Pan-handlers! What say you?

[Penwoir]

My guess is this is probably a delicate topic, but we were driving in a town about 50 miles away from where we live. It's not really a metropolitan area but there must be more than quarter million residents in comparison to the little town I actually live in, which probably has 20,000 residents. We noticed a pan-handler outside of Best Buy, he was showing a cardboard sign to the passers by, occasionally a driver would stop and give him some money. We finished our shopping, which took another hour or so and then drove back to our small town 50 miles away, only to find the same pan-handler at the exit to the Interstate, presumably wanting to catch the drivers as they arrived home. I was shocked that he'd mananged to get to my home town before we did and that he was pan-handling for hand-outs in a new location - almost as if the first stream had run dry. You can imagine my surprise when he got into a vehicle which was in considerably better shape than my 1995 car, and drove off without a care in the world.

[nmbrown863]

They are everywhere anymore. Almost every time I go to the store or gas station there is someone by the door asking for money. I had a lady get real nasty with me recently when I told her I didn't have any cash on me.

[vg7405]

I hate to sound like a negative Nancy, but I honestly have a bad vibe for most (if not, all) panhandlers. The way I see it, if you can take the time to walk around with a sign (I actually saw a panhandler on the freeway, smh), then you have enough energy to go to the unemployment office or find a low-wage job. I'm just saying....

[gaylasue]

We have a few that hang around our shopping malls.  If they would put that much energy in finding a job, they would be better off. 

[southernhorizons]

Thankfully they are rare in this rural area. That's one reason to avoid living in a metropolitan area. I know jobs are scarce in some areas, but anymore you don't know if they really need the money, or if they are frauds.

[debidoo]

I was giving people money then I was only asking if they wanted food and I wasn't giving money but then a friend gave someone food and watched them go to a garbage can and throw it away so now I don't do anything.  I feel bad not to help people although I am a disabled widow and don't have excess myself but I don't think its fair that some of these people are making more in a day panhandling than I get in disability. 

[potluck6]

There are some in my town and yes theguy who panhandles and then drives away in his car is happening. They
 are always near freeway off ramps. When I go shopping I sometimes give a dollar just to avoid prob lems. My son was at 7-11 and a guy asked for change he didn't have any.So he bought the guy a slice of pizza and he threw it in the garbage can you believe the nerve.

[lvstephanie]

I don't really mind "panhandlers" if they are actually doing something for the money.... For example, I wouldn't think twice about giving a street performer some cash for bringing a smile to my face. But those that just hold up a sign begging for money, I won't bother giving them any cash. I see these panhandlers as just being lazy. If they were truly desperate, they could look into public assistance, an entry-level job, etc. Even the street performer does more to earn my money.

[BlackSheepNY]

My guess is this is probably a delicate topic, but we were driving in a town about 50 miles away from where we live. It's not really a metropolitan area but there must be more than quarter million residents in comparison to the little town I actually live in, which probably has 20,000 residents. We noticed a pan-handler outside of Best Buy, he was showing a cardboard sign to the passers by, occasionally a driver would stop and give him some money. We finished our shopping, which took another hour or so and then drove back to our small town 50 miles away, only to find the same pan-handler at the exit to the Interstate, presumably wanting to catch the drivers as they arrived home. I was shocked that he'd mananged to get to my home town before we did and that he was pan-handling for hand-outs in a new location - almost as if the first stream had run dry. You can imagine my surprise when he got into a vehicle which was in considerably better shape than my 1995 car, and drove off without a care in the world.

It's unfortunate, but there seems to be a whole lot of that going on these days.  I constantly see an older woman on the off ramp of the highway here each day.  She has white hair, but this woman is clean, well-dressed, and ALWAYS on this corner each and every day begging for money.  I sincerely believe that this woman I see gets in her car at the end of her stint, and goes home with the wads of cash she's collected from good people who feel bad.  I know it's tough today, but I don't believe this woman is "homeless" in any sense of the word because there are others in the area that are quite obviously homeless (dirty, disheveled, move from place to place) and I NEVER see them begging for anything.  I do see them all over town though because they move about on foot. 

I have an awesome son who very often buys food for some of these people.  He's had some of them throw the food back at him because they're not interested in eating, they'd rather take cash for their "drug habit" or "drinking problem."  Others have thanked him immensely for his generosity.  How sad is it today that we all have to be careful about who really needs the help or who is just out there to make a buck?

[dreamyxo]

I never give money to people like that because most of them are scamming.

[monnee]

That's the only way some people can get some easy $$$$$  by not working for a living.

[sak4kat]

I've heard similar stories before.  My most recent encounter (twice over this last winter) occurred at a Shell gas station.  2 different gals.  2 different days... weeks apart from one another.  Both with the same story.  My BF and I are x amount of minutes away from home and we don't have any gas.  Both times I walked into the station and put $5 on there pumps. I was a bit miffed myself as I was driving home from work and couldn't put any more than $10 in my own tank.  Ya just never know if people are being sincere any more.

[quietpal]

Most of them that I've seen or encountered don't want you to buy anything for them like food or gas. They just want you to give them the money. I, personally don't give any of them any money. I just don't trust what they are trying to sell to me. This reminds me of a story when I was still living with my parents. A gentleman from the neighborhood rang our doorbell and my dad answered. He claimed he left his wallet and needed to put gas in his van. He also said something about issues with his wife. To his surprise, my dad told him he had a gas can in the garage and could use it. He admitted afterwards that he just wanted some money.

[countrygirl12]

I think they need to be arrested and put in jail.  There are many places in my small town that are hiring.  May not be a dream job but it IS a job.  When I get off work I pass 3-5 every day with their little signs.  The one man is sitting in the same spot every day BETWEEN TWO PLACES THAT ARE HIRING!  He is a low life bum who needs to get off his lazy butt and work if he wants money for his "family in need".