How Do You Handle Panhandlers...

[chiburb]

I read a thread in GD about Bremer cutting off the free food distribution in Iraq in January. Something about it promotes 'socialist values'. One of the responses was 'yeah, better to starve than be a socialist' (said sarcastically of course), but it reminded me of a time in San Francisco:
I was on the Wharf and was approached with "Give me a dollar so I can get something to eat". I said "sorry", and he said "then how about a cigarette"? I gave him one, and instead of saying thanks, he looked me in the eye and said "So... you'd rather give me cancer than feed me". I laughed, told him that was the best one I'd ever heard, and gave him a buck.
Anyway, the stories (GD and above) are the genesis of my 1st poll. Thank you for your participation...

[FlashHarry]

1. Depends.

If they're genuinely needy (in my estimation, which is subjective, I know), I give them some change. If it's just a bunch of punk skater-rats looking for cigarette money, no.

[Fixated]

3. .....

Agreed, I try to sense if they're doing anything with the money. Once I tossed a guy a quarter and saw him working at Burger King the next month. Felt good to know it went somewhere.

[chiburb]

8. I know what you mean..

But in downtown Chicago we don't see many of those. We mostly see people of color, usually middle aged, sometimes obviously 'not all there'. We do have scammers, but (subjectively also)not too many.

[FlashHarry]

17. My experience comes from living in a college town.

With a large VA hospital nearby. There are a lot of down-on-their-luck vets who need a hand. Conversely, there are a lot of deadbeat, yet able-bodied, kids who sit around the pedestrian malls and do nothing but panhandle, play hackey-sack and smoke.

[donco6]

2. I see the same guys every damn day.

I give to regular charities - a lot. But I just can't help but feel scammed by the street panhandlers. Maybe it's my upbringing - my folks would have torn out their eyes before they did that.

[proud patriot]

4. just recently gave food

I'm not sure How to answer your poll...Nothing is absolute .
Sometimes I give sometimes I don't, each situation is different
IMHO.

[commander bunnypants]

5. other

mainly because as a social worker, I interact with these folks all day long doin social work kinda of stuff. And I am usually broke..


DDQM

[LynneSin]

6. My $20 donation to a panhandler

Serious story, Will Pitt can back me up on that one!!

During the Philly gathering, WP and I made a quick run to the 24 hour CVS to pick up a few things. On the way back a panhandler approached us trying to see his cassette walkman for a few bucks. Will, the kind-hearted lug that he is, gave him a dollar. And I thought I'd be just as kind and give him one too.

Only problem was I was slightly tipsy and not paying attention to what I pulled out and handed the guy.

Next thing you know the panhandler is giving me a giant hug and slobbering all over me (and yes, he smelled). Turns out I gave him a $20

:shrug:

Oh well - I should have taken the walkman, but I really don't listen to cassettes

[mitchum]

7. I give very generously to various aid organizations, but...

never to individual panhandlers

[Demobrat]

9. I have a couple of people I know and help.

Pretty tough for anybody else to cut through the clutter when you get panhandled a dozen times a day like I do.

[arwalden]

10. "BACK OFF! I'VE GOT 10% PEPPER SPRAY! ..."

"... and I'm not afraid to use it."

[zekeson]

11. Wow, this is wild

A mont or so ago we had a similar poll here and most who posted were very critical of panhandlers and thought most were scamming. There were many, many posts and few that said, screw it, I give money to all, when I can.

My premise is its not up to me to judge the man or his need. If he goes and spends the buck I give him on beer, well, I bet he needed that beer. Yeah, he is ruining his life, but, if that beer sustains him from succumbing to DT's until he can decide to get somewhere and detox then thats fine, too. Its not mine to placa a value on.

edit - where the hell did I learn to spell?

[chiburb]

12. Nice post...

Pretty much my attitude too.
Btw, I'm sorry if this is a dupe of a previous poll. I started visiting the lounge more often lately as GD got to be "too too"..
I didn't see the original poll.

[zekeson]

16. Similar, but not a true dupe

The other may not have had a poll. Thanks for posting, chiburb

Sometimes I am a little alarmed by the lack of compassion. This board has its share of folks who chime in that they have suffered addiction and alcoholism, that they have suffered depression or mental illness. Well, add in a loss of job and alienation of friends and family and there you are, on the street.

