Last week I had the pleasure of Jury Duty.

Got up early and was in the parking lot of Downtown Houston.

A guy maybe 40-50 in a wheelchair rolls over to my truck.
I look over and he says got any dollars? I shake my head "no" and went about gathering my things to get out and get to jury duty.

He is still there after I look up he says "any coins"? I shake my head "no" and continue on getting my stuff together.

A while later he is still at the side of my truck.
I roll the window down and say "you need to back off".

I finishing getting all my stuff together and get out to go pay for the parking.

He says: "you're a nice guy {sarcastically}"

Then says (after still ignoring him): "You're going to Hell"
I reply: "No I'm not"
He repeats and I ignore.

Then I pay and he says: "YOU DON'T CARE"
I reply: "No I don't" and take off to Jury Duty.

Persistent son of a gun - but I didn't have the time to lecture him or engage him on his alternatives to making money other than begging.

Panhandling at it's finest.

Wow, persistent.

When I lived in Austin [2004-06], my uncle's buddy [who ran a lawn service] saw a fit looking younger guy with his little cardboard sign at a stoplight.

He [lawn guy] offered him a job. Panhandler guy thought about for a minute, gave a shrugs & responded with "I make more than that standing here, no thanks."

I never experienced it, but heard about the window washer guys in SW Houston [59S intersections at the freeway, between 610 & BW8], that supposedly had an oily substance in the bucket, would smear the windshield & then they'd mug you when you pulled over to clean it.
Had a few try to come up to me to 'clean' my windshield, gave them a scowl & a finger wag 'no' and they usually move on.

quote:

A guy maybe 40-50 in a wheelchair rolls over to my truck.

What do you want to bet he walks just fine when nobody is looking?

There used to be some near my house that made it a family affair at the entrance to a WalMart.
Man & woman with 2 or 3 kids, and their Lexus, that was nicer/newer than the Civic I was driving at the time, parked right next to them

i know of 2 va employees that went to lunch, sharing a bucket of chicken. when done they gave it to a panhandler with dog.

a week later, one of the va employees saw the same individual in a major shopping mall, wearing a sharp 3 piece suit, getting into a cadillac.

the va employee approached the individual, mentioning the giving of the bucket of chicken.

the sharp dressed individual thanked him again for the chicken, popped the trunk, provided info about panhandling, said he/dog + his wife/granddaughter, worked the same 4 corners, generating $250k/year.

they might look worthy of help but not getting it from me, period!!

I’ve had a couple of “street” beggars refuse my offers of food (one frequently uses the exit of my Publix at the public road with a cardboard sign)…this is in walking distance to a section of city property (public walking trail…NEVER go unarmed) that “homeless” vagrants hang out …I know some will find fault with my view of these poor people…but if you refuse a free Rubin sandwich from the Publix deli offered by a caring human being and request money instead…go fuck yourself…I’m over these begging POS at every corner…sadly it’s spreading, even into smaller towns and communities…but that being said…I’m well known for being an unrepentant asshole (being a retired railroader..we are known to be a scathing bunch of pricks)

It always irked me when I see people giving money in the street corner traps.

It's their business to give and I imagine it makes them feel good but to me the vast majority don't have to be in the situation and could contribute to society if they really wanted to.

So no go from me.

Had a coworker give a traffic light panhandler her unopened McD food. He spiked it into the side of her car, despite his little sign saying something like 'hungry, please help'
I guess beggars can be choosers...

Not long ago, a car pulled up to me while I was pumping gas that was occupied by an Arabic male and female. Kids too. Generously offered to sell me a "gold" ring for $50. I said not interested. And had to repeat it several times with increasing tone and volume before they drove off. First time that had happened since I moved to the Yoop. Its everywhere now.

Dallas used to have a big patchwork of wet and dry areas (alcohol sales.) I lived in a dry area until about ten years before I moved. I was excited at how much more convenient it would be to not have to drive several miles to be able to buy beer or wine and would be able to buy it at the grocery store. Well, we had no panhandlers and homeless until we went wet. Then we were inundated. Guess no one is “hungry and homeless, God Bless” unless they are within walking distance of booze sales.

A coffee shop I frequent is on a corner populated with a number of fast food places and restaurants. Most of them have 'help wanted' signs prominently displayed. One of them even has a sign that says 'Work Today, Get Paid Tomorrow' as an incentive.

On the same corner I regularly see an able looking "homeless" guy with a sign saying "Hungry. Please Help". One time the wife asked me if we should give him something. "No", I said, "Look around. He can't be that hungry".

Another example of how the few have spoiled it for the many.

quote:

(one frequently uses the exit of my Publix at the public road with a cardboard sign)

I had one hit me up in a Publix. He was riding a handicapped scooter/shopping cart. I suppose I can't blame him for not wanting to be out in the weather, like the ones who hang out at the end of the interstate off-ramp. Evidently he noticed the glare I made at his cell phone. He told me his mother gave it to him. "I can't help you," I said. I wanted to say a lot more.

Evidently Wal Mart shoppers are pretty generous,
I counted four of them with signs at the Moline store.
( Within 45 paces of each other)

quote:

Originally posted by Bisleyblackhawk:
I’ve had a couple of “street” beggars refuse my offers of food (one frequently uses the exit of my Publix at the public road with a cardboard sign)…this is in walking distance to a section of city property (public walking trail…NEVER go unarmed) that “homeless” vagrants hang out …I know some will find fault with my view of these poor people…but if you refuse a free Rubin sandwich from the Publix deli offered by a caring human being and request money instead…go fuck yourself…I’m over these begging POS at every corner…sadly it’s spreading, even into smaller towns and communities…but that being said…I’m well known for being an unrepentant asshole (being a retired railroader..we are known to be a scathing bunch of pricks)

Oh c'mon, maybe the guy just doesn't like Rubin sandwiches and preferred to go in and buy himself a tuna instead. Yeah, no, I don't buy that either. I'm sure he had a different kind of lunch in mind. Either liquid, snorted or injected.

A few months ago I saw a family working an intersection in my town. They had all four corners covered. I don't think there was one store or shop in town that didn't have a help wanted sign, at that time. That family of beggars could have all had jobs in an hour, if they had wanted a job. They got nothing from me.

I was hit up by one over the weekend inside Walmart at the entrance/exits. They are usually outside but this one was inside.

He wanted a small donation or for me to buy some popcorn.

The bums here are organized. They are managed by a leader, given corners to work, time slots, and signs. It is a job. It is just a job. Don't support them.

A few years I rolled up the stoplight and noticed a well dressed man wearing a suit and tie, clean and shaved etc, man on the sidewalk with a sign that read "Why Lie? I just need some beer money".

The light turned red and I had to go, but I decided to circle back and give him $10 or so for beer money. Hey at least he was honest! I turned to go around the block and by the time I got back to that spot he was gone.

I mean, I'll give anybody $10 or $20 for beer money! Guy probably had a tough day at work and a grumpy female at home and needed some beer!!!
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