What do you say to a panhandler?

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:48 pm

Kung Fu Reference Wrote:

I also have a problem with fundraising being interchangeable with panhandling, but that's another can of worms.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Over the holiday season (you know Jesus' birthday and all) I had a flash one day whilst coming out of the supermarket only to be given the stink-eye by the Salvation Army bell ringer with his metal pot-----These fucking people should be arrested for panhandling.

I mean I live in a fine, affluent suburb and have worked fairly hard (ok hustled VERY hard) to get here. I do not need to be berated by common trash posing as some sort of 5th branch of the armed forces and trying to get me to hand over my cash. Shit those hustlers probably take Warren Zevons advice and "leave the change and stuff the bills, inside [their] cumber buns"

And they exploit retarded folks (sorry, the mentally handicapped) by puttin them out there in the cold to try to boil some guilt out of folks.

My feelings on the exploitation of the mentally ill by employing them as bag-people at supermarkets will come later.

For now, fuck the Salvation Army.

Simon March · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:51 pm

Mike Jones Wrote:

Kung Fu Reference Wrote:

I also have a problem with fundraising being interchangeable with panhandling, but that's another can of worms.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Over the holiday season (you know Jesus' birthday and all) I had a flash one day whilst coming out of the supermarket only to be given the stink-eye by the Salvation Army bell ringer with his metal pot-----These fucking people should be arrested for panhandling.

I mean I live in a fine, affluent suburb and have worked fairly hard (ok hustled VERY hard) to get here. I do not need to be berated by common trash posing as some sort of 5th branch of the armed forces and trying to get me to hand over my cash. Shit those hustlers probably take Warren Zevons advice and "leave the change and stuff the bills, inside [their] cumber buns"

And they exploit retarded folks (sorry, the mentally handicapped) by puttin them out there in the cold to try to boil some guilt out of folks.

My feelings on the exploitation of the mentally ill by employing them as bag-people at supermarkets will come later.

For now, fuck the Salvation Army.

I rang a bell for them during this past Christmas season.

Kit · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:47 pm **Posts:** 3052

If I don't want to help someone, I get on my cell phone, or I tell them that somebody else already beat them to all my spare cash. In Houston, I must get approached at least 2 times every one or two weeks for cash. It's ridiculous.

Jim Clark · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:35 pm

I simply tell them no and offer no apologies or explanations. I never have, nor can I imagine I ever will give money to a panhandler. I have great sympathy for people enduring hard times or dealing with hard lives. We support the city mission both as a family and through our church. My 12 year old son even saved over 100.00 of his own money over the year to personally buy sporting goods to give to poor children over the holiday season through the family crisis center of the city union mission. Our system works very well for us and I don't regret our decision.

jc

DHRjericho · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:02 pm

long live marianfvdge Wrote:

"Hello, panhandler"

The placement of this was near perfect. You got a hearty chuckle from me.

DHRjericho · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:03 pm

I never get hassled in Boise. I'm not even sure i've seen a homeless person there. Spokane and Seattle can be bad. I typically use the "No, but Thank You" line. I didn't realize it was so common.

Plus i never have cash. ATM card only.

Lambchop · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:14 pm

I used to give up some change when I lived in Columbus. Here in Denver I see the exact same guy almost everyday and his famous line "you got 75cents for the bus to Boulder?" Maybe I would feel some more sympathy if the guy wasn't my age and looked a little more homeless and little less like a hippy.

HaqDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:17 pm

Lambchop Wrote:

I used to give up some change when I lived in Columbus. Here in Denver I see the exact same guy almost everyday and his famous line "you got 75cents for the bus to Boulder?" Maybe I would feel some more sympathy if the guy wasn't my age and looked a little more homeless and little less like a hippy.

That's every damned panhandler in Denver. They all "got out" of their hometowns and away from their parents until the money ran out, and now they need Greyhound fare to somewhere they can grift off a friend.

Postmersh · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:23 pm

If I feel generous, they get change or dollar bills. Especially if they ask for it for alcohol or drugs outright - I always give money to a homeless person who asks for money so he can get a drink.

If I'm not feeling generous, I think I'm just going to look him in his beady lil' eyes and yell "Mike Jones!" at him...

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:28 pm

HaqDiesel Wrote:

Lambchop Wrote:

I used to give up some change when I lived in Columbus. Here in Denver I see the exact same guy almost everyday and his famous line "you got 75cents for the bus to Boulder?" Maybe I would feel some more sympathy if the guy wasn't my age and looked a little more homeless and little less like a hippy.

That's every damned panhandler in Denver. They all "got out" of their hometowns and away from their parents until the money ran out, and now they need Greyhound fare to somewhere they can grift off a friend.

Oh so you've been to Eugene Ore. or other places where the smelly and disenfranchised congregate.

Dusty Chalk · **Posted:** Fri Jan 21, 2005 2:22 am

Depends on how much time I have:

If very little: Sorry, dude or Not now
If medium, and they can see that I already got some: Sorry, this is already spent
If medium, and they cannot see that I already got some: I got nothing
If a lot: There but for the grace of god go I

I use the "No thanks" line a lot, too. As in, "thanks for giving me the opportunity to be charitable".

I got nothing against 'em being homeless or anything, I'm just selfish. It's mine, I get to say what I do with it.

Dunwoody Dude · **Joined:** Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:20 am **Posts:** 2869

Dusty Chalk Wrote:

I got nothing against 'em being homeless or anything, I'm just selfish. It's mine, I get to say what I do with it.

Tell that to the U.S. government.

Dusty Chalk · **Posted:** Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:31 am

DunwoodyDude Wrote:

Dusty Chalk Wrote:

I got nothing against 'em being homeless or anything, I'm just selfish. It's mine, I get to say what I do with it.

Tell that to the U.S. government.

Well, what's left of it, anyway.

shiv · **Posted:** Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:40 am

the lockness lobster Wrote:

I rang a bell for them during this past Christmas season.

which one are you? fess up.
[img][650:357]http://www.salvationarmygainesville.com/hhc3.jpg[/img]

south pacific · **Posted:** Fri Jan 21, 2005 4:40 am

Depends how I feel, how I am approached, and if I have anything in my wallet.

Do any of you Chicagoans remember the severely burned black man who rode the Howard line during the late eighties-early nineties??? I think there was a write up about him in the Chicago Reader years ago.

Scary as fuck.

FT · **Posted:** Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:01 pm

Best Louie Anderson joke ever:

PANHANDLER: "Hey, buddy...help me out with a sandwich?"

LOUIE ANDERSON: "Sure! Where is it?"