FARK.com: (7225413) Panhandler reveals that he made $60,000 in the last year; if you need to find subby, he'll be outside...for the next 10 hours

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		Panhandler reveals that he made $60,000 in the last year; if you need to find subby, he'll be outside...for the next 10 hours (koco.com)		192
		More: Unlikely, panhandlers, Oklahoma County, Speegle

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tommydee		2012-07-21 03:27:11 PM

ckevinc: So it's fine for him to take advantage of people's kindness because of his laziness?

At least giving to him is voluntary.

tommydee		2012-07-21 03:31:08 PM

Supes: False. Giving to panhandlers is not a good use of money you have set aside for charity. Many fraudsters out there, and even locals can have a tough time distinguishing between those in legitimate need of help and those not.

Because we all know that fraudsters never take advantage of charities.

Submitted First With a Better Headline		2012-07-21 03:45:24 PM

BronyMedic: m not really trying to do that, and if I came off as that way, I'm sorry.

Oh, no, my bad for not being clear. The paragraph about emotional rewards and stuff was a response to you. The rest was just rambling about the subject in general.

Forbidden Doughnut: the homeless begging WITH THEIR DOG really bother me.

There's a few reasons for it. In the case of an actual homeless person, dogs are a sort of security measure. People fark with the homeless (other homeless included), and dogs help protect against that, as well as watching them/their stuff while they sleep, etc. In the case of panhandling, dogs are a big draw. I've heard you'll make a lot more money with a dog than with a sob story.

Don't get me wrong! I agree with you that you probably shouldn't be dragging a dog into your unstable, dangerous, malnurished lifestyle, but there is a reason.

spill_thrill		2012-07-21 03:45:33 PM

had98c: gadian: Supes:
A few years back in Las Vegas I was in a McDonald's and got approached by someone who wanted help getting some food. I ordered a hamburger for him and after giving it to him he asked if I could get him the full meal. Give an inch and they want more. Completely turned me off to beggars and they won't see a dime from me ever again.

What a dick! How hungry did he think he was!?

verydrab		2012-07-21 03:54:37 PM

Blacks dont panhandle. Tell me why please.

Representative of the unwashed masses		2012-07-21 03:59:17 PM

No worse than a career politician...

CasperImproved		2012-07-21 04:01:06 PM

verydrab: Blacks dont panhandle. Tell me why please.

They get their joy at being trolls?

Ishkur		2012-07-21 04:02:20 PM

has a solution for panhandlers.

relcec		2012-07-21 04:05:15 PM

I'd be willing to add a point to the local sales tax to provide for all their healthcare, a full time buffet where they could eat crappy food, and a place where they could always get a lumpy cot and a blanket (drunk or not), if we could just prohibit the obnoxious people from asking for anything from a sidewalk or next to a public thoroughfare.

oldtaku		2012-07-21 04:11:03 PM

The panhandlers at the busy intersections here rake in tons. You just hold a cardboard sign saying 'god bless you' 'vietnam vet' 'gulf war vet' 'need to feed my family' etc and work the islands at one of the long left turn lights. 1/3 of the time I'm in those turns I see someone roll down the window and give them a twenty. You just need two of those an hour and you're at $40/hour tax free.

It's the same people every day (some men, some women, mostly men) and they're not nearly as dirty as the real bums. It's just a job scamming suckers.

gblive		2012-07-21 04:21:08 PM

tommydee: ckevinc: So it's fine for him to take advantage of people's kindness because of his laziness?

At least giving to him is voluntary.

I guess you never had to endure aggressive panhandlers.

420Counsellor		2012-07-21 04:27:44 PM

I used to manage a store with a view of a busy intersection that almost always had a squeegie kid in it washing car windshields and asking for change.

One weekend when the banks were closed this one kid came in and asked if I'd buy some of his change off him. I could always use extra coins, especially loonies and twonies (this is Canada), so I said yeah.

Well, after I'd peeled off over $100 in bills and the kid still had lots more change I had had enough. He was out there for about 4 hours, from about 10am to about 2pm, in the nice weather, and made more than I would make for a 9-6 shift.

/CSB

I think that in Canada, the larger $1 and $2 coins help these guys with their bottom lines alot. I don't usually want my windshield cleaned like that, but at least he was offering some kind of service for the money he wanted. I don't mind giving a busker money, at least they're offering something. Plain begging doesn't do it for me unless the person is very old and I'm feeling extre generous.

Krowdaddy Chixdiggit		2012-07-21 04:39:37 PM

CasperImproved: verydrab: Blacks dont panhandle. Tell me why please.

They get their joy at being trolls?

