BiggerPockets

You never know if those guys are for real or if they're scamming people for $. I've offered food before to people like that and they did not want the food, only $. Since he took the food he may be for real but who knows.

I did watch a "bum" selling drugs on the corner right in front of me the other day. I called the police right away.

These are some strange times we're living in right now.

Jeff

Norm - I'm glad that you gave the guy food and not money! I'm actually surprised that he took it, because most of these people are only looking for drug money and won't take food even if you offer it. If you think about it, if they can stand at a light all day long begging for money, then they could certainly work. The reason they don't work is that once they get a few bucks, they'll be high on crack or heroin until that wears off. Thus, they can't hold a job because most jobs don't allow you to work only until you have enough money for drugs.

I never give these people money, but I will give them a tip - GET A JOB!

Mike

I see them all the time as well here in Syracuse on the busy street corners. They have more money than you think. They are always dressed well with newer clothes and shoes.

One day I saw one of them go buy a soda and some food at a gas station close by, then return to holding his sign for a handout.

If people stopped giving them handouts, they would be forced to go and get a job.

Chris

Most of the time I will pass right by without a second thought, I'm certainly not gullible. But he seemed down on his luck, so that was my first reaction, what can I say.

If being charitable is your biggest fault, then I'd say that you're doing pretty well!!!

Mike

Originally posted by MikeOH

Most of the time I will pass right by without a second thought, I'm certainly not gullible. But he seemed down on his luck, so that was my first reaction, what can I say.

If being charitable is your biggest fault, then I'd say that you're doing pretty well!!!
Mike

Kinda sad to see the word charitable implied as fault. I do hope Mike that regardless of your views, you are charitable.

I'm seeing guys standing out at the corner all the time lately.

Marlboro in one hand sign around their neck and a cell phone in the other it makes me sick. Those guys make like $100 in a couple of hours (pr*cks) sometimes I think about just popping the door open when I drive by as "now you have a reason you can't work" runs through my mind.

Charity is one thing but, those deadbeats are scamers and junkies probably on well fair and food stamps we are already giving them $$$. :pissed:

Originally posted by Mr_Investor

Originally posted by Lee Common

I'm seeing guys standing out at the corner all the time lately.

Marlboro in one hand sign around their neck and a cell phone in the other it makes me sick. Those guys make like $100 in a couple of hours (pr*cks) sometimes I think about just popping the door open when I drive by as "now you have a reason you can't work" runs through my mind.

Charity is one thing but, those deadbeats are scamers and junkies probably on well fair and food stamps we are already giving them $$$. :pissed:

Welcome to the art of panhandling I mean why work when you can easily sucker people in giving you money by pretending your homeless.

That's why you got to be cautious sometimes you can spot a panhandler a mile a way sometimes they are so good they can fool even the smartest man which is why it's a judgment call whether or not you want to give them something.

I remember giving a homeless man some change when I was living in So Cal. Found out a year later he was charged with panhandling sucks but he was very convincing had rags for clothes and was dirty.

Actually, Mr. Investor, I think you are on to something. If you think about it, this is like a business transaction where one side gives money and the other side give a "good feeling" as in" I did a good deed"... No one force any one into the deal. It was all done willingly...
No reason to get angry, or be mad at people who are too lazy to work. It's their choice and it is also your choice to give or not to give.... As the old saying goes: "Suckers never die, they are just being replaced by new ones...."

[quote=Robert Jenkins new RANGE ROVER. The guy pops off his hobo jumpsuit and changes into a nice shirt and jacket he has in his car. The dude said he could make as much as 500$ a day on that off ramp.

Tax free he's pulling in over 100k a year.

What dude? Are you his accountant? If you believe that he's making 100k a year begging, I have a bridge to sell you. Do you believe that reality tv is real, too?

There is no shortage of panhandlers here in Portland, and probably about the most per capita along with San Francisco, Seattle and maybe Denver. There are certainly a large lot of them looking to use the money for meth. I know of an older lady, about 75 years old, that stands outside the Whole Foods downtown here, leaning on her walker, hitting up everyone that comes out (VERY wise move on her part to pick that corner). I doubt she's using the money for drugs, although one can never be certain.

There are also a fair amount of older, dirty and obviously homeless men. Some are looking to get drunk and some are looking to eat. I tend to hang out in a spot near the river late at night here and have ended up in lengthy conversations with many of them. They're only human being. Granted, some are human beings with addiction problems, but I don't think it's my place to judge others.

Then there are younger (early 20s) clean kids out here. They've obviously showered that morning and had breakfast, and it doesn't take much imagination to see that they're just straight out lazy. I don't even think most of these kids are hooked on hard drugs, although some certainly are.

Anyway, I wonder why anyone really cares. What's the difference between a mime or someone that wears a bunch of silver paint and acts like a statue all day for tips and a homeless person? If you don't like the act, don't give them money. It's all a business transaction. I don't give my money to WalMart and I don't give my money to homeless people. Not a big deal.

And Lee, I sure hope you were kidding about opening your door to purposely injure another person. If I ever saw someone do that to another human being, no matter who the other person was, I'd make darn sure the gesture was returned in kind. I'm sure you were just being facetious though.


Jeff

I do it because I realize, as "bad" as I think I have it, I have more than most people. I'm thankful for that.

If they're scammers, it WILL come back to haunt/get them. Karma has it's way of rearing it's ugly head.

Like I've said before, I'm a giver. Good, bad, or indifferent. That's just me.

Just last week, I was riding the subway home when at my second stop a man in his late twenties came onboard the train and was begging for change. His story was that Yesterday he had no shoes and some good samaritan offered to buy him shoes and he accepted, but he no longer liked them so he was collecting funds to buy new shoes, he just needed 29 bucks. It just burned me that I work my ass of for money and he expects me to hand it over to purchase him new shoes. Needless to say I just ignored his panhandling.