Looks like I'm going to make it thru the entire month of April without being asked. Very surprised I've gone this long. It seems once I get asked it goes in spurts. Many of them must have been on vacation this month or on retreats to come up with more scam stories and tactics.
I've seen the people with signs on my way to work but that doesn't count. Maybe I'll start trying to pay attention to the sayings on the signs and then report here. If it's one that's out of the oridnary other than "Will work for food", then I may consider posting it. Other than that it really doesn't count in this thread as being personally begged.
Keep on sharing any stories you all have. Thanks.
I've seen the people with signs on my way to work but that doesn't count. Maybe I'll start trying to pay attention to the sayings on the signs and then report here. If it's one that's out of the oridnary other than "Will work for food", then I may consider posting it. Other than that it really doesn't count in this thread as being personally begged.
Keep on sharing any stories you all have. Thanks.
Oh, I forgot to mention. Came up with an idea for the people who ask me for bus money which is the most common beg, I was talking to a guy at work about this and we both like the idea that I'd go and buy bus passes. Whenver I get asked for bus money, I'd give them a public transport bus pass. I haven't used public transportation for Years so I'd have to check into prices, how it works, and all that. I will keep you all updated as to this idea, it just takes a little research on this here internet I guess. I don't want to go and purchase bus passes where they have expiration dates. By the time I get asked, the ticket may be expired. Anyways, I'll follow up on this...
I was taking a lap around the US on my Harley, and I stopped for a night in Ft Lauderdale. I walked from the motel down to a gas station a few blocks away and was on my way back to the hotel when I saw a man coming towards me. About 10 feet away from me, he asks if I can spare some change. Without missing a beat I just replied, "Shit, man. I was about to ask you the same thing." (For the record, I wasn't.) His eyes go wide and he sticks his hand in his pocket which I can hear is full of coins. Then he freezes. So I say "How about we just call it even?" He gets a big smile and says "Aw thanks, man!" And we both walk away happy.
Finally broke the dry spell. Last night at about 11:20 PM ( Date: 5/19/13) went to the gas station to get some waters ( I gotta have bottled water and was all out of the cheap kind at home) and as I was walking out I got hit up. The guy looked of the Mexican type but his english was really good and he didn't really look like the homeless type at all, looked like a clean construction worker ready to go to work. He had the construction type of work shoes on, exceptionaly clean gray shirt, rough but good working jeans on. Didn't see him right away as I was walking out the doors and then I heard behind me, "Would you have any change you could spare?" I turned my head as he caught me off guard and I didn't engage due to the neighborhood and the time of night it was so I just kept walking to my car without saying anything.
I'm going to say it now so I can break the jinx. Usually when this happens when I get asked after a long while I start to get hit up with a spurt of people asking for money. Stay tuned or should I say I'll report back after a few more months. I'm on alert right now so I'll try and interact more to spice up these stories. I should go and get those bus passes right about now...
I'm going to say it now so I can break the jinx. Usually when this happens when I get asked after a long while I start to get hit up with a spurt of people asking for money. Stay tuned or should I say I'll report back after a few more months. I'm on alert right now so I'll try and interact more to spice up these stories. I should go and get those bus passes right about now...
Monday night I'm at a Speedway after watching my alma mater play in a district championship baseball game. I am filling up my tank and this woman (probably late 40's early 50's) walks up. She says her car in out of gas and could I spare $5. I proceed to tell her that I don't have cash, but if she pulls her car up I will put $10 in it (with my debit card).
This obviously catches her off guard and she starts to stammer. She says it is a block down the road and would have to push it. Without missing a beat, I tell her she better pull that I Phone out of her pocket and call someone to come help her ass. She huffs and puffs and walks away.
If you want a six pack and have the balls to approach a stranger, then just tell the truth. Don't give me a bullshit story and get pissy when I call you on it.
This obviously catches her off guard and she starts to stammer. She says it is a block down the road and would have to push it. Without missing a beat, I tell her she better pull that I Phone out of her pocket and call someone to come help her ass. She huffs and puffs and walks away.
If you want a six pack and have the balls to approach a stranger, then just tell the truth. Don't give me a bullshit story and get pissy when I call you on it.
