Attention Haligonians:
“Spare any change?” Yes we have all heard that one, and I have gladly contributed to those who just seem a little more down on their luck. As for the rest of you, particularly the ones who can brag aloud how they sat on a corner and cleared +$100 for the afternoon, Fucking Shove IT! Maybe I am in the wrong field of work, getting up every morning to go to a job for 9-10 hours a day, being happy I make that amount before taxes! From now on I’m not even sparing these people the time of day!
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
I agree! One evening, I was having dinner with some friends and had more than half my meal left over. Instead of taking it home and putting it in the fridge only to forget about it, I gave it to a man on the street who looked like he hadn’t eaten in days at least. I know it takes a lot to swallow your pride and accept leftovers from someone, but he refused, rather rudely, and then asked if I could spare some change and a cigarette instead. I felt embarrassed and left the food for him to do what he wanted with. I hope he at least ate it, he really did look like he needed a good meal!
Those people who are on the streets begging for “spare change” aren’t looking for it to buy food! I learned the hard way as well, when I bought a Big Mac for a “homeless” person one day. He asked me for “spare change to buy food, I’m hungry, haven’t eaten in days, blah, blah, blah…”…..so I gave him the Big Mac as I walked by, saying “sorry hun, don’t have any spare change, but if you’re hungry, here ya go. A nice, hot, fresh Big Mac. I just bought it”. Well, you should have seen the snear he gave me! I walked up the road, turned the corner, peeked back around and saw him PUTTING THE BIG MAC IN THE GARBAGE!!! So, they don’t want the “spare change” for food, they want it for booze and drugs!!Never again will I give my spare change away!
There’s a lot of suckers out there and some of these people know it – especially around Christmas time when the guilt factor is high. Wearing a Santa hat will not make me cough up any change for someone to go spending it on lotto scratch tickets and booze while laughing about what a chump I am.
Almost every fast food joint/coffee joint on the peninsula are looking for help right now. Why are these young, able-bodied people still bumming on Spring Garden Road or the Willow Tree. Sorry, but I have to work for MY money…
Unless you’re doing something to earn money on the sidewalks (ie: playing an insturment), i’m not giving up a cent of my hard earned money.
Hear hear!Also, to the teenaged panhandlers like the bottle-job red-head in her brand-name shoes and designer jacket, begging for money on the corner of Quinpool and Robie from her stainless steel coffee mug after school: go home and ask your parents for an allowance or better yet, get a McJob to support your junk food and ciggies habit! It’s despicable and even considered to be theft, as you’re stealing possible income from those who may actually need it.
I agree with k.bosski – if they’re doing something, fine, unlike those two assholes posted on Prince and Barrington with their fucking Santa hats and rattling cups. GO FUCK YOURSELVES, YOU LAZY SCUMBAGS!
If someone asks for change I generally say, “I will not give you money, but I will buy you something to eat. Interested?” If yes, get them a sandwich, soup, coffee what ever is handy – if no, keep walking.
heh, I actually had a homeless guy ask me for spare change to buy booze and weed. the honesty was pretty funny, so I gave him a buck or so. It’s same kinda shit that I waste my money on so why not? (well, the booze bit)