Beggar/Homeless person story

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Intro: I go to Berkeley and you know I'm in a town of homeless people and what not. I remember last year I baked cookies for friends and I baked too many so I Gave them away. I gave away Krispy Kreme too. SOmetimes when I have too much food from places adn I get a to-go box, I give it away if I don't feel like heating it up.

So I'm a nice guy. I've already donated 25 hours of community service this semester and 107 last semester, so it's not like I don't help people out. In fact I'm going to volunteer tomorrow for another 2 hours even though I have buttloads of hw due.

So I'm Asian and like most Asian people, I love dimsum, so I go to Oakland with my friends. Last time I went, this beggar came up to us for change, and I fished through my pockets. I had only dollar bills. I usually give my dimes and nickels cuz those are usless. Now I save those too because I have a car in Berkeley and meter parking is nice with dimes and nickels. But still I give those away, and I save my quarters for laundry. I didn't give anything last time so I apologized and she left.

Maybe 2-3 weeks later today I see her again, and she comes up to my friends. I fished my pokcets and I found $0.76. 3 quarters and a penny. I'm very low on quarters right now and my hamper is overflowing, so I can only give the penny. Well that seems kinda mean, but my friend pulls a dollar and gives it to the poor lady. I hold onto mypenny because I feel bad for being a cheap@$$.

15 min later she comes back because the dimsum line is so long, and so I give her my penny. She has her hand out with a nickel on it to begin with and now a penny on it. She holds the hand closer to me. My friend told me to take the nickel. I was confused because I thougth she wanted to exchange penny for a nickel? LoL. Ok, but I figured she was probably wishing for me. Instead, she pulls the penny out with the other hand and THROWS IT AT ME.

Ok, maybe I shouldn't have given a penny, but in no way was I being mean. At this point I give her the finger and I pull my shoulders back like I'm a wannabe. I don't know but that was my natural reaction. I was steaming and pissed. I picked up my penny and pocketed it. Friends laughed at me all the way through lunch

We we bought pastries at a store a block away and again that lady was there. She sees me and asks for money. I'm not giving her anything. She doesn't leave. I mean what the hell. I doubt she remembers me, but I said I have nothing and she kept staring at me. Fine. I pulled the penny out and put it in her hand.

She stares at it and THROWS it at me again. I caught it this time and I slipped it into her bag of food.

SHe stops. She opens her bag and fishes through it and throws the penny at me yet again.

People in front of me in line talk sh!t about me.

If she took my penny, I would give her dimes and nickels next time I see her, but next time, do you know what she's getting? A fvcking penny. That's right. Go to fvcking hell. All the homeless guys in Berkeley will still be getting my food when I'm in a good mood and my nickels and dimes, but this ONE beggar in oakland will be getting my PENNIES.

Edit: I think beggars have NO RIGHT to choose.

Finally, to make up for this mean act, I will do somethign nice. I will pay for someone's toll (car behind me) if they're polite on the road (although this is more of a hassle because I am a Fasttrak user)

 

[Howard]

Too bad she wasn't a man.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Seems like she has mental health issues. Dont give any more.

 

[yobarman]

Hahaha thats pretty funny.

But if you're gonna give money to a homeless person, go for all or nothing. A penny is just disrespectful, even to the homeless.

 

[Zaitsevs]

yeah, give a yard take a mile.

 

[yllus]

Serves you right for enabling beggars.

 

[halik]

moral of the story : don't give money to bums

EDIT:

oh yeah, there's no need to be redundant.. either say that you go to Berkeley or that you're asian....

 

[snes tor]

I always say, sorry all i have is a debit card then walk on.

 

[MetalMat]

cliffs?

 

[Ronstang]

Just think, if everyone stopped giving them stuff they would simply go away. Nothing like rewarding behavior wishing it would stop. If you really cared about the homeless you would stop propping them up.

 

[DainBramaged]

Next time I see a beggar, I'm going going to strike preemptively and ask them for money.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Just think, if everyone stopped giving them stuff they would simply go away.

Doesn't always work. There's some woman who stands down on Alameda street near the mall here with a "KATRINA VICTIM" sign. I've NEVER seen anybody give her so much as a single dollar..... yet she still stands there, how long after the stupid hurricane? Bah. Go get a job, you lazy leech.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Just think, if everyone stopped giving them stuff they would simply go away. Nothing like rewarding behavior wishing it would stop. If you really cared about the homeless you would stop propping them up.

I don't give to beggers anymore because of past experiences and they're just annoying. They are full of lies and very unappreciative in general.



It was funny though last night I saw one that paid the $5 to get on state street in Madison only to beg for money. I'm sure he made that back easily but it just looked stupid. Not sure why he didn't just stand outside the fences and beg the drunks as they were leaving.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Next time I see a beggar, I'm going going to strike preemptively and ask them for money.

Stop stealing FoBoT's material!