I see what you did there.....nicely done sir!

Raspil		2012-07-21 04:43:08 PM

do the math and change the tag to OBVIOUS

downstairs		2012-07-21 05:12:20 PM

Working 6 days a week for 10 hours a day... $19/hour. Seems reasonable in a huge city like Chicago or something. But Oklahoma City? I call BS.

UnspokenVoice		2012-07-21 05:17:37 PM

BarkingUnicorn: shivashakti: Folks, don't think that just because THIS panhandler makes that much money (or claims to) that ALL panhandlers do. There are a lot of very poor people in bad situations that actually do need help and must rely on panhandling to do it.

Yes, there are places people can go to get help. But sometimes, some people fall through the cracks.

If you can help, please do so.

Oh, I always buy a buck's worth of self-righteous warm fuzzies from any panhandler I meet. Cheaper than Girl Scout cookies and easier on the environment.

LOL I hand 'em a few bucks. If I know that I'll be going into a populous area (I live in Maine, there are very few here but I do love to travel) then I'll raid my "One Monies" jug. That's where I stash all of my ones but that's probably obvious. Anyhow, I don't mind. I know I'm buying them booze and drugs and I am GLAD that I do. I know if I were too poor to afford my drugs then I'd want someone to hook me up if they would. Drugs and alcohol are important.

Having said that, I donate a goodly sum frequently and regularly to the local food bank and animal shelter. The missus volunteers at the local food bank and brings it to them for me so that I can feel a little "anonymous." No, I don't even write it off. Writing it off means I didn't do it for the reason I wanted to do it.

I prefer the buskers personally. Amuse me and I may well hook you up with enough so that you can take the day off. Hell, I've been known to get good and trashed with bums but I much prefer the hobos. (There's a difference, a huge difference.) And, yeah, we still have train hopping hobos and they're awesome.

CasperImproved		2012-07-21 05:27:04 PM

UnspokenVoice: BarkingUnicorn: shivashakti: Folks, don't think that just because THIS panhandler makes that much money (or claims to) that ALL panhandlers do. There are a lot of very poor people in bad situations that actually do need help and must rely on panhandling to do it.

Yes, there are places people can go to get help. But sometimes, some people fall through the cracks.

If you can help, please do so.

Oh, I always buy a buck's worth of self-righteous warm fuzzies from any panhandler I meet. Cheaper than Girl Scout cookies and easier on the environment.

LOL I hand 'em a few bucks. If I know that I'll be going into a populous area (I live in Maine, there are very few here but I do love to travel) then I'll raid my "One Monies" jug. That's where I stash all of my ones but that's probably obvious. Anyhow, I don't mind. I know I'm buying them booze and drugs and I am GLAD that I do. I know if I were too poor to afford my drugs then I'd want someone to hook me up if they would. Drugs and alcohol are important.

Having said that, I donate a goodly sum frequently and regularly to the local food bank and animal shelter. The missus volunteers at the local food bank and brings it to them for me so that I can feel a little "anonymous." No, I don't even write it off. Writing it off means I didn't do it for the reason I wanted to do it.

I prefer the buskers personally. Amuse me and I may well hook you up with enough so that you can take the day off. Hell, I've been known to get good and trashed with bums but I much prefer the hobos. (There's a difference, a huge difference.) And, yeah, we still have train hopping hobos and they're awesome.

Do you also help old ladies across the street? You seem like you might....

The One True TheDavid		2012-07-21 05:28:02 PM

DrewCurtisJr:

When someone asks me for money so they can get something to eat I usually offer them something to eat like a breakfast bar, they usually don't want it.

I'd gladly take it. Thanks! There's an all you can eat buffet two blocks from here. When should I expect you?

The One True TheDavid		2012-07-21 05:35:15 PM

Thorak:

If someone gives you a $1 every 5 minutes, you're making $12/hour. And that's probably pretty low if you set up on a busy throughfare, where you'll see a few hundred people walk by in 5 minutes.

What I saw is a few hundred people walk past me in 5 minutes pretending I don't exist. Maybe once every 20 minutes somebody would drop some small change in my cup. I might have enough after an afternoon of begging to get a cup of coffee and a McDonald's hamburger.

Don't just opine stupidly, get out there and watch some actual panhandlers. Maybe try it yourself. Then you might have some idea what you're talking about.

Jon iz teh kewl		2012-07-21 05:40:02 PM

do the meth, and you'll find out it's actually incorrect. it's closer to $12,230.12

adhd-npf.com

Dull Cow Eyes		2012-07-21 05:53:01 PM

sseye: Dull Cow Eyes: He's probably lying.

