Panhandling and such.

[pen_grunt]

After reading this article: http://consumerist.com/consumer/ask-the-consumerists/who-gives-money-to-the-homeless-267235.php
at the consumerist (a very nice website, that), I realized that I had forgotten an Atlanta story.

My boss and I arrived two days before everyone else because we had to give a fancy-schmancy workshop-talk-presentation thingie and do a book signing. The nice thing about traveling with this particular boss is that we have fairly similar food preferences. Instead of having some heavy fried stuff the night we arrived, we decided to go to the local Kroger and get an ample supply of fruits and snacks for the upcoming week.

Since we were both still dressed in business casual wear from the plane (after bumping into a client on the plane once, I always wear my suit coat while flying....and it has nice pockets for IDs and such), we stuck out a bit.

We came out of the store with our bags and got in the rental vehicle. I close my door, and boss reaches for his door when a guy sort of appears out of nowhere.

He says, "I'm sorry, I tried to stop you before you got into your car...but I wanted to ask you...."

At this point, my brain shuts off to anything he is about to say. It's not that I'm heartless, it's that I'm cynical and this guy just gives off a vibe that says he's going to ask us for something....and I'm not going to want to have anything to do with it.

He turns to boss (astute one, that) and says that he just locked his keys in the car, he has a load of groceries in the trunk (it was HOT that day, so we could relate to the danger of wayward trunk groceries) and needed money for bus fare to get back home to get his spare keys.

I look him over and say firmly, "We don't have any cash, sorry." Which, for me, is the truth--I don't carry cash--in part for that reason. As for my boss, well, that was a lie. Boss, instead of taking my easy exit out, starts rifling through his pocket for money and pulls out $5 for the guy. He hands it to him while I shoot boss dirty, dirty looks of contempt.

The guy walks away and my boss turns to me saying, "Don't EVEN give me that look, I helped the guy out...just because I"M a nice person...."

I state flat out and certain that the guy was lying. When asked how I could possibly know that, and after being accused of having no faith in humanity, I calmly and matter-o-factly point out that the guy had his car keys on a lanyard AROUND HIS NECK. But don't worry boss, they probably weren't the car keys he needed...oh wait, that's him getting into his car and driving away with your money. Hmm. Funny that.

I'm not sure why the incident made me so very angry, but panhandlers have always been a huge point of contention between my boss and I. He will give them money every time--and a LOT of money. I never, ever, ever give them money. I'll give them other things, but money...not a chance in hell. Maybe I'm already too cynical.

You see, I've seen too many panhandlers on the same corner every day--starting at 5 am, cleanly dressed, sitting through rain and snow and sleet, and all possessing a magical repository of Sharpie markers with which to make their signs. I don't deny that some of them may need money, but with that kind of determination--have a company hire you to carry a walking advertisement or something. I work hard for my money, and I work hard to save money, budget money, worry about money...too hard to give it to people who lie to me and drive off in their shiny cars...all the while thinking I'm a moron for believing their stories.

Wow, that turned out to be lengthy and it made me very angry all over again. Cynical indeed.

I started an entry about Cincinnati too, but it turns out that beside the normal array of flights-from-hell and mob-run taxi services, there was really nothing interesting to report.

Comments

[irishinmn.livejournal.com]

I started an entry about Cincinnati too, but it turns out that beside the normal array of flights-from-hell and mob-run taxi services, there was really nothing interesting to report.

Didnt you know that Cincinatti claims to be the worlds chili capital ?

or home to WKRP ?

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Yeah, all the postcards from Cincinnati had chili recipes on them. I didn't buy it for a second.

We were only there for one night, so I can't really claim to have gathered any impressions other than the flights in and out (which was, most certainly, NOT a Cincinnati specific thing).

[tabby-of-doom.livejournal.com]

You don't have an unjust cause to be cynical. Take a walk down Five Points South with me on any given day. It ALWAYS starts with, "Hey! Let me ask you something!" and they either have some sad-ass sob story, or they're trying to sell me cheap dollar store earrings for three dollars. I've gotten to the point where I very rudely say, "I don't have time," or I ignore them. Only yesterday, some guy who wanted to ask me something outside of Starbucks didn't take the hint and I had to get very loud with him, which probably can be a dangerous thing if the person is crazy enough, but most of them don't want to be noticed. They do their "begging" on the sly.

However, if the cause seems worthy, I'm not too haughty to buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I'm completely on board with buying someone food if they say they're hungry. To me, that's helping AND ensuring that your hard-earned money goes in the right place. When someone asks for money for food, then turns down an offer of food...well, that just contributes to my pile-o-cynicism.

[lisa-e-is-me.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I live in Atlanta, and have to agree the panhandlers are rampant. I can't think of any other city that I've visited where someone has accosted me for money, with a big fancy story or even without one, and that includes D.C.!!! I don't know what it is around here, but I'm sick of it, and for some reason grocery store parking lots are a favorite for people with the "Please sir, I need bus fare!" tale. I even had an old woman come up to me in the Publix lot begging for money so she could get down to Florida to see her dying grandchild because her car was out of gas, and I felt sort of wretched for saying no, but I knew in my heart it was bullshit. I really resent people who try to guilt me into giving them my hard earned money. I drive a Hyundai, so I don't really know why any of them even bother with me, but they do. Hope that hasn't tainted your opinion of Atlanta, but then again, I am actually not a fan of Atlanta myself, so I can't blame you a bit if it has. This city sucks now, but it hasn't always sucked. When I was 6, I think it was okay.

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Oh, Atlanta, by no means, is the worst I've visited for panhandlers (and my impressions weren't so terrible--it had one of the best Lebanese restaurants I've ever been to).

I do feel that instinctual "I'm a bad person" feeling when I say no, but really--it's MY money.

In Montreal, when I refused to give a panhandler money, he chased me down the street and into whatever building I ducked into to get away from him. He then WAITED and followed my traveling companion and I as we walked back to our hotel. Scary stuff.

[tabby-of-doom.livejournal.com]

They think women are easier to intimidate, and women also have a harder time saying no. Little do they realize that I'm not your typical woman, and the fact that they think they can intimidate me pisses me off. So, they don't see your Hyundai, they see you for what you are: a woman.

xoxo

[pointedthings.livejournal.com]

One day before work, about 6am, I stopped in the local KrispyKreme for some motivational donuts for my meeting. I purchased a dozen and walked through the parking lot, balancing the boxes and many bags. I'm approached my a spindly crack whore with stonewash jeans and a scrunchie, who flashes me a meth teeth smile, asking in a forlorn and pitiful voice, "Do you have any change for the bus, or maybe for breakfast?" Well, I wasn't about to rifle through my purse, but offered her a fresh donut for breakfast. She could have first choice of all the splendid varieties. But no...she said that donuts had too much sugar and her dentist said she couldn't have any. Oh really? You ARE begging for food in the parking lot of a KrispyKreme, and I have a feeling that sugar didn't do that to your teeth. No money for the bus? How'd you get to the/pay for the dentist?

[fontosaurus.livejournal.com]

Lately, I've been rather dismayed at the number of panhandlers that hit me up while I'm at the laundromat. Especially when they're obviously a.) high, or b.) jonesing.

Yes, I have money. No, fuck off. I hate to be an ass, but if you want charity, go to one of the organizations I give money to.

As for regulars, there's a lady who panhandles regularly around the Hennepin-Lyndale-394-Basilica area who's been at it since I moved to downtown in 2002. Part of me admires the determination, the other part of me just wants to verbally berate her.