Do you give money to pan handlers

[s_morrison57]

I do sometimes, never if I see the guy smoking

[HardDrive]

Typically, no.

I guess I have given money to folks who were obviously terribly physically disabled, but usually no. If I see an able bodied young person begging, I might take the time to say, "Hey, I've got an idea! How about get a ******* job?" They don't like that, lol.

[legion]

In my youth I would because I didn't know any better.

I haven't encountered one in at least ten years. I'd hope that I wouldn't wimp out and give in. I'd probably have to resist the urge to lecture and simply say "no".

[Hugh R]

No! The government takes it from me and gives it to them.

[Tim Walsh]

No but I'd like to take one out for lunch to hear their story. I'm 99% sure it would be almost completely made up, but it would be an interesting insight into how they think. It would also show how desperate they are if I ask them just before rush hour.

[rammstein]

Unless it is in exchange for something (sweeping the street, telling a really good joke, etc.) then no. There is a shelter less than a mile from here. They will provide them with food, job placement assistance, clothes, showers, etc.

Therefore, they are asking me for assistance in scoring either booze or drugs. They will not get my money.

The last time I gave a guy a dollar was because I challenged him to tell me a good joke to make me laugh. He said "What did one tampon say to the other tampon?........ Nothing. They were both stuck up *****es". I laughed, he got a dollar. Capitalism.

[masraum]

No. If I knew that they really needed the money and knew that the money would be put to good use (food, shelter), then I might.

I've worked downtown for about a year and a half now. I've had some very well dressed "bums" ask me for money. It's unfortunate, I think a lot of them are lazy or at least figure "it's easier to ask for money than work for it." Because I can't tell which are which (needy vs lazy), I'm not going to give to any of them.

[The Gaijin]

NO. As a rule.

Last week in Penn Station in New York, I was getting a dozen donuts for the office and a homeless guy comes up to me while I am waiting on line and wants some change..

So I berate the guy, and say "this is not cool, bad for business and unfair to this store.." So the guy says his sorries and goes away..

Afterwords I saw him and gave him a buck. A sucker indeed. I never give to the young people, but the old guys on the way out - you have got to feel bad for them..

[red-beard]

A year or 2 back, I saw one panhandling, and she had on a necklace, and clothes that were clean and decent. Nope.

One guy had the sign: "Why lie? Need money for beer!" I had people say they would give to him because he was at least honest. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I lived in India and Pakistan. No one here needs to panhandling, unless they want to.

[BeyGon]

No but I really like the guys that look like they are in their 40s and the sign says VietVet.

[porsche4life]

When we were in San Anton a guy walked up to my dad and a few other guys. "Man I broke my leg and it hurts real bad. Could you give me 40cents for a cold beer? All I want is a cold beer"

[GG Allin]

I was in the car with my dad as a kid maybe 9 or 10 at the off ramp from I90 at Kimball in Chicago. My dad rolled down the window and a gave a guy 4 dollars. I still remember that it was $4. And I can still remember exactly what the guy said. He said "god bless your heart". I don't usually give pan handlers money, but I'll never forget that. I'll probably let my daughter see something similar at some point. Hopefully my guy is as appreciative.

[Gogar]

No.

Last time I walked around in Chicago I passed the same guy about three times, he was asking for change for the train.

The third and last time I passed him, he asked me (again) for change for the TRAIN.

I pulled out my CTA card, said "Hey this has about 6 bucks left on it. You can use it for the TRAIN."

Man, was he pissed. Started yelling and stuff. So I kept my CTA card.

[vash]

no!!!

i once bought some sad looking dude a sandwich. i watched him take the meat out, eat it, and toss the rest. he wasnt THAT hungry. maybe on the atkins diet or something. i also once bought these two runaway looking chicks, Zona Rosa burritos on the haight. they loved it. they ate half, wrapped the rest up, and hiked off.

if i see a mom with kids, i will buy the kids some milk or something. i never give money.

[jkarolyi]

I drive through a bad area (San Bernardino, meth capital of the world) every day on my way to work...see them all the time. After awhile, you can tell the real homeless from the moneymakers. I keep a stash of $5 McDonalds gift cards which I give out to those who really look like they could use a warm meal. It at least eases my conscience that my money won't be used to further an addiction.

[flatbutt]

wheelchair or other disabled yes. street musicians yes. dirty grubby roving pan handlers no.

[vash]

i live near homeless, "ground zero".

[MBAtarga]

I ask them if they have any fast food restaurant $5 gift cards for sale - like for McDonalds' - and give them $2 in exchange so they can go buy beer.

[trekkor]

I gave a guy a little bag of peanuts at a stop light a while back.

Some are scamming...HARD!

they work the traffic lights in the city.

If you can pull down 50 cents per light, you'll make about $30 an hour...hey?!?

See you in traffic!


KT

[syncroid]

No!

I was at the local Safeway the other day and some kid comes up and asked me for a couple bucks so he could get something from McDonalds. He said he was hungry and hadn't eatten in a couple of days. (he looked well fed to me) I declined to give him money and he got pissed. I just walked away. A couple hours later I was doing some errands and went down the street that the Safeway is on and I see the kid. As I drive by, he is counting a stack of bills about an inch thick. I wanted to confront him but decided it wasn't worth it. What a punk!