Beggars in NYC

[Kaido]

Once saw a beggar, looked to be in his early 20's, with a sign...and a dog. I wasn't giving him a damned penny. I felt bad not giving him any money because of the dog. But on the other hand, how poor are you if you can afford pets?

I dunno, everyone gets lonely. I've seen some homeless dudes with dogs before. Sometimes even the dogs look homeless, it's pretty sad. But it also works to their advantage, because it tugs at your heartstrings more when a dude is sitting there looking desperate & so is his dog.

I also don't mind donating food. People who are actually homeless are usually pretty grateful if you give them some burgers or something. The ones who just want to go drink just get mad at you since you're not giving them money

 

[Kaido]

The only time I will help a homeless man is when he actually offers to work for it, instead of moping around all pathetic-like.

You could always use them for Youtube fodder and make money by getting millions of hits like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVH1AFxpO2M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJzF2cSFsPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lki_IeM6bQ

Nearly 20 million hits between just those videos...

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Once saw a beggar, looked to be in his early 20's, with a sign...and a dog. I wasn't giving him a damned penny. I felt bad not giving him any money because of the dog. But on the other hand, how poor are you if you can afford pets?

I must have seen exact same person about a week ago. Didn't give him any money, but gave him a cold stare.

To make these 'beggars' work, there must be a police force that will force them to clean up trash, parks, and other public places at a gun point for an exchange for food. Belarus did this experiment about a year and half ago. It worked.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Once saw a beggar, looked to be in his early 20's, with a sign...and a dog. I wasn't giving him a damned penny. I felt bad not giving him any money because of the dog. But on the other hand, how poor are you if you can afford pets?

A good hobo always has a dog

 

[Brainonska511]

The guys are back with their squeegee's at key corners as well. They start wiping your windshield with their filthy squeegee before asking.

de blasio is off to a fine start.

Give me a break. I've seen people like that for the past 2 summers near the Queensboro bridge

I'm happy the NYPD is finally cracking down on some of the riff-raff of the subway: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Subway-Dancer-Arrests-NYC-NYPD-MTA-257160381.html I hate the people that want to turn the subway into some kind of shitty concert hall.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Once saw a beggar, looked to be in his early 20's, with a sign...and a dog. I wasn't giving him a damned penny. I felt bad not giving him any money because of the dog. But on the other hand, how poor are you if you can afford pets?

I have a friend who used to be an aspiring artist, so he's friends with a lot of starving artist / poor junkie types. He told me that using a dog while begging is a known technique to generate more money. Sometimes they will borrow their friend's dog for the day just as a prop for begging.

 

[akugami]

I have a friend who used to be an aspiring artist, so he's friends with a lot of starving artist / poor junkie types. He told me that using a dog while begging is a known technique to generate more money. Sometimes they will borrow their friend's dog for the day just as a prop for begging.

It works. I'm not a bleeding heart PETA fanatic and I'm not even a pet owner. With that said, I felt really bad not giving the guy I saw with a dog any money. The guy was in his early 20's and I really felt he should have no trouble getting a job but I felt a twinge of guilt hoping I wasn't starving the dog. Imagine how a pet owner, especially a dog lover, would feel.

I have given money to beggars but it's kind of situational. I make it a policy never to give to someone who looks able bodied and especially if they're young. There used to be a couple of really old guys, one with a sign saying he's a vet and in a wheelchair near where I live. I used to give them money and buy food for them but haven't seen them in the last few years. Felt really bad for them in the winter time with snow and stuff. Never was able to do more than just pass some food or a few dollars out the window since they were on the train tracks in a high traffic area.

 

[Hacp]

Never give money to beggars in NYC. In NYC, it is really easy to get a meal if you are homeless. Every day even. Most likely, they will be using the money for something else. If you need to give something, give food.

 

[z1ggy]

Every once in a while I'll see one at an intersection around here. I'd much rather go buy them a cheese burger and fries than give them my money. They will probably go buy cigs or beer, rather than use it for something they really need.

 

[Dari]

Never give money to beggars in NYC. In NYC, it is really easy to get a meal if you are homeless. Every day even. Most likely, they will be using the money for something else. If you need to give something, give food.

Yeah. One time my wife and I came out of a restaurant with a doggy-bag. It was really windy and cold and a guy was asking for money. I offered him the doggy-bag but he refused. This was in the LES.

 

[Number1]

Yeah. One time my wife and I came out of a restaurant with a doggy-bag. It was really windy and cold and a guy was asking for money. I offered him the doggy-bag but he refused. This was in the LES.

You offered a doggy bag and you're surprised he refused.
They might be begging but they are not dogs.

