself. I’m not interested in supporting such people.
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Maybe she just did the crossword puzzle for a few minutes, but to me, that’s a sign that she’s either too lazy to try to be effective at her “job” of begging, or perhaps she’s just unfriendly. I don’t care for unfriendly people.
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You said she was grimy? With all this free time on her hands, surely she could at least wash her face in a public restroom.
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The cigarette, though, is the biggest thing for me. Cigarettes are an expensive luxury item. Begging with a cigarette in your mouth is just as absurd as begging while sitting in a Cadillac or typing on an iPad.
Even if she got the cigarette for free, does she have either a good health insurance plan or at least a bunch of money in the bank to cover the likely future medical expenses? My guess is that no, she will simply enjoy her cigarettes as she pleases, and then place the financial burden on the working folks.