How many bums hit you up every day for coin?

Polk65

Snap. Here's a little stress for you.

zombie boy 2000

I have a corner grocery on my block that I walk to for a quart of milk or a six-pack. There have been times that I have been hit up 5 or 6 times on a single jaunt. We're only talking about 50 yards here. I swear they line up...

krabby5

do my kids count?:D

Polk65

I need to hit the testing grounds more often. This was supposed to be multiple choice

Though I contribute to "centers" I can't feel any guilt saying no to the same bums laying on the streets near where I live all day long, every day.

bobman1235

I don't live in the city anymore, so zero.

When I was in school, I"d say 2-3 a day.

ohskigod

there's a mandatory Newark NJ street tax........there's allways someone asking for money on one particular streetcorner (not in the winter, but in the warm weather. i just dont give them money anymore, I just say I am working, and dont carry money.

Polk65

Same here it seems. Every street corner.

janmike

Every time I visit a city. In yellowknife they seem to ask people more for smokes.

wingnut4772

We get them at the intersections with the signs mostly. I have to admit I get a bit irked when I see they have two arms and two legs and appear capable of working instead of begging. I mean who knows with mental illness and all but hell I am nuts and I still drag myself to a job I can't stand.

tonyb

At least 10 times a day when I am working down on the Dan Ryan.I used to take my kids,when they were small,to lower Wacker Dr.and hand out food,clothes,blankets,most would be happy until they started to get upset at you for not handing over some money.So needless to say,had to stop bringing the kids down there.Being the curious **** that I am,I started to check into shelters and visited quit a few.To my surprise,they were all half empty,in the middle of winter?? So here is the jist of it all,the shelters offer a bed,clothes,food,free medical care,free job placement....but with one catch.Yes there has to be one.They require you to attend church service 2-3 times a week at 1-hour a pop.Seems fair to me considering the return you'd be getting.Yet,they remain half full.So my respect level has shot down a few notches when I drive by and see someone sleeping under a bridge in the dead of winter.Sad....really sad.

zombie boy 2000

I have a bar on the other corner and it's funny to pass some guy scrounging for change, deny him, and watch him follow you into the bar and order a shot. I've seen that happen far too many times...

In fact, I've had one follow me into the bar and yell at me for not giving him change, and then order a drink...

too funny

Demiurge

The last time I gave money to a transient was when I gave $5 to a guy who turned around and walked right into a liquor store across the street. I'd actually be more likely to give one of these guys money if they told me they needed it to buy booze instead of some **** story about the car breaking down, needing bus fare, etc.

zombie boy 2000

That's funny you say that Demi because that's the new "plan of attack" around here....

They tell you straight up they'll be using it for booze. At least to younger individuals. I suppose they are attempting to play on "common interests"
I've been out partying with a bunch of people and a bum says he wants to get drunk and needs your money to help him do so. Invariably, someone in the group yells "Rock and/or Party On!!!" and slings him some ducets.

9 times out of 10, the conversation starts... "I ain't gonna lie to ya..."

m00npie

I see a lot, but only occasionally offer anything to. Usually it is someone that is very convincing and I have never seen before. Its sounds heartless and uncaring, but consider this. I usually see the same ones for years now on the NQRW line from 34th to 57th street. And it appears some of them are the heaviest people in NYC.

Some of these folks are pros at what they do and do well with the endless amount of tourists that come into the city. Sadly, others truly have hit bottom. Most times, it is impossible to tell the difference between the two.

MikeC78

wingnut4772 wrote:

We get them at the intersections with the signs mostly. I have to admit I get a bit irked when I see they have two arms and two legs and appear capable of working instead of begging. I mean who knows with mental illness and all but hell I am nuts and I still drag myself to a job I can't stand.

Nice...

BIZILL

i'm a dick. i ask them if they accept visa. many of them are beligerant. they piss me off. don't approach me when my kids are with me!

pblanc

Just the same bums, every day. I call them dependents. One mother, one wife, 2 daughters, and two dogs.

wodom1

tonyb wrote:

At least 10 times a day when I am working down on the Dan Ryan.I used to take my kids,when they were small,to lower Wacker Dr.and hand out food,clothes,blankets,most would be happy until they started to get upset at you for not handing over some money.So needless to say,had to stop bringing the kids down there.Being the curious **** that I am,I started to check into shelters and visited quit a few.To my surprise,they were all half empty,in the middle of winter?? So here is the jist of it all,the shelters offer a bed,clothes,food,free medical care,free job placement....but with one catch.Yes there has to be one.They require you to attend church service 2-3 times a week at 1-hour a pop.Seems fair to me considering the return you'd be getting.Yet,they remain half full.So my respect level has shot down a few notches when I drive by and see someone sleeping under a bridge in the dead of winter.Sad....really sad.

