Do you give money to panhandlers?

[cantdrv55]

Usually I do not but today there was a whole family on a street corner. I couldn't just walk by and not help. Call me a sucker but I cannot ignore kids begging alongside parents. I hope they put the cash to good use.

[RKDinOKC]

Nope. Have stopped and offered them work. They refused. So I in-turn refuse to give them any of the money I work for.

[Por_sha911]

Begging with a child there with you is IMO child abuse and creating a welfare mentality that will teach the a new generation of beggars.
I worked at a Youth Center that reached street kids and drug addicts. They made good money "flying a sign" and the profits doubled when the kids stood there and looked sad... People give extra to appease their guilty feelings.

[billybek]

Nope. I have given cups of coffee during cold weather but no cash.

[WPOZZZ]

Nope. One time I saw a panhandler on the highway go to his bag and pull out an iPhone. F that! I don't even have an iPhone. What really chaps my ass are the people with the fishnets at the traffic lights. Trying to raise money from outer island Peewee football travel to our local Food Bank. The ones not on an advertised donation day, not wearing a charitable organization shirt, are really sketchy.

[BeyGon]

I sometimes give a couple bucks to a couple OLD guys I see around, they are just sitting, not really begging but they would like something. They are too old to be working, just lucky, I guess to still be eating.
Never to any of the people hanging out at the markets begging from the cars or sitting by the door begging.

[Arizona_928]

Nope
Most are drug abusers.
Alcohol is a drug too.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

Nope
Most are drug abusers.
Alcohol is a drug too.

Never here either. I will occasionally slip a few bucks to someone, even if I know it's probably gonna be a bottle soon...when they actually do something...helping load a truck outside Lowes, or cleaning outside a bar at closing. I have compassion for those folks...but not scamming bs artists.

[R K T]

My wife goes to a church that a "family" would hang around outside all day and beg for money. They had the kids saying God bless you to everyone that walked by. They were making big bucks from people feeling sorry for them until the priest announced that at the end of the day they walked around the corner and got into a new mini van.
Total scam.

[aigel]

Never. My wife sometimes gives them a snack or a soda.

There are different levels of panhandlers. The ones that are doing okay, maybe living out of a van or cheap place, others are down and out mental cases. I feel for the mental cases. They often are so self-destructive and unorganized, they can't even get decent clothes organized. And you know you can get free clothes pretty easily these days. Just today I saw a guy with totally wasted tennis shoes with gaping holes, in the cold. Would have been good to check his size and give him mine, but wasn't practical - riding my bicycle in 40F and no backup at work.

I just want to point out that many homeless are mentally ill. Have some compassion. Maybe give them something to eat or to wear.

G

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by aigel

Never....

There are different levels of panhandlers.....

I just want to point out that many homeless are mentally ill. Have some compassion. Maybe give them something to eat or to wear.

G

^^^ Yes indeed...but no $ for the scammers. They suck...

[wdfifteen]

I have in the past, but I'm a lot less likely to any more.

Boy did I get suckered

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nope, I’m not enabling bad behavior.

The ones that really upset me are the folks that feel the need to claim they’re veterans. I was always taught to look out for myself and those I was responsible for, be resourceful, industrious and ambitious... not sit on my ass on the side of the road looking for a handout from total strangers. Either these guys aren’t really vets or totally missed the lessons that serving (should have) taught them.

[tdw28210]

food or water...no cash. When I used to take the train to work in SF, I'd walk through some sketchy spots. I had a panhandler scoff at the hot egg McMuffin I handed him. So I guess beggars CAN be choosers.

[ckelly78z]

I have never felt guilty enough to help the jobless, when on the same corner is adds for available work. These are the same people who are getting government help that i'm already reluctantly paying for.

[T77911S]

NO. but,
we were in DC one time and this guy asked us for money for something. we started talking to the guy because he had this amazing charisma about him, just an absolute amazing personality.
we hung out with him for a while. I did give him some money but I did not care if he was scamming us.
the same day my daughter, under 10yrs old at the time gave a bum some change she had in her pocket. I turned around as we walked off and I saw the guy drop it in the dirt.

had one bum come up to asking for money. at the time my wife had just wrecked the car. needless to say I went off on him.

a lady in a dually pulled up to me asking for money. told her she has a nicer truck than I do. of she had the kids with her.

[jcommin]

Absolutely not. Giving them food is a waste too.

[Baz]

Only if they have 4 legs and fur......

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Baz

Only if they have 4 legs and fur......

Sucker

......I are too.

[sand_man]

I think I've answered this in another thread, but used to be, if I had cash on me, I'd hand out a few bucks. As of late, these folks are everywhere here, so I don't bother with it. And in many cases, I sense a scam.