What do you do when a homeless person asks you for change?

[nakedfrog]

Stab them with my steely knives.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

No change.

If only these people worked as hard to find a job and/or help as they do to beg.

 

[waggy]

depends really. i have seen "homeless" that are mid 20's and in good shape asking for money. i just laugh and walk off. But i have seen the other side. there was a old guy in army fatigues and a jacket saying Vietnam on the back who would occasionally ask for change. i would give him any cash if i had any (i rarely carry cash on me).

 

[zebano]

I usually give change, but not paper monies. It all depends though. One guy gave me the same sad spiel twice (a month apart), both times claiming that this was a one-time deal. He got nothing the second time.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Stab them with my steely knives.

Yeah, but you cant just "kill" the beast.

 

[alkemyst]

most probably switch sides of the road/sidewalk and/or blow through the redlight, then post here how they stared down a real-life homeless person and told him to get a job.

 

[Amused]

I never give them money.

People, if you want to help the homeless, give money to local shelters and food banks.

Do NOT give them money directly. Nine times out of ten they will spend it on things charities will not give them: drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

In reality, when you give a panhandler money, you are supporting a drug addiction. You are NOT feeding or clothing him.

 

[DainBramaged]

I vary every time. If I am entertained somehow, I might give them a bit. I usually ignore them.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: DaTT
Homeless guy "Spare Change?"
Me "No thanks, I have lots"

HAHA. I'm going to use this next time.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Amused
I never give them money.

People, if you want to help the homeless, give money to local shelters and food banks.

Do NOT give them money directly. Nine times out of ten they will spend it on things charities will not give them: drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

In reality, when you give a panhandler money, you are supporting a drug addiction. You are NOT feeding or clothing him.

DING

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Amused
I never give them money.

People, if you want to help the homeless, give money to local shelters and food banks.

Do NOT give them money directly. Nine times out of ten they will spend it on things charities will not give them: drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

In reality, when you give a panhandler money, you are supporting a drug addiction. You are NOT feeding or clothing him.

DING

Many around here do it to supplement income.

 

[TallBill]

I tell them the truth.

"Do you have any change?"

"Yes"

"Can I have some?"

"No"

 

[coolVariable]

I say "No thank you" and walk on.
Hate the bums - Santa Monica has become a real dump thanks to them.
If nobody gave them money, maybe they would i) move on or ii) actually find some work and get their life in order.


PS: I personally propose rounding them up and smuggling them into Mexico.
All the illegal Mexicans come here to work minimum wage jobs ... lets export lazy Americans that don't want to work to Mexico!

 

[Hacp]

I tell them I'm a republican. Works for those annoying save Africa/Asia/Latin America people too.

 

[Whitecloak]

ignore it.

 

[Farang]

I wave them off with my hand

<waits for someone to "fix" that sentence>

 

[EKKC]

i ask them for a credit card swiping machine. sadly none of them is equipped to receive any of my generosity

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Toasthead
I acknowledge them by looking at them and say "I'm sorry" and shake my head.

 

[Mide]

So no and keep on walking.

 

[Gothgar]

hope I am wearing my shirt for said situation

Text

 

[actuarial]

Originally posted by: Mide
So no and keep on walking.

Or "sorry I don't have any change"

....and jangle your pocket as you walk away!

 

[ghostman]

Originally posted by: Amused
I never give them money.

People, if you want to help the homeless, give money to local shelters and food banks.

Do NOT give them money directly. Nine times out of ten they will spend it on things charities will not give them: drugs, alcohol or tobacco.

In reality, when you give a panhandler money, you are supporting a drug addiction. You are NOT feeding or clothing him.

I agree with this completely. In NYC, a bum can make more than minimum wage begging his way through the subway system - especially during the holiday season. I've counted some making more than $5 during a 5 minute walk-through of a single subway car. What incentive do these people have to get real jobs? I even recognize several of them over the years - the woman/man who walk around with laundry bags saying they are down on their luck recently (for the last several years, apparently), the guy who sings "Do You Think I'm Sexy", the guy who talks about "your neighborhood, not Hollywood", the guy who just mumbles "doyouhavesomechange?" They don't get a cent from me.

Very rarely, but I sometimes give a dollar to some great subway performances. My gf is a lot more generous. Just this past weekend, she went out of her way to buy a KFC meal for a homeless man.

 

[Dumac]

I hate how homeless people ALWAYS ask me for money. Seriously, it ruins ever trip outdoors. If I walk outside, I can guarantee a homeless person will ask me for money.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I pee in their general direction.

.. or at least that's what they should get for being a bunch of non contributing zeroes.

 

[BoomerD]

Either ignore them or just say, "Nope."