I am just curious. I have seen the same young couple(early twenties) for the last six or seven months standing on a corner holding up signs for money

I have asked them what happened that they have been out there so long and the male told me they had hit hard times,,,which is good enough for me because I feel asking further is intrusive

my question is, because it seems as if getting 'handouts' is viewed as one of the most disdainful acts of our culture by many,, is it viewed as a more respectful behavior to

1. stand out in all elements of weather asking for 'handouts'

or

2. stand out in all elements of weather 'earning' money through prostitution




this question purposefully has no other options considering how very hard it is for anyone without a residence and/or local work history to compete in the job market against those who do,,,

We are loaded here with panhandlers because
of the beach and the temperate clime..oh and
the easy tourists.

Some go directly to the casino with their earnings,
when they lose it, they go back out on the street.

They do not consider themselves beggars in any
way, they make $200+ each and every day.

They 'own' their corners, their signs are getting
cleverer..they are usually close to restaurants so
you feel guilty having just eaten.

I do not really care how they get by..how they get
their $$, mostly because I have not walked a mile
in their shoes.

For your query, the most valuable reply would be from
a lady of the streets, how do they see it? :-)

Does the bum ridicule the prostitute for the way
she earns it?

Not to me.

Since I have to do neither.

If I was a hooker, I would probably believe something like "I'm self employed, at least I'm not begging, I'm not just asking people for something for nothing."

If I was begging (and assuming I'm not crazy, or faking it for a free income), I would probably believe something like "I'm still a good person, there are some lines I wouldn't cross. I don't steal, I'm not a hooker, I just need some help so I'm asking for it."



There's at least one agency here that specifically provides staffing services to homeless people.

They have all sorts of problem with homeless people competing in the job market far beyond residence and work history.
There are a ton of really really crappy, menial, usually given to the mentally handicapped jobs, people can do.

Some of the biggest problem for those without a residence or competitive work history is they forget how to bathe, it simply doesn't occur to them to do it since they haven't done it for months or years. They have to be reminded to shave, brush their teeth, shower before a job interview, reminded several times.

Their social skills are feral, at best, so have serious problems with anger management when they feel threatened, threatened when asked questions like "what's your name? What can you do? Where do you live?" It sounds like they're being judged. And they don't have computers to go to forums or comment sections and yell "you don't know me! You can't judge me!"

Their sense of time becomes day/night/hungry, so they're never on time or they drop a job interview for what they perceive to be a priority.

You can easily get a job without a residence and/or local work history.
Stand outside Home Depot with the dozens of other people that do so daily.

You just aren't going to get a job that offers medical, dental, a 401k, easy career path, where they trust you with proprietary information.

For that you do need to show stability, consistency, and a lack of "drama" (e.g. arrest warrants, addiction, stuff that takes away from getting the job done and shows you as a risk).

Hookers without a local work history oft times save up and go to community college, or through some technical program, like nurses assistant, or court reporter, or something, when they actually want to get out.

The lack of residence and/or local work history is nowhere near the obstacle of competition in the job market as the learned behavior acquired through being homeless or being a hooker.

Either there is a complete lack of agencies/charities in your area that could help these people,
or these people refuse to comply with the rules of local agencies/charities,
or these people have a scam going.

I would prefer to beg for money than to prostitute myself but i am not judgmental of women who have made that choice to support their families if ithey have tried everything else without success. . I remember going through a period of unemployment and during that time, i sold my belongings, ironed people"s clothes for pay, and ate only beans and rice to cope financially and i sent out 75 job applications. It was a daunting time and i remember thinking at the time ,that i understood why women used the sex industry as an income generator but i just couldnt do it. And i ask myself now....How many of those women who joined that industry tried living the humble lifestyle that i endured before resorting to prostitution? Was it their last resort or was it the most convenient alternative? That is my real concern

I don't judge them nor do I give those that beg for a hand out anymore.. There are many Churches and places they can go for the night to stay and get a hot meal.. Those that I see that are young I'm sorry there are jobs out there they just don't want a job...

Do I give to the Homeless yes I do but it is to ones that never beg for money on the corner.. There is a Homeless man I see every day that has his little spot he sleeps at. He never begs on the corners, he goes to the Church downtown to get hot meals ect.. He keeps the area around him very clean and one of the sweetest men I have ever talked to..

