I generally don't like panhandlers

[Deleted]

But I just saw a young guy around my age standing by the freeway with his dog. The dog is what did me in- he looked so sad and was wearing his owner's sweatshirt.

It's one of the first times I wish I carried cash. I'm normally too jaded to want to give money.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I get the free samples of dog food at the pet store and keep those in the car for panhandlers with dogs.

[leeann]

I used to pass a guy on my way to the train who had a little dog. He's one of the only people I gave stuff to. I would give him dog stuff and food on occasion. I am a sucker for dogs, too.

[Deleted]

We seemed to have an increase of them this summer, many with pets. H and I started keeping baggies of dog treats and dog food in the car. I also give out money though, if I have a few bucks. I may be a soft touch, but I don't really care. I'd rather give it to someone who doesn't need it than risk passing up someone who really does.

[ginap]

I saw a guy with a dog in a shopping center by my house a few months ago and like you the dog did me in. I was wondering what I could do to help him out when these 2 women came up and struck up a conversation with him asking what he needed, etc. They came back with a bag of dog food and I went to the neighboring grocery store and bought him a gift card and a big bottle of water because the one he was carrying was a mess. If I ever won the lottery I would give so much of it away in situations like this.

[EmilieMadison]

I'm pretty sure I know the guy you're talking about. I see him and his group of about 5 others fairly often, and one of the people in his group has a dog (not sure if it's his or someone else's). People think they've been breaking into cars and garages at night and haven't been caught in the act yet, but I guess they've been seen hanging around near the areas where it's happening. They're heavy into meth.

[Alyssa]

I once gave $20 and some spare diapers to a family who were begging for "anything". They had a toddler and the mother was full term, they were huddled under the shade of a tree in the summer, it was about 90 out. I felt so sorry for them.

[shoeless]

I have a soft spot for people who feel the need to 'pan-handle', its a huge part of why I fell in love with my H. My parents had me at 19, they spent much of their earlier life being a hop, skip, and a jump away from panhandling. My H, to this day, always gives money to pan handlers. I love him for it

[lola]

How exactly does one not "generally like" panhandlers?  Is it just homeless people asking for money you don't like, or do you dislike homeless people "generally"?

[Deleted]

Sad, the pets always get to me.

I saw an idea once (on pinterest - I know) for keeping ziplock bags of stuff in your car - similar to like mrs.jacinthe - with granola bars, chapstick, handsanitizer, etc. to give to panhandlers. I rarely had cash on hand when I lived in the U.S. so this idea appealed to me, and if I were back in the U.S. I'd keep a few in my car.

[lexxasaurus]

Oct 30, 2013 18:26:47 GMT -5 mp said:

Oct 30, 2013 18:15:25 GMT -5 jodippls said:

I always feel so bad for the panhandler dogs. There was one panhandler that hung out at my interstate exit and had a tiny kitten. I really wanted to offer the guy money or food in exchange for that kitten.

Honestly, for a long time I had the idea that it wasn't fair to the dogs/cats to have them live with homeless folks ... and then I realized that for many homeless people these pets are their entire lives. The idea of them not having their beloved animal broke my heart - so now I think it's important to find a way to keep them together. Finding vets that will donate vet care, purchasing pet food, etc.

This is where I am. It's easy to think "Oh well if they're homeless and can't take care of this dog they shouldn't have it." But there is NO WAY in hell I would give up my dog. She has gone through several moves across state lines, a couple big breakups, etc. She is my everything, I couldn't let her go, and I would feed her before I ate if I had to.

[Deleted]

Leading up to my 40th I set out to do 40 good deeds. A few times I took lunch to homeless people but this was my favorite deed and I still thinkmelissas40deedsby40.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/40-by-40-good-deed-32/ about this girl.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards

[sonrisa]

I don't mind panhandlers if I run into them in another context (at the soup kitchen, at DH's office, where ever) but I don't give anything except at Christmas time when I get a box of candy canes and hand them out with a "Merry Christmas!" (and sometimes a $5-10 bill wrapped around the stem).

At the end of the day, I'm a patronizing "care not cash" type.

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2013 18:22:17 GMT -5 EmilieMadison said:

I'm pretty sure I know the guy you're talking about. I see him and his group of about 5 others fairly often, and one of the people in his group has a dog (not sure if it's his or someone else's). People think they've been breaking into cars and garages at night and haven't been caught in the act yet, but I guess they've been seen hanging around near the areas where it's happening. They're heavy into meth.

I wonder if it was the same guy? I'm glad I didn't have cash to give him then- I should have gone to grab food or something like that. 

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2013 18:45:11 GMT -5 lola said:

How exactly does one not "generally like" panhandlers?  Is it just homeless people asking for money you don't like, or do you dislike homeless people "generally"?

^o)

[alare]

Oct 30, 2013 18:45:11 GMT -5 lola said:

How exactly does one not "generally like" panhandlers?  Is it just homeless people asking for money you don't like, or do you dislike homeless people "generally"?

They're not always homeless. Some make relatively big bucks.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/shane-warren-speegle-says_n_1694577.html

Just put "pandhandler scam" in google.

[lola]

Oct 30, 2013 18:55:11 GMT -5 alare said:

Oct 30, 2013 18:45:11 GMT -5 lola said:

How exactly does one not "generally like" panhandlers?  Is it just homeless people asking for money you don't like, or do you dislike homeless people "generally"?

