About a year ago when I was living in Sacramento, Ca. My father, my sister and I whitnessed 2 bums fighting in public from what I concieved to be a panhandling or begging incident.

We were at a Red light and right across the street was a lightrail station(it was the PowerInn station, some people on here know where thats at). Anyways, we seen one guy beggin people for money as they got off the train. Well another homeless guy was on the adjacent side of the train, he walked over to the other guy with a 40oz bottle full of beer(it was either beer or urine). He poured the bottle on the guy and they commensed to slugging it out right there in the tracks. One bum knocked the other one on the ground and dragged him into the crosswalk in the street by his backpack, where he proceded to kick the guy in the face a couple of times. This went on for a good 2-3 minutes as cars were passing by them going through the intersection.

I didn't know what to think at this point, It was sad but at the same time I couldn't help but chuckle inside. I felt bad for the guy taking the lickin but they finally stopped and walked their seperate ways. My little sister was in shock, she realy didn't know what was going on.

I've never seen so many panhandlers or beggers in Ca then I did anywhere. I have not seen one up here in the North, mabe it's just where I live. But if someone in my small town is in need of a little gas in their car sure I may help them out but it's only becuase it is a tight knit community where everyone knows everyone. I don't on any occasion hand out cash though.

Oh, as hard as it is to beleive go to San Francisco, panhandling there in almost legal. They have guys on corners who do all kinds of stuff for money. One guy that comes to mind is some guy they call the "Bushman". He will hide in bushes dressed up all funny and scares the living daylights out of oncomming people. I guess people like it because they toss money in his collection bag. I've heard these people are taxed for it or something but they do keep some part of the "earnings".

 

If I do run into these so-called "panhandlers", I usually want to help them out. But theres a catch, I dont give them money, because im smart enough to know that their gunna buy beer/drugs with it. So I usually buy them something to eat, then give it to them. This makes it to where they cant spend the money on dope/etc...

 

I split wood for my uncle one time, worked on a farm puttin up square bales, and the most wonderful summer time job, work on the farm pulling chickens and when that was all done....cleaning out 3 levels of a 200 foot barn!!! It was good money, but like you guys are saying, I earned that.

We were riding our Mt bikes in downtown Nashville one day. It was while I was in the auto/diesel college. So we stopped at River Front park to rest. Drinking from our water bottles and this fella came up to us....smoking a cigar(scratch head here) and started asking one of my friends for money. He told him no, then he moved over to the next friend, "No" and then me, "No".

So then he starts in on his sermon, "What, you mean to tell me you three don't have any money? You got them fancy bikes......." and on and on he went. We said we're college students so naturally we spend all of what we have on......well ourselves. So he continued on to tell us how that " if I won the lottery I would have remembered you guys", then my smart.......alek friend said, " you need a lottery ticket, for that you need money". He got mad and said, " you boys are gonna end up just like me someday if you ain't got no money now" and we all laughed and said, " No we won't, cause we have JOBS!!!"

 

When asked for money I always say "Sure" . Then as I reach into my pocket I ask "and what have you got for me?" With a confused look on their face I'll again ask "what have you got for me? You dont think I'm gonna give you some cash without something in return...do ya?" After I offer to "trade" for their watch, bike, jacket......they just move on. They dont like to have the tables turned on them.

 

You hit the nail right on the head.

 

I've got another buddy that just asks them before they get a chance to... we'll be walking downtown and here comes a bum, he'll just say "hey man, can you spare a couple dollars?" good stuff

 

We run a public business; and, not a day goes by that we don't get at least a dozen different well clothed, well fed, BEGGARS asking for donations to go to cheerleader camp, basketball camp, The WhiteHouse, you name it.

I have come to the point that I don't give any organization a cent, regardless of how "worthy" the cause.

 

That sounds like a funny idea. Might have to try it

 

Actually, here's the line that will ease their curiousity and get them steppin in the other direction.

BUM: "Hey, you got a few extra dollars you can spare?"
OR
"Hey you got a couple dollars I can borrow?"


