Parking lot panhandlers

steveno · Oct 4, 2016

many years (1920's & 1930's) ago an uncle and his wife operated a grain elevator that was next to the railroad. the hobo's would wait for trains there and the wife would feed them a sandwich and a cup of coffee before they hopped on the next train. yes this stop got "marked" but I guess back then there was a better class of hobo and there never the slightest bit of trouble.

the ringo kid · Oct 4, 2016

Ron M. said:
My wife and I got off our cruise ship in Vancouver, B.C. and we went out separately to check out the town...I stopped at a Burger King and got hit up by some guy for a couple of Loonies so he could get something to eat. About a mile or so away, I stopped at a bar for a beer, and the SAME guy approached me for a handout...I told him he already had hit me up and he scurried away...

He musta seen Humphrey Bogart in: Treasure of the Sierra Madre-recently. The Bogie character kept putting the pinch on John Huston's character. Bogie hit him up three times not realizing it was the same guy.

the ringo kid · Oct 4, 2016

Alpo said:
Treasure of Sierra Madre.

After Bogey hit the same guy up for a handout for the third time that day - "Could you help a fellow American out?" - the guy loses it. One of those "I didn't take you to raise" rants.

Bogey apologizes. Says he never looks at the face. He looks at the hand, to see whether it will be money or a fist.

That's what immediately came to my mind. I hadnt read your post before I posted sorta the same.

ParadiseRoad · Oct 4, 2016

ParadiseRoad · Oct 4, 2016

ParadiseRoad · Oct 4, 2016

ParadiseRoad · Oct 4, 2016

ParadiseRoad · Oct 4, 2016

the ringo kid · Oct 4, 2016

Evil Dog said:
Saw a panhandler at the local AM-PM gas station.... No spare change? Not to worry, he has an attachment for his smart phone that will accept Debit and Credit cards !!!

That would not surprise me any. One I see all the time here-wears the same red t-shirt and same pair of jeans daily. This guy is in bad need of a shave! Anyway, I heard him bragging to another willful homeless guy that his cellphone cost almost $1,000-the computer he has-metal encased-the type you can drive a truck over w/o breaking it) and ive been told by a detective I know here-that those laptops can cost about $10 grand) the guy also has all-kinds of devices for it. Any given Sunday-when I go to Starbucks--mainly to kill time-he buy7s himself at least $20 worth in over-priced food and drink. Me? I manage to spend a whopping $1.08 buying a pirouette cookie. My cellphone is a cheapo flip-top I paid $20 for, im using a tablet that cost my $145 18 months ago. This guy is usually seen standing at the intersection of Staples and SPID here in Corpus.

ParadiseRoad · Oct 4, 2016

the ringo kid · Oct 4, 2016

ParadiseRoad said:

Id rather use him as a ten-pin.

the ringo kid · Oct 4, 2016

ParadiseRoad said:

Now that one I might give a Nickle to.

NYlakesider · Oct 4, 2016

We used to call them jakey bums or just plain jakes.

Back in the 40s till 1956 we lived in the South end of Albany NY. It was considered the wrong side of the tracks. The tracks were only a couple blocks away from our street and every spring the jakes would ride the trains here to the big rail yard and then they would spread out looking for places to live/hang out. They sort of had a system and they would divide up the area. My street was 5 long blocks in length with a large well treed park at the far end. Two jakes would work the street one had the north side the other the south and they did the whole street. Most times my parents would give them some pocket change if they were not to obnoxious.

I remember one day this jake came to the door and said mister I will not lie to you I need a real stiff drink not money. My dad gave him 2 shots of Seagrams. The jake thanked him very nice and went on his way.

I guess we had a good class of bums!

Smoke · Oct 4, 2016

A 3 or 4 months ago 2 of them cornered on of our guards and (we suspect) were going to try to take his gun off of him. He pulled out his OC and called for back up and they left.

