Topic: If you were approached by a panhandler...
Neurofriction's photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:52 AM
I have a few times.

Dannydew's photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:52 AM
me and a few friends panhandle, we play music in the middle of downtown with a tip jar believe it or not we make a good bit in a day. best we've done in one day was 250 we usually get about 90 or so

Winx's photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:52 AM
Here's an idea. Keep McDonald's gift certificates in your wallet to give to them.

Filmfreek's photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:54 AM
My friend has a roll of bus passes that she keeps in her car, and hands out.

no photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:55 AM

Here's an idea. Keep McDonald's gift certificates in your wallet to give to them.


WINX, THAT IS A SPLENDID IDEA!!! drinker :heart:

buttons's photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:57 AM

I let three homeless guys stay at my house twice while my wife and kids were on vacation. I took them to Tampa Bay Rays baseball games and the eldest one of the pack taught me a bunch of his grandma's TN recipes that I still use today. They now have a house and I've been over to hang out a few times but I don't drink anymore so it's hard to be around long.

True story ... and the greatest feeling in the world. People can change if you give them a break. It's not about the $1 that you give them. It's about the hope. Say something encouraging when you drop your change. I usually say something like, "Hey, we could easily be in different spots. Good luck to you dude. Your big break may come later today."

LIVE AND LET LIVE.
thats some sexy thinking, what a sweetieflowerforyou flowerforyou

Winx's photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:59 AM

My friend has a roll of bus passes that she keeps in her car, and hands out.


That's a neat idea.

Winx's photo
Wed 11/19/08 07:59 AM


Here's an idea. Keep McDonald's gift certificates in your wallet to give to them.


WINX, THAT IS A SPLENDID IDEA!!! drinker :heart:


Why, thank you.bigsmile flowers

no photo
Wed 11/19/08 08:03 AM
Edited by Bushidobillyclub on Wed 11/19/08 08:08 AM

I had a couple bums approach me and they told me upfront and honestly, that they needed some money for a drink. I appreciated their honesty, and me being kind of a drunk myself, gave them some change.

It's the ones that try to sound all innocent, and make them feel sorry for them, that I usually ignore. Most of them are scam artists. Some of them even work in shifts, like it's a buisness.


I agree I appreciate honesty, if they say they are hungry I will offer to buy some good food (more money then I would give)

If they tell me there life sucks and they want to get high or drunk, im down. I can understand . . . a broke back and being nearly paralyzed for 2 years puts life into perspective a bit without having someone there for me, I would have been homeless, and nearly paralyzed to boot, and probably would have never got better, having come back from that to now I am able to bike, swim and run on ellipticals makes me understand that sometimes you just need to get through it by whatever means you can, if you can.

So I give em a couple bucks to buy some alcoholic if they are straight up with me.

I am also not a **** and understand that alot of people will not give them anything unless they lie, so I wont hold that against them.

I tell em straight you want food lets go get some good food, then I say but if you want a buzz just tell me straight Ill give you what I got to give.

I have yet to meet one yet that will not be honest if you tell them you are going to give them something regardless.

I use to work downtown and this happened a lot, but sometimes I cant give (end of week gotta pay bills ect), and when you respect them, they understand. (unless they are mental in which case be ****ING careful, you might get shanked)


me and a few friends panhandle, we play music in the middle of downtown with a tip jar believe it or not we make a good bit in a day. best we've done in one day was 250 we usually get about 90 or so
Nothing wrong with Busking, right on dude!

MarkTK's photo
Wed 11/19/08 08:05 AM
I would hand them job applications! I have seen my buddy's dad offer jobs to the BUMS/SCAMMERS and they don't want a real job... Unless I saw a dude or a chic getting thrown out of his or her home and his or her cash taken from him or her, I would not give the money I work for!!! And I did vote Obama, but with that everyone has to do equal amount of work! Pretty sure guy chillin', sitting up against a wall would not fly as an appropriate occupation!

TheShadow's photo
Wed 11/19/08 08:13 AM
Edited by TheShadow on Wed 11/19/08 08:14 AM

Yes, and whatever they do with the money is up to them and of no concern to me. It's not my place to judge people.



I agree about not judging people, but doing what everyone else does. Isn't that enabling them to keep do what there doing? If they can sit on a coner all day with a sign, then they can go look for a job.

Totage's photo
Wed 11/19/08 08:26 AM

... and he/she asked you for money, would you give them some? I usually do, but wind up feeling like a damned fool.frustrated




No, there's a right way and a wrong way to get help, if that's what they're looking for.

no photo
Wed 11/19/08 08:29 AM


Yes, and whatever they do with the money is up to them and of no concern to me. It's not my place to judge people.



I agree about not judging people, but doing what everyone else does. Isn't that enabling them to keep do what there doing? If they can sit on a coner all day with a sign, then they can go look for a job.



The only problem with that line of thinking is that some of the "genuinely" homeless do not have appropriate hygiene facilities or clothing to make a good impression at a job interview. Some do not even have an address to put on the job application. Notice I said "SOME"...the professional bums are a travesty!

