Michael "Dog3" wrote:

> Lou Decruss >
> : in rec.food.cooking
>
>> I'm sure we all have stories about panhandlers-scammers-people in
>> need.
>>
>> There was a news blurp on one of the Chicago stations about them a
>> few years back and some claim to make as much as 60 grand a year.
>> What really shocked me as they'd admit it on camera.
>
> We've had that here as well. I overheard a conversation one morning
> between a pair of them. They were discussing which area of town had
> which convention and which one they thought would be most profitable.
> I know they were panhandlers because they had both hit me up for
> money in the past. I was riding the Metro on the way to work.
>
>>
>> Being over served didn't help, but I'll never know what "really"
>> happened that night, if she was telling the truth, or if I did the
>> right thing.
>
> I think you did the right thing.


Lou is a mensch, for sure...


I have rarely given the panhandlers
> anything. I did give one guy enough to buy a 6 pack of beer. Why?
> Because he was honest about it. He needed money to buy beer because
> he needed the alcohol. From the looks of him I thought with all his
> shaking and sweating he was about to go into a seizure. I gave him
> the money and watched as he went into the liquor stor.


I stopped giving anything to the homeless after buying food a few times for
some of them and having them say, "Is that ALL yer giving me!?" or even
having them throw the food onto the ground...

We have cookouts at our corner bar here and we've given plates to a couple
of homeless women that come and very quietly and politely ask if they can
have something. It's no biggie, we have plenty 'o vittles. But the problem
is when loudmouth male bums come and try to get food, then you have to get
all medieval on 'em since they are real pests.


--
Best
Greg