You guys all sound like Republicans!  Welcome!!!!!

 

Funny; I thought the Republican party was the party of compassionate, pro-Christian ideals.

It's also very humiliating to be mugged or attacked by a homeless person (such as me), and it is very much unpleasing to be constantly harassed by vagrants for money, food, cigarettes, condoms, booze, etc. every time I leave my apartment complex or workplace.

 

Granted. But I don't think that excuses degrading people. If anything, I would think that just increase chances that you'll end up in some kind of altercation. More importantly, it's just really callous behavior.

I don't even notice them anymore.... We have panhandlers in downtown Cleveland?? ;)

 

But, no, I don't ever give them any money. Why reward them? I don't even acknowledge them.

You guys all sound like Republicans!  Welcome!!!!!

 

Funny; I thought the Republican party was the party of compassionate, pro-Christian ideals.

 

Pro-Christian? According to Bill O' Reilly, we should be worshiping our Lord and Savior, George W. Bush.

 

I have a shrine in my backyard to our Dear Leader.

 

Edit: Holy crap. This guy has the same thoughts of me!

Funny; I thought the Republican party was the party of compassionate, pro-Christian ideals.

 

It was a joke!  But if one can assume that the majority of posters on UO are liberal, than its obvious by the posts on this topic that conservatives are more compassionate!!!

 

 

I don't think it is compassionate to give panhandlers money as it only perpetuates their problem of dependency.

Funny; I thought the Republican party was the party of compassionate, pro-Christian ideals.

 

It was a joke!  But if one can assume that the majority of posters on UO are liberal, than its obvious by the posts on this topic that conservatives are more compassionate!!!

 

Just bashing one stereotype against the other. All in good fun.

 

In all seriousness, though, I think this proves that liberals are as easily annoyed as conservatives when it comes to serial panhandling.

 

I'm reminded of my first year attending college in innercity Detroit. It was a real eye-opener. I befriended a young homeless guy named Eric and we spent a lot of time hanging out talking about our worlds, usually over lunch. He'd  never ask me for cash, though he'd happily accept my offer to buy him lunch or a bag of groceries. I lost touch with him and then reconnected a few month later. He'd hit hard times with full force, very obviously nursing injuries. He asked me for money that one time, I obliged and he disappeared. That was the last time I saw him, and come to think of it, it may have been the last time I handed money to a beggar.

 

Not long after that, I was interviewing for a job down in the Grand Circus Park district, and after the meeting, realized I hadn't enough cash to get my car out of the underground garage. All I needed was 50¢ for the People Mover to get me around to the Ren Cen to hit an ATM (walking was not an option; it was February and Woodward Ave. was ankle-deep in slush).

 

It took a lot of asking, but eventually a stranger gave me the change. But the looks I got from the others withered a substantial portion of my soul.

 

It's a tough call. You'd think my experience would've changed my POV. But god damn, from a purely financial standpoint, I seriously don't have any extra money to hand to a stranger. I rarely, if ever, even carry cash.

 

Maybe if we equipped homeless with credit card readers; at least I'd be able to collect National City points and claim a tax deduction.

 

Just a thought.

I have to admit when someone says "can you spare some change?", the warped side of me wants to just once - channel Lovey Howell (Thurston's wife) and say "Sorrrry dahling, I only carry $100 dollar bills and my American Express Platinum - toodle-loo now!" :laugh:

Maybe if we equipped homeless with credit card readers; at least I'd be able to collect National City points and claim a tax deduction.  Just a thought.

 

First laugh I've had all day!  Homeless Rewards Program!  Earn free airline tickets or hotel points!

 

About 15 years ago, I was driving to Florida with my daughters, (10 and 8) at Christmas.  We stopped for breakfast outside of Atlanta and while walking into McDonalds, we came across a homeless person who obviously had many, many issues.  He was pushing a shopping cart packed to the brim, and was wearing probably his entire wardrobe, many layers of clothing.  He clearly had not bathed in months as his hair was matted and filthy.

 

He had situated himself near the front, but away from the entrance such that we had to make a wide path to go around him.  He didn't look particularly dangerous, but I did have my little girls with me so I made a special effort to get by him.  He didn't ask us for anything, and it didn't look like he was asking others.  He was just standing there by some outside seating.

 

As we walked in my oldest daughter asked me what I was afraid of, I said nothing, and she said "he's probably just hungry".

 

I have to admit, this really got to me.  I watched him while we ate, and he never asked anyone for anything.  On our way out, I ordered a "Big Breakfast" and coffee and the girls carried it up to him.  He sort of smiled and said thanks.  I handed him a $10 bill.  The look on his face was priceless.  I have no idea what he may have done with it, but I want to believe he used it to eat.

