Ungrateful Panhandlers - Natalie The Rogue Rhymer's Blog

Hi guys :)

So I'm usually a sucker for the homeless or those pretending to be.  I usually will give 'em some change or a buck or two.  I will sometimes buy one a sandwich at the Jack in the Box and I'm a real sap for the ones who have the pets.  I never could understand how the cat will sit there in that box with the homeless guy on the bridge in Vegas.  Why doesn't the cat run?  I would run at night if I was that cat.  I usually seek out that guy though when I go to Vegas b/c I do better at the tables when I give him and his cat some cash.  Really he is lucky for me.

I know I shouldn't and that I'm an enabler...yeah, yeah, yeah.

So my DH is like the cheapest guy I know.  He said to me the other day as I was reaching for a buck to give to some guy with a sign, "Don't give him a cent...I already gave a dollar to a lady earlier."  First, I couldn't believe he parted with any of his cash so I thought she must have been hot.  I didn't ask...I really don't think he'd leave me for even a hot homeless chick and I'm not a jealous girl anyway (especially not of a homeless chick).  

So anyway, he said the girl was holding a sign saying "I'm trying to buy a bus ticket to Fontana" so when he gave her a buck, she said, "I was actually hoping for two." 

Really?  What an ungrateful panhandler chick!

So what do you guys think and what do you do if a panhandler approaches?  Are you also an enabler?  Have you ever come across an ungrateful panhandler?

Cyndi Macmillan Date: 11/4/2011 9:13:00 PM I believe that most of society is only one or two paycheques from being homeless or destitute. Life beats on the homeless. They are subjected to ridicule, disgust, disbelief, indifference, persecution and intolerance. We had a traveling soup kitchen that a specialty gourmet market demanded to be moved as they found it 'troublesome'. It offset their 'image'. I do not believe that helping homeless people is enabling, mho. I have been so lucky in my life. I have never SUFFERED a life depilating addiction, I was not raised in poverty nor do I have a mental illness which creates rifts between myself and others,alters my perceptions and has little room for polite chitchat. In Canada, the social services cheques received for 1 person is less that $575, what most spoiled white people toss around without a thought or a care. If a room is rented it leaves $20 a week for food. A reporter here tried to live off $20. He ended up at the food bank and lost 12 pounds. We aren't ALL blessed. Login to Reply

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer Date: 10/31/2011 8:56:00 AM Tracie-I love documentaries-do you remember the title I would love to see it. That is way more than I made in one day as a teacher-should've chosen a different line of work I guess :) Nancy, thanks for clairfying-I appreciate it and your opinion. Thanks kindly :) Login to Reply

Nancy Jones Date: 10/31/2011 2:28:00 AM Nah, my panhandling experience was pretty much trying to get my parents to give me more for nothing. And yeah, I was worse than hoping for two, usually ten times worse hoping for twenty. But then, I was raised in the luxury of stability with enough food and clothes and parents who got me to school and had enough leisure time to spend with me. I work with a lot of adults who were born into fams that never had an address much less the means to go off to vegas to gamble. Do you know how hard it is to get an education if you've never had an address? Not to mention a job. So, yeah, I guess I don't really have a prob with someone who's trying to get to Fontana wishing for two bucks instead of just one. Login to Reply

Tracy Edwards Date: 10/31/2011 2:23:00 AM I watched a doco the other day Natalie, it was about pan handelers and beggers and it showed that on a good day they can make upwards of $400...i was totally shocked... Login to Reply

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer Date: 10/31/2011 1:08:00 AM Wow Nikko-that is depressing. And you are right...those poor kids! That is awful about your sister giving the girl $ and she spit-how terrible! Login to Reply

