To the what I assumed were teenage high school shitbags out on their lunch break panhandling: get a life. To the one that asked my friend for a smoke as we were walking by and she said NO, then you said, “Is it because I’m black?” Where the fuck do you get off saying something like that? Were you waiting for us to say, “Yes?” Assholes come in all types of colours. Tell your white buddies they won’t get a dime from me panhandling because even though they’re white, I can still see right through them. All of you get a life. —Minding My Business
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2010.
Were they on Spring Garden yesterday by any chance?
oh geez… “SGR”… duh.
Yeah, I saw these two guys walking home from work. They were standing on the steps of the library and I commented to my friend on the irony of such douche bags hanging out on the steps of a library. As I walked by them, one of them said to a couple of others, “watch this…”. He proceeded to address an attractive female walking by… “hey beautiful…. got a smoke??” Talk about feeding a stigma…..
“No, it’s not because your black, but you’re definitely not helping your cause….” Takes a world to make a world, unfortunately.
I once had a pandhandler ask me for a quarter. When I told him “No, sorry,” he then asked for my number.
because that’s the lesser of the two things he wanted…
wow, sounds like a keeper.
why can’t they ban this panhandling as a form of harassment?
either that or everyone post no soliciting, no panhandling signs everywhere and have the popo’s enforce them for a change.
the bums here can definitely make you feel uncomfortable
Indeed. I once had one yell “It’s all your fault! Isn’t it?!” at me while I was walking by. I smiled politely and made my heals click a hell of a lot faster walking by.
Yeah, I really wish I could either walk to work or walk home without having to ignore a dozen bums on the way. I say if they are allowed to be there, they just stand or sit with whatever they are using as a money collector/container and shut up. People obviously know why they are there…. if they feel they want to make a “donation”, they can decide for themselves.
And know what’s even worse?? “Thank you- you have a nice day….” when you ignore them. I chose NOT to talk to you… that is not an invite to talk to me.
hmmm, I’m not sure if I still agree with banning it… I don’t really mind those who are playing music or demonstrating some other such talent other than looking scragly and talking over their smokers cough. I guess technically that’s busking though so they’d fall under a different category maybe?
I dunno….
I miss chalkmaster dave
Aren’t kids under 16 required by law to be in some kind of school?
I guess they haven’t had “truant officers” for a few generations now, but maybe it is time they brought them back.
and you wonder where racism starts? take a good look around for who said what again?
Last time someone said I did something “because they were black” I turned around and told them they were assuming that “because I was white”. That ended that conversation pretty dam quick.
“Is it because I’m black?” … I would have said “Yes” to see how it escalated. Call the police….the police will side with you vs a panhandler.
You wouldn’t have said it to these boys seb… I thought for sure if I looked them in the eyes I’d be knifed (I wasn’t the OP btw, but experienced the charm of these lads later on the same day…..)
yeesh, i’m glad i don’t work on sgr anymore….tho they’re enough wackos in the north to keep me on bodyguard alert
“No dumbass, it’s because I don’t smoke.” Something tells me I’ve seen this young pair before. If so, they know who I am.
Apparently this is all that ever got tabled about panhandling bylaws in halifax in 2005 . I can’t find anywhere where it was actually enacted . SPG rd association in 2009 still was pushing for it .
http://www.halifax.ca/Council/agendasc/doc…
good find weed… shame about the “panhandling in and of itself is not unlawful”
though I’m not surprised either to see double negatives….
they don’t make things any unclearer…
I agree zzz . Even though I know its enacted in some other larger cities , I don’t think it gives alot of power and or enforcement. I know calgary has a similar bylaw , but the streets downtown are full of drunk or cracked out bums and the cops do diddly about it .
I do think thou that if we as a collective community enforced it ourselves , by way of just not giving any change or smokes to the bums , that in essence would eliminate them because why ask when your getting nothing .
I do have an exception to my rules of giving nothing to anyone and walking on . Its that if i see some person missing legs or a brain or are obviously crippled up , I will help you out because obviously you can’t work and I don’t think disability ( joke ) or welfare gives them enough to really live on besides rent and maybe three weeks of food .
I have some compassion . I just have none for drunks , crackers or people that are young and fit and able to work . Them are the ones that piss me off . Why should i bust my ass bricking buildings and framing and sheathing houses for my money all day , feel the need to give your lazy ass my money i worked for . I pay for my beer and weed with my money – so should they . Fairs fair . And just because i can afford my beer and weed , doesn’t mean i have to support you with yours .
Hey jonnoman,
It was me and my friend that were out for a walk. It happened on Tuesday. The point is, why did this individual mention the “black” remark. I should have asked him if he was implying that we were either racists or because we are white, better than him senario.
It’s just the attitude this one displayed. Now I’m starting so see more young people shaking a Tim’s cup.
Mind you, I’m used to the regular beggars. But when you get these pricks who think they can make a quick buck during their lunch break pisses me off. I’m sure they’re students too fucking lazy to look for work.
i know that a lot of them are from the highschool. we know most of the unfortunates from the north end and they do odd jobs for small businesses
I get a kick out of the panhandlers who think it’s cool to bum for change and hit on a woman at the same time. Take that toothless grin elsewhere, ugly!
Poor Dino is going to hate Halifax more than Kay if/when she moves here for school. Ah well, it’ll give her plenty to write about =D
The last time someone waved a Tim’s cup at a friend of mine, he dropped his cigarette butt in it.
The one who annoys me is the old guy who puts his hand out THEN asks for spare change. Part of me feels like snapping, “Get your fucking hand out of my face!”
I could stretch this post out into ten volumes, that’s how many run-ins I’ve had with HRM’s finest. Specifically, though, to the little fucker who haunts the corner of Barrington and Prince, the one who gave me such a hard time last summer for ignoring his crack-addicted plea for a twoonie: if we EVER meet again and I’m not standing outside my place of work surrounded by co-workers, I’ll feed you your grimy fucking ball cap.
There. That was almost therapeutic, thanks. 🙂
awesome pic/alias Schrödinger!
Hey thanks zZz!