Pan Handlers - how do you deal with them?

Hey guys I was wondering how do you deal with pan handlers? I got hit by them relentlessly after the show really ruined my good time. Note I am on disability and saved up half the year to see the concert and if i had any extra i probably would have given a few cents here or there but it just burned me the rudeness of some people. It really put a damper on my good time. Please no flaming am looking on serious answers here.

Looking straight ahead and don't stop. However, I do give to 2 local charities here that help those who choose to help themselves.

for phone cards. I dont know if i was shocked by the rudeness or if i was hurt by my own inability to give due to my finicial crunch..

Yes, I realize that some of them are con artists, but I believe that the majority of them are just very desperate. If I have a dollar or two (or even a quarter or something), it won't cramp my style to give it to them.

My grandmother used to give the same panhandler money every single day on her way to the subway in NYC. One day she did not have any change, and she just kept walking. He got up and followed her saying that she owed him. Now, she was just a little Dominican lady who spoke very little english, and I think that it was pretty damned nervy of this man to follow her down into the subway stationm, yelling obscenities at her, etc.

Personally, when I see children doing it, I can't help but take them to a deli and buy them a sandwich (any money you give them will be bullied away by other kids).

But you know, sometimes it's okay to just keep on walking.

There are two guys who make my commute more bearable, and they always get a dollar from me, no matter how broke I am. One is a sax player, and another guy at night plays the violin.

The scary schizos and/or addicts can be abusive even when you do give them something - I just keep walking. Not many pan handlers who don't look either schizo or like they're on something

-- quick story --- my friend were at an outdoor bar, and a pan handler came by. One guy said to us "don't give him money, he'll just spend it on alcohol" and I said "and what exactly are we spending it on here?"

It just depends

but i have the advantage of being able to walk fast and make a v. fast get-away even in my high heeled boots

it is awful that they prey on someone who is disabled & can't make a quick getaway, but that's what drug addiction does, it eats the conscience

don't let it get to you, it's their prob not yours

i will not enable a drug addict to stay on drugs & potentially miss his whole life by funding his addiction, not even for an hr

you did the right thing & you have nothing to feel bad about

There's now a law against aggressive panhandlers in Cleveland (meaning they cannot approach or walk with or touch you, which several of them do STILL), but it's not like they listen. I get pissed when they act like the street toll collectors to the point where you actually have to run from them. Then they get greedy when you DO give them money and ask for more.

Giving them money isn't going to help or feed them. It most likely will go to their next fix of whatever they're on.

You can thank St. Ronnie for this.

I've been fortunate, I can at least give them this and I don't care what they do with the money.

"I'm sorry I don't have any spare change." Or "i'm sorry I can't help you out." If they are holding something out with money saying "Spare change?" I say, "No thankyou. You look like you need it more than me."

I am on disability too. Some panhandlers make more money than a lot of wage slaves.

which generally I don't - I never carry cash anymore - I say sorry and move along.

Why do you say they were rude? Doesn't your municipality have ordinances regulating aggressive panhandling?

I don't mind giving a few coins if the panhandler is doing something like maybe entertaining with music or something like that. But I will not give out to panhandlers mainly because too many times the money I give will end up being used for booze or drugs. I'd rather just donate the money to a homeless shelter.

But one time in NYC I had a panhandler begging outside a coffee shop. Being the happy camper that I was that day, I went in and bought the supplies I was picking up and then I bought an extra coffee and bagel to give to the panhandler. I also did that at a Wendy's in Philadelphia. I figured at least if I give them food then I know that it will be something they need and not used for drugs or booze

It was one of the Philly gatherings and WillPitt and I were make a run to a local drugstore so we could get some sodas and other stuff for the party we were at. On the way back a panhandler approached us and wanted to sell his cassette walkman to make some money. Will, the generous person that he is just gave the guy a few dollars and told him to keep his walkman. Thinking that Will was so generous I figured I could give the guy a buck. I did and next thing you know the panhandler was giving me this bigass hug and was all happy.

Here, it turns out it was a $20 I gave the guy and not a one dollar bill. The panhandler wanted me to take his walkman but to be honest, I had no use for it so I just waved the whole thing off.

Moral of this story - drinking and donating to panhandlers do NOT mix!

When they're nasty, I tell them to fuck off. I don't have much money, so I'm only giving it away to those who are pleasant.

My wife always tells me that they might be visiting angels for all we know. Frankly, it makes me really sad to think of all these people who are so desperate that they will brave some pretty rotten verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse to try to get a few dollars.

That said, I know that some panhandlers abuse our good nature and use the money for drugs or alcohol or act rudely toward people who won't give them anything (and sometimes even those who do give). That's why we donate to a mission in Tulsa that helps them to get off the streets and help themselves.

In a perfect world, there wouldn't be any alcoholics or drug addicts but this is far from a perfect world. I'd much prefer to see the money I give to a panhandler go for food or something substantial but I figure if I give it, it's no longer mine and he/she can use it for whatever they want. And maybe what they really need more than a sandwich is a drink or a fix. Sad but true. It's hard enough to kick a habit when you're warm and safe and have a roof over your head - it's close to impossible when your life is miserable.

It really bothers me how judgmental so many people are about the unfortunate of the world. People don't live on the street and panhandle because they like it.

and I didn't mean to sound judgmental. "Abuse our good nature" was undoubtedly not the best choice of words.

I remember being so mad that I asked them if they voted and voted for Kerry. If the answer was yes, I gave them a dollar If the answer was no, or I got some bewildered look, I just walked away.

... if they ask nice and don't try to "intimidate" me, I usually give out a buck or two. Otherwise I don't.

The way I look at it, "but for the grace of god go I", and no, I don't mean I'm religous, I mean that luck plays into our life circumstances much more than American culture will admit to.

they are in the parking lots trying to sell everything from perfume to God. After a while, I have learned to give them the coldest shoulder possible. If they persist, I get nasty. I turn into MegaBitch and hurl insults at them. It works. A girl can only stand so much bs in her life. :shrug:

it...they pump it. Many times I have seen them throw the bag of McDonald's away, but hey? What are you going to do. If you feel like giving them money do it. Some people may not shower you with thanks, but that's not why you'd be doing it anyway, right? :hi: