Not that hungry.

[BroSCFischer]

I was reading another thread and was reminded of a stiuation that happened a few years ago.

I was leaving the local library, and some guy came up to me and asked me if I could loan him some money for groceries, for his family (there was a bit more to the story that I don't remember).

I had literally 2 bucks in my pocket, and that was going for gas. However, I did have a can of soup in my car and I offered that to him.

He asked what kind it was, and when I told him, he says "No, thanks, they won't like that."

Yeah, he was polite, but I have to say that if you're reduced to begging for your grocery money, you'd take anything you could get. I know I would.

SC

[ReadyToRetire]

Oh, he wasn't begging for grocery money for him or his "family".

[jedimaster91]

That's why I rarely carry cash. There's a little Chinese place I like that only takes cash, so if I know I'm going there, that's the only time I carry it.

[Kiwi]

haha I once had a "student" at the university try to tell me his eftpos (debit) card washed down the drain at the uni gym showers
so could I give him some money to get home from uni

I wanted to ask him what the heck his eftpos card was doing in the shower, was he scrubbing himself with it?

I wont ever give anyone money, I wont even buy a sandwhich. Sorry that may seem cruel but there are plenty of city missions wherever I have lived and they give out meals three times a day and a bed at night for the homeless.

[Sheldonrs]

haha I once had a "student" at the university try to tell me his eftpos (debit) card washed down the drain at the uni gym showers
so could I give him some money to get home from uni

I wanted to ask him what the heck his eftpos card was doing in the shower, was he scrubbing himself with it?...

Money laundering?

[Grumpy]

Run of the mill panhandler scam. The ones I hear most often are "I just need another five dollars for an alternator and then me and my stranded family can be on our way" or "I need to buy groceries for my kids" or "I ran out of gas". I always tell them, "Sure. Let's go to the auto parts store and I'll help you pay for it" or "Sure. Come on into the grocery store and pick out a few things and I'll buy them" or "Sure. Let's push your car to the pump and I'll go in and buy you some gas." I've never had anyone take me up on it.

[BroSCFischer]

I always tell them, "Sure. Let's go to the auto parts store and I'll help you pay for it" or "Sure. Come on into the grocery store and pick out a few things and I'll buy them" or "Sure. Let's push your car to the pump and I'll go in and buy you some gas." I've never had anyone take me up on it.

That's pretty much my policy. Buy them the product (and I keep the receipt).

SC

[Becks]

Money laundering?

Boo.

Just...boo.

[Summerfly413]

Wow..somthing similar happened to me. I was driving through this plaza with a target and a few other shopping places in it, going to a taco bell to get my mom a taco. She gave me a $20 bill. This woman(she was maybe in her 40's, very large, and either had a cane or walker) came up to my car, or in front of it, and as my window was already down, and I couldn't really go anywhere, she comes up to my car(not so close I felt threatened) and asked if I had any money, becuase she needed to get food for her family. All I had was the $20 bill, so I said no. I did however have a ceral bar in my purse, took it out and ofered her that. She didn't want to take it! Like the poster said, if you were in a situation where you had to beg for money, you would take whatever you can get.

[Amina516]

Money laundering?

LMAO!!!


I always feel awkward when I get asked for money. Like I want to help...but really I worked for this money and should use it for my own groceries and bills.

I was coming out of a drug store and still, stupidly had my change in my hand when this lady comes up and asks me for a few dollars...My usual line is "I dont have any cash" but as it was sitting in the open, I felt like I couldnt say no and ended up giving her like $2.

[powerboy]

Whenever I am asked for change. I just tell them no. My aunt and uncle had just finished dinner with my grandparents. As they were leaving the restaurant, someone asked them for change. So they offered the take home food. The person just flat out refused it and cussed them up a storm. After hearing that, I will never offer or give anything. Like what was said earlier, I worked hard for my little bit of money. And if they don'e like it, they can always go to a mission or a church

[wraiths_crono]

thankfully I have actually had someone take me up on the offer for gas. I made sure that I paid for it, at the pump i sent him to, and sent him on his way.


Question: ever seen a beggar that looks too... clean to be on the streets? saw one with an IPOD, and a homeless sign common and ipod?

[RetailWorkhorse]

Money laundering?

Not just white, BRIGHT! [/Opus]

I felt like I couldnt say no and ended up giving her like $2.

I could have. Watch me. *Ahems and gets into the role* "N. O. Spells No. I will not give you money, I'm a broke ass kid TRYING to get into college and I'm TRYING to feed my dog because I would have rather starved than to let her go hungry for a minute. Don't like it? Think I'm a selfish bastard? That's YOUR hang-up. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a hungry fuzzy-butt to get home to and I really don't need you hassling me for the 50 cents I have to buy her a can of halfway decent dog food from the dollar store. Good DAY, Madam." Turns and stalks to car. makes faces at the woman. Drive off.

End performance.

[Melxb]

The first time I've ever given money to panhandlers was just a couple of weeks to some teenage punks hitting people up for bus fair. They were nice and not at all pushy. There were about 6?7?8? of them but they were hardly threatening. As punk as they looked, they were only about 14-16yrs old and looked far from home. I gave them about $2 in change then went into the bookstore I was heading into. I sort of hung around the entrance for a bit to see if they would actually wait for a bus. Whaddya know--they did. They counted their money in change, distributed it amongst the whole lot of them and got on the bus. Neat! Not everyone is so honest though.

[taxguykarl]

This guy was more likely after booze or drug money not food. I gave one begger a sandwich and he threw it at me and missed.
I run a gauntlet of panhandlers every day. It is easier to siphon cash off strangers than actually work. I recall some enterprising news crew following these panhandlers and finding that they had homes and could easily work but chose not to.