YOU: "No, but if YOU do (reach out hand accordingly), I could really use the help, thanks."
OR

"Sure, but I'll need a deposit on the loan and some identification and for you to fill out some paperwork." (You then proceed to pull out an application form - any multipage form will do the trick, and a pen and TRY to hand it to them)

Chances are good they will be gone before you can even hand them the pen. If they actually MAKE IT to ask how much the deposit is, the deposit is $20 cash. It's a pretty good deterrent to them asking again. They seem to REMEMBER who shafted them the next time they see you.

 

Quick note kinda off topic of this but similar. About 2 years ago I was in transition of where I was living, and I was technically 'homeless' for about 2 months. Luckily I had great friends, and each of my parents let me stay off and on at thier places (technicalites made me not able to stay at one or the others houses for the whole time). Had about a week or two of that time livin in my truck.

Although temporarly homeless, I still carried on working and making money, I just did not have an official place to stay. I have a will to live and a need to work, I cant just sit around and feel lazy, or beg. So I hustled as much work as i could, to eat, pay for my fuel, and keep busy (oh and bills).

These people are different obviously, they are so lazy they beg for a living, and quite a few actually have places to live.

Overall everyone is different, and I myself am not a lazy person, and I persevered through my hard times. After some of the things I have read on this thread it makes me even angryer with this type of people.

 

I was driving from Corpus Christi, TX to Tucson, AZ, and in the middle of a long stretch of nothing on a hot summer day I saw what I thought to be an old man walking along the side of the road. There was nothing for tens of miles in either direction, and I was a little concerned for this guy's life, walking on a hot day like that.

So I stopped and picked him up. Turns out he not an old man at all, but a young guy headed to New Mexico. Smelled a bit, but seemed sane enough.

I spent about 10 hours in the car with him and huffed this guy about 500 miles across Texas and into New Mexico. Bought him lunch when I stopped for it, and finally at the end of the day, I left him at a gas station. Here's the scene as we parted:

HOV: Okay buddy, I wish you well. Good luck.

*He doesn't get out of the car*

HOV: Catch you later.

Him: Can you help me out a little?

**Uh... like hauling your sorry edited by admin 500 miles and buying you lunch wasn't helping?**

HOV: Fine. What do you need?

Him: Some milk and bread.

HOV: Okay, I'll buy you some milk and bread.

*He looks at me as if were a wet towel he can wring some more water out of*

Him: Don't you want to sit down and get a cup of coffee?

HOV: Dude, get out of the car.


It took like 10 minutes to get him off of me. He had no thanks in his heart whatsoever for the 500 miles I transported him, or the food I bought him; he just wanted more. Pretty standard behavior from these guys I guess. Being older now, I would not have put up with that for very long... young guys generally play to this a little more.

 

Ya shoulda driven another 10 miles outta town THEN put him out.

 

A few years ago I overheard a conversation between two panhandlers in a laundromat (they just needed a place to sit and talk because they were not using the washing machines). It seems that one of them had a few "workers" at key intersections in town and he would take a certain percentage of what they got. Unbelievable!

 

I agree with what y'all are saying, panhandlers are just looking for a buck, and I have heard the tales of how they make more money than an actual worker and drive nice cars and all that stuff.

But what if they really do need help? I normally don't give anything, but if I've got an extra sandwich for lunch, or a pocketfull of spare change I will. And I feel better for it- have I made society worse? maybe, have I done myself any harm- no.

I was raised to put in honest work for honest pay, but I was also raised to do unto others as I would have them do unto me, and to help your fellow man. And everytime I see a bum, whether I give or not, I say a little prayer and realise that "there but for the grace of God go I"

As was stated earlier, if they are running a scam, so be it, they are the ones that will answer for their sins, not me.

Not trying to start an argument or get all up on a high horse, but really, I take pride in helping people, not in being better than panhandlers. If you don't want to give money don't give it, but I see no point in taking humor from other people's suffering.

 

I used to keep a cup of pennies I would throw out to them when I drove by. Its funny to watch them scramble for the change.