i think i got hit by the "i need gas" scam

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Oh, it's quite fashionable for young people do panhandle now. Evidently, there's no stigma anymore to hitting strangers up for money.

I've seen that more times than I care to recall. Makes me sick.

One little dumbass in Rome did it to me. I had gotten lost, and then then stranded when the transit stopped for the night. All I can say is thank God I was wearing hikers becuase we did some hiking that night, let me tell you. We finally collapsed into patio chairs in front of an all night cafe when this little fool comes up and starts hitting me up for "bus money" in what I'd have to call "Italian for Idiots".

Couple things she didn't realize:
1. I understood every word she said. Clearly.

2. I had just got finished walking what felt like about a hundred miles. So my sympathy for her having to walk two was....let's say I had no sympathy and leave it at that.

3. The busses were done for the night.

4. I am not too proud to pretend I don't speak a word of Italian. But the "fuck off" gesture is pretty universal.

[Misanthropical]

Only once did I give a guy money because he needed help. He approached me at the Wawa (like a 7-11, but much better) and I told him no at first. He thanked me for my time and walked away.

I got a feeling that he really needed help, so I walked back to where he was and gave him some money. I can't explain the feeling I got, but I just had the feeling he was on the up and up. It's the only time I had that feeling towards someone asking me for money. I never did see him again at that Wawa or anywhere else for that matter.

[TOLady]

Ahhhh, Mis, that made me feel all squishy inside.

I try and give in to those feelings. They're usually right.

[PorkChop]

In Tucson, there are panhandlers everywhere!

After I got out of the Air Force, I went out looking for a civie job. I was dressed up nice and all but jobless! I went to the bus stop for an interview when this young woman asked me for money to buy diapers for her baby. I didn't have any money on me that day and I said no, sorry. Couple days later, she hit me again near the Safeway. I told her to come with me to Safeway and I will buy you the diapers myself! Of course, she scoffed, gave me the finger and ran away. Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot! I was only trying to help, geez!
Since then, I have been hit up by a lot of panhandlers and beggars. Only one person was legit. Again, at the Safeway (I live next door to it), there was a young man asking people for some change so he can buy something to eat. He had a hungry look in his eyes. I got some groceries and bought a sandwich for him. Luckily, he was still there in the parking lot and I gave it to him before management kicked him off the property. He was very thankful for the sammie and thanked me profusely. I haven't seen him since then.

What I have noticed lately and it is getting on my nerves. Teenagers asking me if I have a dollar. At the cross walk, this girl just spouted at me if I had a dollar to give her. I looked at her strangely and told her no. And then I said that asking strangers for money is rude! She wasn't poor looking. She was riding a nice bike and was dressed better than I was. She mumbled under her breath that she will see me later or something. I told her to move along.

But yeah, I don't give money to these people, because more times than not, they will buy booze with it. After all, I work in a crappy convenience store so I see it all the time!