 

It's a lesson the 3 of us have never forgotton.

 

 

 

 

I have to admit when someone says "can you spare some change?", the warped side of me wants to just once - channel Lovey Howell (Thurston's wife) and say "Sorrrry dahling, I only carry $100 dollar bills and my American Express Platinum - toodle-loo now!" :laugh:

 

Do it MayDay!  I dare you!  Of course, only if you release me of all liabilities to injuries sustained as a result of the subsequent mugging.

What's the lesson, DanB?  Give others food and money to assuage your guilt over their situation?  I'm not trying to be mean, but did you really help this guy with your actions?  He may very well have used that $10 to get his next fix of his drug of choice.  A better response would have been to donate to the local homeless outreach program.  Then they could have helped him to get food, shelter, and maybe even to right his life.  What you've done is very likely prolong his problems by a full stomach+$10.  I'm not blaming you, as you don't seem to know.  But for giving to be worthwhile, it needs to truly be targeted towards helping the recipient.

^Who cares where the $10 went; he had a full stomach. I'll bet you the overhead for some of these outreach operations would've chewed though that ten-spot faster than the homeless guy tore through his salisbury steak.

 

I'm just glad that stranger who handed me 50¢ for the People Mover didn't stick it in the nearest poor box and wander off thinking happy thoughts.

What's the lesson, DanB?  Give others food and money to assuage your guilt over their situation?  I'm not trying to be mean, but did you really help this guy with your actions?  He may very well have used that $10 to get his next fix of his drug of choice.  A better response would have been to donate to the local homeless outreach program.  Then they could have helped him to get food, shelter, and maybe even to right his life.  What you've done is very likely prolong his problems by a full stomach+$10.  I'm not blaming you, as you don't seem to know.  But for giving to be worthwhile, it needs to truly be targeted towards helping the recipient.

 

Where do you come up with this stuff?  I never said anything about feeling guilty over his situation!  Guilt implies I had something to do with his situation, which I didn't then and don't now.  My point was the compassion shown by a child (which of course I'm extremely proud of), and the fact that here was someone who was obviously hungry.  He was not collecting money to go fund a habit, I think he was incapable of even asking for anything.

 

I didn't say either that I give to every person I see sitting on a corner.  There are situations where it may seem obvious that this person is in need.  You can't just stereotype and decide that all beggars really are only druggies or alcoholics so I won't give to anyone.

 

The majority of my contributions are through church or corporate contributions, so plenty gets given to organizations.  I feel no guilt at all for the level of my contributions.  I fed a hungry person who didn't ask for anything, and I probably wouldnt have if my daughter hadn't said what she said.

 

It took a lot of asking, but eventually a stranger gave me the change. But the looks I got from the others withered a substantial portion of my soul.

 

It's a tough call. You'd think my experience would've changed my POV.

 

Yeah, that's pretty much my basis for never giving out money. Maybe you really are a vietnam vet who needs to catch a bus to the hospital treatment, or maybe your car really did run out of gas for the 1375th consecutive day (i call that bum out on it all the time), but if I start judging "you look in need", "you look non-homeless", "i think you lie".......

^ ...or a construction worker who backed your truck into some rebar and punctured the gas tank or tire for the 30th time that week.

^I'd give $1 just for the use of "rebar." Love that word.

"Sorrrry dahling, I only carry $100 dollar bills and my American Express Platinum - toodle-loo now!"

"Maybe if we equipped homeless with credit card readers; at least I'd be able to collect National City points and claim a tax deduction."

 

That is too funny!

 

 

one of our many colorful local bums has quite a trick. he bashes his head open, walks up to people dripping in blood, tells them some story about how he got robbed and then hits them up for money. by late afternoon there he is in the square drunk as a skunk with the rest of his associates.

 

and don't even get me started on the guy everyone in my nabe calls santa claus...!

 

seriously, do give money to charity, but please do not give any loot to panhandling alcoholics with serious mental health problems, which sadly is what is going on with many homeless people.

 

one of our many colorful local bums has quite a trick. he bashes his head open, walks up to people dripping in blood, tells them some story about how he got robbed and then hits them up for money. by late afternoon there he is in the square drunk as a skunk with the rest of his associates.

 

Uh.

 

This bum needs serious mental help.

one of our many colorful local bums has quite a trick. he bashes his head open, walks up to people dripping in blood, tells them some story about how he got robbed and then hits them up for money. by late afternoon there he is in the square drunk as a skunk with the rest of his associates.

 

So what you're saying is he needs a handout like he needs a hole in his head? That's what you're saying, right?

