Hey Buddy, Can You Spare.....

[retiredbosn]

I'm not a cold hearted guy but the typical panhandler drives me nuts. Today stopped in the parking lot of a CVS, this guy gives me a sob story how he needs to get to Charleston could I help. Something about this guy seemed genuine, asked him how much he needed probably 40 bucks he says. He was a little eager now, I tell him to hop in the truck, I don't carry cash but if he needs to get home to his family I would buy his ticket. He walked away mad!! He would have had a better chance just telling me the truth. I don't know why but it just aggregates me.

[slonezp]

Always nice when they scream obscinities at you for not helping. Had one guy come up to me and ask for help. I said "No". He said "I figured you'd say that" To which I responded "Is it beacuse I'm white? Why did you ask me" He came at me and I pulled a pipe wrench on him. Was doing another piping job and had a guy attempt to steal the copper pipe right out of my hand.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I try an help people out when I can. I just get mad when you gotta tell me your whole dang story. If you look and smell like your strung out on crack then tell me you wanna buy a freaking rock. Dont tell me your dog died and you need to buy a casket for it but seeing as you just got outta the hospital (point to crusty hospital band on wrist) you dont have any money, and could I spare fifteen bucks to buy a dog casket. NO!! Cause your freaking lying to me. Be honest and Ill help you out if I got some spare cash. Now I have been known to ask them to preform uhhhhh "adult acts" then drove off after they agreed, and before they could get in the car or do anything. I may be crude and crass, but I dang sure dont wanna catch whatever they got. I also like trying to get them to do tricks. Like hol in a circle on one foot while singing im a little tea pot or stuff like that. You want the money youbetter entertain me. Getting them to wash my car windows is kinda fun to do too. Rolling coins down the road for em to chase is also kinda fun.

Note I do this to drug addicts not people who are just hard up on there luck.

[Bassn Blvd]

You crack me up Raider. I like your style, lol.

I don't give money to the median pan handlers. There are better ways of helping them out then giving money. Most in my area are either crack heads or alcoholics, neither of which I will contribute to. I'll hand'em some food or clothing, but not money.

[Glenn]

I once had a couple of guys at a gas station come up to me and ask for $5 for gas because "We're out of gas". I grabbed my phone and told them I'd call the police for them, because they'd be happy to help them.

They jumped in their van and took off! LOL!

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I used to skate in downtown Baltimore so I've definilty seen my share of panhandlers. A lot of them aren't even homeless. Just people trying to get money without having to get a job. The majority of them I wouldn't help. You have to be careful. You could pull out your wallet to give them a buck and then they grab your wallet and run. There were 2 that I always helped though. They were both legitimatly homeless and me and my friends actually got to know them a little cuz they 'lived' at this spot we skated. The one dude would freestyle rap for you and the other guy sang 'amazing grace'. He wasn't quite right in the head though and would just sing the same verse over and over. Kind of sad. Me and my friends would put change and maybe a buck or 2 in his cup and if we went to mcdonalds or something we'd pick him up a burger form the dollar menu or give him a bottle of water from our backpacks.

[rockchalk06]

I try an help people out when I can. I just get mad when you gotta tell me your whole dang story. If you look and smell like your strung out on crack then tell me you wanna buy a freaking rock. Dont tell me your dog died and you need to buy a casket for it but seeing as you just got outta the hospital (point to crusty hospital band on wrist) you dont have any money, and could I spare fifteen bucks to buy a dog casket. NO!! Cause your freaking lying to me. Be honest and Ill help you out if I got some spare cash. Now I have been known to ask them to preform uhhhhh "adult acts" then drove off after they agreed, and before they could get in the car or do anything. I may be crude and crass, but I dang sure dont wanna catch whatever they got. I also like trying to get them to do tricks. Like hol in a circle on one foot while singing im a little tea pot or stuff like that. You want the money youbetter entertain me. Getting them to wash my car windows is kinda fun to do too. Rolling coins down the road for em to chase is also kinda fun.

