meow85 said:

You may be right, but I got the distinct impression he was trying to scam people. Either way, he was dressed better than me and obviously was not hungry so he did not get anything from me.

Besides I have three daughters to take care of which is my first and foremost responsibility.

I generally don't give money to panhandlers because most of them here in Philadelphia either are not homeless and want moeny for booze or drugs. My worst experience: I ignored some guy who asked for change. He got up and screamed to the top of his lungs that I was a dick eating bitch.
Oh well, I guess I'm that bitch then. This was the oly time I was a bit scard though because he started walking behind me.

Also, lot of them claim they have AIDS or use animals to garner sympathy.

I once saw this kid about 8 years old standing in a mall parking lot asing for money so he could buy food for him and his mom. I gave him $20.00 and my boyfriend gave him $25. Whe we got in our car, he was still standing in the parking lot, so that leads me to beleive that he may have nto been telling the truth. Thye learn young here.

Ottensen said:

i've gotten those cards! and have offered them food, but they look at me as if i have three heads when i do that.

FlyAway said:

Is there no end to the scams some of these people will pull? I heard stories of some of them making up to 100 dollars a day pulling off these kind of hustles.

When they try and remove the bed pan and I'm still using it

Was going into a video store and walked past a panhandler who I ignored. My teenage son, behind me gave him $. I informed him, all he's going to do is buy alcohol!
His response was, "That's OK, he's happy". Felt guilty.
Another situation, I was grocery shopping and noticed a man going through the dumpster looking for food who had a dog with him. Wasn't bothering people. I bought a package of hamburger for the dog and a sub sandwich for the guy. Couldn't find them at first after shopping, then located them a couple of blocks down. Dropped it off and said this is for you and your dog. He thanked me. He and his dog were sound asleep when I approached.

Worst scenerio, according to hubby on people needing $$. Husband lived in NY for business intermittantly. Saw a woman on a street corner prostituting her son. This was 30 years ago.
[Edited 12/12/06 17:55pm]

i had one really weird experience in Vancouver. there was a guy panhandling outside the skytrain station and i just happened to be there waiting for someone with a friend. he was about 20 years old begging for money for beer and drugs. i was about to give him money because i saw nothing wrong with that. but then he got up left, came back and changed his request to people. he came back looking a lil pissed off and started saying, "anyone have any money so i can buy a gun and kill myself?" then it was changed again to "i need to buy a gun to make some real money anyone spare some change?". at which point i decided not to give him money as he was being a dick. the very next day. i got on the seabus and he sat down right beside me wearing several shiny necklaces, shiny watch, and an ipod.

the trick is to sincerely offer to buy them a little food from a nearby restaurant (if they claim to need cash to eat). Don't give them cash. My friend did this, and of course the guy just walked away.

ufoclub said:

Exactly.

I've bought a healthy lunches and drinks, given away dog food and a blanket to a guy with a dog that I always used to see, and given my gloves away when it was really cold out.

I don't give cash.

I kicked a panhandler in the knee once and watched him crumble to the ground in horror. The mother plucker was washing my windows without my permission then demanded a tip. I gave him a dollar and he got all pissed an tried to get in my comfort zone so I kicked him square in the knee and laughed as he fell.

The panhandlers in San Francisco were out of control.


"I can't do nuthin fo ya man. THAT'S THE WAY THE BALL BOUNCES, G!"

ThePunisher said:

and they're kind of bad actors besides.

FlyAway said:

This is VERY true. I've had a few even try the card scam DIRECTLY outside of the grocery store, in the parking lot! Yet they refuse food. They're never too agressive, so I've sometimes said, I'm sorry, but I needed my money to buy food, I'd be happy to share some of what I have here....and lo and behold, they give me the 3 Head Look you were talking about

...although, I have had better luck with the 'punk rocker' kids (but only the younger, less hardened ones). They will take sandwiches, or food for their dogs. And though I can't vouch for what they do with ALL of the money they panhandle, I have seen them (believe it or not) in some of the specialty shops buying things like guitar strings or the newest hair dye so they can keep their mohawks nice & bright... . It appears that for that group its more of an experimental, idea-lifestyle subculture than the people who are out to scam you for all the money they can...

Ottensen said:

most of the folks here that you describe have dogs... they have to spend money feeding those critters too.