Do you give money to beggars?
 

How often do you give money to beggars, street peddlers, etc? You see them all the time on the street corners with their signs, some of them peddling pixie sticks and Famous Amos cookies, slim jims, or newspapers. Some of them walk up to you at gas stations to ask for money. How often do you donate?

Poll to follow.

Depends if they have a good gig or not. I saw this one bum one time, and he had a sign that said "I need money for booze". I gave him a few bucks for his honesty. He sounded like a good guy

ROFL

I'll be sure and honor his copyright!

Hehe, at least he was honest! I remember seeing this one bum with a sign in a music video, and the sign read, "I'll fight you for food," or something to that effect. I forget which video it was. Van Halen, maybe?

Yes. I collect unemployment so I feel the need to give a little back.

Never. How you can be sure what they will use the money for and if they are truly in need??

I saw a local news reporter go undercover a few years ago as a beggar. He made $500 bucks in one day. People are so guillable.

I've been sending skip $50 bucks a month in fives for the past few months. I like to wipe my ass with them first and then baggie them up and send them. I don't think he notices.

I believe that it was the music video "Right Now" which was also the "theme song" for Pepsi Clear.

"will wrestle you for food"

Right Now - Van Halen video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WCkQZOnCN3k

Crystal Pepsi Commercial
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Tign09D5IgE

There aren't too many beggars where I live. When I was in Chicago though, I bought a $2 "please help - this is how I eat" card from a deaf woman and a postcard for $3 to help someone's hungry children.

Learning to say no is such a nice skill to know.

When I lived in Iowa City I just acted like I was deaf. When they would ask me if I had any money I'd just act like I knew sign language, and they'd get confused and scared or both and leave me alone.

When I see the same guy on the same corner every friggin day? He will not EVER get a dime from me.

I personally see them as scam artists too.

I've thought about becoming one of those offramp/cardboard sign beggars.
Though, I'd bring my daughter with me, and we'd clean up all the garbage on the ramp, put it in a (two, three or four?) GLAD bags, and add a sign "your clean offramp, courtesy of Charlie and Sarah -- Thank you and God Bless"

$$$$
PBJ

Last time I gave a guy some change, he then got into a fist fight with the clerk in the 7-11 I went into.

Lesson learned.

The 7-11 clerk deserves my money more, they don't get paid enough to put up with the shit they have to deal with.

No. I work too damn hard for it.