Beggars?

[Jeramie]

Am I the only one that this agitates to no end. I understand people have rough times and occasionally need help. Honestly I have no problems handing money out to those who are in real need. But then there are those that need a swift kick in the pants.

I had a guy approach me in a dark parking lot at 5:00 this morning. It was pretty uncomfortable. I looked down to gather some stuff up and when I crack my door open I hear “Hey!” I about come unglued. Its pitch black and this guy rode his bike right up to my door and was standing there waiting for me to get out of my truck. In the end he was very polite and I gave him some change, because he was polite, but it made me wonder who in their right mind would have no reservations about asking people for money? Now if you have a family to provide for and had no other choice, fine. Even then there are places that help families in need but regardless, in such case do as you must.

On the other hand I see people begging for money every day. Roughly 5-miles from here at the intersection of hwy 169 and 71st street I see the same guy every time I drive by. He is a white man in his 50’s (roughly). He is very clean cut, clean clothes, etc. When he first stationed himself out there he had the standard sign that read something to the degree of “Homeless, hungry, God bless.” Now he holds a small piece of cardboard that simply reads “Anything Helps.” He looks very healthy and in all honestly could easily stand behind a counter somewhere if he can stand out in 100 degree temps to beg for money.

Even closer to the office is a black man that is roughly 6’ tall. He is a big stout guy. He wears wind pants and tennis shoes, etc. He too is out there on a regular basis with some form of cardboard sign. And yet another is a younger guy (probably early 20’s) that has grown out a beard and looks really rough. I think he uses intimidation to get money. He approaches people with a fast paced walk and harsh tone. They hand him money and he moves on. I’ve seen him all over Tulsa (which is well over 10 miles long).

Everyday people are getting up and going to work while others are making their way to a street corner to beg for money. A local news channel followed a woman here, a few years ago, and watched as she took in several hundred dollars in a single day. At that rate I can understand why it’s a growing problem around here. Regardless, I’m sick of people asking for something I’ve earned because they are willing to beg.

I try to discern those that deserve it and those that are simply exploiting the kindness of others but in the end you never know. It probably shouldn’t bother me but in this part of Tulsa (business district, Christian college, etc) it happens almost on a daily basis. The sad part is if you offered those people a loaf of bread and a pack of lunch meat they would probably walk away to go beg somewhere else.

[Tominator]

Re: Beggars?

Yeah, I agree Jeramie. I don't see it too much anymore because I rarely go to the big cities. When I worked downtown Cleveland you saw them all the time.

The one that bugged me for a long time was when I worked in the recruiting office. We had a beggar come in and the guy gave me a story that he'll have money when his VA check comes in, but he needed a loan. He started crying. So here I am, young naive kid feeling sorry for this guy, first time I ever had to deal with that sort of thing. Just as I was about to give this guy my lunch money, another guy in the office came over and ushered the guy out. Apparently he was pretty much a drunk and hit up all the guys in the office on a continual basis.

I'll never forget how that guy cried right in front of me though. Tugged on the heart strings for a day or two, that's for sure.

There's another guy that sits right outside of Gund Arena that must be there everyday. I only get up to Cleveland once or twice a year, but every year I go, that same guy is there. He's a career bum I guess.

[hunterfisherman]

Re: Beggars?

We have them on every big intersection and it drives me crazy. If they are not asking for money then they are selling something. I would go broke in about a week if I hleped them all. I watched a show about this and they showed a couple of these people and some where making 400 a day. One lady, I think in L.A., would work the same corner every day and then at the end of the day she would walk about a half mile to a Mercedes and drive home. They followed her and she lived in a real nice home. It was just a job for her. Makes it hard to decide who needs it and who does'nt

[Strut10]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

He looks very healthy and in all honestly could easily stand behind a counter somewhere if he can stand out in 100 degree temps to beg for money.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's it in a nutshell. I get so tired of hearing how many "homeless" people there are in the U.S. when, in fact, a large percentage of them are that way by choice. It's generally a cold day down below when I give money to anyone who asked me for it first. I had a bad "first experience" with beggars in Bar Harbor, ME when I was about 14 or 15. I had to wait on a street corner for a ride and this guy in his 30's or 40's comes up and asks me for change. I ain't giving no stranger my money. So he starts on this tirade at the top of his lungs about how the Lord says it's a bad thing to be stingy........I guess to intimidate a kid. Well.........I was approximately the same size then as I am now and I decided I'd take him to the sidewalk if he wanted to persist. So I told him "The Lord also says it's a bad thing to be a (expletive) bum, too. Get away from me now!!" He left.