Personally I'd rather work for less than minimum wage (everyone is employable without a minimum wage) than beat myself in the head for a few bucks. At least if you donate plasma you can make 40 bucks or more a week. All that's required is that you  eat before you go and don't have AIDS. Sh!t. 40 bucks = 40 cans of Steel Reserve, and at 8% alc. one 24 ounce can is enough to screw you up.

one of our many colorful local bums has quite a trick. he bashes his head open, walks up to people dripping in blood, tells them some story about how he got robbed and then hits them up for money. by late afternoon there he is in the square drunk as a skunk with the rest of his associates.

 

So what you're saying is he needs a handout like he needs a hole in his head? That's what you're saying, right?

 

I hope you meant that to be funny, beause I'm LMAO on that one.

Tonight it was a man trying to sell me a 1/2 gallon bottle of Johnny walker Red Label for $10. Not a bad deal really, It had a $35 price tag on it, but I prefer at least Black Label!

Suckers pay up.  As a college student, I know that a lot of these guys make more than I do, and I tell them that.  If I had a nickel for every time someone thought one of those "I ain't gonna lie, I just want a beer" signs was witty, I'd be rich enough to start my own outreach program.

 

This is a non-question if you've had to deal with beggars on a regular basis.  As has been said, if you care, donate to your favorite charity.

Last week I made a trip downtown (Cleve) to visit Ohio Desk and S. Rose on Prospect - I parked on the street, and when I got out of my car, this unkempt guy approaches me and says "For $5 I'll watch your car and make sure nothing happens to it" - well I'm not about to give this guy 5 bucks, but on the other hand I have a vision of this guy peeing on my car or worse if I don't pay  - so I turn around, get back into the car, and have to put it in a pay garage because apparently it's not safe to leave your car on the curb on Prospect anymore.

I'm just glad that stranger who handed me 50¢ for the People Mover didn't stick it in the nearest poor box and wander off thinking happy thoughts.

 

Yeah, but by just handing you money, he deprived you of a valuable chance to interact with a qualified social worker and possibly begin dealing with some of the deep seated problems that got you to where you are.

 

But seriously, you should care where the $10 went.  If a friend asked you for a gun, would you give it to him without caring about where it went?  Over the top, yes, but money can be almost as dangerous.

yea no i dont give money.  i never have any to give, i dont carry cash.  thus, i dont feel bad about saying I dont have money, b/c I dont.  If they want to take my debt from me, I can give them that though. 

I'm just glad that stranger who handed me 50¢ for the People Mover didn't stick it in the nearest poor box and wander off thinking happy thoughts.

 

Yeah, but by just handing you money, he deprived you of a valuable chance to interact with a qualified social worker and possibly begin dealing with some of the deep seated problems that got you to where you are.

 

But seriously, you should care where the $10 went.  If a friend asked you for a gun, would you give it to him without caring about where it went?  Over the top, yes, but money can be almost as dangerous.

 

True. He could've spent that $10 on a movie ticket to a sub three-star feature.

 

The horror. The horror.

 

Seriously, yeah. We should care where every one of our dollars goes. But in my world where $10 barely gets me back and forth to work three days in a row, I have a hard time judging.

 

Sure, $10 can buy a nice fix of whiskey, but it can also pay for a shower and a load of laundry a guy needs to be taken seriously for a dishwasher job. He might show hustle as a dishdog and move up to prep. From there, head cook, over to the competetion as chef, bounced upstairs to corporate where he opens 10 restaurants a year for a decade until taking the reins of the holding company. And then, while on a trip scouting locations in Detroit, he encounters some sad fool dressed for an interview begging for 50¢ for the People Mover to get to the Ren Cen to hit an ATM to get his car out of the garage.

 

Hey, it could happen.

Yeah, I suppose it could.  But then why didn't it happen with the last $10?

^According to the math, it may be happening at this very moment.

According to the math, someone may be getting struck by lightning at this very moment.  And oh, someone may have just won the lottery, too.  Maybe the same person?

I'm just glad that stranger who handed me 50¢ for the People Mover didn't stick it in the nearest poor box and wander off thinking happy thoughts.

 

Yeah, but by just handing you money, he deprived you of a valuable chance to interact with a qualified social worker and possibly begin dealing with some of the deep seated problems that got you to where you are.

 

But seriously, you should care where the $10 went.  If a friend asked you for a gun, would you give it to him without caring about where it went?  Over the top, yes, but money can be almost as dangerous.

 

True. He could've spent that $10 on a movie ticket to a sub three-star feature.

 

The horror. The horror.

