To all those “kind hearted” and “self-less” people who hand over thier cash to the bums… wow, you’re really doing the world a favor. Every day these “full time” bums ask me to give up some of my hard earned money. Why should i? And why are the same bums asking me the same question day after day after day? Oh, thats right, because so many fools in Halifax are keeping them in business! Don’t you realize that the money you’re giving them is not really doing any good? The same bums will still be on Spring Garden road 2 years from now doing the exact same thing that they’re doing now. Get a clue. If you morons didn’t give them so much money.. then they wouldn’t be there, and then I wouldn’t get harrassed every fucking day. Fuck. If you feel an urge to be charitable there are much better ways to do it. Hey, I’ve owe thousands of dollars to Canada Student Loans, can you spare a few bucks?
—Works hard for her money
This article appears in Jul 16-22, 2009.
sheesh, and i thought MY life sucked
but after that ‘compassionate’ little screed of yours,
i suddenly feel so much better about myself
and wow, what an über-cunt you are
sometimes, i even feed stray/hungry cats too,
i’ll bet that must really piss you off, eh?
have a nice day, wench
Where do you think they would be OP if people didn’t give them money? Do you think they would be better off? Do you care?
And a charitable act is not just about doing good for the person receiving the charity, it’s good for the giver as well. You should try it sometime.
Techcafe, you are indeed the ultimate Worldsaver(tm).
I see some of the same bums now that I did 20 years ago when I was in university.
ps – think i’ll head down spring garden afterward, and hand out loonies to all the ‘bums’ – just to spite you
and i’ll tell them it’s courtesy of ‘works hard for her money’ – umm, i’ll bet (didn’t donna summer write a song about that?)
Personally I don’t give them any money at all, for me there is no such thing as “spare change”, until someone else starts paying my bills. But besides that, I really don’t care what anyone else does with their money. If they want to feed half of SGR it’s their choice. I have no problem looking a bum in the face and saying “no”.
Besides, I never carry cash anyway, my Visa gets me by.
at least you come honestly by your moniker, Cranky
CHEERS!
Techy: Didn’t Liz Lemon do something like that in the first episode of 30 Rock? Don’t buy all the hotdogs tech.
@ Miles
30 Rock? what the hell is that??
are you suggesting i watch more trash tv?
i don’t even have cable
hotdogs, ewww, ground up animal by-products… i’ll pass
but i can pick one up for you along the way, if you like
and hey, it’s on me…
just so i can piss off little miss ‘works hard for the money’ that much more
you know, being ‘excessively charitable’ and all
I agree with the OP, though they did say it in a way that was obnoxious…donate to the food bank if you really care, or Adsum house or Turning Points. Just don’t be an enabler, because that is exactly what you are doing.
And no you won’t see some of them again next year, not to be dramatic but some of them will be dead from drug and alcohol overdoses by then…
Maybe people who feel compelled to give to adsum house or turning points should do that. Those that feel compelled to give change should do that and those that don’t want to give anything shouldn’t. It’s charity, not taxation. Give if you want to, ignore them if you don’t.
@ Miles
hear! hear! best advice i’ve heard so far.
The panhandlers that “work” on SGR are well-known scammers who have apartments, income and food. They’re not in need of ANY “donations”.
Some of the SGR locals are even in their teens and will panhandle outside of McDonalds (which boasts a huge “We’re Hiring!” sign in the window). Some of the newer buskers are in the same age category. Its bullshit, folks.
I’ve been asked by the same person within 10 seconds for change but for two entirely different reasons; one was for “coffee” and the other was for bus fare. The guy asked me, I snapped at him, then he turned and asked a couple others THEN came back to me!
I honestly cannot fathom how people feel “sorry” for these losers or feel angry towards “us” for calling them on their BS and refusing to help fund their habits.
Call me a loser or whatever, but it honestly breaks my heart to see people take out their wallets or change purses, dig out a twoonie or loonie and hand it to these bums like they’re doing some good. Its fucking sad and ridiculous.
tech – you seem like a really smart dude and enjoy reading your posts, but even you would have to give a stink eye to someone in his early 20s that comes up to you and says, “I need to get the bus but don’t have any small change. Can you give me some?”
I should add – this particular asshole who says he has no “small change for the bus” is fucking full of it. I know this b/c I’ve seen him in action.
He actually came up to myself, PK and two others on SGR one day and gave us his story (no small change, big bills) and we told him to go to Shoppers or a corner store and ask them to break it. The asshole just stood there and looked at us like a moron.
Anyways, about maybe 30-45 mins. later, I take a strut over to the NSLC on Clyde to pick up some cold ones. When I come out, Mr. No-Small-Change was walking into the same store.