I doubt it. I used to see a panhandler with a good angle. He pretended to be crippled. I saw him at other times walking normally. Once I saw him getting out of a not-so-old BMW on his way to "work".

After that I started watching panhandlers to see what their take was. $20/hr was a modest estimate for the good ones. And this was 20 years ago.

A skilled and diligent panhandler could get that.

I can understand how some panhandlers could make that kind of money in particular cities (NYC, Boston) around wealthy areas...but this guy was in OKC. And I definitely don't think they can make that kind of money in the American South.

JRoo		2012-07-21 05:58:41 PM

I never see the bums with SUV's.

I just see the ones sleeping in alleys, and doorways, and benches, every day and night I see them when I go to work. Carrying around every bit of crap they own with pants they've shiat in. Basically unfortunate souls dying in front of everybody.

There, but for the grace of God, or random infinity, go I.

Gyrfalcon		2012-07-21 06:22:53 PM

offmymeds: DrewCurtisJr: Thorak: It's obviously not true of ALL panhandlers, but if you want to help the destitute, give your money to food banks and homeless shelters instead.

When someone asks me for money so they can get something to eat I usually offer them something to eat like a breakfast bar, they usually don't want it.

[cdn.overclock.net image 350x220]

Dude, nobody would willingly eat a breakfast bar. You're lucky you didn't get shot for crimes against humanity.

downstairs		2012-07-21 06:23:52 PM

JRoo: I never see the bums with SUV's.

I just see the ones sleeping in alleys, and doorways, and benches, every day and night I see them when I go to work. Carrying around every bit of crap they own with pants they've shiat in. Basically unfortunate souls dying in front of everybody.

There, but for the grace of God, or random infinity, go I.

Yeah, there are those. But recently there was some investigative reporter who did a piece, and found many of them are living close to middle class lives, with homes and cars.

Gyrfalcon		2012-07-21 07:15:35 PM

downstairs: JRoo: I never see the bums with SUV's.

I just see the ones sleeping in alleys, and doorways, and benches, every day and night I see them when I go to work. Carrying around every bit of crap they own with pants they've shiat in. Basically unfortunate souls dying in front of everybody.

There, but for the grace of God, or random infinity, go I.

Yeah, there are those. But recently there was some investigative reporter who did a piece, and found many of them are living close to middle class lives, with homes and cars.

Cite, please.

Also, please confirm they didn't already have a home and a car before circumstances required them to need to panhandle. If the car is a junker that was already paid off, and the home is in foreclosure, they could easily have "close to a middle class life" and be in desperate need of money.

tommydee		2012-07-21 07:30:48 PM

gblive: I guess you never had to endure aggressive panhandlers.

I work in Detroit. Anything else?

Past a certain point it stops being 'panhandling' and becomes 'robbery'

olddinosaur		2012-07-21 07:41:09 PM

Some time ago, I saw a man and his wife, begging in a drizzling rain on the roadside with a long--haired wet dog.

They had the usual sad story cardboard sign: Hungry, stranded, broke, etc.

I saw them in the morning, and at noon they had stopped for lunch at the cafe where I eat. "How'd we do?" the man asked.

"Three hundred and forty--two dollars," she replied.

"Pretty good for half a day," he decided. "Wanna go across town and try in front of the other supermarket?"

"Might as well," she said. "We've got five more hours of daylight, might as well make some money."

Sum Dum Gai		2012-07-21 07:42:07 PM

voodoomedic: I don't understand poor people...I mean why don't they just get a job? Are they all just lazy?

Considering the unemployment rate, there are no shortage of choices for employers, and be honest - how many employers would consider hiring someone chronically unemployed if they had the choice of other candidates who have a recent employment history and job references? In this day and age, having black marks on your resume hurts especially bad, since competition for jobs is fiercer.

fusillade762		2012-07-21 07:52:35 PM

offmymeds: [i1136.photobucket.com image 236x347]

t3.gstatic.com

Sheseala		2012-07-21 07:59:21 PM

Doesn't the usual smell test let you determine who really needs it?

Gyrfalcon		2012-07-21 08:42:21 PM

fusillade762: offmymeds: [i1136.photobucket.com image 236x347]

[t3.gstatic.com image 259x194]

[cdn.crushable.com image 500x500]

Now, THOSE guys would get my money. I admire creativity.

tommydee		2012-07-21 09:01:41 PM

We used to have a guy out by one of the exit ramps that looked EXACTLY like Charles Manson. His sign requested weed. Never did get around to hooking him up.

Antagonism		2012-07-21 09:52:54 PM

I used to live in SF.

I will feed a pigeon before I give a homeless person money.

