How do YOU deal with the homeless?

[Danpascooch]

Honestly it depends, sometimes I'd ignore them (almost always ignore the ones sitting on the sidewalk) and sometimes I'd give a few bucks.

EDIT: I remember this one beggar on a trip to Florida when I was like 12, he was awesome, I wish I had given him more, he was this thin African American with short bushy hair, we were at the Stadium watching a basketball game and one of the teams scored over some arbitrary point number so on the way out people could get 1 free taco coupon for Jack in the Box from one of the employees standing at the door, I managed to grab about 25 without the usher noticing, and on the way out this beggar, totally upbeat and polite, was asking not for money, but for the coupons. I shoved all 25 in his cup, the look on his face was priceless, he just looked at me and said in an upbeat tone: "Children are our future!" Really nice guy.

 

[Jamieson 90]

reminds me of south park "Got any C-chang??" hahaha lol

When I was away in Thailand I bought a begger some food. If your really desperate you will ask for food not money.

 

[Oilerfan92]

I just ignore them. Its unfortunate. But i cant afford to give away much money at this point.

Unless theyre those 2 guys who play music in the subway station at every football game. Theyre the shit.

 

[Keetron]

I almost always give em money

 

[spartan231490]

Ignore them. apathy is an amazing thing. If they ask anyway, and i have change, i will give it to them cuz otherwise i'll just shove it into a box when i get home and never even look at it again.

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

I saw a homeless dude playing the accordion in the street today. I threw some change in his pot, smiled at him and carried on.

 

[Hiphophippo]

In the past I've bought them lunch. Being homeless is terrible, but I won't abide by people using my generosity to pay for their habit. That's how you tell how serious they are. If they turn down lunch, they just want drug money. If they do however take you up on it, it's usually a decent time. I like listening to people's stories.

 

[Decum]

What homeless?
I don't believe i've ever been asked for spare change by some scruffy middle-aged man sitting under a bridge with a dog...

 

[Xiorell]

I never give them money unless they're doing some sort of sweet trick/playing an instrument very well.

That reminded me of one time I was walking through town really late with my friend, both obviously heavy-metal types.
Homeless guy in a doorway with guitar "Spare some change fellas"?

We kept walking... got a few yards past the homeless.... "I'll play Metallica".... both stop in our tracks, turn around "Go on then", this hobo started literally trashing out some of metallicas finest.
He got some good cash for that.

 

[B2kCyclops]

Depends.
I look them staight in the eyes and then I decide if I give them something or not.
If I decide to help them, I try to not give them money, rather ask them what they need(food, water, clothes, etc.), because alot of them(sadly) are alcoholics and I try avoiding to support such kind of behaviour.

 

[Macheteswordgun]

Don't give them change and move them to cali

 

[Kryzantine]

Depends on how awesome they are.

If the homeless person has an awesome sign, a clever outfit or something so bizarre I simply can't ignore it, I'll give them money.

But people who move from train car to train car every morning playing the same fucking piece of shitty music, I simply ignore.

EDIT - As an example of bizarre, I once saw a guy with 5 foot dreadlocks. Down to his freaking knees. I would've paid to take him to a studio.

 

[The Black Vegetable]

Just saying "No, I can't give you anything. I haven't got any cash with me". A few moments later, I usually proudly walk out of a store with a new DVD box, like one of "Back To The Future, or "Fawlty Towers".

Their facial expression is priceless. The next time I'll ask them what they think of this beautiful movie I just bought!

At least, that's the thing I do when they ask me for money. If they just sit around, I don't do anything. The only time I would give them something is when they do something interesting, like play an instrument and sing songs I never heard about, or make the streets of Brussels a bit more orange.

The best time was when a little mexican looking boy walked up to me, with a paper in his hand. Something to sign, I thought. But no! It was to contribute to the homeless! I had to pay (at least) five bucks! I don't know much about beggars, but is there a mimimum on contributing to their booze? I told him politely I had no money, and he starts crying. Right there. At the entrance of a DVD store. I bought another DVD box, and figuratively pushed it into his eyes (not literally, I didn't want to make it dirty). Man, I hate it when people try to me me compassionate. That's like, the worst kind of con trick.


Why don't they just become decent confidence tricksters? that brings up more money for sure.

 

[Marowit]

I never give them money unless they're doing some sort of sweet trick/playing an instrument very well.

That reminded me of one time I was walking through town really late with my friend, both obviously heavy-metal types.
Homeless guy in a doorway with guitar "Spare some change fellas"?

We kept walking... got a few yards past the homeless.... "I'll play Metallica".... both stop in our tracks, turn around "Go on then", this hobo started literally trashing out some of metallicas finest.
He got some good cash for that.

See, no matter how destitute there are always some skills they posses - there's not better time to use 'em!

 

[uberman13]

I think you can EDIT the poll options if you simply click on EDIT on your OP.

Hmm it worked now.....mmmmm-interesting..I guess it could've just been my shitty internet.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

Same as I deal with everyone else: ignore them.

 

[PureChaos]

i usually say i don't have any change and walk on. if someone says 'do you have any spare change?' i want to say 'yes, plenty, thanks' and walk off just 'for the lolz'