PK and I saw him a few days later doing the same thing and actually saw one bimbo hand him a Twoonie. You think he’d stop but the prick just kept hanging around the same bus stop and asked others for “help”!
I think he asked PK for change later in the same day and she yelled at him.
He’s got dirty blonde, rough/curly looking hair and grey-blue eyes. Also carries around a broken school bag and usually has really ugly jeans on. Sometimes a blue-ish and grey plaid shirt.
My best response: ‘I don’t support addictions other than my own.”
The problem with panhandlers in this city is that the large majority of them do it as their “job.” They’re perfectly capable of getting employment, but choose to feed their addictions and pay for their apartments (yes many of them aren’t homeless) through bumming money off of other who work hard for their money.
I didn’t have a problem with giving some spare change here or there to panhandlers until I started seeing the same ones over and over again with the same “scam.” I mean how many toonies do you NEED to get on the bus, dude? That one guy who trolls up and down SGR telling people he has no small change? LIAR. He gets a toonie and moves onto the next and asks the same thing.
And NGF has seen him at the liquor store many times. Actually if you sit in the food court in SS around 3-ish you can see a bunch of “bums” who come in, already half cut, heading towards the LC to pay for their liquor with pockets of change. I’m really sure they’re “needy,” techcafe. People can spend their money on what they want, I’m all for minding my own business when it comes to others and their addictions, but ffs I’m not giving you my hard earned money to go piss it away at the NSLC. And I barely have enough money to buy MYSELF a cup of coffee at any given point so no, I don’t have money to give YOU for a coffee. Get. A. Job. I’m not talking about those who are really homeless because those people DO need help, which is why I think it’s more important to give money to shelters that help the homeless than to give it to some random panhandlers who may or may not be homeless in the first place.
I’ve also been informed by many that this guy or that guy trolling for money here there or everywhere that they do have an apartment and a car and whatever….they don’t need to be bumming money. If you have a fixed address there’s no reason why you can’t get yourself an actual job. Unless you’re disabled (and in that case the gov’t gives you a pension!), there is no possible excuse for not getting a job — you have facilities to clean yourself and an address to put on a job application. And if you’re illiterate there are programs throughout the city (for free!) that can teach you to read. And there’s always welfare. You don’t need to be asking me for the money I actually worked for.
You can usually tell when someone’s a scammer too. Just look at their shoes. Some of them have better shoes on than me! And once, NGF saw some kid panhandling on SGR and he had an IPOD. WTF? If you can afford an ipod, dude, you don’t need my money.
I’m with the OP — I owe almost 100 grand in student loans — anyone wanna give ME some money?
Well there are places for “bums” to get help. My wallet just isn’t one of them. There was a time a fella asked me for change for food. I went in to a resturant and bought him a meal and when I came out he was gone. He wanted my money not food. I too have no problem saying No. I work hard for my money and the things I have and have. Life isn’t cheep so why should they get a free ride.
WOW
your a douche bag
Also: I DID yell at the guy who NGF describes when he asked me for money. Then after he left the others at the bus stop (the one outside Shoppers on SGR) and I had quite a nice little chat about our experiences with said “no small change” guy. He used to hang out at the mumford terminal, but I guess people caught on because he’s moved to SGR almost exclusively (and just trolls up and down up and down all day). Guy had a back pack that’s half open and he’s obviously on some kind of drug because he’s oooouuuuut of it.
I actually heard one woman panhandler earlier this week yelling to her panhandler buddies: “Steve – they already took my spot! I can’t make no money on this side!”
Felt like turning to her and saying, “You’re not making money anyways – you’re merely TAKING it…..big difference.”
Their belief that certain spots of public property belong to them is hilarious.
Jane, check my profile – you should email me 😉
Not everyone on the street is a no good addict with a great apartment. There are allot of people on the street (who sleep on the street too) because they have mental conditions, such as schizophrenia that prevent them from working and leading a normal life. There is very little social support for these people and all the support for the food banks and various other groups cannot come close to what is needed out there. (and by the way people, welfare pays little more than $500 a month, try surviving on that.) Have a heart and some compassion. Some of those people may be scammers but most aren’t. They are lost souls and the least you can do, even if you don’t want to help, is to treat them like real people. Life isn’t fair; count your own blessings – remember that.
LOL!!!!!! NGF..ask him if his name is Jason..if it is..I used to work with him.and he “bummed” while he had a job. He asked me one day not realizing who I was, at the bridge terminal, I asked him where his tip money went “o, well I had to buy smokes, so I don’t have bus fare now” which was a lie, because he had to catch a bus form where we worked to the bridge..I still see him around, bumming money…he has a job at mcdonalds last I knew..