Yeah, you can survive on the street without panhandling, but thats a value judgement and one I am not willing to make. I am shocked, shocked, I tell you when I hear other Dems doin so.

[Tripper11]

13. This is a tough one for me...

because at this point in time for our family every nickel counts. I always feel sorry for panhandlers for the most part. I tend to take their signs (Very sick need $$ for medication, stranded, needed $$ to get home) with a grain of salt.
Mostly though I think of mental illness and what may be ailing them in that way. There certainly a lot of ill people out on the streets trying to get money to self medicate, because the system has tossed them.
Meds, therapy etc is very expensive and let's face it it makes more sense to have cell phone service in fucking Baghdad (/sarcasm off)then it is to help our sick and homeless here.

[flamingyouth]

14. I volunteer at a homeless shelter

and support them with lots of $. There are tons of panhandlers here in Seattle - there's no way I could give to every single one I saw in a given day.

[WindRavenX]

15. It depends

I'm a poor college student- I don't carry cash.
So when I encounter a panhandler, I wish I could give something, but hey, I don't have anything on me either.
But on the occasions where I do have change from making a run to the store or something, yeah, I'll give a buck to someone.

[AlienGirl]

18. I give gratefully...

They have given me the opportunity to act out kindness and compassion, and I am thankful for that.

Tucker

[CPschem]

19. I give to the same terribly disabled guy everyday

i know he's someone who REALLY needs my change. I feel so bad whenever i see him.

[qb]

20. I just say , "Sorry, no"

[curse10]

31. Me too

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

21. If someone on the street asks me, "Got any change?"

I always say, "No man - I'll never change."

[patdem]

22. I used to see "Will work for food" people at intersections

one person said 'have children at home that need food'...well I handed over a fiver on that note...did he have children at home? I don't know, but I never missed the five I proffered.

Why is panhandeling any less of a profession than touting stocks that will lose you MORE money than you invest. Like handing a panhandler a five dollar bill and when you check your wallet it is missing ten...I do not understand the thinking of people.

Why is investing in the poor not a good thing? I would rather give him/them money than have him/them invade my home because their children/he/they were starving? I think starvation is a VERY GOOD reason to commit crime!

[Lisa]

23. I give out bus tickets ...

Politely, without any neo-con "get a job" backtalk. (Or hurling coins contemptuously, a la Ralph Klein.)

Usually, this is the only form of legal tender I have on me! (and avoids the problem with cigarettes, as Chiburb pointed out ... I don't smoke anyway) I have seasonal employment that pays pretty close to the poverty line, and there are days when I actually make less than some panhandlers.

A couple of times I've had people spit at or threaten me, but most smile and accept.

As another person remarked -- there are a lot of homeless people in my town, and I could spend my entire paycheque on them without making a dent (or more to the point, affecting social policies that allow this to happen). And I figure that if I'm unhappy enough that it takes giving money to a panhandler to make me feel like I'm lucky and generous ... there is something wrong.

My warped take on life: deciding whether or not to give to any charitable cause is (or should be) a fundamental human right. Giving because you're guilty or scared doesn't necessarily make for a happier world.

My folks gave me heck, for giving the graduation $ they sent me to the food bank. Actually I donate all cash gifts (or prize winnings) to charities, because I feel it's not really "my" money anyway.

[patdem]

24. Manufacturing and Panhandeling jobs on the decline...

Actually if one is on the decline the other should be on the rise...Panhandeling is no less a profession than investing, only more honest..or not!

[Systematic Chaos]

25. My answer is "I Try Not To See Or Interact With Them"

but honestly I hate to have to feel that way.

I think a lot of it may have to do with where I live. Here in Vegas there are SCADS of panhandlers that mill about all over the city. While that may be true of a lot of places nowadays, what hurts here is that many of the homeless don't have anywhere to go for shelter because the facilities are so limited.

HOWEVER, I cannot tell you how many times, when I used to live in a very bad part of town (North Las Vegas, near Las Vegas Blvd. and Lake Mead Blvd. for those of you familiar with town) I would have someone ask me for spare change, SWEARING they just wanted some bus fare, and I would tell them no and go into the store. While I was spending a couple minutes talking with the clerk that person would come in and buy a goddamn 40-ounce instead of heading for the bus stop after they finally collected enough money. I can't stand liars and I especially have no compassion for that kind of bulls**t.

