Do you give money to panhandlers?

[Jayden]

Sweets I say this with love and kisses.
Are you going for a world record of how many threads can be made by one person? lol

 

[Nomenclature]

No, but I give them pans to handle.

 

[Knucklehead]

Sure.If I can afford it and they aren't dicks about it.Why not?

A buck or two ain't gonna make me or break me.

 

[altlover85]

Sometimes. It depends on my mood, the panhandler, my financial situation including employment and if I have money in my wallet, and if I'm in a hurry or not.

 

[bbjohn]

Never. If they ask for money for food I offer to buy them the food, which most refuse(SHOCKING--not). When I see the odd panhandler with a sign saying "why lie--I need a beer" I'm tempted to give them the money for their honesty.

 

[NineOfClubs]

Almost as often as not. Depends on the "vibe" I pick up.

 

[lavacock]

saw something in a newspaper a while back that some scruffy dudes standing on street corners asking for money from passing drivers were pulling in about $100 a day. tax free of course. stopped feeling sorry for them.

 

[evanrick]

some beggars make more money than i do so FUCK NO i dont give them money...most of the time..if not all of the time...they are LIEING about why the need the money..

 

[wundersteve]

Absolutely NOT! It only encourages them and drives customers out of a business area. I donate directly to a legitimate charity, so the money will be put to good use and not wasted on drugs and booze.

 

[infectedkisses]

i will buy the big issue at times for people who don't know what it is

The Big Issue Company publishes a weekly entertainment and current affairs magazine, which Big Issue sellers (or vendors) buy for 85p and sell for £1.70, thereby earning 85p per copy. Any post investment profit generated through the sale of the magazine or the sale of advertising is passed on to our charity, The Big Issue Foundation. The Foundation is also reliant upon donations from the public to fund its crucial work with vendors.

The organisation currently supports over 2900 homeless and vulnerably housed people across the country. The magazine is read by over 670,000 people every week throughout the UK

 

[gsdx]

Very rarely.

It depends on if they have some sort of skill they're displaying. I once gave a man who was playing a violin (very beautifully, I might add) a $5 bill.

Busking is different than panhandling. At least you are being entertained for your money and you very often get more than your money's worth. I support buskers. I don't support panhandlers who do nothing more than waggle their coin container at you and ask, "Spare any change?"

 

[gsdx]

When I lived in Vancouver, I actually had this crazy guy chase me for half a block. I'm pretty sure he was on something

Behaviour like that would get him arrested here in Peterborough. Local bylaws now prevent beggars from even asking for spare change. All they can do now is to sit there and hope someone drops a few coins in their container.

The city tried to stop buskers as well but the citizens protested. Buskers provide entertainment for downtown shoppers and many of them are very good. (Except, perhaps, for the guy in a cowboy hat who thinks he can sing.)

 

[kevbo]

Sometimes. I never know if I'll be in that position, y'know...

 

[TriBi]

No..............

 

[BostonPirate]

NO no no

well maybe a cigarette or box of leftovers from the restaurant we are leaving once or twice

but never any cash

 

[MystikWizard]

If they are respectful about it, and I have spare change, I may do it. It's about 50/50 with me.

 

[ChickenGuy]

One of my college teachers, she once told us about this very interesting and telling encounter she had....

She went up to this guy, and said something to him like

"I won't give you money, but come over to this fast-food stall with me, and I'll buy you something to eat."

He refused.

 

[rotary]

Yeah, neither do I.

When I lived in Vancouver, I actually had this crazy guy chase me for half a block. I'm pretty sure he was on something. I finally yelled, "Sorry, no change", and after that he left me alone. I was actually scared for my physical safety; he looked pretty nuts.

Haha, maybe it was the same guy in Vancouver who threatened to slash my throat if I didn't give him some change. I still didn't *tough guy* He looked like he was on meth.

My partner at the time gave some homeless man a starbucks breakfast sandwich in Toronto and he still demanded money to attend his aunt's "funeral". Also, meth.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Sometimes. If they really do look hungry. If they really do look like they need it.

But those trendy rich kids who pan handle to be cool on Haight Street in the summer? No. I do not.

 

[Lukeee]

No. I don't see them any more. I used to see them but most of them went somewhere and the rest started selling magazines (as another posted pointed out) I have no idea where all the poor people went.

I sometimes give money to people who sing in the streets. They aren't very poor though because they have nice clothes and instruments and microphones.