Not positive - Page 2

CatLoverDogsToo · ‎03-10-2010

It is illegal to panhandle where I live. It is also illegal to give money to the panhandler. I am not sure how they would actually penalize the person giving the money, but they do arrest the panhandlers. John Stossel did a segment on this for Fox Business Channel, and he followed a few panhandlers that actually make a lot of money, drive mercedes and live in very large beautiful homes. When he confronted them, they were not the least bit embarrassed.

“The price of light is less than the cost of darkness.”
– Arthur C. Nielsen

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

I see people with signs at the end of the highway ramp by the mall. They don't approach you unless you roll down the window. In the paper it says not to give because they are frauds. I don't give since I don't know who is real or not.

Gram W · ‎01-22-2013

Whatnow congratulations to both your mother and you. I grew up with 2 loving parents. Dad worked for the same company for 46 years until he retired. Mom stayed at home caring for her family of 5. I never knew how much money but we never did without. My aunt's husband died and left her with 2 preschool daughters to raise on her own. We were encouraged to take good care of everything so they could be passed on. We gave up purchases to buy gifts for my cousins secret pals to give to them. We did not know we were the pals but my sister and I could keep a secret. I did learn many of the same lessons as you working at mom's side and I have beautiful memories. I wish people understood that there is no shame in asking for a hand up at anytime in your life. ****** happens when least expected and any of us could need help. I had an office job but the last 11 years I also worked nights for a major grocery store. My eyes were open to the abuses in our system by people who openly bragged about how they got away with living on SS. As a cashier I had to watch and say nothing, even help them get cash off from their EBT card to pay for alcohol and cigarettes. I also waited on people who had pride and did not want assistance. It was heart breaking to have to subtract staples from their order to bring the total down. It was common to argue with a WIC customer because law says she has to take all items listed on her check. Her kids don't drink milk, eat fresh fruit,etc. They said they would throw the food out. I said give it to a neighbor who needs it. My stress level dropped after I left there but I loved the interaction with some very nice people.

LonestarBabs · ‎06-26-2011

Here in DFW there is a big problem with people being approached at grocery stores or gas stations. A car full of people will drive up to you, ask if you can give them money for gas, etc. People then get too close to the vehicle and are robbed or carjacked or worse.

I had this happen at the grocery store, broad daylight, as I was putting groceries into my car. They pulled up behind my car and spoke to me. I kept my distance, said NO to their request for cash, I already had my purse secured to the cargo area of my SUV, and then pretended to see someone I knew in the parking lot and turned away from them. The car was full of unsavory characters and it was obvious they weren't on the level.

Not long after that I noticed an increase police presence in the parking lot.

BTW -- these aren't homeless people.

Chrystaltree2 · ‎12-08-2014

OK, I've encountered panhandlers in the city but never anything like you describe. Where the beck do you people live that you encounter that level of begging?

catwhisperer · ‎07-11-2010

@Chrystaltree2 wrote:
OK, I've encountered panhandlers in the city but never anything like you describe. Where the beck do you people live that you encounter that level of begging?

@Chrystaltree2.....I live in a very large county in CA where we have a large number of homeless. It's not unusual on any given day to see them standing on various street corners and medians holding signs. They are in front of grocery stores. They will approach you at gas stations, on the street, almost anywhere if they think they can get money. I have been approached many times and it can be very scary. It's happening all over the U.S.

I promise to remind myself every day that I am strong, courageous, and resilient.

dex · ‎03-09-2010

@Chrystaltree2 My son lives in Oklahoma and says he only sees people at highway of freeway entrances.He doesn't see them at stores or malls.I live in Tacoma and the problem seems to be out of control in my area.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@dex wrote:
It just makes me wonder how so many people can't make do with what they have.I grew up without much but my mom was resourceful ,single parent of two small children.My dad took off and left her with nothing but the kids...She showed him in the end though as she got a job and raised us well on very limited funds.We did get some help when people donated old clothing and my mom remade it into things for us.We also got gently used bikes from coworkers for Christmas.We loved those bikes and never felt that they should have been new.my mom made our breakfast of oatmeal every morning before school and packed our peanut butter on homemade bread sandwich for lunch.We had pressure cooker diner nearly every night because it was the fastest way to cook in those days.I think having no money was a great motivator for me to want to work hard and have an easier way of life than my mother.I also know how to stretch a dollar because I learned from the best.

People don't get by these days (make do with what they have or go out and earn more) because they don't have to, plain and simple.

If the government doesn't give them what they want, they know there is a world full of people that they can scam or make feel sorry for them, to get money or things they want/need. And many do both.

I have to say that I don't experience what the OP has described very often (but I know it is out there!) because we live in the country, and I don't spend much time in the city. And I like it that way. I get tired trying to sort out who is really in need and who is running a scam.

When I was a kid, everyone we knew simply worked hard and lived within their means. People in my world never thought to ask others for the things they could do for themselves, as they had pride when they had nothing else.

It's a different world today.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@Gram W wrote:
Whatnow congratulations to both your mother and you. I grew up with 2 loving parents. Dad worked for the same company for 46 years until he retired. Mom stayed at home caring for her family of 5. I never knew how much money but we never did without. My aunt's husband died and left her with 2 preschool daughters to raise on her own. We were encouraged to take good care of everything so they could be passed on. We gave up purchases to buy gifts for my cousins secret pals to give to them. We did not know we were the pals but my sister and I could keep a secret. I did learn many of the same lessons as you working at mom's side and I have beautiful memories. I wish people understood that there is no shame in asking for a hand up at anytime in your life. ****** happens when least expected and any of us could need help. I had an office job but the last 11 years I also worked nights for a major grocery store. My eyes were open to the abuses in our system by people who openly bragged about how they got away with living on SS. As a cashier I had to watch and say nothing, even help them get cash off from their EBT card to pay for alcohol and cigarettes. I also waited on people who had pride and did not want assistance. It was heart breaking to have to subtract staples from their order to bring the total down. It was common to argue with a WIC customer because law says she has to take all items listed on her check. Her kids don't drink milk, eat fresh fruit,etc. They said they would throw the food out. I said give it to a neighbor who needs it. My stress level dropped after I left there but I loved the interaction with some very nice people.

Working in a grocery store is a much higher stress job than many can imagine.

My mom worked in grocery stores in the 1970's, and some of the things you see either make you want to cry (watch people choose between the few things they have as they don't have enough money for everything on the belt, especially the seniors) or make you want to explode (the young couple with a cart full of food stamp purchased junk food, then hitting the lottery counter for tickets with their cash).

I couldn't do the job for more than a couple of hours.

panda1234 · ‎04-27-2015

@dex I have a twist on your story. I won't give all the details because this will be too long. We have a VERY busy shopping center. I noticed a 20 something guy digging through the trash cans looking for and finding food to eat. People approach him giving him money....he doesn't even have to ask. I am there several time a week and am fascinated by this. This is what I think is going on. There is a McDonalds in this area and I think he buys a few bags of fries and puts them in different cans. People come along and put their trash on top of his. He comes along digging looking for HIS bag and starts eating it. People think he is eating trash and give him money....clever.