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Do you give money to people on the street asking for it?

E

Exterous

Super Moderator
I used to until I got a job in retail and saw many of them come in and buy expensive electronics (we were near several popular begging locations)

I still feel bad about not giving them money at times though...
 
No simply because I cannot determine those who truly need it for things they truly NEED. If I could tell, I'd likely give something at least occasionally.
 
Tweak155 said:
No simply because I cannot determine those who truly need it for things they truly NEED. If I could tell, I'd likely give something at least occasionally.
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Many years ago, I was filling my car up with gas and a guy walked up to me and wanted money for food. I offered to take him over to Subway and buy him a sandwich, and he refused. I looked at him and said "Well I guess you're not that hungry, are you?" and drove off.

I went to New Orleans last spring and I was amazed at the number of "beggars" who were wearing nice, clean clothes, had smart phones that they would quickly hide when they saw you coming, and who would try to con anyone and everyone out of money. One clean, decently dressed guy walked up to us at Jackson Square and started making small talk, laughing, etc. and then his pitch came: "I'm not asking for money, but if you were me and needed gas money, what would you do?" Uh, yeah.....
 
IndyColtsFan said:
I went to New Orleans last spring and I was amazed at the number of "beggars" who were wearing nice, clean clothes, had smart phones that they would quickly hide when they saw you coming, and who would try to con anyone and everyone out of money. One clean, decently dressed guy walked up to us at Jackson Square and started making small talk, laughing, etc. and then his pitch came: "I'm not asking for money, but if you were me and needed gas money, what would you do?" Uh, yeah.....
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That sounds like Vancouver. Beggers there would come up to you in a North Face jacket asking you to buy them a Starbucks.

Never given a single dollar to beggars. You used to have the traditional street corner guys with the "no job, need money, God bless" signs that would just look at you sad as your drove by.

Now there's "walkers" who just sort of roam around certain areas asking for a buck, or a couple dollars for gas, or whatever where they come right up to you and ask for stuff. Much more aggressive. Those guys sort of concern me because they are usually shuffling along with an oversize hoodie, their hands in their pockets and you don't know if you are going to get shanked or shot over a couple bucks. I can usually spot them from a distance and divert direction but sometimes you get caught off guard or just come out of a building and there they are.

As for my acts of charity, I tend to donate a decent amount each year around Thanksgiving and Christmas to local food shelters to help supply holiday meals and additional food supplies over the winter.
 
no if you youtube it almost all these people are faking it. Then there are guys with bucket at the front of the store with some no name charity asking for money. It's lame and there should be laws against it.

There's this Persian lady that drags her kids all around town doing it. It's pretty low thing to do with a kid or dog.
 
vi edit said:
That sounds like Vancouver. Beggers there would come up to you in a North Face jacket asking you to buy them a Starbucks.
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Good old East Hastings. I know a few people who've lived in Vancouver. One friend of mine used to have to commute through the Downtown East Side. Said you'd see them every morning lined up at the Methadone clinics and injection sites. Drug abuse is absolutely rampant in that city. When Toronto banned aggressive panhandling, all the bums and junkies moved out west.

When it comes to giving to homeless on the streets, you really don't know who they are or if they're legit. You're probably enabling them to fund drug abuse and other destructive habits.

If you want to help the homeless, there's lots of good charities out there doing good work. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, the Salvation Army, or do some building for Habitat. You could also support groups working on mental health and sobriety. It's a far better use of your time.
 
You mean, like, when the volunteer firefighters blockade an intersection and demand tribute? Yeah, you have to pay them or they won't let you through.
 
I was once conned out of money for a "telephone call home" by a man after dark.

Not entirely sure it was a con, he went into the telephone after all, but I guess I'm lucky I still had my wallet afterwards.
 
Depends. There are some I do that have been on the streets forever. There are those that I don't that look too clean cut, dressed too nice, and seem to leer at anyone not willing to crack a window to give them something.

I will usually test the waters by offering to buy them food if their is a place on the corner. If I get lip service like "do I look like I need food? I need MONEY!"

Fuck them.
 
Depends. If it's snowing outside and there's a disabled grandpa asking for a few bucks, sure, the guy is obviously in need. It's always hard to tell tho. At the very least, if a person is at the point in their life where they're having to ask you for money, even if it's to scam you out of it, then they're not doing too good if they've had to sacrifice their self-respect just to make some untaxed cash...even if they're a panhandler making $40k a year doing it.
 
90% of the time I can truthfully say I don't carry cash or coin.

8% of the time I lie about not having cash.

2% of the time I may give them something if I have a few coins or small bills.


Consider it a tip for the service of making me feel better about my station in life.
 
IndyColtsFan said:
Many years ago, I was filling my car up with gas and a guy walked up to me and wanted money for food. I offered to take him over to Subway and buy him a sandwich, and he refused. I looked at him and said "Well I guess you're not that hungry, are you?" and drove off.
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Yeah, my wife has an interesting approach...if they're still there after she gets back from her errands, she'll swing by the local fast food joint & get them a value meal and throw a few bucks in the bag...if they're truly hungry, they'll take it and end up with lunch and a few dollars to their name.
 
No. I usually just say I dont have any money on me, which is almost always true anyway. Who walks around with cash anymore? That's so 1970s.
 
Do you give money to people on the street asking for it?
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No, I give it to people on the street who don't ask for it. You wouldn't believe the things some women will say when you try to slip them a twenty. 🙁
 
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