 

[darkxshade]

The thing about food is that you don't know how often it gets offered(assuming they really are homeless) so for all we know the homeless are well-fed. But then again that begs the question of what the goal of giving them money is at all. Speaking strictly as a NYer of course. I can't imagine a bum starving in NY, even though they're homeless. There are so many restaurants who donate to food banks and there's so much food that gets trashed on a daily basis that if you can't scavenge a bite to eat then you really deserve to starve. Do I need to spoon feed them too? About the only thing I can think of is offering them clothes I don't wear anymore during the colder months. The truly homeless are those who sleep on the streets when it's below freezing outside at night. I don't usually do anything during the day cause I can't be sure if they're panhandlers. At night you at least have some comfort in knowing they've gone home for the night.

 

[Hacp]

The thing about food is that you don't know how often it gets offered(assuming they really are homeless) so for all we know the homeless are well-fed. But then again that begs the question of what the goal of giving them money is at all. Speaking strictly as a NYer of course. I can't imagine a bum starving in NY, even though they're homeless. There are so many restaurants who donate to food banks and there's so much food that gets trashed on a daily basis that if you can't scavenge a bite to eat then you really deserve to starve. Do I need to spoon feed them too? About the only thing I can think of is offering them clothes I don't wear anymore during the colder months. The truly homeless are those who sleep on the streets when it's below freezing outside at night. I don't usually do anything during the day cause I can't be sure if they're panhandlers. At night you at least have some comfort in knowing they've gone home for the night.

I don't think anyone deserves to starve. I think no one is actually STARVING. If they really are starving and look like they need some help, go buy some non-perishables and donate it to them. Never give money, ever.

 

[waggy]

Once saw a beggar, looked to be in his early 20's, with a sign...and a dog. I wasn't giving him a damned penny. I felt bad not giving him any money because of the dog. But on the other hand, how poor are you if you can afford pets?

Every summer we get 2-3 20 something kids sitting at the entrence to the Walmart and strip mall. sometimes its one dude and his dog another time its a 20 something couple.

they always have the same sign. "homeless and need food" WTF you are 20. in a town that has plenty of job openings. go get one.

You offered a doggy bag and you're surprised he refused.
They might be begging but they are not dogs.

fuck that. IF i was homeless and at the point of begging for cash for food i wouldn't turn down shit.

One of the few times i have ever given to someone was this winter. My daughter and I were coming back from a gymnastics event. we stopped at a gas station in a small country town. a 19-23 yr old lady was outside crying. my daughter asked what was wrong (ahh the innocence of youth). She was on her way home from college because her dad was sick and blew a tire. she didnt' have the money to put one on.

We ended up paying the $15 to repair it and mount it. She didn't know they could do that. Not that it mattered..if she didn't have 15 she wasn't getting home without more gas...

not sure i got scammed but i didn't care. it was a good lesson for my kid.

 

[dawheat]

I have noticed a pretty noticeable increase in the number of vagrants in the UES since Blasio has taken office - I don't know if police are told to be more easy going or what, but instead of forcing them to get moving, they seem to be letting them be.

For me the easiest method is the smell - if they can rank up a whole subway car by themselves, I'm pretty comfortable that they're truly homeless.

Only folks I'll give any money are the entertainers - whether it be the mariachi band that sometimes jumps on or those kids who do acrobatics on the subway.

 

[K1052]

I'm happy the NYPD is finally cracking down on some of the riff-raff of the subway: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Subway-Dancer-Arrests-NYC-NYPD-MTA-257160381.html I hate the people that want to turn the subway into some kind of shitty concert hall.

People who get arrested doing that Showtime crap should be sentenced to community service...cleaning subway stations.

 

[Newell Steamer]

These are my favs:

- The pregnant woman who has been begging for the last 2 years,... while still pregnant all that time. I would usually see her on the 7 train.

- The smelly homeless woman (her name was Milly... she was usually on the N train), who as she is begging trys to play with someone's child. When the mother pulls back the child, the homeless woman then proceeds to call the mother; "A horrible wise and beautiful woman, who probably beats the little bastard,.." I mean, the smelly homeless woman just wanted to play,.. why was the mother such a horrible wise and beautiful woman?! Milly also "sold" pens/pencils at some point.

- The 'performers' who demand you give them clearance and space for them to back flip and possibly crash into you. I usually have seen them on the 6 train.

- the doo-wops; sound great, look/smell awful. On every train pretty much.

- the smelly homeless person carrying food and offering food if you are hungry. Yes, that is what I will do, eat a sandwich from someone who is drenched in his own urine. On the N train as well.

,.. this was a rare and great one,...

- Homeless high on drugs homosexual couple, that is begging for change at 7:30am. When one asked the other, "What are you doing", they other said; "Making some money!", as if he was the man of the relationship, and taking charge of things in their life. On the N train.

 

[rsutoratosu]

There are tons of begger, some has better shoes and jacket than me.. thus phony
ie this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSprgVjLFgk - i think they film her getting into her benz or one similar to this

 

[yuchai]

You offered a doggy bag and you're surprised he refused.
They might be begging but they are not dogs.

Not sure where you're coming from with this comment. It's the same food that the giver ate. Just because it is leftovers, it is no longer fit for consumption of another human being?