There is a lot of help out there, Melannie! The people who need and want help know where to get it and will seek it out. You don’t see that EVER from panhandlers. I have to start telling them about Hope Cottage on Brunswick if they’re so hungry and down on their luck.
We never said that ALL were dirty scammers but that a good chunk of them are. And its not hard to tell which ones are the scammers.
There are maybe 3 panhandlers whom I’ll happily give my last penny to, however I never see 2 of them around anymore and only hope they’re doing well.
I have another story actually. The other night I was walking to the bank machine in early evening, maybe around 8-8:30 or so and cut through the parking lot behind SDM. The deaf guy who yells, “DOLLAR!” on Barrington St. was cutting through at the same time.
He was carrying a bag of beer. I know this b/c I saw him coming from the NSLC and could read the bag. Anyways, when he gets near me, he stops, holds his hat out and yells “DOLLAR!” to me. I shot him a look and pointed at his bag while shaking my head “No”.
Tell me when I should start feeling bad…..
I can fully appreciate that people want to do good for people in need. I have a heart, it bleeds like that of any other warm-blooded human. However, having seen my own struggles, I agree with OP when it comes to some of the panhandlers out there. Not all, but there are most certainly a lot of young people with outstretched palms who have alternatives and choose not to take them. I am a teacher and some of my former students used to pandhandle, fully set up in a door stoop with a sleeping bag and a German Shepherd. Knowing the background of a few of these kids, I was irked to no end as they a) had parents who were supportive but wanted their kids to be responsible b) were able bodied c) were not simply capable but highly functioning individuals and finally d) because they would brag about how easy they had it, not having to pay taxes or keep regular work hours and follow rules. Now, are all pandhandlers like that? No, of course not. There are most certainly those who are not medicated and should be, have seen hard times, can’t get off the bottle, etc. And for those people, I use my discretion and if I can throw a buck their way, I will. However, struggling financially due to some hard knocks, I AM offended when a young “traveler” approaches my car, broke and hungry. A few years back, a journalist named Thane Burnett travelled across Canada living a vagabond lifestyle, sleeping in churches or wherever somebody would be kind enough to put him up for a night. He traded elbow-grease for meals, rides and/or money to buy a bus ticket to the next city on his way across our nation. A sociological experiment to see if it could be done, and guess what — it could! Do I have a problem with a person asking for help in a similar fashion? Not at all. But an outstretched hand from a scruffy looking girl in her early 20’s at the Willow Tree on the weekend elicited a negative reaction. It burned me that as she walked from car to car with her “Traveling, no money and hungry sign” around her neck,it was difficult not to notice her travelling companion, who was in clear view of myself and I would think, most other passing motorists. He was crouched low to his duffle bag in front of a window at the site of the former Queen Elizabeth High School. He looked rather worse for the wear (that’s putting it politely, trust me) and smoking something from a pipe. Meth? Crack? I don’t know. But, it burned me. In cases such as those, I can’t help but agree with the OP about enabling others’ habits. I’m pragmatic, not cold-hearted. If these kids did anything to benefit others in exchange for a little help, they would be more than welcome to my coffee change. When it comes down to it, our taxes should provide more resources for people who truly need them. And as much as I applaud the good intentions of those who indiscriminately ‘donate’ their dollars to the open hand, I would further commend those who say they want to make a difference, by taking out their pens to wreite to their MLA’s, Ombudsmen and other government representatives to better provide for those who need assistance and educate and motivate those who choose to be vagrant cadgers.
One of my cousins from the states ended up on the streets for reasons similar to those Melannie described. However she was not a beggar, not all homeless people are.
I only get annoyed if the person begging is obviously fully functional, able bodied, young etc. Like that young man who was standing in front of HMV a few weeks ago. He couldn’t have been over 20, looked healthy, had decent cloths, and a long conversation with a friend while I was at that bus stop. He could speak fine, sounded educated, there’s no excuse for someone like to not get a job.
What most don’t realize is those who are REALLY down on their luck are a lot like fizz’s cousin: they don’t panhandle. I know a few people who volunteer/work with the various homeless shelters around HRM and they always tell me how those who use their services aren’t the ones who are bumming for money. Most are down on their luck and really need some help. A lot are too proud to beg for money. That’s why i’d much rather help the shelters who ARE helping those who need it (and can’t always afford to help all they want to), than some random on the street asking me for change while he’s got an ipod attached to his head.
I have NO problem helping those down on their luck, but I refuse to help scam artists who are fully capable of getting a job. There’s one kid who used to panhandle by the bridge terminal. He looked like he had a physical disability and wore really crummy clothes with a crummy bookbag. I used to feel really sorry for that kid (he was bumming from cars — he had a sign that I could never get a good look at from the bus)….anyway, i saw this same kid a few months later on the bus — nice clothes, bus pass and WHOA: no disability. Either the guy panhandling has a twin, or he’s not really disabled and didn’t really NEED to be bumming.