 

[uberman]

I'm just down the street from you. It is a sad commentary on our society that people are homeless in one of the richest countries in the world. The safety nets that existed in the past no longer exist, food stamps, rent money, etc. They've tightened regulations so much that they are unavailable. We both know the costs of owning or renting property in the San Francisco Bay Area, astronomical. It sounds like the lady who was trying to get money from you was a little off, ill. I do give money, but I also don't give to those that are professional beggars. You're eating in the right place, Oakland's Chinatown. I usually go to Delicious Foods at 734 Webster St. You can get cartons of chow fun or fried rice for $1.50 around lunch time, add a few extras and you can feed your friends lunch for $10.00. What restaurant are you impressed with? My favorite Economy Kitchen went under 2 years ago, after 20 years of eating there regularly.

 

[intogamer]

This is what happens when you give money to the beggars

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: uberman
I'm just down the street from you. It is a sad commentary on our society that people are homeless in one of the richest countries in the world. The safety nets that existed in the past no longer exist, food stamps, rent money, etc. They've tightened regulations so much that they are unavailable.

Umm, they still have options.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: uberman
I'm just down the street from you. It is a sad commentary on our society that people are homeless in one of the richest countries in the world. The safety nets that existed in the past no longer exist, food stamps, rent money, etc. They've tightened regulations so much that they are unavailable. We both know the costs of owning or renting property in the San Francisco Bay Area, astronomical. It sounds like the lady who was trying to get money from you was a little off, ill. I do give money, but I also don't give to those that are professional beggars. You're eating in the right place, Oakland's Chinatown. I usually go to Delicious Foods at 734 Webster St. You can get cartons of chow fun or fried rice for $1.50 around lunch time, add a few extras and you can feed your friends lunch for $10.00. What restaurant are you impressed with? My favorite Economy Kitchen went under 2 years ago, after 20 years of eating there regularly.

Last time I was on 8th and Webster I think. It's right across the street from D&A Cafe. Today I was on 6th and Franklin at Legendary Palace. I went to Napoleon Bakery afterwards. All awesome places to eat.... Yummmmmmmay.

And no, I usually don't give to beggars all that much. I just do when I feel like I'm having a great day, and it's usually nothing more than a couple of cents because all my nickels and dimes just get tossed around the room. If anything I frown upon beggars and homeless people, but sometimes you do things out of pity.

Also I was expecting more "You will go to hell" replies. But maybe I didn't explain she's a poor old lady that looks a lot more pitiful and thats why people were talking sh!t behind my back when we were in line at the bakery because multiple people saw the drama.

 

[uberman]

DLeRium,
Thanks for the tips. I need to try to try some new restaurants since my old one is now defunct. Economy kitchen used to make everything fresh and they cooked it right in front of you. They had a loyal following for many years. The place that took over is all steam plates that sit out all day. I also buy a lot of groceries in Oakland's Chinatown for my Asian cooking. Good prices and selection.

 

[wetcat007]

This is something I've always wondered, how hard is it to get a job at oh i don't know mcdonalds(what exactly do they require to be hired???) for example. 9 bux an hour that'd be what a bit over 1500 bux a month at fulltime? More than u get from begging I would think, although maybe they get a lot? Anyways, I'm not sure how much rent is there, but there are many places you can get a apartment for 400 bux/month, probably not there, but maybe let's say 800, well you got a roof over your head at that point, know #2 item is food, grocery store, let's say 40-50 bux a week. Anyways, you'd think it'd be at least livable, at worst get a second job or something to help out. I think a lot of the time they just use it for drugs,(just my guess though).

Anyways just me thinking, there's probably more to this than what I'm mentioning, feel free to dispute anything or agree with me or whatever.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: wetcat007
This is something I've always wondered, how hard is it to get a job at oh i don't know mcdonalds(what exactly do they require to be hired???) for example. 9 bux an hour that'd be what a bit over 1500 bux a month at fulltime? More than u get from begging I would think, although maybe they get a lot? Anyways, I'm not sure how much rent is there, but there are many places you can get a apartment for 400 bux/month, probably not there, but maybe let's say 800, well you got a roof over your head at that point, know #2 item is food, grocery store, let's say 40-50 bux a week. Anyways, you'd think it'd be at least livable, at worst get a second job or something to help out. I think a lot of the time they just use it for drugs,(just my guess though).

Anyways just me thinking, there's probably more to this than what I'm mentioning, feel free to dispute anything or agree with me or whatever.

Yes, you'd be surprised.

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
Next time I see a beggar, I'm going going to strike preemptively and ask them for money.

Stop stealing FoBoT's material!

:laugh: Pwned.

 

[lyssword]

I've heard that a large percentage of bums/homeless (in US) have some kind of mental problems/disease and should be in a psych hospital, but no one cares or something like that..

 

[PHiuR]

Originally posted by: snes tor
I always say, sorry all i have is a debit card then walk on.

Don't do that...They can hold you up and bring you to an ATM to get you to take all your money out.

 

[flexy]

>>>
Edit: I think beggars have NO RIGHT to choose.
>>>

No they dont. But giving a beggar a penny is a GREAT insult imho..and obviously you dont realize this.....instead you gave her that penny a few times..and now you act like a crybaby because she was upset about it. And..as you said..the other people gave you ****** about ths too... right, in my opinion.

It would've been much more "polite" to tell her that you just dont have money...instead of giving her a fvcking penny.

 

[nageov3t]

I stopped giving to the homeless around my office when I realized how racist they are.

I just look them in the eye and say no... I hate people who make up excuses, though. it's like, grow up and be honest.