When People Ask for Money on the Streets

I hate people who beg. I say this because my husband is a truck driver. I when out on a trip with him and we were in Florida and I seen this man on the corner of the street begging. He was in a wheel chair with a big sign begging for money. We then went to take are load to where it was going and on the way back I seen the same man in the wheel chair pushing the wheel chair down the street. I was shocked because I had never seen anything like it before. My husband said he see people do this all the time so they do not have to work. They make a decent living. We live in a cold state but my husband said they like the warm states. A big scam they are!

Hiee there !!!! Your idea seems to be quiet good but if the beggar happens to misunderstand and feel that i was rude to him , then ............ ??? for only this reason , i m scared to use your method but otherwise it will br the best one ....... TC !!!

Not rude at all, in fact I will try it the next time someone comes up to me for money. I cannot wait to hear about your responses.

naturally you are free to do what you want, but I do not think this is the answer. It would be enough to say no, and be friendly. Most of the people begging on the streets do it because they see that as their best oportunity to survive. It is degrading in itself to beg. Your answer might not be directly rude, but I think it is insensitive to their situation. It is not about beeing a bit short, or kind of short. I'd advice you not to go through with this. And it would be a lie would it not?

I'll have to remember this one! It seems like everytime I go downtown in my city I am constantly getting stopped by someone asking for money. And I would have a easier time ignoring it if they weren't stopping me while I have my 2 year old daughter with me. There was actually one time I was going downtown to meet my husband and had my daughter with me. As soon as with parked and had barely had time to turn off the engine I man came tapping on my window. Talk about feeling violated! So based on that experience alone I would have no problem politely asking them for money as a response. I understand there really are homeless people out there that need money. But I'd say a majority of these people on the streets begging for money make more money then me anyways.

I usually give them something if I have it. They are probably scamming, but in the one case it could help make a difference in someones life, I think the karma can be great. It would be nice for someone to help me, if I were down on my luck.

hi. I like your funny answer:). It is polite and fun at the same time hehe. I don't have problems with saying "no" to people asking me for money on the streets. I do it politely, but firmly. Usually people who ask me for money don't bother me after I say "no". Maybe I have something in my eyes that makes my words sound serious hehe. I think your answer can encourade person, who asks yoy for money, to talk with you and say what he or she thinks. I don't like to talk to strangers, especially to those, who don't ask me if I want to talk to them. So your answer is not good for me. My short "no" is more clear and undisputed:). But I think it would be intersting to hear about reactions on your prepared answer. Reactions may be funny;). have a nice day, jazgottt.

Hi ParaTed2k. That's quite a question to ask a homeless person or others who beg for money on the streets. It is so difficult to know what the best way to respond to them would be. I am usually a little uncomfortable looking at the homeless, even though I know they are people who are hurting and in trouble. Well, have fun on your trip and hope your travels are interesting. PearlGrace

I'm sorry but I don't agree. If someone is down so low to beg the least I can do is try to help. I believe that if I have it someone else needs it more. No matter how much or how little I have. I realize that lots of times I'm being scammed but as a former homeless person I can tell you its horrific and not all of us are that way out of lack of desire or drive.

I REALLY wouldn't try this in Atlanta, where homeless people can sometimes get very aggressive. Many people are homeless through circumstances beyond their control. I almost never have money to give them, but if I can, I give them a dollar or two. At least they can get something from the dollar menu. I always think, that could have been me. Of course, in certain parts of town, I am very, very selective about even acknowledging them at all, but it's not hard to tell which ones are going to bug you and which ones really could use a little help.

I don't give money to people on the streets. I don't carry cash, for one, and I can't afford to give money away. My family struggles to keep what we have, so I don't feel like I owe them anything.

I carry a small amount of spare change with me at ALL times. This situation has never really bothered me and whatever it is they decide to use their money for is between them and God. I am nobody to judge. At other times however I prefer to give them some canned goods or other food. We never know what can happen to us in this twisted world and I know I would NOT want someone to treat me badly if I had to ask for money.

Yeah that aint rude. When people ask me for money I just keep walking.

If I got some extra change that I can afford to part with I give it to them. It's not my place to judge them. They might need it more than I do.

Oh boy! I’m flummoxed to say the least. I was just shooting off my response when I pushed the brake…what kind of people are you talking about? If it’s the ordinary folks like us on the streets, then I am yet to come across any who just stop people on the roads and ask for money. But if it’s the regular beggar brigade then Lord help me if I tell them this! Here in Calcutta we have hordes of them and while they are quite imploring at first, I can imagine their wrath and profanities if I quote them from you! You can of course ignore them and move on (they are more used to this) but after the initial bewilderment, they are sure to attack you in packs if YOU ask money from them instead

It is not rude. I worked in large shopping centers and the panhandlers that hung out there would always talk to me. One of the guys would say that he just sat there and made about $3000 a month just ny sitting there with a sign. He gave me a hard time because I worked real hard and only made half of what he did. So is it wrong to reverse it on them. I say NO! There was also a story that I saw on the news once about a panhandler who lived in San Francisco. He made so much money that he actually lived in a penthouse apartment. How is it that someone who begs for money can be so well off. And all that they earn is tax free.

Most of the time I just say I don't have anything to spare or I don't carry cash which is true, I use a debit card most of the time. I rarely give money to someone on the street. If a person asks for money to get something to eat I will sometimes go to the nearest fast food and buy them something or hand the cashier a couple of dollars and and tell them the person can order something from the value menu. If they are really in need they will accept this with gratitude. Whenever someone gives me gift coupons for a fast food place I'll often pass them on to "begers" on the street. Where I live there are many "working girls". When I see one of them looking cleaned up and begging I know they are trying to improve their situation and rather beg for money then sell themselves so I'll do as above. Once, while on a day trip to Tijuana I was beset upon by a little girl who couldn't possibly more then two. She was with her mother and two older sisters selling hand made beaded bracelets for a dollar. Each of them held up their goods calling out "One dollar por favor" My friends and I rarely buy anything from these street urchins but the little girl wouldn't take "No thank you, not today" as an answer and followed us for two blocks by herself. All the while repeating "One dollar por favor, one dollar por favor..." I finally bought a bracelet. Each time I look at it I say a prayer of gratitude that me and my family don't have to beg or sell home made trinkets on the street. Always be curtius but be wise in your giving.

I think I have said something like this! Especially when I have my kids with me! Other times we hear people playing beautiful music, and drop our pennies in their hat!

I have never met that kind of situation.But if someone really needs help,I will help him.

sometimes i feel sad when able bodied beggars ask for money. i feel sad because instead of doing something like work, they chose to beg. i really feel that we should be able to help ourselves. but when i see disabled or mentally challenged beggars, i can't help but feel angry at the government and also the beggar's family for just leaving them out on the streets. i wish i had a lot of money to help them out :( its just so sad.