[Piperay]

29. Yeah, me too

one reason because being a woman I am nervous anyway when a strange man approaches me. If I see a panhandler heading my way I put a fixed expression on my face and just keep walking like I have business to take care of. I will make exceptions for a few that are semi-regulars outside of my local postoffice, one is an older woman in a wheel chair and another one has a dog.

[ewagner]

26. If it's only one person

around, I'll generally give a buck or two. If theer are a lot of possible panhandlers, I'll try to avoid it because I can't give to all.

[bratcatinok]

27. I don't

give money to the panhandler's on the street corners with the signs. There have been too many articles in the papers that detail how the scam works. Certain corners are bid on and worked just as if it was a regular job.

Those that I came in contact with in downtown Dallas (when I worked there), I'd give a buck or two to. If they want to use it for alcohol, a flop house, cigarettes, drugs or a meal, that's their decision. Having hung out at an open AA meeting or two, I decided if my dollar was used to buy alcohol or drugs, I might be assisting them in hitting bottom where they might get help. Or at the least they might get a reprieve from the hell they were living in.

[newyawker99]

37. Hi bratcatinok!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[blondeatlast]

28. I work at a public library and we are told very strongly not to give money

But our staff is always pleasant and friendly; they know us and we know them. Whenever we have catered meetings, the "regulars" get leftovers, and we frequently buy them burgers and especially bottled water in the Phoenix summers.

Money is a bad idea because they can become aggressive but it doesn't hurt to be polite, and there is no problem with offering food or (nonalcoholic) drinks.

[Interrobang]

30. I don't give anything; usually don't have anything to give.

I'm finally over the Frasier Institute (Canadian version of the Heritage Foundation) definition of "poverty line," but $335/week doesn't go very far in our brave new world of escalating tuition (enormous student loan debts) and no rent control. I was broke, more-or-less homeless, and basically couch-surfing, crashing, and flopping however I could a few times, and I've been on Welfare twice. (Part of the reason I still don't have any money is that I started with next to nothing, and I'm still finding things I need, albeit need infrequently, like Robertson screwdrivers, pliers, or a new lamp for the living room, 'cause the old one just died, things like that.)

So I don't really have a lot of respect for people who panhandle. I never even so much as *busked* when I was unemployed and broke, let alone sat around and spare-changed people all day. Aside from the cases of mental illness (thank you Mike Harris for closing down half the institutions!), many panhandlers could find their way into the social support system if they wanted to. (Yes, I consider that it's better to be on Welfare than begging.) My tax dollar that they'd be getting if they were collecting Welfare would do them a lot more good than the dollar I could hand them on the street.

And I HATE two things -- one, being hit up for money by rich, bored suburban teenagers, and two, being hit up for cigarettes. (Do I look like I have "LOSER" tattooed on my forehead in big day-glo letters or something?!) The other ones, well, I just either don't talk to them, or I tell them I'm broke.

[HEyHEY]

32. On a handler to handler basis

If they look like drunks or junkies..no not a thing.. But if they look like people who may be menatally ill or truly down on their luck I give em something

[SiobhanClancy]

33. My father always did,and so do I

I give what I can,although now that I'm unemployed,it isn't very much. We didn't have many(if any)panhandlers when I was growing up in Portland,Maine,but I often went to Boston and NY with my dad(a huge baseball fan). Dad always brought a bundle of dollar bills and passed them out until they were all gone. My mother used to tell him that he shouldn't do it since they would probably use it for drink or drugs,but Dad always said that if that was so,it was OK with him...it wasn't his place to judge them,and if they got a bit of comfort from the drink in lives that may have had little else,he could understand it. I just feel that I should share,if I can,and what they use it for is their business.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

34. Being a woman...

and driving a convertible, I feel vunerable when a strange person (usually a man) approaches me when the top's down. I try to avoid them. My safety comes first.

[HEyHEY]

35. When they ask for change say

"Change comes from within" - if you're a real asshole

[Kat45]

36. I don't have any money to give at this point in time, but

I usually will smile and say "I'm sorry, I don't have any spare change to give" (or I can't) as I'm walking by. (Sometimes I'll add, "I just got laid off myself.") I feel that at least I'm acknowledging them, seeing them as a person standing there, rather than totally ignoring them as many people do. Some of them will even say to me "Don't be sorry." and/or "God bless you." Then I'll say "God bless you" back to them.

[underpants]

38. I tel them No

Ocassionally I will give a little something to someone but I give money every month to a homeless shelter.