there are about a half dozen intersections we travel often around the QC that have panhandler's
do you give money to panhandlers?
- Thread starter QChawks
- Start date
Never ever money, but have given food and water.
Never.
There are organizations that help the homeless. Give to them so the money can be used as intended.
I saw a news story years ago about a panhandler in Dallas that spent the day begging for money, then hopped in his car and drove home. He wasn't homeless, panhandling was easier and more profitable than working.
Professional panhandlers
There are organizations that help the homeless. Give to them so the money can be used as intended.
I saw a news story years ago about a panhandler in Dallas that spent the day begging for money, then hopped in his car and drove home. He wasn't homeless, panhandling was easier and more profitable than working.
Professional panhandlers
yeah i do, im sure ive been ripped off few times but also think it's helped couple people. dont do it everytime but im a #socialist 
There was one lady on 20/20 or Dateline that they followed and she got into a Mercedes after a few hours of collecting handouts
Nope,.. typically don't believe the condition they're pretending to be in and don't want to interact.
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Nearly all the ones you see around the QC are professional grifters.
I've seen many of them pack up, then drive away in cars nicer than most of the ones driven by the suckers that gave them money.
I did give the rest of my bag of 5 Guys fries (seriously, WHY so many?) to a legit homeless dude in Vegas. This was on the same stretch of street where I saw a pile of human feces on the sidewalk, so I may have contributed to another societal problem through my action, however.
I've seen many of them pack up, then drive away in cars nicer than most of the ones driven by the suckers that gave them money.
I did give the rest of my bag of 5 Guys fries (seriously, WHY so many?) to a legit homeless dude in Vegas. This was on the same stretch of street where I saw a pile of human feces on the sidewalk, so I may have contributed to another societal problem through my action, however.
Not necessarily to panhandlers, but I’ll buy a meal for somebody. Have done that several times.
I once paid for a lady’s food at the grocery store. She had her kids with her and not enough money and was going to have to put things back. She had real food, no alcohol. I told the cashier not to worry about it and told her to add the couple of things I had to get order and swiped my card. Right place, right time. The mom was almost in tears. It was only $40, but you could tell it meant a lot to her. Sometimes, people just need a break.
I once paid for a lady’s food at the grocery store. She had her kids with her and not enough money and was going to have to put things back. She had real food, no alcohol. I told the cashier not to worry about it and told her to add the couple of things I had to get order and swiped my card. Right place, right time. The mom was almost in tears. It was only $40, but you could tell it meant a lot to her. Sometimes, people just need a break.
I was in line once at a convenience store in Tallahassee. The homeless guy in front of me was trying to buy a tall boy along with a couple other items and didn’t have enough. He left the beer and walked away dejected, and I told the clerk I’d take it.
I walked out and found the guy and gave him the beer, expecting at least a little gratitude. His only response after I handed it to him? “Hey man, you got any extra you can spare?”
A good life lesson.
I walked out and found the guy and gave him the beer, expecting at least a little gratitude. His only response after I handed it to him? “Hey man, you got any extra you can spare?”
A good life lesson.
Majority are scamming so F no.
I've stopped across the road from them and honked my horn, once they have crossed a few lanes of traffic toward my vehicle I honk, wave and speed off.
I figure that's the most exercise they've done in some time.
I figure that's the most exercise they've done in some time.
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I used to, but I found out that some of them have good jobs and do it because the can make a lot of money on the side. I actually met several people who do.
Back in college I would. Friend and I were walking in Honolulu and a guy asked for money for food. My friend gave him money and the dude walked directly into a convenience store and came out with beer.
Lesson learned. Glad I only had my credit card on me.
Lesson learned. Glad I only had my credit card on me.
Well in Iowa City they put up those purple parking meters in the panhandle areas. The panhandlers see you drop some bitcoins in the purple meters ( that money goes to the shelter ) and they give you a little nod of appreciation, a wink of thanks or the one finger salute…
I used to give them a dollar with 4 prayer cards then stopped because local government advised to.
Many or most pandhandlers are drug addicts or alcoholics.
They also stand on medians and get hit by cars. It's not safe for anyone.
It's better to give to homeless shelters.
Many or most pandhandlers are drug addicts or alcoholics.
They also stand on medians and get hit by cars. It's not safe for anyone.
It's better to give to homeless shelters.
After living downtown Iowa City I'll never give those losers a dime. I lived next door to Bo James. It was literally a job to some of them. They were basically my neighbors, I'd see the same ones posted up day after day racking up money on the daytime bustle. And I'd see most of them 'after work' at The Deadwood.
I read this in the Jack Handy voice and it was beautiful.
That's a good segment but it either takes balls and/or a level naivety to do what the reporter did. What she did is dangerous. Im not sure she even knows it.
That's what I thought! You're approaching people to find out about the scam they're running, and even if they're not, they could still be mentally ill. That's a lot of risk for a local reporter!
Been suckered a time or two when I get the sob stories from women who say they were trying to feed their young kids with the Air Jordan jacket, or punched in the belly while pregnant. Never more than 5 bones, never at intersections or sidewalks, they tend to find me in parking lots or car washes.