Kabuteng P.Ink K. Date: 10/31/2011 12:35:00 AM Hmm, over here, you'd meet all kinds-- but one can't also help but think that they are part of a syndicate-- here it would be typical to see ladies with Babies (and most of the time, not even their own) on the street, waiting for the stop light, it's just plain wrong any which way i see it-- imagine how the babies are subjected to the heat and fumes the whole day-- shucks-- mendicancy here still hasn't been totally solved. Honestly I can't look at them in the eye--- I prefer giving them food but sometimes you can't help but want to give them money-- sometimes they sure can be ungrateful-- one time my sister gives this kid money, and it was just some change-- you know what the kid did? she actually Spit. This was also such an ungrateful chick (sorry getting your words!!)! Login to Reply

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer Date: 10/30/2011 11:23:00 PM Hi Nette-thanks for your opinion...the situation is kinda sad. Andrea that is awful-what a mean comment too-that pisses me off even more-Chris-thanks so much for your input and I will check out the blog...Vince-that is good advice-I usually only give the Vegas guy on the bridge $5 or more-I'm glad your daugther was not harmed btw. Login to Reply

Vince Suzadail Jr. Date: 10/30/2011 10:16:00 PM I'm kind of careful. No cash ever but maybe a meal or food. Most cash will go for drugs or alcohol or you can be set up. If they see a large amount of cash you could be mugged for it. My daughter gave a panhandler $5 on a class trip to Washington and the guy followed her group. (might have been a congressman). Her guide told her not to do it again. Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 10/30/2011 9:37:00 PM ok, this makes me recall a story of a guy who walked right into the little adult school where I work. He was asking for money for a ticket out of town. Of course nobody could give him that, so then he complained of being very hungry, claiming not to have eaten for days. Having no cash on me, I thought of the Christmas treats and bread we were keeping upstairs and I ran to get some for him. I came back with it and he was talking Spanish to one of our staff members who was also dark skinned like the man. I mention skin color because the man was trying to get cash, and when I said "here is some food," he lashed out very angrily. "you WHITE DEVIL. I don't want your food. Get out of here." Obviously he was trying to get a lot of money out of the staff member who was not going to give him any.If he were truly hungry,I would think he would appreciate some food. am I wrong? Login to Reply

Nette Onclaud Date: 10/30/2011 8:59:00 PM well, it seems people do really need more bucks these days and are more vocal about it... hope it's the first time!..kina bummer in a way..:) huggs! Login to Reply

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer Date: 10/30/2011 8:49:00 PM Charles-We do have a Fontana here too-It's sort of by Riverside, CA. But the other Fontana sounds way nicer :) Login to Reply

Charles Henderson Date: 10/30/2011 8:43:00 PM well, if this was in southen cal and the girl was going to Fontana. The only Fontana I know is the dam in North Carolina mountains. I hardly think she would be begging to go there. There's nothing there but an extremly high dollar hotel with a few horses to ride. Maybe some other one?? Login to Reply

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer Date: 10/30/2011 8:23:00 PM Cecil-thank you for your comment/input. Nancy-I am sorry if you are being truthful...but if you are being honest...you didn't say things like "Well I was hoping for two" did you? Login to Reply

Cecil Hickman Date: 10/30/2011 8:19:00 PM though I have never encountered anyone asking for money that was ungrateful or at least did not show it anyway.... Login to Reply

Nancy Jones Date: 10/30/2011 8:19:00 PM this is a very difficult one for me to respond to, because i have clear recollections of times in my life when i've been an ungrateful panhandler.~N Login to Reply

Cecil Hickman Date: 10/30/2011 8:17:00 PM In my town which is a small town,,the only thing panhandling will do for you is a visit from about four officers from the city and sheriffs department,,they usually tell them move on and do not do it ever again or they will be visiting the jail house,, though it is strange on just about every corner sometimes there is either a boy or girl scout troop or salvation army or many other organzations asking for money,, and we usually give any cash we have on hand...... Login to Reply

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer Date: 10/30/2011 8:17:00 PM John-that is sad! I tell you-those are the last people I would think would be ungrateful! Login to Reply