The economy is so bad...
 

... that even drunk beggars are giving only a half-hearted effort.

I was topping off my gas tank and walking into the store to pay when I was approached by an obviously drunk guy who wanted money. OK, this'll be good, what's the sob story? He wanted a few dollars to help pay for his dog's operation.

heh... ok, think about that one. That story is so stupid, he wouldnt have done much better than if he just flat-out said "I'm broke and really need a drink, can you help me get a beer?" I passed.

A "dogs operation" isnt a few dollars, more like hundreds if your lucky, or thousands if your not. Raising money for that would involve hitting up family, or maybe donation cans at half the stores in the neighborhood. That story was so unbelievable, it was like he wasnt really trying anymore. Fewer people might be giving money out, so what the hell.

Maybe he's done an actuarial-type analysis and determined that he'll get turned down by most people, but will eventually find one kind-hearted animal lover who'll give him a thousand bucks, thereby resulting in a greater dollars per panhandling hour wage rate.

theres a bum in either KC or Lawrence that says "can you spare some change? i need to make a down payment on a cheese burger"

My favorite beggers are the kids that cross the parking lot from the low income housing near Comiskey Park (US Cellular Field) after a White Sox game to ask for money so they can catch a cab ride home.

He used to hang out outside of the McDonalds at the Plaza. We exchanged words after I told him to get a job.

Stop in Dave's Stagecoach around 6 oclock and find out what that down payment really went to. All in all, he's not a bad guy though, at least once he got rid of his Denver coat.

that guy who asked for a cheeseburger one time said Royals suck go cards to me after i didn't give him money . I couldn't have that on my watch so I made him say GO ROYALS as loud as he could if I gave him a dollar.

Why do you hate puppies?

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/4571/doginvet2218682.jpg

Farewell Rosco... alnorth can't spare a buck... you were a good pup....

The guys who tell the truth are the ones who get my spare change. I can tolerate a drunk, but I can't stand a liar.

That puppy doesn't look like he'd make it anyway.

It seems like every exit ramp in KC now is beggar infested. They beg during rush hour morning and night. Here's a story from about a year ago about beggars in Houston. You can average $30,000 to $60,000 a year tax free (guys who use wheelchairs make more green). Who needs college and paying back those pesky student loans? Just get a second hand wheelchair, work three hours in the AM rush, 2 hours in the PM rush, and go home!
Link to story:
http://blog.hostgator.com/2007/11/28...omes-homeless/

That dude pissed me off one time because I walked past him and actually gave him a couple bucks (not my usual MO), then I walked back by not 10 minutes later and he hit me up again, completely oblivious to the fact that I had already given. If that's all the appreciation he has.... **** him. I bet I've seen him 10 or 15 times since then and just laughed.

Eh... he was passing out flyers for the Chili Shack (or whatever it's called) one day, and he practically shoved one into my chest as I was on my phone and happened to be looking away from him. I pushed his arm away, obviously not only because I didn't want one. I was wearing a Chiefs shirt, and as I walked into a building, he started screaming "CHIIEEEEFFFSS SUUUCK! GO BROOONCOOOSS!!!!"

I wanted to ask him if he got good reception under the bridge (I've always wondered if it's true that he lives in an apartment or house on the Plaza). He can die in an AIDS fire for all I care.

Atlanta has meters that you can donate to instead of giving money to the homeless. The ones I saw in Atlanta aren't at all convenient, so I'm not surprised they don't bring in a lot of money.

YOU'RE!

On Saturday night after I got off the Light Rail in Denver, a tweeker lady came up to me in her tattered clothing and pretended to cry and said she was stranded in the parking lot w/ no gas and needed a little money to get to her job cleaning office buildings on the weekend.

It being 10 PM, her wearing beat up clothing, and having no teeth led me to believe she was a druggy and I told her to get lost.

Denver has those meters, too. The way I look at it, the City is now panhandling.

I use to drive on my way to work on this one road you would sit at a light for a couple of minutes. So out comes the guy selling waters. Then another guy begging for change. But, the one I didn't get was this guy driving an electric scooter. he'd just ride past every car & wave asking for change. Guy was happy though so I don't know. He was there everyday.

wow, so sad.... LMAO, you would think that they would try harder.... but some of them are the kind that drive to the location, put on nasty clothes and beg, have seen it happen a lot..... LMAO

Ive never given money to a panhandler. I use the same line every time, "sorry I dont carry cash or change" (which is normally the truth). They usually dont have a reply for that...

I've taken to just smiling real big and saying enthusiastically, "Thank you!" when I get asked for money. They don't know if I misunderstood or if I'm sarcastic or if I only speak Flemish, so they usually just stop cold and go away mumbling.

You gotta be careful with that. The bums may alternatively assume you have gone "full reerun". Once you lose social standing among the panhandling community, its hard to get it back.

Yea. I am almost certain this didn't happen.

Better yet, ask him what he wants to eat and offer to buy it for him. That's the best way to determine the needy from the greedy. About 9 times out of 10 you'll get turned down or they'll just pretend they didn't hear you.

Or tell them you have a potential job for them.

Sometimes when homeless people are bothering me, I forget how to speak English. As it turns out, even here in New Mexico, most bums are not bilingual.

Logic doesn't really compute in terms of considering a beggar's pleads. If you were in his situation, would you not make an attempt at being somewhat crafty?

Albeit, it is quite difficult to spare a measly dollar, isn't it?

I always carry a spare bag a boar cum for just such occasions.