[texastrophies]

Re: Beggars?

Flipping burgers doesn't pay as well

[muggs]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

I only get up to Cleveland once or twice a year, but every year I go, that same guy is there. He's a career bum I guess.

[/ QUOTE ]

there's a few of them. one guy stands in front of the Huntington Bank building...he's been there everyday for the last 4 years, hasn't missed one day that I saw.

another guy sits in a wheelchair, funny thing is, I've seen him get up out of it and walk it over to another spot. I gave him a quarter one time for his creativity. He's another one that never takes a day off.

There's one guy that gets really pushy. One time he was asking for 50 cents, then he started telling him that he was really street smart and he could give me some pointers, oh said, "tell me another way to get 50 cents, because this way doesn't work."

[Gator]

Re: Beggars?

I see'em all the time here in OKC, and just ignore them. I have seen some that were ROUGH, then seen some that looked like they just walked outta the AC.....You know, clean, well manicured. The one that stuck out in my mind was a guy that had a sign that read " Citizen Soldier" and I can't remeber the rest, I swore then though if he was back there the next day, I was gonna introduce him to a size 9.5 EE Steel toe. I knew better than what he was trying to peddle for sympathy, and it pissed me off to see it

[Jeramie]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

Flipping burgers doesn't pay as well

[/ QUOTE ]

No it doesnt. The sad part is I would flip burgers 60 hours a week to make ends meet rather then beg those that are willing to work. These people could care less who you are, what you do, or anything about your situation. They just want a hand out like the rest of the problematic society.

[Tominator]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

I only get up to Cleveland once or twice a year, but every year I go, that same guy is there. He's a career bum I guess.

[/ QUOTE ]

there's a few of them. one guy stands in front of the Huntington Bank building...he's been there everyday for the last 4 years, hasn't missed one day that I saw.

another guy sits in a wheelchair, funny thing is, I've seen him get up out of it and walk it over to another spot. I gave him a quarter one time for his creativity. He's another one that never takes a day off.

There's one guy that gets really pushy. One time he was asking for 50 cents, then he started telling him that he was really street smart and he could give me some pointers, oh said, "tell me another way to get 50 cents, because this way doesn't work."

[/ QUOTE ]

You know which guy I'm talking about Eric? Right there on Ontario, between Gund and The Jake.

Now that I think of it, he uses the same cup from year to year.

[hunterfisherman]

Re: Beggars?

I worked three jobs one time so I think they can work one. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for you and your family. I don't believe that includes begging for money.

[AdvantageTimberLou]

Re: Beggars?

last time I read the paper and it was yesterday lots of jobs out there, some just are willing to work or they think they are worth much more than the starting wage!

[OJR]

Re: Beggars?

I have never given the 1 cent and don't intend to! We don't have them around here which is very nice!

I swear that half of San Franciso is that way!!

[DSGB]

Re: Beggars?

I see them all the time, but mostly downtown. That's where the homeless shelter is. Usually they hang out in the parking lot at Krystal.

One that really sticks out, though, was a guy that approached me in the parking lot of the bank. I had just walked out the door of the bank and he comes walking up to me with this story about how his daughter had to have surgery and her and his wife were still in (insert city here) and he needed money for a bus pass for them. I could tell he was full of it, so I just said, "Sorry, can't help you" and got in the truck and left.

[muggs]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

I only get up to Cleveland once or twice a year, but every year I go, that same guy is there. He's a career bum I guess.

[/ QUOTE ]

there's a few of them. one guy stands in front of the Huntington Bank building...he's been there everyday for the last 4 years, hasn't missed one day that I saw.

another guy sits in a wheelchair, funny thing is, I've seen him get up out of it and walk it over to another spot. I gave him a quarter one time for his creativity. He's another one that never takes a day off.

There's one guy that gets really pushy. One time he was asking for 50 cents, then he started telling him that he was really street smart and he could give me some pointers, oh said, "tell me another way to get 50 cents, because this way doesn't work."

[/ QUOTE ]

You know which guy I'm talking about Eric? Right there on Ontario, between Gund and The Jake.