 

Seriously, yeah. We should care where every one of our dollars goes. But in my world where $10 barely gets me back and forth to work three days in a row, I have a hard time judging.

 

Sure, $10 can buy a nice fix of whiskey, but it can also pay for a shower and a load of laundry a guy needs to be taken seriously for a dishwasher job. He might show hustle as a dishdog and move up to prep. From there, head cook, over to the competetion as chef, bounced upstairs to corporate where he opens 10 restaurants a year for a decade until taking the reins of the holding company. And then, while on a trip scouting locations in Detroit, he encounters some sad fool dressed for an interview begging for 50¢ for the People Mover to get to the Ren Cen to hit an ATM to get his car out of the garage.

 

Hey, it could happen.

 

There is flaw in your logic. It is impossible to benefit from the people mover.

^Guess you're right. Fu*k bums!

According to the math, someone may be getting struck by lightning at this very moment.  And oh, someone may have just won the lottery, too.  Maybe the same person?

 

Lottery AND lightning? The cause of death would be listed as "irony."

 

 

Unless you live in Florida then its one in 1,000.

No.  It just compounds the problem.

 

Besides, if you are a bum and you're begging for money, it's probably not for food.  It's for whatever vice you have. 

 

You're smart enough to find busy intersections, know when sporting events are, and know what times of day more people are walking on the streets but you aren't smart enough to find shelters and organizations that can provide you more long term assistance?  Right.

  I don't give moeny to panhandlers downtown... ever.  And if you are please stop.  I'm not trying to sound cold or callous, but I promise you. You aren't helping.  In fact you are really hurting the situation.  I have lived downtown for 5 years. i have seen every type, heard every story.  I know you think you are showing compassion and helping... but for every one person you give to who is actually hungry, you give to 20 whose addictions you are aiding.  Yesterday I was taking my daily post work walk down Euclid to check out the corridor progress and ended up on public square where i saw a man step into a doorway of a storefront of the park building and take a leak... at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.  Well you know what?  I'm tired of people p*ssing on my public square.  If you really want to help please donate to somewhere that can actually help (City Mission, NEOHC, Downtown Cleveland Alliance Homeless Fund, etc.)  As long as people continue to hand these people money they will continue to be an issue.

 

http://www.neoch.org/streetcard2006.pdf

http://www.downtownclevelandalliance.com/homelessedcampaign.asp

http://www.thecitymission.org/

According to the math, someone may be getting struck by lightning at this very moment.  And oh, someone may have just won the lottery, too.  Maybe the same person?

 

Lottery AND lightning? The cause of death would be listed as "irony."

 

 

 

LOL!  And wow to the 1 in 3000 chance of getting struck by lightning.  I guess it's not as rare a chance as we usually imagine.

Funny aside:  I remember being on Main years ago with friends partying...we were approached and I told one panhandler I would give him the $10 in my hand if he could tell me the capital of Delaware.  The importance of an education was illustrated that night.  I hope the man went back to school.

 

WOW!  I bet all your friends laughed at your antics!  Were you a bully in grade school too?  In my 30 year professional career, I've never had to know the capital of Delaware! 

 

 

Everyone found it to be entertaining...that's only part of the reason I did it.  In fact, I was bullied in HS...so it was my chance to get back and he was an easy target. :-P  Someone at one time in my youth illustrated to me the importance of using my knowledge in return for the means to make a living.  Seems like that was the concept that was at work.  The panhandlers profession that night required that he know the capital of Delaware. 

 

But to belittle or humiliate people because of their educational or economic attainment is pretty callous. Personal initiative obviously plays a big role in how people's lives turn out, but environment (poorly funded school systems, familial abuse, exposure to crime, racism, limited opportunities for proper nutrition ... any number of factors) also contributes heavily. That kind of treatment of a fellow human being, no matter how annoying you find their plea, is unnecessarily degrading and I think reflects VERY poorly on you. 

 

But what am I taking away from someone who is asking for handouts that they haven't already forfeited themselves?  And as for the environment argument... :roll:  Fact is, he tried to lie to me and play me for a fool.  (It was the old "my family is broken down in the car" routine.)  He thought he could hustle me...isn't that degrading?

 

Your estimations of my worth have been made but I would still volunteer that it was not my best moment.  He didn't deserve it; a no would've done...and it did, until he asked again.  The prologue to this was that the guy actually thought it was coy and engaged in banter with me and my group.  Besides, I was young and  :drunk:.

 

Granted. But I don't think that excuses degrading people. If anything, I would think that just increase chances that you'll end up in some kind of altercation. More importantly, it's just really callous behavior.