This last summer I made sure to go to the Walmart Market and get him cases of water, fruit and stuff that would not spoil to take to him.. Noticed that others have done the same.. So I watch and if I see him without water I stop and get some for him the next day... And in between I will stop and give him $10 to do with as he pleases..Went though some stuff took him a sleeping bag that I have not used in years... I always ask him what is something he needs he always says I'm good thank you but I do appreciate what you give me..

As far as a prostitute I have no idea why they choose that path. It is their life not for me to judge them... or compare them to beggars they have a hard life...

Well.. first off ...I would prefer to think of myself more as a gigolo than a prostitute..lol.. over the last few years ..the panhandling industry has become more popular... it is like a little cottage industry on to its own..

... we used to have the normal, down on their luck out of luck... homeless person on the corner asking passing pedestrians for a handout...
You still see that person's usually downtown... they usually are a little drunk or have a drinking problem that's .. apparent.. but I have noticed over the last few years there has been a shift from this type of panhandler...
Now you have young men and women standing in the middle of the roads Boulevard.. holding up very elaborate signs... hoping and asking.. that you will help them out !while you sit for the light to change from green to red..

. They know longer approach you in the street... they stand at the intersections waiting to get you at a red light..... these are not old men that are homeless.. these are young able bodied citizens.. you look at them, can not see any physical problems whatsoever that would keep them from holding down a job... but there they are asking for you to give them ..something you! have worked very hard for.. they want you to hand over your hard earned money... because for them taking it from you is easier than earning it... although standing there with a sign can not be easy.... unless you're making 200 or $250 doing it..per shift....yup... that's right asking for money has become a industry a job.... no resume required no pre interview required.. just show up with a felt pen and a piece of cardboard...
Oh and try not to dress too nicely...lol

I was brought up
If you want work for it. You will appreciate it more.
I don't have the flashes house or the best furniture in the world but what I do have is because I worked hard for it. I own it. I hate dept because I feel like a slave to them.
I do understand some go through some hard times.
I have been there myself. I am thankful I can work and also enjoy what I do.
This world is changing all the time so I know I have to change with it

I have seen people with signs out all the time.

Out of Work.
bet you cannot hit me with a quarter.
hungry.
need help.
power got shut off.

The list goes on and on...

My friend needed some gravel spread out in his yard. so he went down to corner and asked a person if he wanted a job..said he pay him 10 per hour. The guy told him he makes more then that standing on the corner doing nothing.

another friend of mine got a extra burrito in a fast food place and gave it to a guy with a hungry sign out front. The guy through it on the ground and stepped on it saying he doesn't want the food.

I find it hard to help people standing on a corner, most want cash. I do feel sorry for the people that actually need help. But there are places that they can go to get help.

You gotta be kidding me That's exactly what was going on in Jakarta, Indonesia, 28 yrs ago. A 3rd world country, and now this is happening not only in the USA but CA too??? I thought CA did have a rather decent well-fare system?
Maybe I should get a body guard before I leave for the USA. I'm getting increasingly concerned

PS In Indonesia you could rent a baby for a day to pretend to be a single / poor mom in dire need of money ... And they had a lot of crippled.. and we were told often they were crippled by their parents as young kids so they could make a living :/ They were dropped off early in the day at a street corner, then picked up later in the evening.
Esp on Sundays, cos then the so called 'rich' people went out for leisure.

Just so you know what to expect in the USA and CA

As our community police liaison officer once said.. and he was talking about the guys/gals who place themselves on the road, walking by you with a sign asking for handouts while you are waiting for a light... "Don't feel sorry for them - they make more money than you think... some make hundreds of dollars a day"..
yea, they dress in rags, but you wouldn't give them a dime if they were in a suit ..
Canada does have a robust welfare system.. perhaps the above are 'double dippers'..? We have lots of social agencies and programs - no one really needs to beg on the streets - but the social programs and agencies don't buy booze and drugs for you..