Note I do this to drug addicts not people who are just hard up on there luck.

Now that by god is cold hearted. I love it!

[rockchalk06]

My biggest problem with vagrants is them smoking. I just recently quit smoking. Marlboro Menthol Lights were my game. When I quit I was paying 5.83 a pack. To see some vagrant peddling for money smoking Marlboro's at 5.83 a pack......hell no. When I was out on my own after High School, 5.83 would have bought a loaf of bread and some PB&J. Fed me for a week.

Want money? Get a freaking job

[Bluebasser86]

I like the guys with the funny signs "I bet you a quarter/dollar I can make you read this sign" "Bet you can't hit me with a quarter" "Family was killed by ninjas, need money for karate lessons". At least they're being creative, not just being pushy.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

When I was in college. We used to drive to LaGrange, Ga. and buy fortys for some of the parties we woukd throw. One of my friends family was beyond wealthy and he would throw money around like it was nothing. We were at a gas station over there one night buying beer for a party, when we were approached by a guy asking if he could clean my windows for something to eat. I told him sure but we would give him a few bucks and he didnt have to clean the windows. He insisted and set about cleaning. Well four other guys came up and asked for money to buy beer and what have you. My friend said sure and we bought each of them a beer while the other guy cleaned the windows. Well we were loading down the trunk with beverages, and noticed the other four guys were laughibg and making fun of my high quality window washer. The guy finished washing the windows, and let me tell you he had done an amazing job. Ive never had my windowd as clean as he did them. I handed him a bag with two sandwhichs a bottle of water and four cokes and his face lit up. We were about to drive off when my friend called him over to the car. When he got there he handed him 6 hundred dollar bills. Well the other four went ballistic. I guess cause they only got A beer, and this fella got more money then even I had to my name. The window washer left his thanked us, left his bucket and jetted. Usain Bolt couldnt have caught this man. The othe other four started cussing us throwing things at my car and chasing after us. We flew oughta the parking lot and they never had a chance.

I've just always thought this was a good example of the difference between a bum and someone who was down on their luck.

[ClackerBuzz]

One time I was 3 sheets to the wind walking home by myself from a bar. A guy asked for money and I only had $20's and $5's. I was drunk and he seemed nice so I gave him a $5. His story quickly turned into the "I need a train ticket to get home" story. I told him thats all I could spare but he still followed and harassed me for blocks bc he saw my $20's. My drunken kindness turned to irritation and then to anger. I told him I did indeed give him a $20. He demanded I only gave him a $5. I said look for yourself.....he pulled out the $5 and I grabbed it back and told him he should have kept the $5 and quit while he was ahead. Needless to say he didn't like that and a fight broke out. I got my $5 back and made it home safe. That was in my younger day's and I surely wouldn't do it again especially in this day and age. My new immediate stock response is: "I was just about to ask you if I could borrow a dollar". It works 99% of the time... except for when one kind homeless guy tried to give me the coins in his hand.

[ClackerBuzz]

I like the guys with the funny signs "I bet you a quarter/dollar I can make you read this sign" "Bet you can't hit me with a quarter" "Family was killed by ninjas, need money for karate lessons". At least they're being creative, not just being pushy.

I like "Got enough money for Budweiser...need $1 more for a Heineken"

[CoBass]

I used to work in downtown Denver and there was a woman who would sit there with her young daughter asking everybody for money and giving the "poor,homeless, single mom" sob story. I found it odd that you would never see her once the weather turned cold. That is until I went to visit my parents in Phoenix one Winter and saw the same woman and her kid using the same sob story down there. She was making enough money panhandling that she was able to spend her Winters in a warmer climate and then come back to Denver when it got too hot in Az.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I like the guys with the funny signs "I bet you a quarter/dollar I can make you read this sign" "Bet you can't hit me with a quarter" "Family was killed by ninjas, need money for karate lessons". At least they're being creative, not just being pushy.

