Only have a credit card, man, sorry...

While that's a good excuse, it's also slowly becoming a reality. There's more people that will only carry a debit/CC on them now, rarely carry cash.

mattw wrote:There's more people that will only carry a debit/CC on them now, rarely carry cash.

That sounds like me, loath as I am to admit it.


I really don't have time to fuck around with people and their fake sob stories. I got taken once when I was young, and I will never get taken again. If someone says they need food, I will offer to buy them a sandwich. They usually turn it down.

I may hate people, but I don't want to contribute to their alcohol-fueled demises, so no money for panhandlers. "Sorry"

Maybe I'll carry around a debit card that only has a couple bucks in the account. "Here you go, don't spend it all in one place."

i usually tell them that i don't have cash which is true 94% of the time.

more often than getting asked for money, i get asked if i will sell them a cigarette for a handful of change. when this happens i just give them a cigarette. i don't want your nickels.

prockwell, thats the coolest avatar ive seen

I couldnt care less about people asking for money, come up with an excuse or something and keep a walkin. I would give to certain people though in actually knowing their situation, like a mother in a real bad spot with kids who needs a place to stay. Ive seen many different panhandlers around, but never an asian panhandler or heard of somone seeing one. It seems they just dont exist, they are too driven to work and make money

I usually turn people down. Sometimes I give, but it's based on gut feeling, and most people I don't trust. One solution I've heard of that seems like a good compromise is a the example of this college professor near me who is hit up all the time as the campus is downtown. When they ask for money to buy something to eat, he whips out McDonald's gift certificates and hands them a few. Apparently he has some on hand at all times for this situation. Seems like an innovative solution.

Amazingly, some still turn those down. That is crap.

when I first moved to the city (from a pretty rural area in Indiana) i regularly dished out my spare change. ... I have 32 cents, you asked for money; sure, here ya go.... that lasted a couple months until I calloused up. i still make sure to pick up a street wise every so often to make my college educated, motivated as all hell soul feel a little less guilty for assuming most beggars are liars.

I'll spare small change if I have some, but at the same time. I just want to say get a fucking job. I just got done working the other day, I get out the door there's a beggar asking me for change, as I walked by, I said I just got done working, and gave him a "give me a break" look. I just say sorry, man usually.

When I was in London, and people used to get on the tube and do their speech and then go up the carriage with the polystyrene cup, I used to really enjoy being the one who would stand up and get some change out and give it to the person. This is particularly satisfying if you are the last one they ask, although if you are not, your action will prompt other people to.

There's lots of money around. It makes perfect fucking sense to go up to someone and ask them for some. If I've got some change, you can have it, as a reward for having the perfect fucking sense for asking me. I work full time. I am far from being anywhere near wealthy. In fact I'm pretty far from being solvent.

Life is a fucked up thing. Here's the price of a cup of tea, fellow human.

It depends, usually I tell them 'sorry' and walk past.....there's no way I could give to every bum every time....sometimes you get hit up 5 times in 2 blocks....but once and awhile I give. About once a year or so I give one a 20, figure that straightens me out for the year.
If I have pills in my pocket I give them a few sometimes.
I have this great idea for a reality show...pick a bum and hand him a million bucks cash and follow him around with cameras and see what he does with it....nah, forget the cash...a check....a bummy ass bum just trying to cash that thing would be worth watching.