Beggars harassing the public, in public....

[hairykrishna]

Do beggars really make that much? There's always the stories of the well off chaps pretending to be beggars but I just can't see how they make much cash!

[clonmult]

I've not been harrassed by any beggars or the like for quite a while.

Although they're an awkward bunch, no pleasing them. Gits.

Walking past one once after a night out, merrily doing my chimney thing, he asked me for a cigarette. I offered him one, he saw that they were menthols, and just said "no thanks, I'm not that desparate". WTF did you make out that you were desparate for one then, you idiot?

Sister was always good with the put downs though, she was once asked "can you spare me 10p for a cuppa miss?". She said "Yes, as long you can show me where you can get a cuppa for 10p".

[wildcat45]

Lost my faith in genuine beggars because of two incidents.

I had a friend who was connected with a bakers shop. Early in the monring he'd go to where the down and outs hung out and given them that night's unsold sarnies. Perfectly good food.

One day they complained that they didn't like some of the fillings.

The other occasion I was waiting for a frined having just bought myself a Burger when I was approached by a man claiming to have no money for food.

I'd not touched the burger so offered it to him. He took it gratefully then asked if he could have money as well. Cue burger being batted out of the vagrant's hand, chips everywhere etc. I got a load of verbal but the guy soon left when a couple of BT plod showed an interest.

[Famous Graham]

fivesixseven8 said:

LittleSwill said:

Famous Graham said:

There was a guy caught out in Reading who used to loiter on the street up from the train station every day from around 4pm to 7pm or so, asking for money. Someone twigged that he often had new trainers on that he tried to keep covered up with a blanket, and it transpired that he drove a 3 series home every day after coining it in.

That's terrible! Did you buy him a copy of Auto Italia.

Thought of this thread when I walked past a guy and his dog on the way to Reading station this morning. He was sat in Station Road (by the camera shop) wrapped in his blanket, the dog had it's own blanket too!

Couldn't see his trainers though!

That's exactly where this guy used to be. The little alcove just before the road down to the NCP.

[fivesixseven8]

Famous Graham said:

fivesixseven8 said:

LittleSwill said:

Famous Graham said:

There was a guy caught out in Reading who used to loiter on the street up from the train station every day from around 4pm to 7pm or so, asking for money. Someone twigged that he often had new trainers on that he tried to keep covered up with a blanket, and it transpired that he drove a 3 series home every day after coining it in.

That's terrible! Did you buy him a copy of Auto Italia.

Thought of this thread when I walked past a guy and his dog on the way to Reading station this morning. He was sat in Station Road (by the camera shop) wrapped in his blanket, the dog had it's own blanket too!

Couldn't see his trainers though!

That's exactly where this guy used to be. The little alcove just before the road down to the NCP.

That's the one. Not sure if it's the same guy or not though? There has been someone begging there for at least the last 20 years!

[Pothole]

OK, it's about America, but Nanci's not that wrong here:

I once was a lot like you
We share a dream
I couldn't make come true
I was a child who wrote my name
Across a frosted window pane

And there are jobs that I might hold
If they'd just let me through the door
Without a shower and new clothes
That I can ill afford

I won't hurt your family
I don't want a house there on your street
And I know that you think that I'm
As lazy as a hobo's sigh
Now, you call me down'n'outer
If there's a way out
I've not found 'er
I only want to earn my piece

[shakotan]

Mr Will said:

Off topic, but I like this guys tactic:

A bit like the "Why lie, need money for beer" signs that the homeless in Vegas use. It was funny when one guy did it, now they all have the same sign.

[Steve_W]

The Hypno-Toad said:

Quinny said:

Steve_W said:

It all ended when the beggar said "there's nothing you can do that I can't" at which point said friend had had enough, took a £20 or £50 note out of his wallet, and set fire to it with his lighter with the words "can you do that then?" Exit beggar stage left.

Not big or clever, but he'd had enough verbal bashing from the beggar.

Sorry bud but I'm calling BS on this one

Me too I'm afraid. I have a sneaking feeling it was a scene in the series aboout banks with Clive Owen, Chancer was it?

To be honest, I was as sceptical as you lot - and who wouldn't be?

The tale was told to me, on two separate ocassions, by two different guys who were on the train with him. Neither of them are what I'd describe as story tellers so I believed them.

Not seen that sketch HT so can't comment - does sound like one though, I admit.

[okgo]

I usually give money to the one near me that has a sign saying "cold and hungry" as its not very pleasant to see, and I usually have a couple of quid spare.

But the one in kingston who started on me when I told him I didn't have anything desrved the boot he got. tt.

[BoRED S2upid]

I have no trouble in saying no and have had conversations with a local friendly one, everyone knows him and his background and the fact hes on and off Heroin. He gets enough food and a bed at the local shelter but the money is for drugs, he knows it and he knows we know it. If he asked me to buy him a cup of tea I would asks me for 50p no chance.

[Pothole]

shakotan said:

Mr Will said:

Off topic, but I like this guys tactic:

A bit like the "Why lie, need money for beer" signs that the homeless in Vegas use. It was funny when one guy did it, now they all have the same sign.

the homeless in Las Vegas get a really hard time:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/28/us/28homeless.ht...

although the Mayor has recently approved some funding for shelters

[King Herald]

I wonder if hitch hiking amounts to begging? Afterall, someone spent a bunch of money getting a car, paying petrol, tax, insurance etc, then you stuff out your thumb and ask for a free ride?

I've hitched across Europe a couple of times, and in the UK many times, all a long time ago, but I never really thought of it as blagging a freebie or anything less than respectable.

I suppose you don't actually cost the driver anything when you sit there.

[soad]

King Herald said:

I wonder if hitch hiking amounts to begging?

Nah, it's totally different imho. Not like you're asking for the money.
Hitch hiking isn't a bad thing. Probably not the safest at times either.

[jeff m]

I haven't read all this thread.
I have a friend had two houses one paid for, a fairly good business.
Just as he was expanding he got shafted by somebodyelses bankruptcy.
Long story, but he lost both houses, all bank accounts frozen by the courts.
He got really close to using a tin cup as his main source of income.

I was also affected by his bankruptcy (he owed me).
Sad thing is, he got crap legal advice.

He now lives in as crap apartment and drives a garbage truck, but had someone not helped him, he was given a car so he could get a job, the job was from another friend. He would certainly have been very close to skid row.

This is in the States...
I give.
I don't like the encouragement side of it, but I've seen it close up.