bloody hell! every day i pass dozens of these people on the way home from work, and my anger is escalating towards them day by day.Every street corner i get asked for money or cigarettes (even if i'm not smoking,so therefore they wouldn't know i smoke) by some filthy, unwashed, scruffy, drugged-up urchin.

I don't have a problem with people that are really homeless.Over here in England, homeless people stand on the corner of our city centre streets selling an informative magazine called 'The Big Issue' that highlights their problems, i'm all for that as they get a percentage of the money for themselves and they are genuinley trying to get out of a shit situation.I buy it occasionally depending on how much spare change i have.

the only problem i have with that is there is usually some little junkie bastard with one issue (and no official sellers badge!) asking if i'd like to buy his last issue.Of course what happens if you do? "oh can i keep it? i've sold today's batch and i need a cup of tea". Yeah Riiight!

Of course you get the odd straight out beggar with cupped hands pleading for change pathetically,there's this one guy outside the train station - understand usually i'm quite polite if i haven't got any money spare, and that uniformally generates an insincere "God bless you".I have to admit i lost it the other night though with him, after having been accosted four times on my journey home i heard him say those dreaded three words to a girl walking in front of me.When it was my turn i gave him a hearty "fuck off!". Did i hear "god bless you" in response? no i didn't and it put a spring in my step all the way home!

hope that doesn't sound too heartless but i give money to the charities i choose to, when i want to.

Rant over!


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[This message was edited Wed Dec 4 5:38:49 PST 2002 by Thecherryloon]

I must say i know what you mean. I live in an english town where the Big Issue is sold and either the seller, or a beggar asks for change etc and I say no and then comes the insincerity which drives me INSANE!!! I say good on ya for telling 'em to fuck off. I think I may try it one day. When I was going out with my ex and they used to ask for change he used to say 'Sorry, i've only got notes...'. That also is a goodun'.

I do feel bad sometimes for thinking the things that I do, yet I know so many of these people are raking it in man by pretending to be homeless. I knew a girl once who went to college with me ages ago who did that very thing.

Therapy said:

I think that's despicable, you here alot about that happening.If caught, they should do time for it.As should people that kick homeless people's begging bowls and run away, i've seen that happen too.

Thing is, has anyone actually tried offering these people food, for some strange reason you get alot of abuse back if you do.Sad but true.

Actually, I did once. A guy was begging near a KFC, so I got him a meal deal. Didn't hang around to see if he enjoyed it or not. I'm sure that he would have preferred the cash though.

I used to work for a community center, so I would carry around a few homeless resource flyers in my backpack. When someone would panhandle me for money, I'd pull out a flyer and say "well, I don't have any money to give you but here are some places to go for food, shelter and counseling."

It didn't go over too well, but hey - at least I had something useful to give them. Ostensibly, anyway.

When I feel sinister, I usually respond to requests for spare change with a curt "hey man, change comes from WITHIN."

Anxiety said:

that's great.

"got any spare change?"- "no, are you offering me some?"

I don't mind to much. If I have an extra few bucks I will give it a homeless person.

the most ive ever given to a homeless person was 10 bucks.../ last time i gave money was to this dude he looked to be around my age he looked pretty messed up and he wanted money to go buy a hamburger at carls jr. and i gave him like 80 cents and he was so happy he had enough for a cheeseburger...i didnt know i would make his day.

awww now THAT IS JUST TOO FAR..!!!


its the fat people..!!! that piss me off

this is a tough issue. there's one old lady around town i try to give money to when i see her. feel sorry for her - she looks lost and grubby. sweet old dear. also i usually give money to women with kids on the street.

but then there are the other types of panhandlers, who just give them all a bad name. pushy, crowdy bastards who close in on you, scowling darkly when you say no. once in a while i blow past without replying. usually i try to be polite and respond, while i keep moving.

i'll usually drop some change into an open guitar case if someone's busking on a streetcorner, but then again there's this guy on nicollet mall who got himself a tuba. can't play it for shit but tries anyway. every. single. day.

dunno. i guess it's case by case.
i'll try Anxiety's 'change comes from within'

ummm...i'm sorry

DORA said:

wow...


i'm amazed how people react to people in certain situations. In the past year, I've gained close to 40 lbs due to a health situation that I'm going through. So are you saying just by sight, I would "piss you off". Wow!


people are in situations for reasons you may never know, if i have a dollar or 2 in my pocket I give it and I don't think I have the right to dictate what they do with the dollar simply because they are homeless or what have you. I understand that some use the money for drugs but guess what, others DON'T!!!

I really am in two minds about this topic.

I do get irritated by beggars, drug addicts, drunks and bogus homeless people at times, yet I also have the understanding that they are where they are at in life for a reason, I know that their path has taken them there etc...just like mine has taken me here, lol... it is the 'Give to me...' plead and when 'no' is given as an answer, it's the all the feelings that are projected onto me for not doing what they want that I have a problem with. It feels fucking bad. I suppose, an indication of how life may be like for them...

Hmmm...