I was in a McDonalds drive thru and saw a guy sitting on the curb looking down and out and his sign just said "McHungry". Couldn't help but laugh. Came back around after I got my food and gave him 5 bucks and a book of McD's coupons. You should have seen this kids face light up. It really made his day. Also he went right into the McDonalds so I was glad he wasn't just trying to get money for drugs of booze or something.

I used to work in downtown Denver and there was a woman who would sit there with her young daughter asking everybody for money and giving the "poor,homeless, single mom" sob story. I found it odd that you would never see her once the weather turned cold. That is until I went to visit my parents in Phoenix one Winter and saw the same woman and her kid using the same sob story down there. She was making enough money panhandling that she was able to spend her Winters in a warmer climate and then come back to Denver when it got too hot in Az.

A lot of them around here purposly get themselves locked up for the winter. When it starts to get cold, they'll get themselves caught shoplifting or some other petty crime and spend a couple of months in jail. I guess they figure 3 hots and a cot is a lot better than freezing/starving on the streets.

[dave]

A young, newly ordained priest was approached by a young woman needing money for food and diapers for her baby. He told her that he wouldn't give her money but, he would go straight to CVS that was just two blocks away and buy everything she needed. He was truly excited that God had placed her in his path that he could help. As they walked, he talked and rambled on about everything he was going to buy for her and the baby. When they came to the CVS he opened the door for her...she wasn't there. He learned something. True story.

[retiredbosn]

One church I belonged to had set up accounts at the local gas station and grocery store, I would conservatively estimate that out of every ten people who asked for help only 1 or 2 would actually go to the store and get the items they "needed" or to the gas station for fuel.

[Fishing Rhino]

The problem is it's impossible to tell the difference between the truly desperate, and those operating a scam.

One of the funniest I witnessed was in Daytona Beach. We were down for speedweeks eating at a once popular joint called Shells. It's now defunct.

Anyway we had a seat by the window, and we saw a car being pushed into the parking lot by three guys. One owned the car, the other two were guys just helping out. Likely behind him in their vehicles on the street. While we couldn't overhear the conversation actions told the whole story. The guy pulled a plastic gasoline container out of his trunk, and was obviously telling them he was broke. The each reached in their wallets and gave him some greenbacks. He made out like he was walking to the station on the corner, but when they drove out of sight, he went back to his car, tossed the jerry jug back in the trunk, and drove away.

No doubt he was looking for some other kind hearted folks on which to prey.

I had a guy approach me in a rest area on I-85 in SC, just as night had fallen. I was walking my dog, and as he approached I told him to stay clear of the dog. Told him the dog, while he appeared friendly would bite for no apparent reason. That kept him at a safe distance away from me.

His story was that his wife was giving birth in Atlanta, and that he had just about run out of gas, and had no money. I asked him how he could start a drive to Atlanta without having enough gas for fuel. He walked away and approached an elderly couple, no doubt telling them the same story.

Some beggars make good money plying their trade.

[mrmacwvu1]

I remember about 20 years ago my father taught me a great life lesson. We were coming into town from the farm and there was a guy there that had a sign that said homeless will work for food. Every car in front of us was handing him a dollar or two. I asked my father why he was not giving him money. He then rolled down the window and told the guy that he would pay him ten dollars an hour feed him, cloth him and even put him up for the night all he had to do was wait at that intersection for 15 minutes and we would be back to give him a ride. Well when we came back he was nowhere to be found. My dad explained that he did not want a helping hand just a hand out. To further prove his point he drove me down the street about 6 blocks and that guy was down there with his same sign. When he saw dad's truck he packed up and walked the other direction.

[Ratherbfishing]

I was approached in Carbondale one time by a guy who said he'd run out of gas and needed to get to some neighboring town. I said I would help him if he showed me his car and could demonstate that it was empty. He said his car was several blocks away and I said, That's alright, I have the time." He walked away in a hurry while I smiled deeply with satisfaction.

The benches on the corner from where I work are so often occupied with "homeless" people that you cannot sit down without being mistaken for (or accosted by) one of them. While it isn't all that spacious anyway, I haven't any room in my heart for freeloaders.