Begging / panhandling

This is about begging. I say the words "don't do", but it's advice not a command. I should have said that I don't recommend this or that.

Oh, this is a response to http://youtube.com/watch?v=uAdc131dy7E from straightd0pe at http://youtube.com/straightd0pe

There was a guy begging on the street in Oceanside, CA that lived in a really nice house. I thought at first he was just staying there, but found out that he owned the house. I stopped associating with him after that, because it was dishonest in my eyes.

About the kid that was begging money for food, I had just gotten a to go bag while sitting there waiting and offered him the bag. I truly was going to walk over to Wendy's and buy him a burger or something, but it was obvious that he just wanted the money.

Other storying of panhandlers:

I knew a guy in Seattle that begged a quarter from every single person he could find. He almost always got it and was aggressive, but very smart about his begging. He only did it once wiht me and never asked me again, because it was too obvious that I wasn't going to give him a dime. He used all the quarters to buy beer. I've seen him get quarters from other people beggin on the street, he was really, really agressive. I actually hung around him for quite a while simply because of this, because it was just so damned interesting. Plus, he was with a girl that was pretty hot... but that's not the point.

In Austin, Tx, I had a couple begging for food outside of a Fiesta (a huge convinience/food store) that looked really desperate. It was close to Christmas, I was with my wife, I had some time, and they really did look desperate. I took them shopping for a lot of what they needed in the store and made sure they had a way to prepare it. The woman was beyond happy, and the man was entirely pissed off. I don't even care if they sold all the stuff I bought them, but I was definitely not going to give money away. I have grown to the point that I just don't do that anymore. Yeah, maybe I should have directed them to an organization, but I'm just happy that the woman was overjoyed from it. I hope it worked out better for them.

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If anything, realize that there is a difference between panhandlers and homeless. I have been homeless, but never a panhandler. From what I can tell, a majority of homeless don't panhandle, but still are grouped with panhandlers because most panhandlers are (or appear) homeless.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• craniumonempty
• begging
• panhandling
• ebegging
• bum
• street
• homeless

[logik316]

It is generally my policy to not give cash to beggars, but hey, if somebody's polite and tells a really good story, I can't resist paying for the effort.

[CraniumOnEmpty]

@logik316 That's fine with me. At least they put some effort into it.

[Lieu3C4]

yeah, some people make a career out of begging and some beggars ruin their career; indeed, traditionally generous Melbournians(Australians) during the Nineties got turned off being genrous when "everyone" began doing ti, making $3-500 a day from CBD begging. You could make more begging than holding down a real job! ~ As for me, I agree, begging is not of me, let alone of we.

[CraniumOnEmpty]

@Lieu3C4 Yeah, it was pretty bad in Oceanside, CA (USA) also. Some are overly aggressive also which causes laws to be put in place against it.

[asiandrummer84]

interesting, i once come across somebody who was begging for money. i lend him a few bucks that guy drove off! from that day, i'll never given any money to anybody except for ppl i know. thnx for the advice.

[CraniumOnEmpty]

@asiandrummer84 np... I have no problem with helping people, just want people to think about it a bit...

[tickyul]

@CraniumOnEmpty Shoot, I live in downtown San Diego, Oceanside is like paradise in comparison. Lots of areas here are truly filthy...... which makes fewer and fewer businesses want to come here. More and more boarded up buildings, looks a LITTLE like Detroit in some areas.

[CraniumOnEmpty]

@765tony good job getting sober. It's amazing what we can talk ourselves into when we are desperate. It's hard to see how to even get out of that situation when you are stuck in it. I can understand people that panhandle, but if you aren't doing it to survive or aren't trying to get out of it then you should rethink your position. You've seen that end as well, so you know... I'll watch some of you videos. Thanks for the comment.

[CraniumOnEmpty]

@tattooskin72 hmm, well, his last vid was a week ago. Maybe you missed it?

[tattooskin72]

excellent advice and why am I not seeing new videos from dope? I am subbed to him..