Started By
Message
How do you respond to beggars?
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:04 am
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:04 am
This issue is happening more recently to me in the past few months. One day I was outside of Birmingham on Lakeshore Drive in Homewood (for those that know the area) and I had a guy pull up next to me at a red light and ask for some gas money. He was driving an older truck that seemed to be a work truck and was nearly out of gas and needed to get across town to his next job. He seemed like someone who genuinely needed help and I agreed to give him some gas at the gas station down the road if he met me there. He did meet me there and I put a couple gallons in his truck and he was appreciative and on his way.
Two separate incidents lately I had a guy walk up to my truck as I was sitting in it in a parking lot waiting to meet my gf. I had my window down and was emailing on my phone and a guy walked right up my window and asked for money. I also had a guy walk up to my window while I was in a drive through over the weekend.
Do you just say you don't have cash, a simple no, or do you tell them to get a job? Almost everytime I'm walking through Lake view and in downtown Bham I get asked for money.
Two separate incidents lately I had a guy walk up to my truck as I was sitting in it in a parking lot waiting to meet my gf. I had my window down and was emailing on my phone and a guy walked right up my window and asked for money. I also had a guy walk up to my window while I was in a drive through over the weekend.
Do you just say you don't have cash, a simple no, or do you tell them to get a job? Almost everytime I'm walking through Lake view and in downtown Bham I get asked for money.
29
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:35 am to mwlewis
I act like they don't exist. Don't look at them or respond to them. I get called an a-hole or a prick by them, but what do I care?
ETA: I should clarify. If it's an older man or woman who needs some gas, I will pay for that. I don't ever give anyone cash though.
ETA: I should clarify. If it's an older man or woman who needs some gas, I will pay for that. I don't ever give anyone cash though.
This post was edited on 5/31/16 at 12:20 pm
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:43 am to mwlewis
Its pretty bad around Houston as well. I just try to void them the best i can. Dont make eye contact, ignore their initial call outs when they say hey mister. If you are walking many of them will still try to pressure you by coming up close to you. Then i just look them dead in the eye and tell them i dont carry cash just cards. And they have always quit then.
Ive had a few less than desirable situations with them but nothing too crazy.
Ive had a few less than desirable situations with them but nothing too crazy.
This post was edited on 5/31/16 at 11:44 am
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:45 am to mwlewis
just ignore, if not possible just say "no thank you" move on
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:53 am to Henry Jones Jr
That is how I would like to respond but lately with the two guys walking right up to my truck window it forces me to interact. It also really pissed me off when that dumbass popped up at window while I was in a drive thru line.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:57 am to BlackPawnMartyr
quote:
i just look them dead in the eye and tell them i dont carry cash just cards.
Ditto. That's actually the truth in my case, anyways.
If I have a water bottle or something in my truck, I'll usually give it to him/her.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 11:59 am to mwlewis
quote:
Do you just say you don't have cash, a simple no, or do you tell them to get a job? Almost everytime I'm walking through Lake view and in downtown Bham I get asked for money.
i do my very very best to never give anybody cash.
need money for gas? i'll take you to the gas station myself. begging to feed kids? i'll get you a pizza. needing money for a hotel room? i'll drive you there myself.
i don't mind being taken advantage of for sake of being generous, but if i can avoid it, i do.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:02 pm to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
If I have a water bottle or something in my truck, I'll usually give it to him/her.
I had a lady ask me on the way into the gas station once for some money and i threw out my standard line. Then she replied can you get some cash while inside...i thought about it for a moment while inside then spent up a bill buying a bunch of drinks and snacks for the 7 hr road trip ahead. Walking out she was there and came asking for the cash that she had earlier said she needed for some food. So i tried offering her some granola bars. She said no thanks and asked if i had some smokes instead.
Seems too cliche to be true but it is. This post was edited on 5/31/16 at 12:03 pm
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:06 pm to BlackPawnMartyr
Yeah it does happen
I usually don't get my offer of a water bottle turned down too often because the most frequent place I get accosted is at traffic intersections waiting for the light to change and it gets a little warm out in the sun down here, as you know
I usually don't get my offer of a water bottle turned down too often because the most frequent place I get accosted is at traffic intersections waiting for the light to change and it gets a little warm out in the sun down here, as you know
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:08 pm to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
I usually don't get my offer of a water bottle turned down too often
I had one in Austin ask me one time for some water at a gas station as we were getting gas and had just loaded up the cooler for a trip down to float the river. I told him i didnt have any water but he could have a beer. He seemed appreciative.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:18 pm to mwlewis
Begger: Do you have any money?
Me: shite, bro I was about to ask you the same thing.
Silence.
Me: shite, bro I was about to ask you the same thing.
Silence.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:21 pm to mwlewis
Either that or I do sign language. Beggers almost never know sign language. That's where I get em.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:23 pm to Stacked
that's a good one. 
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:27 pm to Stacked
quote:
Begger: Do you have any money?
quote:
Me: shite, bro I was about to ask you the same thing.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:36 pm to mwlewis
I never, ever give cash.
I get hit up pretty regularly walking to my car after work. Usually it is the same "I need money for food" line. I simply point to the Burger King on the corner and tell them if they'll meet me there I will buy them a meal. In 20+ years, I've had exactly one take me up on that offer.
I had another situation where a guy who was dressed like a panhandler/homeless/whatever was standing outside a McDonald's. My daughter was ahead of us and this guy opened the door for her, said "here you go ma'am", and didn't ask for one dime. When we left, I gave him a $20 McDonald's gift card. Maybe he was just raised to be polite, but if that was just the way he plays the game I bet he does great with it.
I've never had someone in a vehicle ask me for gas money. I think you responded perfectly.
I get hit up pretty regularly walking to my car after work. Usually it is the same "I need money for food" line. I simply point to the Burger King on the corner and tell them if they'll meet me there I will buy them a meal. In 20+ years, I've had exactly one take me up on that offer.
I had another situation where a guy who was dressed like a panhandler/homeless/whatever was standing outside a McDonald's. My daughter was ahead of us and this guy opened the door for her, said "here you go ma'am", and didn't ask for one dime. When we left, I gave him a $20 McDonald's gift card. Maybe he was just raised to be polite, but if that was just the way he plays the game I bet he does great with it.
I've never had someone in a vehicle ask me for gas money. I think you responded perfectly.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:47 pm to mwlewis
I look at them with an expression of pure exhaustion after a long, stressful day at work.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 12:55 pm to mwlewis
I live out 280 in the Inverness area and it happens to me all the time out there. I rarely carry cash, so it's always easy to just tell them I don't have any cash. I've offered to meet them somewhere to buy them a meal or some gas though. A couple have taken me up on the offer. I sat with one guy once and he said it was the first real meal he'd had in a week. I think he was BS'ing me though.
The latest incidents seem to be a young mother or father needing a ride to AutoZone or somewhere because their car is broken down. I'm a bit more leery of this, and have refused giving them a ride because I've had one or both of my kids with me at the time. It really upsets my daughter though, and that makes me feel guilty.
The latest incidents seem to be a young mother or father needing a ride to AutoZone or somewhere because their car is broken down. I'm a bit more leery of this, and have refused giving them a ride because I've had one or both of my kids with me at the time. It really upsets my daughter though, and that makes me feel guilty.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 1:03 pm to mwlewis
Late in the A&M/Ole Miss game I was walking to my vehicle with a big shite-eating grin on my face. Lady at a stop sign says,
"Excuse me, can you help me?"
"I'll try."
"Are you from here?"
"Yes, I am." Guard was initially up, but now I figured she just needed directions. But then she launches into this long-winded story about her power being shut off, she only had $8, and she had two boys coming home soon and she pulled out brochures for several local fleabag motels and said she needed a room for her boys. And I caved. The story was too good not to be true.
So I go home and start explaining this to my wife with, "I guess I look like a sap.", tell the story, she looks at me and says "You ARE a sap!"
"Excuse me, can you help me?"
"I'll try."
"Are you from here?"
"Yes, I am." Guard was initially up, but now I figured she just needed directions. But then she launches into this long-winded story about her power being shut off, she only had $8, and she had two boys coming home soon and she pulled out brochures for several local fleabag motels and said she needed a room for her boys. And I caved. The story was too good not to be true.
So I go home and start explaining this to my wife with, "I guess I look like a sap.", tell the story, she looks at me and says "You ARE a sap!"
Posted on 5/31/16 at 1:04 pm to mwlewis
I never give beggars money because I know exactly what they are going to do with it. I used to say I dont carry cash or something but now I just straight up tell them "NO" before they even get their first word out and I keep walking.
One of my family members recently bought this beggar lady a meal from McDonalds and when they went to give it to her she said "I dont eat that sht." Another time a homeless guy followed my girlfriend and her friend into Walgreens and cornered them in an aisle and pretty much intimidated them into giving him money. These are just a few examples that happened within the last month or so.
One of my family members recently bought this beggar lady a meal from McDonalds and when they went to give it to her she said "I dont eat that sht." Another time a homeless guy followed my girlfriend and her friend into Walgreens and cornered them in an aisle and pretty much intimidated them into giving him money. These are just a few examples that happened within the last month or so.
Posted on 5/31/16 at 1:10 pm to mwlewis
quote:
I also had a guy walk up to my window while I was in a drive through over the weekend.
Had this happen Sunday night while I was with my Mom. Had a girl walk right up after we ordered and the window was still down. She was holding a crumpled hotel bill saying she was living in a nearby long-term room and was getting ready to be evicted with her two kids. And had the nerve to ask while she was walking around with a brand new Michael Kors bag and a new jumper outfit. I was tempted to drop a "Bitch I guess you better sell that bag then" but we just told her we only had cards on us and she left. When we got around to the window the guy said she's there on the regular with the same story but always leaves before the cops will show up when they call.
I'm pretty leary though about giving anything. A few years back my Mom was in Kroger's parking lot when a girl ran up to her car crying, saying her boyfriend had hit her and she needed to use her phone. Before my Mom could even respond she had yanked open the passenger side door and stole my Mom's purse that was sitting in the console while she put groceries in the back. Come to find out she was a meth head that was squatting at an Economy Inn up the road and my Mom dealt with months of having to recoop money where liquor stores allowed her to cash personal checks of my Mom's with her ID. When questioned by the cashier why she didn't look like the picture, she told them she had cancer. Finally a BB&T stopped her when she tried to cash her paycheck. It was nuts.
Usually if I try to give I do it through an organization like Wayside Christian Mission or something along those lines. Unfortunately there's just too many shady people out there.
Page 1 of 3
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News