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)		35
		More: Unlikely, panhandlers, Oklahoma County, Speegle

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23084 clicks; posted to Main » on 21 Jul 2012 at 11:16 AM | Favorite | share:

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shivashakti		2012-07-21 11:27:35 AM

6 votes:

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.

had98c		2012-07-21 12:19:11 PM

3 votes:

gadian: Supes: All I ever give panhandlers is the occasional granola bar when they say they're hungry and need to buy food. It's healthy, wrapped, clean food. And you'd be surprised how often that is rejected.

Because that is not at all condescending. Here, take this skinny little granola bar that won't do anything to fill your stomach because I don't trust you with money.

Beggars can't be choosers. Except they usually end up trying.

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.

Supes		2012-07-21 12:04:18 PM

2 votes:

BronyMedic		2012-07-21 11:46:25 AM

2 votes:

Wow, I thought pedophile apologists were a stretch, but panhandler apologists?

Really? PT Barnum was right. A sucker is born every minute.

People, if you really want to help the homeless and mentally ill populations, there are charities, substance abuse, food banks, and shelter programs in your community which would put your money to better use, and actually help people with it.

GoldSpider		2012-07-21 11:36:14 AM

2 votes:

shivashakti: If you can help, please do so.

Nothing helps the downtrodden better than buying them booze and drugs.

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

1 votes:

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.

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

1 votes:

do the math and change the tag to OBVIOUS

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

1 votes:

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!?

jjorsett		2012-07-21 02:39:22 PM

1 votes:

shivashakti: If you can help, please do so.

I do. I donate to the local shelter. Handing out money directly is enabling someone's dysfunction.

thesloppy		2012-07-21 02:07:05 PM

1 votes:

This topic is one of my favorite litmus tests. If you are emotionally invested in begrudging farking beggars the money given to them by other people then it's time to adjust your priorities.

Fark_Guy_Rob		2012-07-21 02:02:23 PM

1 votes:

I don't know about 60k - but I'm 100% sure I could earn more money as a bum than I could working a minimum wage job at McDonalds.

I don't mean any offence when I say this - but I'm honestly amazed at people who bust their asses at low paying 'dead-end' type jobs. I was lucky in that I was born into an middle class family and got pushed into going to college and picked a well paying major and got a decent job. I don't work hard, I sit at my desk, type a bit, and earn more than this panhandler claims to earn - and I get health benefits and stuff.

Granted, I probably live more cheaply than I need to - so maybe I have the lifestyle of the typical guy earning 50k? I don't know.

But even still - I feel like I'm only *this tiny bit* better off than people I know who have made it their goal in life to take advantage of every social program they can. I honestly feel like you'd be a fool to work hard for a minimum wage (or near minimum wage job) in the United States any more.

Forbidden Doughnut		2012-07-21 01:47:23 PM

1 votes:

offmymeds: Brick-House: [4.bp.blogspot.com image 336x400]

[timthethief.com image 500x666]

[funnybumsigns.com image 500x360]

Im senseing a theme here.

[cache.gawkerassets.com image 500x338]

Slightly OT, but the homeless begging WITH THEIR DOG really bother me. If I were headed for homelessness myself, I would at least try to find someone else to take care of it.

/ doesn't help my mood that with my full-time work & current living situation (eg. apt w/ no yard), owning a dog wouldn't work out well

BronyMedic		2012-07-21 01:00:14 PM

1 votes:

BarkingUnicorn: But then I wouldn't get to see the homeless grovel and fawn on me.

And, in essence, this is what it's all about.

You don't give a shiat about the person you gave that dollar to. You just want to feel good about doing it. You want to feel better about your own life, and your own behaviors. You want to look at it as "See, look how generous I was. Because of me, he'll get to eat. Oh, how progressive of me! Now we can go to the mall and spend hundreds on clothes! Oh, maybe I can even give my worn out ones to Goodwill! See how kind I am!"

Nutsac_Jim: Thats because it is treated like a business. If you want to get into the business, you need the panhandler tax. Dont want to pay it, then go do something else. I am quite sure if they make everyone pay a panhandler tax, whether they wanted it or not, that Oklahomans would not like that either.,

I know you're being sarcastic, but panhandling is a pure cash business. It's incredibly easy to sneak that past the IRS, and rather common to do so.

BronyMedic		2012-07-21 12:51:38 PM

1 votes:

The One True TheDavid: On the other hand, if you drink beer yourself and don't need to look down on "the dregs of society" to keep your own pathetic ego afloat you can buy a bum a beer. Or if you just bought a 12-pack just hand him a couple. Or, if you're in a really good mood, find a quiet place y'all can sit and share your beer with him.

The difference is that I work hard to earn the money to pay for that beer that I drink, and I'm not so addicted to the ethanol inside of it that I have eskewed my friends, family, finances, and career to obtain it. It's not looking down on the dregs of society, it's resenting the fact that money I earned, that I'd rather be actually helping someone, is continuing to enable their life-destroying habit. Addicts don't change unless they hit rock bottom, and have a reason to. And that's only within the confines of your narrow situation. Most of the people who panhandle have no addiction - they're scam artists. Hell, Wikipedia has a guide on how to do it.

In addition to that, you don't HONESTLY think everyone hitting you up for money is actually unable to work, or homeless, right?

I give to enough charities and local groups that actually DO help the mentally ill and homeless in the city, that I don't need to give a dollar to the guy on the street corner to feel good about myself for doing so. If that makes me a terrible, uncaring person because I don't want to buy their next six pack, then I guess I am.

Hagenhatesyouall		2012-07-21 12:51:28 PM

1 votes:

RembrandtQEinstein		2012-07-21 12:49:27 PM

1 votes:

TV's Vinnie		2012-07-21 12:47:00 PM

1 votes:

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.