Now that I think of it, he uses the same cup from year to year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope, I don't head up that way to much. I'm sure he's still there though. They sorta claim their territory and stick to their own areas it seems.

Chris, you ever see the shirtless pigeon guy? He sits below the Soliders and Sailors monument, weighs about 400 lbs. feeds the pigeon's with his shirt off and has about 100 pigeons perched all over him.

And yes, he's covered in poop.

[hutchies]

Re: Beggars?

Drive thru Dallas. I had a guy begging for change telling me that the salvation army was charging him to sleep there.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Beggars?

Just dont see too much of that kind of thing around here.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: Beggars?

[Guest Mcmullin]

Re: Beggars?

Thats pretty funny

[OJR]

Re: Beggars?

Truthful!! LOL!!

[Muff]

Re: Beggars?

I hate the most when I get off of work in the morning after a 12 hour night shift....we have about 45 min till our boat time....so most mornings we go to mickey dees for breakfast...well here we are dragging our butts in and these kids (18-20) are sitting out front with thier DOG having a SMOKE with all sorts of tatoos and ear rings sticking out of them....and they have the nerve to ask for money...man that makes me mad.

[Jeramie]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

Id probably be more likely to give this guy money for being honest....

[whitetailkiller]

Re: Beggars?

i'm going to offer a different perspective..... when i was 15 my mom had a stroke and could no-longer care for me. i started getting bounced around foster homes with junkies and drunks.. i ran away from one and stayed living on the streets for 6 months. i never begged for money, i went to burger king or wendy's or other fast food joints and waited for closing time. when they closed and everyone was gone i would go dumpster diving! i'de rather eat old fast food than get treated like crap cuz i needed help. i was sixteen when i ended up in a foster home with great parents!!!! they treated me like thier own son,, quite the change from when cops would chase me away from dumpsters and park benches.. people that can work but choose to beg make it very hard on people that realy need it. i'm not looking for sympathy or " sorry to hear it's" i just wanted to offer another perspective..........oh by the way i worked my butt of as soon as i was old enough and now i own my own house and have a wonderful family!!!!

[Jeramie]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

i'm going to offer a different perspective..... when i was 15 my mom had a stroke and could no-longer care for me. i started getting bounced around foster homes with junkies and drunks.. i ran away from one and stayed living on the streets for 6 months. i never begged for money, i went to burger king or wendy's or other fast food joints and waited for closing time. when they closed and everyone was gone i would go dumpster diving! i'de rather eat old fast food than get treated like crap cuz i needed help. i was sixteen when i ended up in a foster home with great parents!!!! they treated me like thier own son,, quite the change from when cops would chase me away from dumpsters and park benches.. people that can work but choose to beg make it very hard on people that realy need it. i'm not looking for sympathy or " sorry to hear it's" i just wanted to offer another perspective..........oh by the way i worked my butt of as soon as i was old enough and now i own my own house and have a wonderful family!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

And that is what it is all about. People get delt horrible cards every day and yet youve just proven that you dont have to pass that on or stand around looking for your handout. Good for you and God bless!

[slugshooter]

Re: Beggars?

[ QUOTE ]

i'm going to offer a different perspective..... when i was 15 my mom had a stroke and could no-longer care for me. i started getting bounced around foster homes with junkies and drunks.. i ran away from one and stayed living on the streets for 6 months. i never begged for money, i went to burger king or wendy's or other fast food joints and waited for closing time. when they closed and everyone was gone i would go dumpster diving! i'de rather eat old fast food than get treated like crap cuz i needed help. i was sixteen when i ended up in a foster home with great parents!!!! they treated me like thier own son,, quite the change from when cops would chase me away from dumpsters and park benches.. people that can work but choose to beg make it very hard on people that realy need it. i'm not looking for sympathy or " sorry to hear it's" i just wanted to offer another perspective..........oh by the way i worked my butt of as soon as i was old enough and now i own my own house and have a wonderful family!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

That right there, is what you call a real success story.

[mossyhorn]

Re: Beggars?

What I would do is offer them a job. I would offer them a chance to cut my grass or do some type of yard work to earn some money. A common beggar would leave and go on to the next sucker, someone that really needs the money would jump all over that IMO. If they did take me up on the offer I would let them work, offer them a hot meal, and pay them a good amount of money. But I know you might be comfortable taking a stranger home with you. But even if you didn't really want to take them home you cant still see they really need the money and give them some.