I used to walk down SGR early every morning on my way to work a few years ago, and there were a couple of regular panhandlers who did it like a job. One, the middle aged woman (Louise?) who used to hang around the library, used to take the bus to that spot every day like clockwork to let her set up shop. The second, even better, drove his Ford Crown Vic there, parked it all day in a handicap spot, and worked the wall all day before getting back in the car and driving home. Don’t give any of them a dime — they are just taking advantage of the soft-hearted and the substantial number of clueless youths who congregate on SGR.
OB……..your right, but I still give sometimes to some of them…………but you are right.
Some of the full timers can make 50 to 60 grand a year, so that’s why they do it, it’s lucrative. Some bring their cars downtown and park their cars, then park their butts.
I couldn’t do it though…………………boring beyond belief!! I also can’t lie like that, I couldn’t deceive people while asking for their help.
I’ve lived here one year after living in Vancouver for 17 years. The panhandling in Vancouver is crazy!!! Everywhere you go there are panhandlers,EVERYWHERE and most of the money they get goes to meth, crack, heroin or the bottle. Since moving here I’ve noticed an increase in the panhandling on Barrington and hope it’s just seasonal and not a sign of the times. I used to be compassionate but after a particularily aggressive meth head asked for money, then proceeded to throw the money I gave him away I’ve stopped giving them my ‘spare’ change. I’ll make a donation to a woman’s shelter; most the people I see begging are able bodied 20-something year old men.
Another thing, ……………………………………..I particularly like passing a twoonie to those characters that obviously need money but they don’t ask, they just wander around trying to pick the garbage for recyclables and cigarette butts.
Those little smiles you usually get are the most genuine you’ll ever see!
junebug you’re my new hero!
i think they come from BC to NS honestly. actually, in HRM, you’ll come across people claiming that they’re travelling and need money. the clincher is that they’ve been here for 3 years and using the ol’ “saving money to travel” line for a good 2.75 years.
I think some bitchers ( the OP’s ) need to spend less time telling people what to do with their money, their choice of clothing and/or were they gaze their eyes while in public and more time minding their own damn business.
There is a sucker born every minutes, and you can’t protect them all. If they want to give their money away on the streets so be it. I sure as shit won’t be giving my change away for free simply because someone asked for it.
Don’t forget the men’s shelters too, junebug — the young men panhandling on the streets aren’t going to the shelters (because they probably have actual fixed addresses). Actually I’m willing to bet if you went to the Turning Point shelter on barrington you’d be hard pressed to find any great amount of panhandlers camping out there. Same with hope cottage.
I thought the men had to leave the shelters during the day?
don’t they kick them out at 7 am or something and let them return at 10pm?
NGF i did it! i emailed you 😀
But it is true not everyone on the street has places to go at night. I am bad for stopping and chatting but i have had some bad exsperences (im a sucker) i have given some girl money for food as she went on and on about how nothign was working for her and what not and i felt so bad! so i gave her $20 bones to run into her at the sea horse that night! i SO called her out on it
Wooooo!
Jane – some scammers come up with the best stories. I’ve had some tell me that they’re “from central america” and a “clergy” member. “Charm” does help them sometimes…
Man, the only thing worse than someone bummin for change, is people asking me for a cigarette…
NGF – I think you are right, they are coming from B.C.! The creepiest one is that intense guy on Spring Garden, he used to be at the Mumford terminal by the mall….he walks right up to your face and stares at you. I think I should invest in some pepper spray…
i hate it when soemone bums a smoke and you tell them know so they yell at you!
like thats going to work
Do you math people and you will see that those “bums” actually make more money that the average joe working 9-5 Monday to Friday. STOP GIVING THESE LOSERS MONEY AND CALL THE COPS TO REPORT THEM!
junebug: that’s the guy we were talking about. he trolls up and down SGR asking for bus money because he doesn’t have any small change.
Well, dude, most people who don’t have any small change, would, i dunno, walk into any one of the 4-5 banks along SGR and ask for some change….or even ask for a bill to be changed at one of the drugs stores or wherever.
So nice try, bud. You’re not fooling anyone.
junebug – PK’s right, that’s the same guy we were talking about. I don’t think he even blinks; actually saw him Tuesday evening by St. Mary’s Basillica and he had tunnel vision walking.
Same ol’ broken school bag but his hair is longer and darker than I originally thought.
Pepper spray would be an option for you. He doesn’t frighten me b/c I’ll stare him down but he does have that “I’m fucked up” look.