Ms Harmony this is a very good topic and to be honest it is a double edged sword so to speak.I also live in a area that has a lot of tourists and I see some of the same people out on the corners for years, we have a day work program where they could work for 60 dollars a day and stay at a street reach building if they remain sober and drug free which they rarely do and I have no sympathy for them who I feel are con artists, however there are genuine people with kids who just had everything in their world come crashing down on them and find themselves in deep trouble and on the streets.Who would watch their kids while they work in day labor? Roadblocks to their survival are all around them and I feel deeply for them. What is the answer? Good judgement and compassion are my suggestions.That is why in the morning when I look in the mirror I remind myself that the things I take for granted other people are praying for.

to give anonymously
to give without repercussions
without thought of your own reward


when you put money in the kettle at Christmas
is it with a list of what it can be spend on?


when you give your old clothes and toys to a thrift store
do you dictate to whom shall it go?


yes I do understand that panhandling often preys on the likelihood that good people will want to do the right thing


I have had a toothless woman approach me once asking for money for her starving children
when I offered to buy her food instead she declined
and went on the next car


I sat in parking lot once in Lincoln, Ne
and watched a man holding a sign saying will work for food
in middle of winter
hop into a nicer car than I had to stay warm

two days ago a young college aged man with a backpack
approached me in walmart
asking if I could help him get something to eat
I said that if he met me at end of checkout lane
I would give him some of my groceries
he moved on down the lane
and I did not see him again

To me it is not a choice of either or when it comes to panhandlers or self prostitution. Both have sold the person out to their lesser self. Because both are to one degree or another self prostitution and the only difference is the skill sets they use. Since it is not rare for both to do the other it is really a misnomer to say it is either or.

What I have seen is both have some kind of psychological block about what they do that allows them to elevate themselves above the people they sucker into giving them money. They are master manipulators and have learned to use appearance, body language, a well worded phrase over and over to use guilt, pity, gratitude, faith, duty, or any of the human emotions to part you from what you have earned. They have no remorse and often make fun of you. They believe if you are so easily parted from your money they are entitled to it for your stupidity and are actually teaching you a lesson if you finally figure it out. They consider it survival of the fittest.

or they are young people without resources to find and travel to agencies/charities that aren't overloaded or just as dangerous as the streets

I totally agree


I don't know or assume what they can or cant do, I just feel grateful and give when I can,,,

I am sorry to see quotes around the word "earning." I have known a few prostitutes in my life and it seems anything but easy. Their clients freely pay their fee, which varies according to supply and demand, so I'd say it is arguable that they are providing a service. It takes a heavy toll on the ladies though, because they have been brought up with the idea that prostitutes are lowly and unworthy, and this idea eats away at their self esteem unconsciously, from the inside. The truth is that many of us prostitute ourselves in a variety of ways. Anytime you compromise your integrity, act against your ethics or sell yourself short because it was the easiest way to appease the powers that be, you have prostituted yourself. We live in a fairly prudish society which places an extra onerous stigma on sexual "immorality." (prostitution, promiscuity, etc.) It is these attitudes which are responsible for the damage done to these women as much as the act of prostitution itself.

I put the quotes around it exactly for the reason of western values and the idea of what people have 'earned' or are worth being so subjective

I'm not sure but if was my daughter for instance, I'd rather her beg than sleep with god knows who.

I would say it would be more respectful not to judge, after all we don't know their story.

Ed Sheeran was homeless only a few years before he made it big.

Welcome to the Welfare State. A place where the Government has bought up all of the affordable housing and distributed it to those who do not wish to work. Personally though I have been homeless and it sucks. Believe it or not there is an industry that relies on the homeless for cheap labor. Known as the Labor Pools. Labor Pools were in most huge cities. I have worked in them myself for years. The pay is just enough to get by, but way more dignified than begging. Sadly though to get an affordable place you have to make tons of money. I have a great job now though. I was able to live off the savings that I accrued at the labor pool. I have an affordable place to live, mainly because my landlord doesn't want to go through the hassle of bringing his place up to section eight code. Labor Pools are now becoming scarce thanks to illegal immigration and the elimination of costs hiring any American. It has been eight years since I have had my job, and I am extremely grateful. Thanks to NAFTA, good paying jobs were exported off American shores. At one time I wanted to be a machinist. Weird though, through investments I may become somewhat wealthy. I do donate to charity once in a while that specializes in helping people down on their luck. That is after I tithe. If you feel moved by the plight of the homeless, please seek out a charity that specializes on getting them on their feet. There are plenty of them out there. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL, in dealing with the homeless directly. Most of them are good people, but some are not. Some will rob you, and some may even kill you. As for Prostitutes, they are victims and need prayers.