If you were homeless, and some teenagers offered you some food (and you have NO idea what they might have put in it), would YOU accept it?

The One True TheDavid		2012-07-21 12:36:07 PM

1 votes:

BronyMedic:

People, if you really want to help the homeless and mentally ill populations, there are charities, substance abuse, food banks, and shelter programs

On the other hand, if you drink beer yourself and don't need to look down on "the dregs of society" to keep your own pathetic ego afloat you can buy a bum a beer. Or if you just bought a 12-pack just hand him a couple. Or, if you're in a really good mood, find a quiet place y'all can sit and share your beer with him.

Bums are people too. Seriously. And some of them are friendly and might even have something to say. (Sometimes I really miss People's Park in the gool ol' days.)

Just don't tell them where you live; I'm preaching niceness, not stupidity.

in your community which would put your money to better use, and actually help people with it.

rocketpants		2012-07-21 12:34:42 PM

1 votes:

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]

Serious. Bums ask for money for food, but they get all pissy if you offer them actual food. That's because they don't really want money for food. They want money for crack.

i281.photobucket.com

Brick-House		2012-07-21 12:32:12 PM

1 votes:

Im senseing a theme here.

divx88		2012-07-21 12:26:54 PM

1 votes:

DrewCurtisJr		2012-07-21 12:17:39 PM

1 votes:

gadian: Because that is not at all condescending. Here, take this skinny little granola bar that won't do anything to fill your stomach because I don't trust you with money.

I hope this isn't serious.

shivashakti		2012-07-21 12:06:37 PM

1 votes:

TuteTibiImperes: I also had a lady ride up to my car in an electric scooter while I was at a stoplight and knock on my window to ask for money. It seems to me if you can afford an electric scooter and the power to charge it, you have enough money that you don't need to be begging.

You don't know everyone's stories or experiences. Just because they have an electric scooter doesn't mean she has some sort of stable life or regular comfortable income.

Are there frauds out there? Sadly, yes. Unfortunately. But I'd rather risk it and help others. Or volunteer to help the homeless if I don't have the money to give.

I think it's great that you donate to soup kitchens and food banks, though. Kudos! Thank you for doing that!

Thorak		2012-07-21 11:50:45 AM

1 votes:

This absolutely happens. In Canada at least, there's a bunch of panhandlers who move around the country; they know the dates for major events in the big cities, and there'll be a miraculous increase in the number of panhandlers around during those times, working the public areas. They make themselves look dirty and destitute, but they're living in hotels off the money they make.

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.

TuteTibiImperes		2012-07-21 11:49:58 AM

1 votes:

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.

The problem is the signal to noise ratio when it comes to those who actually need help vs those who are running a scam. A few weeks ago a guy cut me off in traffic and I saw him turn in to and park in the lot at the Walgreen's to which I was headed. I went in to do my shopping, and when I came out the guy came up to me with the 'hey buddy, I'm on my way to Miami and I ran out of gas about half a mile back, could you lend me like $10 bucks so I can get on my way?' story.

I also had a lady ride up to my car in an electric scooter while I was at a stoplight and knock on my window to ask for money. It seems to me if you can afford an electric scooter and the power to charge it, you have enough money that you don't need to be begging.

I'm sure there are people who do legitimately need some money to make it through the day, but the chances of giving money to a fraudster seem too great to me, so I just don't give money to any beggars.

I do donate food and money to the food bank and soup kitchen. Though I am sure some people use it who could afford to feed themselves it doesn't bother me as much because those places really do help those who are trying to get back on their feet, and no one is making $60K a year reselling cans of tamales from the food bank.

LarryDan43		2012-07-21 11:43:28 AM

1 votes:

So what if he makes 60 grand a year? You people need to stop it with your wealth envy.

DrewCurtisJr		2012-07-21 11:36:42 AM

1 votes:

shivashakti: If you can help, please do so.

I do. But giving money to panhandlers is not a good use of my vast, but not infinite, resources. "Do you have 70 cents so I can get on the bus?"

kokomo61		2012-07-21 11:35:47 AM

1 votes:

numbone: He's asking for it

Maybe not - he's not providing anything for the money....so it's essentially a 'gift' from the donor. Unless he's getting more than $12K or so from a particular donor....there's no tax.

Tymast		2012-07-21 11:32:43 AM

1 votes:

Well this story proves that the problem are the pan handlers, why are these people not regulated and why are they not paying more taxes? All people who are on the streets need to pay their fair share! If that money was being spent it would create more jobs so people like these don't exist.. but you know they will not do a damn thing about it because of the powers that be tend to look the other way when it comes to the greed of panhandlers knowing that they have all the time in the world to hand out political pamphlets to help them get re-elected.

numbone		2012-07-21 11:31:53 AM

1 votes:

He's asking for it

piava.files.wordpress.com

offmymeds		2012-07-21 11:30:49 AM

1 votes:

ty stick		2012-07-21 11:30:40 AM

1 votes:

I saw this on an episode of Soap.
Cheddar Plate, I mean Chester Tate.

Dull Cow Eyes		2012-07-21 11:29:50 AM

1 votes:

He's probably lying.

Dwight_Yeast		2012-07-21 11:29:05 AM

1 votes:

I liked it more when Conan Doyle called it "The Case of the Twisted Lip".

ckevinc		2012-07-21 11:21:34 AM

1 votes:

Truly a tax free money maker for these people. I've had one guy here hit me up about 15 times in the last few months.
Surprised he keeps asking after the way I talk to him each time. I think he approaches so many people
he forgets who he's asked.

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