tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294899951619699125.post5622134191842532283..comments2023-10-20T03:59:51.767-07:00Comments on The Many Shades of Life and Love: PanhandlersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15072714362184530001noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294899951619699125.post-37825179481146642982009-05-09T10:32:00.000-07:002009-05-09T10:32:00.000-07:00I agree, AJ, that this is a world where many peopl...I agree, AJ, that this is a world where many people are out to make a buck in the easiest way possible. For many of them, they schlep whatever they have including themselves.<br /><br />I used to give a lot and always had change or ones until, like you, I saw a story on one guy who was making 60K a year just holding up the homeless sign. He had a home and a family. His support came from panhandling and his excuse was he didn't have an education so people wouldn't hire him. It made me sick.<br /><br />After that story showed up, the off ramps became really crowded with lazy people wanting to make a quick buck. So many of them flocked to the areas off ramps that the police had to start arresting them. It was pathetic.<br /><br />Yeah, it has always amazed me what people are willing to do for a buck. I don't mind the legit ones, like you said the musicians because they are giving us something back. Those that just put out their hands need to rely a little more on the person in the mirror first.<br /><br />LynnLynn Crainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17563978872099232823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294899951619699125.post-25076457515274686492009-05-08T15:45:00.000-07:002009-05-08T15:45:00.000-07:00Hi AJ! Sad, but I remember some that were saying ...Hi AJ! Sad, but I remember some that were saying they were deaf at a bus terminal (and I'm deaf) but they didn't know that. So they were pretending to sign and I signed back and they couldn't understand me. That upset me because one, they weren't deaf and two because it didn't look good on the image of deafness. Only difference is I can't hear. In college, I had to do a paper on a word and its origin and history. I picked 'Handicap' which means 'cap in hand' (image of having their cap out asking for money, image of begging) that's why many do not like to use that term but instead use person with a disability (emphasizing they are a person first). So I've always been weary of those approaching me and usually doesn't work well to approach someone but use the media to advertise. So I always give donation directly to the approved agencies etc.Caffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11830854922444380155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294899951619699125.post-55642557135295592412009-05-07T13:24:00.000-07:002009-05-07T13:24:00.000-07:00I love Fill the Boot. I used to work for the Musc...I love Fill the Boot. I used to work for the Muscular Dystrophy Association or the MDA and I loved helping with those. It's a great organization! The best thing they do is a summer camp for all the kids with Muscular Dystrophy. It's the one week where they get to feel just like any other kid. :)Jambreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15412754753045093243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294899951619699125.post-32350847381509636202009-05-07T13:22:00.000-07:002009-05-07T13:22:00.000-07:00I don't give anymore unless i feel really strongly...I don't give anymore unless i feel really strongly about the person or organization i see. I give my time, i volunteer at the animal shelter and am putting in a community garden at my dayjob office. I feel good about that and i have always had to work for what i want. Why shouldn't everyone else? It's hard not to be cynical i thinks if you have ever been jilted by a so called charity. I always support teh boyscouts and girlscouts selling their popcorn and cookies and i give to fill the boot for the firemen. I feel like that is enough.AuthorCourtneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08650343502293633710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294899951619699125.post-46029607777343818362009-05-07T11:13:00.000-07:002009-05-07T11:13:00.000-07:00Let me tell you...when I first moved to CA, ( I li...Let me tell you...when I first moved to CA, ( I lived in Barstow for a year) I could not beleive the homeless. In the Midwest I didn't see much of it, if any at all. I was shocked.<br /><br />They saw the sucker coming that's for sure. I'm a softy and the people I was living with told me that I shouldn't give, but I usually did. Heck I've always had a hard time saying no. The older I get, the eaiser it is now that I've been suckered a few times. :)Jambreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15412754753045093243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3294899951619699125.post-69684066694112915002009-05-07T09:21:00.000-07:002009-05-07T09:21:00.000-07:00having grown up in the northeast and having been s...having grown up in the northeast and having been subjected to those kinds of people during visits to NYC, I have to say I don't give to panhandlers anymore. I think I did a couple times when I was a teen. Until someone told me they make scores of money. Then sure enough I saw a show on TV about how some NYC panhandlers live in Jersey, drive Mercedes & BMWs, and wear suits. They'll drive across the river, change from their suits into their derilict clothes then go sit on a street corner for their '9 to 5' shift. They'll make their money then go back home. So back east no one gets my money. Here in Vegas, no one gets my money here either. I sometimes feel bad for the men who stand on the street corners with their 'I'm a Vet and need food' signs in the middle of summer (110+ heat) but with all the fast food joints around here if they really wanted food or money i'm sure they could get a job cleaning the floors or something. Okay so I'm a bit cynical but my parents taught me i should work for what i want (and I feel others should do the same) but i don't believe panhandling and deceiving people is the right kind of work.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15072714362184530001noreply@blogger.com