I hired a homeless person once & he came to work everyday, wearing the same battered green plaid suit & carrying a rumpled paper bag containing his meager worldly goods under his arm. I knew that he did his daily "PTA" in our bathroom...but at least he made the effort. I'll never forget the day...after a few week's checks...when he was able to purchase new duds (probably from Goodwill) & I'm assuming that he got a room, cuz he came in clean. I don't know whatever happened to him as this was many years ago, but I know that I'll never forget my lil buddy, Ray.

TheShadow's photo
Wed 11/19/08 08:52 AM
Edited by TheShadow on Wed 11/19/08 08:56 AM



Yes, and whatever they do with the money is up to them and of no concern to me. It's not my place to judge people.



I agree about not judging people, but doing what everyone else does. Isn't that enabling them to keep do what there doing? If they can sit on a coner all day with a sign, then they can go look for a job.



The only problem with that line of thinking is that some of the "genuinely" homeless do not have appropriate hygiene facilities or clothing to make a good impression at a job interview. Some do not even have an address to put on the job application. Notice I said "SOME"...the professional bums are a travesty!

I hired a homeless person once & he came to work everyday, wearing the same battered green plaid suit & carrying a rumpled paper bag containing his meager worldly goods under his arm. I knew that he did his daily "PTA" in our bathroom...but at least he made the effort. I'll never forget the day...after a few week's checks...when he was able to purchase new duds (probably from Goodwill) & I'm assuming that he got a room, cuz he came in clean. I don't know whatever happened to him as this was many years ago, but I know that I'll never forget my lil buddy, Ray.


The reason i said that. When i was living in cali i would see this alot and a few of them had nice cothes and were clean, now mind you, i know there are a few like you said. What my answer would be to the hygiene part. There are places they can take showers. The wmca is one and there are other places like that. I see clean clothes on them. So they must be doing somthing. As for an address. P.o boxes are free. There are shelters if there puting the effort they will help them. The thing that gets me the most, is alot of them are young these days. So when i see that, i say there is no excuse when there are places you can get help if you want it.

no photo
Wed 11/19/08 09:18 AM
Not trying to be argumentative Shadow...but since when were P.O. Boxes free? I've always had to pay for mine...has that changed in the last few years?

Tj806's photo
Wed 11/19/08 09:22 AM
I always put my change in my ashtray cause i dont smoke, so everytime one of those doods comes to my car downtown i just dump all my change in there hands, they freak out and never see them again haha

plk1966's photo
Wed 11/19/08 09:25 AM




Yes, and whatever they do with the money is up to them and of no concern to me. It's not my place to judge people.



I agree about not judging people, but doing what everyone else does. Isn't that enabling them to keep do what there doing? If they can sit on a coner all day with a sign, then they can go look for a job.



The only problem with that line of thinking is that some of the "genuinely" homeless do not have appropriate hygiene facilities or clothing to make a good impression at a job interview. Some do not even have an address to put on the job application. Notice I said "SOME"...the professional bums are a travesty!

I hired a homeless person once & he came to work everyday, wearing the same battered green plaid suit & carrying a rumpled paper bag containing his meager worldly goods under his arm. I knew that he did his daily "PTA" in our bathroom...but at least he made the effort. I'll never forget the day...after a few week's checks...when he was able to purchase new duds (probably from Goodwill) & I'm assuming that he got a room, cuz he came in clean. I don't know whatever happened to him as this was many years ago, but I know that I'll never forget my lil buddy, Ray.


The reason i said that. When i was living in cali i would see this alot and a few of them had nice cothes and were clean, now mind you, i know there are a few like you said. What my answer would be to the hygiene part. There are places they can take showers. The wmca is one and there are other places like that. I see clean clothes on them. So they must be doing somthing. As for an address. P.o boxes are free. There are shelters if there puting the effort they will help them. The thing that gets me the most, is alot of them are young these days. So when i see that, i say there is no excuse when there are places you can get help if you want it.


Shadow I do understand where you thought process is taking you but I need to inform you that PO boxes are not free and ever since 9/11 you can not get a PO box without a proper photo ID or a physical address. So here lies the problem. No address...no job...no job...no address

bad_girl's photo
Wed 11/19/08 09:28 AM
If I have spare change I will or I will offer to buy them something to eat

MsCarmen's photo
Wed 11/19/08 09:31 AM


Yes, and whatever they do with the money is up to them and of no concern to me. It's not my place to judge people.



I agree about not judging people, but doing what everyone else does. Isn't that enabling them to keep do what there doing? If they can sit on a coner all day with a sign, then they can go look for a job.


Maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. Who's to say that couple of dollars I just gave to them, might have just made the difference between them moving ahead or giving up?

And who's to say they haven't been looking for work? Maybe they have been, but at that time, they were just trying to get enough money to get a meal, to help them get through the rest of the day? Maybe they were one of these people who just recently lost their home because of the bank situation, or because of the major layoffs around the country?

That's why I say it's not my place to judge, cause I don't know what they've been through to put them in that position, or what steps they are taking to better their life.

no photo
Wed 11/19/08 09:43 AM
If I have a little extra money, I might.