At my last job, we had a storage yard under the Dan Ryan at Cermak -- there was practically a homeless city under there. Throughout the year it was packed. I would get nervous sometimes just going through the gate and driving around, but no one ever bothered me -- probably because we had to call the cops to clear them out several times after stuff started disappearing off our equipment.

I don't see them so much in my neighborhood even though I live in the city, but whenever I go downtown it's a constant barrage of them asking if I can spare some change. I refuse to give them any money, knowing that all they're most likely going to spend it on is booze and/or drugs.

madmax

I hit people up at lunch time. Hey bud, got a quarter? I need another LP to listen too tonight and the GoodWill just raised their prices.

Works every time.

Systems

Polk65 wrote:

Snap. Here's a little stress for you.

Well that depends, what do you classify as a bum?

hearingimpared

The big one in Philly is Dunkin Donuts. . . they line up out there begging, holding the door for you. . . I feel bad for most of them because they are usually mentally ill so to thrwart the using the money for drugs or booze, I buy them a cup of coffee or a donut and give it to them. Some times two of them at a time.

Most likely the ones that aren't really hungry and are really on the hustle will probably sell the coffee and donut to one of their peers for a discount.

Demiurge

hearingimpared wrote:

The big one in Philly is Dunkin Donuts. . . they line up out there begging, holding the door for you. . . I feel bad for most of them because they are usually mentally ill so to thrwart the using the money for drugs or booze, I buy them a cup of coffee or a donut and give it to them. Some times two of them at a time.

Most likely the ones that aren't really hungry and are really on the hustle will probably sell the coffee and donut to one of their peers for a discount.

My friend bought a guy a burger at the burger stand outside of a bar once that was begging for money. He actually threw the burger at him and stormed off all pissed that he wasn't given money. :rolleyes:

bobman1235

Well.... maybe he was a vegetarian....

Demiurge

bobman1235 wrote:

Well.... maybe he was a vegetarian....

I think he was more of an OldeEnglishatarian.

Skynut

I won't give money when asked.

I was working at a shelter for a while and the "day old bread" truck would come by and give away (what else?) "day old bread".
These bums would turn around and try to sell the bread to the people behind them in line.

I will toss a couple of bucks to the hopeless bum sleeping in a pool of urine, why? I do not know.

The last time I was in S.F. I actually gave this one guy a bottle of orange juice. It was winter and he was honestly appreciative of the jesture. I just handed it to him as I walked by and I kept walking while he was talking to me so he couldn't ask for anything more and ruin my moment.
Then after the wife and I had a wonderful dinner I offered my leftovers (in a container with a plastic fork) to a young girl who was quietly on the corner (in front of the restraunt we were leaving) with a hat in front of her. She also seemed to appreciate the gesture.

The fact is I have kicked down my spare change to some bum only to have him say "that's it?"

WTF?

I'll take your handout but if it is not what I expect then I will try to make you feel bad.

P.S. I was really looking foreward to those leftovers and I hope she enjoyed them.

Jstas

I used to get approached while in college. I used to look at them and say "Dude, I'm a college student. I should be begging YOU for money!" Half of them didn't get it, the other half laughed.

VR3

I think Ive seen maybe 2 - max, my entire life around here. Usually up in the Salisbury region.

Place is a dump though... don't like going there.

audiobliss

BIZILL wrote:

i ask them if they accept visa.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Jstas...I think I'll have to try that next time.

I've only been approached for money twice that I can think of.

Polkitup2

I live in an area that has been bum free until about a year ago. Now at every major intersection in my town and other surrounding areas there is a bum holding a sign. It's like Bum Incorporated did a demographic survey and determined our area was ripe for expansion.

This morning at 6:30 am it was -2 degress and the bum on the corner was jumping up and down to keep warm. Although I was laughing my **** off, I kind of felt sorry for the guy because I know darn well he's got to stand out there for a long time before the bum boss man picks him up. Still didn't give him ****.

McLoki

My mom was approached for the first time (that I have heard of) in Peoria(not downtown) as she was heading into a grocery store. She was told by the woman that her kids were hungry and they didn't have any food - can she spare a few dollars for them.

My mom said no, but since she is heading into a grocery store, she will be glad to purchase them some bread and peanut butter so they can at least eat something. The deperate homless womens comeback was "My children prefer McDonalds".

Sometimes you just have to wonder about people.

Michael

MSALLA

The trick is, when they are just about to say something beat them to it and say " hey man ya got a quarter?" Most of the time they just look at you like your nuts and walk away. I did have a guy get pissed at me when I was on a job at 30th street station and chase me with a razor though.