I don't give if I can avoid it. I have to work for all my money, so not really cool with giving to people who might spend it on stuff to feed their addiction.
The most recent time freaked me out because in the moment, I really couldn't avoid it. I was pulling into a parking lot and saw a guy walking across it. He waved me through and I stopped, then while I was still in the car he asked for money. I had $5 which was actually lucky because sometimes I don't carry any cash. Then he thanked me and left. Could have been worse I guess. /csb
The most recent time freaked me out because in the moment, I really couldn't avoid it. I was pulling into a parking lot and saw a guy walking across it. He waved me through and I stopped, then while I was still in the car he asked for money. I had $5 which was actually lucky because sometimes I don't carry any cash. Then he thanked me and left. Could have been worse I guess. /csb
Did once when uncomfortably confronted outside the stadium after Atlanta Braves game.
I have no plans to ever give again.
I have no plans to ever give again.
Not very often. If my family had more money ourselves, I’d like to think I would help more often.
Side note: how is anyone in Iowa living this way? You have to have some serious addiction or mental issues. You can find a job pretty easily in Iowa.
Side note: how is anyone in Iowa living this way? You have to have some serious addiction or mental issues. You can find a job pretty easily in Iowa.
We were in Dallas at Dealey Plaza near where JFK was shot. Tons of panhandlers as well as tourists, of course. A scruffy dude approached and hit me up and I told him "Sorry I don't travel with cash." He looked right at the program I had just bought from a street vendor and said "Well how did you buy that then???"
Obviously I felt pretty stupid. So now I always have two bucks at the ready. Ain't gonna risk being outsmarted anymore. Ouch.
Obviously I felt pretty stupid. So now I always have two bucks at the ready. Ain't gonna risk being outsmarted anymore. Ouch.
at
Because many have serious mental issues and we decided 40 years ago to screw those people. Many ended up on the streets.
Because many have serious mental issues and we decided 40 years ago to screw those people. Many ended up on the streets.
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The no jobs excuse is a flat out lie.
They are messed up on drugs, alcohol, or don’t want to work. None of which I am going to support.
Should tax plastic bottles and use funds to institutionalize them.
I love to watch the people that gave a grifter a five spot just beaming with pride about how generous they are. A bunch of the givers are actually just buying a shot of dopamine.
I keep a $5.00 McDonald’s gift card on me to give to panhandlers. About half the time I get told to “shove that gift card up your ass”.
I’ll add to my prior comment - a couple years ago my son and his buddies made a bunch of sack lunches for required HS community service hours - he and I drove around the city handing them out. Definitely an eye opening experience.
Some were grateful and clearly hungry.
Some were scammers and not hungry and only interested in cash.
Some were hammered.
Many were mentally gone-we got yelled at and threatened by several individuals.
The “tent city” areas were the worst. Saw two people shooting up in an open tent, one a half-naked lady passed out with a mangy dog next to her, absolute filthy conditions all around. It was sad to see how far people can fall.
Some were grateful and clearly hungry.
Some were scammers and not hungry and only interested in cash.
Some were hammered.
Many were mentally gone-we got yelled at and threatened by several individuals.
The “tent city” areas were the worst. Saw two people shooting up in an open tent, one a half-naked lady passed out with a mangy dog next to her, absolute filthy conditions all around. It was sad to see how far people can fall.
Good move. I am like you...when I can be fairly assured that my largesse is not going to go to support a "bad habit" or laziness, etc, I have done a range of things like this and do so fairly often. But a straight up beggar...nope.
Here in DC, there is an organization that puts out a local newspaper (that's being charitable) called Street Sense. Essentially, they get the homeless to sell/distribute it. I often give money to the ones that put out the effort, without actually taking the paper, or I'll buy them breakfast. And during Lent/Advent, if I come across a street person who asks for help, I usually give them whatever small denominations I have in my pocket or wallet (I don't generally carry a lot of cash, but usually put a few bucks in my pocket when I leave the house during the season.)
While i like the idea of the meal in principle, I always recall the tv show years ago when C. Everett Koop was asked if he would give $ to a homeless person knowing they'd probably use it to buy booze or drugs, and after pausing, he replied 'yes, because the reality is that's probably what he actually needs the most at that point in time.'
While i like the idea of the meal in principle, I always recall the tv show years ago when C. Everett Koop was asked if he would give $ to a homeless person knowing they'd probably use it to buy booze or drugs, and after pausing, he replied 'yes, because the reality is that's probably what he actually needs the most at that point in time.'
Do they even make $5 gift cards for McDonald's anymore?
Or do you still have some of these books?
Not anymore. I ask them if I can get them something to eat or drink (non-alcohol). That normally gets them to move along as they didn't really want the money for those things. There's an old saying in Tennessee, I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on.... shame on you. Fool me.....you can't get fooled again.
FIFY
They do, but I don’t go to McDonald’s. I buy the gift cards at CVS, Albertson’s, Dollar General, etc.Do they even make $5 gift cards for McDonald's anymore?
Or do you still have some of these books?