Well I've got two updates on street people asking for money bringing the total times asked this year to 7.
It was about 4 or 5 weeks ago on a Sunday and was at a corner gas station. My wife went in while I filled the car up with gas. I saw this guy I'd say around mid to late 50's, somewhat clean and had a good button-up shirt on and he was asking this one guy filling up if he could spare some change for the bus. I was hoping he'd make his way towards me so I could see what his story was. Sure enough, just as I was hanging up the pump he asks if I could spare a dollar. I asked him what for and for him to not lie to me saying it's for the bus. He just stood there not sure what to say and I break the awkwardness by asking him where he's from and he said he was from Brooklyn. I then ask him if the real reason he was asking for money was because he wanted a beer. He admitted yes and I could tell because it looked to me he was half toasted already. I then ask him what kind of beer he would like because I offered to buy. He wanted Bud Ice in the tallboy can. Just as I begin to walk towards and get him the beer I quickly noticed I didn't have any money on me. Yeah Yeah I know, I should have partnered up with him and begged on his behalf. I told him my wife will be out shortly if he'd wait. He said that was ok and started to walk off and beg other people. So when my wife got back I get a couple of dollars from her and go in and grabbed two tall 99 cents Bud Ice tallboys and the clerk asked me for my ID! I didn't have it since I didn't have my wallet (it was at home). Embarrassed, I told her to hold the cans (Doubly embarrassed at this point for I hope she didn't take it to mean for her to hold her "cans") and my wife would be in a second to pay for them. I walk out to the car and tell my wife to go in and buy the beer sitting up at the counter, she gives me the WTF?! look and I had to explain I was trying to be generous and buy that guy a couple cans of beer. Reluctantly she goes in walks out with a black bag of beer and hands it to the guy. Now I'm just Triply embarrassed and just want to crawl under the car seat on the ride home! Geezus Christ, I try to be nice to these beggars and I screw it up.
Second time this past Tuesday night and I was sitting out in the car with the window down outside a Subway as my wife went in to get a couple of sandwhiches. This bum comes walking by and asked if I could spare some change. I just casually answered back with a no. He just said sorry to bother and that was it.
It was about 4 or 5 weeks ago on a Sunday and was at a corner gas station. My wife went in while I filled the car up with gas. I saw this guy I'd say around mid to late 50's, somewhat clean and had a good button-up shirt on and he was asking this one guy filling up if he could spare some change for the bus. I was hoping he'd make his way towards me so I could see what his story was. Sure enough, just as I was hanging up the pump he asks if I could spare a dollar. I asked him what for and for him to not lie to me saying it's for the bus. He just stood there not sure what to say and I break the awkwardness by asking him where he's from and he said he was from Brooklyn. I then ask him if the real reason he was asking for money was because he wanted a beer. He admitted yes and I could tell because it looked to me he was half toasted already. I then ask him what kind of beer he would like because I offered to buy. He wanted Bud Ice in the tallboy can. Just as I begin to walk towards and get him the beer I quickly noticed I didn't have any money on me. Yeah Yeah I know, I should have partnered up with him and begged on his behalf. I told him my wife will be out shortly if he'd wait. He said that was ok and started to walk off and beg other people. So when my wife got back I get a couple of dollars from her and go in and grabbed two tall 99 cents Bud Ice tallboys and the clerk asked me for my ID! I didn't have it since I didn't have my wallet (it was at home). Embarrassed, I told her to hold the cans (Doubly embarrassed at this point for I hope she didn't take it to mean for her to hold her "cans") and my wife would be in a second to pay for them. I walk out to the car and tell my wife to go in and buy the beer sitting up at the counter, she gives me the WTF?! look and I had to explain I was trying to be generous and buy that guy a couple cans of beer. Reluctantly she goes in walks out with a black bag of beer and hands it to the guy. Now I'm just Triply embarrassed and just want to crawl under the car seat on the ride home! Geezus Christ, I try to be nice to these beggars and I screw it up.
Second time this past Tuesday night and I was sitting out in the car with the window down outside a Subway as my wife went in to get a couple of sandwhiches. This bum comes walking by and asked if I could spare some change. I just casually answered back with a no. He just said sorry to bother and that was it.