 

For Exhibit A in callousness please see:

Bum who lies to people constantly and tries to make fools of other people. 

 

The sad part about panhandling is, if someone really needs money for a bus or train or gas, I'm never going to give it to them, because the beggars have cried wolf too many times.

If they said they needed it for the bus or something i'd give it to them but i'd interrogate them first and use my best judgement to see if they need it. You can't base your judgement from someone else crying wolf. It reminds me of how no one pulls over to help people stranded on the side of the road. Eww...like...they could be a rapist/murderer/blah blah blah. Well thats a risk your selfish ass needs to take. I'll die a martyr, oh well.

 

Also, I agree with Kingfish about overhead. Look at the "We are the world" record. Wasn't that suppose to benefit Africa? By the time everyone got their cut, there was no money left for those poor people. If I were rich, I'd pass out vouchers for paid tuition before giving money to a corporate fund. White collar crime does exist. Hell they already have the money on our bearcat cards in money market accounts. You don't know where the hell money is going.

 

For that matter anyone who stops me on the sidewalk gets a very curt response from me ("No," or a headshake) as soon as I hear the phrase "Can you help me" or "How are you doing?," because 100% of the time these are panhandlers. When people are lost, they look lost and immediately ask for directions. When people are selling something (even a Street Vibes), they openly hawk it and don't ask for my "help." Any other stranger who stops me on the street in downtown Cincy -- without exception -- wants my money for nothing, which is incredibly aggravating, as it prevents me from being the friendly, open-minded, helpful person that I am when I'm indoors. I'm long past the pleasantries of "I'm sorry, can't help today," and try to make it clear that I am cold and they needn't bother again.

I mean, I listen to their spiel for entertainment purposes, but I've gotten more aggressive in cutting them off...

Hell they already have the money on our bearcat cards in money market accounts. You don't know where the hell money is going.

 

 

Uh oh, not ultra-dangerous volatile money market accounts!

Still. Capitalistic bastards! Tuition is in stocks and real estate. The point is, when you hand over money to corporations, it has left your sight. What makes a non-profit so credible, honestly? I'd rather give money more directly.

What makes a guy sleeping on the street credible?  You think he will manage the dollar you gave him wisely?

At least a guy sleeping on the street is ACTUALLY homeless. Jesus Christ. What do you want him to do? Put a buck in a Roth IRA? I have a much bigger problem with the con artists that go around trying to get money--which there's a lot of. But if someone is sleeping on the street they most likely will starve at some point and take advantage of the dollar menu at Wendys.  If nothing else, a Colt 45 at least has calories.     

And you know the difference?

It reminds me of how no one pulls over to help people stranded on the side of the road. Eww...like...they could be a rapist/murderer/blah blah blah. Well thats a risk your selfish ass needs to take.

Sure, go ahead and make a cell phone call for the stranded motorist. But if you're in the habit of picking up strangers, yeah, you might die a martyr. A young female friend of mine in rural Kentucky let three young men into her house because they supposedly needed help getting away from someone. They promptly gang-raped her. A much older friend of mine in Illinois, a migrant worker activist and former friar, gave shelter for a few weeks to a troubled drifter, who later turned out to be the multistate railroad killer, Angel Resendez. (Luckily, my good Samaritan friend was unharmed.) My excessively benevolent mother has an occasional weakness giving rides to panicky people in rough neighborhoods ("I need milk for my baby!" or sweet-old-lady-who-can't-afford-the-bus) yet surprisingly finds that they generally turn out to be mentally ill or addicts. Lesson: if people seem scruffy, they usually are. Stereotypes are useful.

 

By all means give gas money to the mom at the gas station with the minivan and the kids in the backseat -- or a bus token to well-dressed businessman whose car has been towed. But literally every time I let my guard down when some "friendly" stranger downtown wants to chat with me, he gives me some lame sob story and tries to hit me up for my hard-earned cash. Result: I'm an impervious, uncaring, Manhattan-y hardass on the streets of the neighborhood where I live, work, and socialize. Hate to say it, but bums really do affect your quality of life and personality. I may die an asshole, and I don't care.

If they're pretty convincing then I probably do. There are people in Clifton Heights who do sleep on concrete every night. I guess because the drop-in center only accepts people for a few weeks or whatever. It's hard for some people to understand that there's some people with mental disorders and who have no resources, no foundation, family, etc because it's not an issue most people deal with themselves and it's not something they've ever been surrounded by. It's funny to hear stories from my friends who spend 2-3k to fly over to Honduras or some other random countries to do community service--they feel all righteous about helping out a community for a few weeks when there's ways they could help here in their own city (for FREE). I guess people really like to travel but charity starts at home.