/neither are happening

groppet		2012-07-21 10:29:04 PM

Here it seems like they went asking for change to a dollar to five dollars. Fark that noise. And they arent even polite about it.

DirkValentine		2012-07-21 11:32:39 PM

TuteTibiImperes: I do donate food and money to the food bank and soup kitchen.

I find this to be one of the best ssolutions, locally, to help those in need.

poot_rootbeer		2012-07-22 01:14:17 AM

It may be only a couple dollars to me, but to them it's a way to avoid learning the lesson that trying to con people who actually produce value for their money is a shiatty thing to do.

I get my warm fuzzies for free by not enabling their sins.

FitzShivering		2012-07-22 03:07:41 AM

Sum Dum Gai: voodoomedic: I don't understand poor people...I mean why don't they just get a job? Are they all just lazy?

Considering the unemployment rate, there are no shortage of choices for employers, and be honest - how many employers would consider hiring someone chronically unemployed if they had the choice of other candidates who have a recent employment history and job references? In this day and age, having black marks on your resume hurts especially bad, since competition for jobs is fiercer.

We recently turned down an MBA for a ~$10/hr secretary job, so, yeah, this.

/yeah, part of it was overqualification

Cloudchaser Sakonige the Red Wolf		2012-07-22 05:34:22 AM

shivashakti: Folks, don't think that just because THIS panhandler makes that much money (or claims to) that ALL panhandlers do. There are a lot of very poor people in bad situations that actually do need help and must rely on panhandling to do it.

Yes, there are places people can go to get help. But sometimes, some people fall through the cracks.

If you can help, please do so.

Good point, but how do you tell the difference?

Jon iz teh kewl		2012-07-22 07:17:35 AM

FitzShivering: Sum Dum Gai: voodoomedic: I don't understand poor people...I mean why don't they just get a job? Are they all just lazy?

Considering the unemployment rate, there are no shortage of choices for employers, and be honest - how many employers would consider hiring someone chronically unemployed if they had the choice of other candidates who have a recent employment history and job references? In this day and age, having black marks on your resume hurts especially bad, since competition for jobs is fiercer.

We recently turned down an MBA for a ~$10/hr secretary job, so, yeah, this.

/yeah, part of it was overqualification

you turned down an NBA??

ktgr.com

BumpInTheNight		2012-07-22 10:08:40 AM

Cloudchaser Sakonige the Red Wolf: shivashakti: Folks, don't think that just because THIS panhandler makes that much money (or claims to) that ALL panhandlers do. There are a lot of very poor people in bad situations that actually do need help and must rely on panhandling to do it.

Yes, there are places people can go to get help. But sometimes, some people fall through the cracks.

If you can help, please do so.

Good point, but how do you tell the difference?

Don't need to, if you must feel better about yourself then give to an organization designed to help these people instead. They have a higher vested interest in that community and probably do know which ones are scammers or flat out wastes of skin and which are genuine.

Meatybrain		2012-07-22 02:30:58 PM

1. FTFA: According to the report, the officer asked Speegle why he didn't just get a job

Please tell me, Farkers with law enforcement experience, why this would be in the report? Do you write down every bit of conversation, even the stupid and inflammatory stuff the officer says?

He might as well have written, "I asked the suspect a loaded and probably inappropriate question, and he responded with a sound bite that reads like a Teabagger's wet dream." I question the veracity of this article.

2. A PERMIT? From another article:

Oklahoma City Police say the law allows panhandlers to be on public property just like someone raising money for charity, as long as they don't approach you.

An admittedly quick search brought up no citation of the city requiring a permit to panhandle. This now sounds like bullshiat.

FitzShivering		2012-07-22 05:39:57 PM

Meatybrain: 1. FTFA: According to the report, the officer asked Speegle why he didn't just get a job

Please tell me, Farkers with law enforcement experience, why this would be in the report? Do you write down every bit of conversation, even the stupid and inflammatory stuff the officer says?

He might as well have written, "I asked the suspect a loaded and probably inappropriate question, and he responded with a sound bite that reads like a Teabagger's wet dream." I question the veracity of this article.

2. A PERMIT? From another article:

Oklahoma City Police say the law allows panhandlers to be on public property just like someone raising money for charity, as long as they don't approach you.

An admittedly quick search brought up no citation of the city requiring a permit to panhandle. This now sounds like bullshiat.

I tossed your question by a few friends who are cops, and they in general agreed it sounds like bullshiat, but one said, "Sometimes cops do write pointless things in the report, so it's possible it happened." I tend to take his word since he's one of the more honest cops I know, both about the good and the bad.

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