How do YOU deal with the homeless?

[uberman13]

So, a homeless man or a woman approaches you and asks for spare change, you....?

I personally would provide the coin, depending on HOW they ask, if unpolite, i lie about having spare change.

(([Edit]: Okay, the poll seems to be running now, seems like editing the poll options just take some time.))

 

[Blackadder51]

Avoid any kind of eye contact.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Ignore them.

 

[are.you.the.god.its.me.vader]

Blow them away.

 

[RootbeerJello]

Pretend they don't exist and walk by. I'll give money to street drummers thought.

 

[Gigano]

Give her some if I feel like it, or say no and walk away if I don't.

Not the greatest of dilemmas.

 

[Antari]

Give them some spare change and chat with them a while. While keeping good track of my personal belongings. There's no reason for me not to give them a chance.

 

[AngryMongoose]

Somewhat limited choice of answers there....

 

[GodofDisaster]

If I have it I'll give them some spare change and be on my way.

However if I don't, I'll tell them as kindly as possible and walk away.

 

[Marter]

If I have some change, I'll give it. I don't run into homeless people though, because I avoid downtown.

 

[uberman13]

Somewhat limited choice of answers there....

Yeah, sorry 'bout that, pressed Shift+Enter while in the poll options, that just made me post the thread for some reason. Ignore the poll please. Thanks.

 

[VicunaBlue]

I use a $100 dollar bill to light an even more expensive cigar, then help myself to some patte on crackers, all the while blowing smoke and crumbs into their face.

 

[Marowit]

I generally don't make eye-contact. If they force me into a conversation I'll chat with them, but I never give them money unless they're doing some sort of sweet trick/playing an instrument very well.

 

[Wolfram23]

I just keep walking. I do not like beggars and never give them change.

 

[Betancore]

I only give people my spare change if they ask - I have a lot of trouble saying no to people, so yeah, they'll have to ask for me to be unable to reject them. Worst thing is, because I apparently look so harmless and approachable, everyone comes to me for money. Once I gave someone $10 just so they'd leave me alone and hopefully not beat me up.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

I generally just try to avoid eye contact. I do feel bad, but I also don't feel like my decision of whether or not to give any individual my change is going to make a big difference. It's just treating the symptoms (and it's not even a very affective treatment at that), instead of the underlying cause. Plus, I remember once, back in the days when I was still living at home and going on family vacations, we were in a big city. A homeless guy was asking for change, and my poor naive little brother gave him some, at which point another homeless guy started acting indignant "hey, don't I get some!" I'd rather just not get involved at all, then try and do something nice only to have a bunch of other homeless people jump all over me.

 

[Brandon237]

Just leave it unless you know they are honest. A policy learnt the hard way...

 

[EvilMuffin094]

If they ask nicely, or don't ask at all, I'll usually give them every bit of spare change I have on me at the moment.

It's funny when some of them hug the hell out of me after I do so. xD

 

[Terminate421]

Unless they SERIOUSLY look like they need the change, fine. but if they do some sort of gimmick, such as play the guitar, then I don't do it.