Totally Speechless

[sweetpea532]

I take my oldest ds to storytime every Saturday. To get there we take the bus. On the way home after storytime...we were walking to the busstop. There was a man sitting on the bench asking people for a dollar his words were " I am a dollar short for the bus..could you spare it?" As a rule in my neighborhood I don't give out money. I have given bus tickets. But only to people I know. I told this man no. He called me a couple of names saying " Can you sell me a bus ticket?" I then again said no. He then asked a couple of ladies that were across the street. Mind you there is a lot of homeless people that hang out in the area. There are shelters and the library is open all day. So they do sit outside. I really don't mind them unless they beg for things in front of my kid. I know they need things. But isn't the whole purpose of having to leave the shelter for a time frame to go better yourself? Anyways the woman gave him the dollar. Here's where your jaw is going to drop.

He then started praising God and saying how great He is. Then he looked at me. He said " You knew I wasn't going home right?" I shook my head yes. Then he said " I am continuing to hustle" Then asked a bunch of college students for more money. My jaw dropped. I looked at him and he then said " I knew you were too smart to fall for me. Good for you. That attitude will keep you safe"

I asked him to take his game elsewhere. I said even though there are some bad people in the world. I would still like my son to see the good in people.

He moved.

[cedailey]

Feb. 20, 2010 at 4:51 PM

That's why I give money to people I know or the charities I've researched.  There are panhandlers out there who make more than I do in a year.

[pnwmom]

Feb. 20, 2010 at 5:02 PM

I will by an extra cup of coffee and some fruit and give to a person who is homeless, I am kind of iffy handing out money to people I don't know.

[pnwmom]

Feb. 20, 2010 at 5:02 PM

*I meant buy an extra cup of coffee*

[luvmybaby]

Feb. 20, 2010 at 5:44 PM

I will never give a homeless person money, but I will give them food. It was only a few weeks ago that I was behind a car at a light. There was a man on the sidewalk holding a sign asking for money-like you see on every corner down at the mall. The car ahead of me gave them a large bill. The man then raises it in the air and starts holloring at a guy down the street he found a sucker-all while we sat there and watched. The guy that gave the money must have felt like a dumbass.

I understand there are people out there that really need help, but giving money doesnt help them. It doesnt go to things it should all the time. I think helping others out by giving food is the best thing to do.

[mars33me]

Feb. 20, 2010 at 6:29 PM

Wow, that's truly sad.  

[MSugarKane]

Feb. 21, 2010 at 10:34 AM

The last panhandler I encountered in San Fransico had on this huge gold really good smart looking ring.   He was asking me for 18.00 for gas money for his car..........blah, blah.....I looked at him and said, with a ring like that on your finger you can sell that and make more then 18.00.  He walked away from me fast

[sweetpea532]

Feb. 21, 2010 at 3:00 PM

What gets me is the people that are able to work but choose just to live like that. I know a couple of people in this neighborhood who choose to live off SSI and live in squalor. I just don't get it.

(Original Poster)