They're not always homeless. Some make relatively big bucks.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/shane-warren-speegle-says_n_1694577.html

Just put "pandhandler scam" in google.

I'm aware. 

I live in downtown Chicago, I'm not unfamiliar with panhandlers. 

These posts are always the same. 

"Panhandlers are all scammers driving Cadillacs!"

"I don't give them cash, because I don't want to feed their drug habits!"

"This one time, I gave a panhandler some food!" 

And so on and so on. 

[Deleted]

lola

Panhandlers generally bother me because I don't think it's the most effective way for them to receive the assistance they need. Some panhandlers I like- there was a guy selling lucky pennies for a dollar and you bet I gave him money. But to your question, homeless people don't bother me.

[Deleted]

i'm 99% certain that the post was intended to mean "I don't generally like BEING PANHANDLED." a rational, reasonable interpretation given that, so far as i'm aware, amoosed isn't a "fuck you, BOOTSTRAPS" kind of person.

so, let's not derail the post with gotcha speculation.

[alare]

Been burned too many times by people who don't want a hot meal, only cash. :-(. But I would totally buy booze or smokes if they asked for those on their sign!! Guess I am all about truth in advertising . . .

[sonrisa]

Oct 30, 2013 19:02:26 GMT -5 alare said:

Been burned too many times by people who don't want a hot meal, only cash. . But I would totally buy booze or smokes if they asked for those on their sign!! Guess I am all about truth in advertising . . .

Ugh. So you are why pan handlers in tourist traps always ask for booze. I assumed it was frat boys. I find those signs almost as annoying as the homeless dog to garner sympathy. 

In most places, there are services that will provide a hot meal. However, no one is going to buy you the surgery to take out the chip the NSA implanted in your brain when they realized your brilliant invention would make zippers obsolete. 

[Deleted]

Thank you, cville.

[alare]

Oct 30, 2013 19:06:29 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Oct 30, 2013 19:02:26 GMT -5 alare said:

Been burned too many times by people who don't want a hot meal, only cash. . But I would totally buy booze or smokes if they asked for those on their sign!! Guess I am all about truth in advertising . . .

Ugh. So you are why pan handlers in tourist traps always ask for booze. I assumed it was frat boys. 

LOL. I haven't actually bought booze. But though I'm not a very good christian the bible verse about giving wine to those in distress so they might for a while forget their distress and poverty always struck a chord. If I lived on the streets, I'd probably want to drink and leave the world behind for a bit.

[bonquiqui]

If people don't want to give cash, that is their choice.  If you want to give cash, go ahead.  No one is going to agree.  I don't see how flaming someone who doesn't want to give cash is helpful.  Now for my lighthearted smiley 

[kmpls]

When I worked downtown I would try to give panhandlers food, water but they always wanted money.

once in Chicago I saw a young man with a toddler. We had just left a fancy steak place and gave him our huge bag of leftovers. I was sad for the baby because it was cold and dark.

[bonquiqui]

Oct 30, 2013 19:22:01 GMT -5 @dontcallmeshirley1 said:

Oct 30, 2013 19:15:37 GMT -5 bonquiqui said:

If people don't want to give cash, that is their choice.  If you want to give cash, go ahead.  No one is going to agree.  I don't see how flaming someone who doesn't want to give cash is helpful.  Now for my lighthearted smiley 

I can't speak for lola, but I wasn't judging the unwillingness to give cash. I was judging the phrase "I don't like panhandlers", as in "I don't like people asking for money". Evidently, @amoosed meant she simply doesn't feel comfortable handing money to people asking for it, not those who would ever panhandle themselves. I was also judging the assumption that, because some people are raking it in panhandling, most people are. 

Sorry to you and lola Carry on    This is why I don't get involved in these discussions, because I inevitably misunderstand when I am tired, and sound like a fool.  lol  

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2013 19:22:01 GMT -5 @dontcallmeshirley1 said:

Oct 30, 2013 19:15:37 GMT -5 bonquiqui said:

If people don't want to give cash, that is their choice.  If you want to give cash, go ahead.  No one is going to agree.  I don't see how flaming someone who doesn't want to give cash is helpful.  Now for my lighthearted smiley 

I can't speak for lola, but I wasn't judging the unwillingness to give cash. I was judging the phrase "I don't like panhandlers", as in "I don't like people asking for money". Evidently, @amoosed meant she simply doesn't feel comfortable handing money to people asking for it, not those who would ever panhandle themselves. I was also judging the assumption that, because some people are raking it in panhandling, most people are. 

In my area, panhandlers are very aggressive about asking for money despite the large number of nonprofits and religious organizations offering assistance. It makes me uncomfortable. 

[orangeblossom]

I'm a sucker for people with animals too.

If you know someone who is on public assistance they need help with food and such for their dog, there is an organization called Pet Food Stamps
www.petfoodstamps.org/aboutus/

[bonquiqui]

Oct 30, 2013 19:33:03 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

I'm a sucker for people with animals too.

If you know someone who is on public assistance they need help with food and such for their dog, there is an organization called Pet Food Stamps
www.petfoodstamps.org/aboutus/

(heart) thank you.  I am a sucker for the pets

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2013 18:46:50 GMT -5 @melissainabq said:

Leading up to my 40th I set out to do 40 good deeds. A few times I took lunch to homeless people but this was my favorite deed and I still thinkmelissas40deedsby40.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/40-by-40-good-deed-32/ about this girl.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards

That made me cry.

Also, what a great idea. I think I will do this for my 30th next year!