“Excuse me, I seem to find myself short on small change for the bus…”
Alright, ENOUGH! I mean come on…some people might buy it the first time around, but to ask the same people every damned day for change for the bus and not recognize them? This is the third time in a few days you’ve asked me. You might not recognize me, but I don’t forget a face.
You need small chance for the bus? GET A DAMNED JOB!!
—Not a cash register
This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2009.
I don’t see the need to get all worked up over this.
I simply say no and the whole thing is over. I’ve been asked by the same guy almost every day for a year and it is funny to me now.
Now, if the person became aggressive in asking, then that’s another story. However, OP, just say no and get on with your day. There are many more things we could be reading about on here.
Call it a survival tactic. The guy wants your money likely to service some addiction. Experience taught him telling the truth about addiction gets him nothing so don’t get all offended when he tells you what he thinks you would prefer to to hear in parting with your pocket change. Don’t presume to know what’s best for this human being either, you just don’t. Simple. Either cough up the change or move on but don’t be the man’s judge (or mother). Who gives a rats ass why he’s begging for change? He feels he must! Have a heart and help him or close your heart but don’t be presumptuous and don’t judge.
My Favorite T-Shirt Ever:
“Yes, I Do Have Some Spare Change. Thanks For Asking, You Homeless Piece Of Shit.”
I have issue with them asking five minutes after they asked the first time. I was polite the first time I refused, the second time, I looked him straight in the eye and said, “no, I have not gotten any spare change since the last time you asked five minutes ago”. He got the point and left me alone.
It’s annoying to have it happen repeatedly.
the worst one is the pirate-thingy in front of NSLC on Clyde street. I dont know if he is scary or aggressive or both, but I know one day I will take my revenge…
Or maybe its gods punishment for a drinking Musluim.
Pirate guy has been there for at least 15-20 years. Crazy, eh?
Ooooh this guy hit me up last night at the mumford terminal.
I figured he was scamming. I gave him a buck because it was cold and I wasn’t 100% sure he was a scammer, but it’s pretty rare for me to give anyone money and I won’t be doing it again.
He seemed able bodied and didn’t really seem “homeless” so there’s no reason why he couldn’t get a job. Perhaps he does have an addiction, but he seemed to have a pretty sober state of mind so…could he not pour some coffee or bag some groceries? But like I said I’m going on perceptions here.
A scowl and ‘fuck off’ usually does it for me.
I used to serve the pirate guy coffee when I worked at McD’s three years ago. He’s nice enough but if you don’t give him a large coffee for the price of a senior’s, with unlimited free refills regardless of whether or not he leaves the store, he can get a little intimidating.
Try out Johnny, aka Mr. Agressive, on Agricola. Makes the Pirate look like Strawberry Shortcake.
Give the pirate a quarter, and he’ll give you a little card that tells you the hand signals for deaf people, AND if you’re a girl he’ll kiss your hand with his crusty ol’ pirate lips. Always the highlight of my visit.
Anyone know who the little deaf dude on Barrington Street is? Someone told me he was once a boxer who had too many head blows.
I dig the Pirate. All he does is preach not to drink (he must be speaking from experience, I gather), I’ve never found him aggressive, nor have I experienced him asking for money either. The dude on Agricola (he tried spitting on me) is way worse. Back on topic… I find by just saying no, that works for the most part. Mind you, there’s the odd time where they come back and it becomes frustrating.
Someone should offer to make change for this guy. He uses the excuse that he doesn’t have any small change so, offer to break a bill for him. See how he gets himself out of that.
Maybe it’ll shame him into getting a job. At the very least the resulting squirming will be worth a couple of laughs.