Panhandling

[Swamps]

Yesterday on my way to work, I stopped at a local convenient store to purchase some snacks before my shift at work. As soon as I got out of my truck, I see a guy being handed money from someone sitting in their vehicle. As soon as the money is exchanged, this guy, smelling of alcohol, powerwalks over to me and asks me to spare some change. I tell the man I don’t carry currency and kept on walking.

Two weeks before that, I’m on my way to drills and since I was early I decided to stop at a convenient store only twenty minutes from that store. As soon as I walk out this guy begins harassing me for money as soon as he sees me. I tell the guy that I don’t carry currency and then he tells me “That’s ok, I take credit cardsâ€. I shake my head and walk to my truck as he is saying something. Didn’t hear what he said nor did I care, because I really wasn’t in the mood for any type of altercation that morning.

Anyway, I could go on and on about how much of a pain these situations. Now, I may have came across as a cold blooded asshole, but this is a situation that occurs way too often. Ever visit Atlanta and tried walking down Peachtree St? Yeah, have fun trying to enjoy yourself in peace. This isn’t just limited to Atlanta though; I couldn’t walk a block in Seattle or Austin without someone trying to fast talk me out of money or a credit card. One guy in Austin even said he would escort me to an ATM to give him money.

My personal opinions on panhandling, is that the majority of these individuals are doing this as a profession or a job. It is a huge annoyance and is actually illegal, although it isn’t enforced; despite constant complaints from citizens. I think that this issue should be addressed and actually enforced, rather than politicians (usually Democrats) saying it is inhumane to arrest someone for begging.
Anyway, do any of you guys have any experiences with these type of incidents? What is your personal opinions on this topic?

 

[Postman Dave]

There used to be a guy in town who'd constantly do this. He stopped me this one time to ask for change as he was "just short for the bus back". Even if I'd wanted to, I genuinely didn't have any change on me, apologised and moved on.

Two weeks later, exactly the same bloke asked me again with exactly the same excuse. This time it was a straight no.

 

[Lover Boy]

Nobody really bothers people for money in England like your situation. Well, I have never encountered it.

We have beggars in London (only place I've seen them) but they just sit there with a sign and occasionally asking for any spare change

 

[Postman Dave]

Let's be clear here, I don't like to see anyone begging for money, and I'll help out any homeless person I can. The problem is that the people who do aren't just the homeless, they're the people with addictions who are desperate for their next hit, they're the degenerates who'll do anything other than do an honest days work. Separating these people is the issue. It's why I buy the Big Issue, because the people who sale it are making a trade and are attempting to get out of their situation the honest way.

 

[Lover Boy]

Let's be clear here, I don't like to see anyone begging for money, and I'll help out any homeless person I can. The problem is that the people who do aren't just the homeless, they're the people with addictions who are desperate for their next hit, they're the degenerates who'll do anything other than do an honest days work. Separating these people is the issue. It's why I buy the Big Issue, because the people who sale it are making a trade and are attempting to get out of their situation the honest way.

I've never actually encountered someone like that, do you see them in your local town?

 

[Postman Dave]

Dude, my town was like the rehab capital of the south a few years ago. They're everywhere.

EDIT: Ah, there we go. Found an article from 2009 stating that we were home to 11% of the UK's drug rehab places.

 

[Cyrus Riddle]

I encounter this at least once a week from the same 2 people, both of whom use the same excuse each time. I've given money out of anger once, and that was the time I threw an entire cup holder full of pennies on the ground and told him to pick it up of he wanted it so bad.

I've purchased chicken for a legit down on his luck guy once. He told me he did not want money, only food, so I got him a Popeyes chicken dinner to enjoy.

Overall, I can't stand panhandling, it bugs the shit out of me.

 

[Swamps]

It really sucks that I can't walk down Peachtree Street in Atlanta without some bums come walking up to me begging. Even if I walk away without saying a word they follow me until I snap on them. What is bad is that there was a city ordinance passed to stop this crap but no one seems to enforce the law.

 

[Wang Chung]

I shave given food to some of them and given change from time to time but I also get that fear that they will go buy drugs or alcohol and end up dead because I gave them money.

I have guys come up and wash my window when I lived in Houston the. Wanted me to pay them for it. Did I ask you to wash my windows. No I didn't.

Destroying Sith with my Kindle Fire on Tapatalk

 

[Swamps]

I have given food to individuals and even change when I was younger. However, as I've gotten older I've realized a lot of these individuals aren't homeless, and are very capable of working. It is not that hard to get a job at a McDonald's or Burger King. Just take a bath, put on some clean clothes, trim any nasty unkempt facial hair, etc.