About a month and a half ago I found the front end of a car in the same place. While I'm writing the report I could feel someone watching me. I finally put my back to the fence finished the report and went back to my car. As I got in the car I turned to look back and a guy stepped out of the bushes, looked at me, lit a smoke and walked away.

One night I showed up and there was a car parked there, I called it in and was told "Try to contact the driver and ask him to leave but if he doesn't we can't make him leave because he's not on property." I refused. I told my supervisor I'm not going to roust the guy out of his car in the middle of the night and request that he leave property I'm not paid to guard anyway. The sup was like "Ummm OK".

The area has become a homeless camp, we've been reporting it for a year but the HOT team hasn't done anything. I know my employer won't back me so I refuse to go back there in the middle of the night anymore.

There was a homeless guy at one of our substations that was camped exactly over the property line. It got to the point I started making a point of not getting there until 7 am so I could wake him up. I called him by name. "Hey John, time to get up" then I went there one day and he was gone. I hope he's OK

Cyrano · Oct 4, 2016

A few years ago I was driving up the Jersey Turnpike with a French couple. At a rest stop the lady was using the ladies room and I was putting gas in the car. A panhandler approached Jean with a tale of woe. Jean said "Je ne parle pas l'anglais" (he speaks english almost as well as I do). Then the panhandler tried me and I told him "Je ne parle pas l'anglais" in not quite as good French as Jean. Jean almost choked trying not to laugh.

Wyatt Burp · Oct 4, 2016

I have some standard lines for arrogant panhandlers you know just want to buy booze. When they ask for spare change say:

"Can you break a hundred?"
"No. If I had spare change I would just work less." That one confuses them.
Or try this. Just say, "No". And look at them. They are so used to intimidating people or assuming you'll feel guilty that the look on their faces is great.
Instead, I don't know how many hamburgers, tacos, etc. I buy for people. Recently I was sitting outside a store waiting for my wife talking to a homeless girl. She asked for nothing but offered ME a cigarette. I don't smoke (and didn't judge her about buying smokes). Later my wife and I were having lunch and I saw her across the street. I bought her food and a coke and went over and gave it to her. But never money.

75Vette · Oct 4, 2016

Working in and around downtown Atlanta there are always a steady stream of bums. A buddy I worked with got tired of being hit up for smokes so he bought some of those cigarette loads and put them upside down in the pack. When he got asked for a smoke he'd give them one of his "special" cigarettes. When they fired them up it was....CLASSIC!

lhump1961 · Oct 5, 2016

In my work I see all kinds of folks. One that stands out to me was a young girl maybe 13 who was obviously learning disabled and could be seen running errands throughout the neighborhood daily...McDonald's runs, C stores, ect. She was often bruised and always dirty and unkept in poor clothes. She could also be seen panhandling with a sign at corners. As it turns out she was forced to do these things by her deadbeat family because folks would give more to her.

Another person I knew from the area used to work but ended up panhandling because she said she made more money begging than working.

I NEVER give blindly to the unknown. I do however give to known social providers like food shelves and other charities. Although there is no perfect organization I know the panhandlers are 99% crooks. Almost all of them are living the life they have chosen.

Ranger17 · Oct 5, 2016

here in Madison, this past winter they shot down a law prohibiting people from panhandling near intersections, atm's, etc (guess the ACLU didnt like it); and since then there will be people out in the intersections by the malls, major roads, etc. Often you'll see multiple people 'working' one set of lights covering all corners. The city is looking at ways to bring back the law, though really what's a fine going to do if someone doesn't have the cash.....
Even the area homeless shelter providers and advocates will say not to give them any money, offer food if you want. Said most out there have never contacted these shelters for help.

The sad part, and what makes the wife and I feel bad at times, is there are folks out there who need a hand, esp children. I just prefer to give money to an organization or pantry to help those who need it, and hope it gets to the right people. And i would not be surprised, if those out there abusing the system can ruin it for those who need that hand.

keith44spl · Oct 5, 2016

I jest ask to see their tax returns..........

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Parking lot panhandlers

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