Spring Garden isn’t so pleasant anymore. To the people who play their shitty music RIGHT by the curbs. To the ones who fill the streets with their rancid stank. To the dirties that have 3 cents in their case but breath down your neck for change because they think they deserve it. Maybe we gave are spare change to tip people who actually have a job or put it in those charity boxes they have on the counters in stores. MAYBE WE NEED IT. So when I’m waiting to cross the street don’t come closer to me because it’s awkward trying to ignore your pathetic attempts, I don’t have any more fucking change and I’ve had to cross early many times to avoid you, nearly getting hit by a car. Buskers are talented at what they do so don’t use that excuse because you don’t even deserve such a title title. Stop littering a good street with your presence.
But, Sax man you’re in my good books don’t worry…you too guy with no limbs.
—Confessions of a shopaholic
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2009.
couldn’t you just say, with some force behind it, “no change, sorry”? thats what i do every time, nobody hassles me… quit being such a bitch, they are people, fuck knows whats wrong with them.
Walk by, ignore ’em. Jeeze, I’d hate to see you in a really big city. You’d be wearing a double decker bus in no time.
I like these guys… sure they sound like a really bad version of Bob Dylan, but hey, at least they’re doing something, and the they don’t spit on you when you turn your back.
Oh what would our streets be without a little flavour? How do you know if you smell good if there’s no one smelly to compare yourself to? Haha. I rarely do give these guys change (mainly because Im broke as fk at the moment) but when I do chuck them a bit, I usually don’t even get a thank you! Im not against bums or whatever but I figured it’s the least they could do, so if any of you read this, remember your P’s and Q’s.
– N!CK
Oddly, I’ve noted that during my times in Toronto I’ve always seen LESS panhandlers than in Halifax. I mean there are crack whores and junkies and people with guns ready to shoot whomever whenever, but there’s a definite lack of people asking for change compared with Halifax…
…very curious.
Change doesn’t get you anywhere in Toronto, that’s why. They’ve got high class bums. They ask for fives.
PK: You don’t see as many panhandlers in TO because they have more places to go. There aren’t that many places in halifax other than SGR and a few intersections to beg for money. Downtown toronto is huge, so the panhandlers are more spaced out. I would run into more panhandlers a day in Toronto than I would in Halifax, but since they aren’t getting you in such rapid succession like you get on SGR it wasn’t as annoying.
sounds like “strategic panhandling” to me 😛
youre pathetic! who are you to judge them? you don’t know them. mindless “shopaholics” like you are actually worse then “hookers” and youre way below the panhandlers. they actually enliven our sgr with culture, music and alternative life styles. with out them our streets would be filled with mindless scum like you, what an effing eyesore. you don’t know how our government has wronged them or how theyre the by product of the former. its people like you who idolizes corrupt politicians and dont even know it. youve probably supported the bush admin. way back in his early years ’cause the news told you to. like satre said, there’s nothing worse then ‘those who mindlessly idolizes the oppressers who oppress them’. and trust me i’m not a panhandler but ive meet them at local concerts, etc. they actually support our local culture, music, art, etc. but you, youre just pathetic.
I have nothing against pan handlers – and the people with less than starbound talents? Power to them.
But I do hold a grudge. I was walking down SGR early one morning, on my way to grab a coffee and an apple, and perhaps a used book – when a lady asked me for change for a coffee, truthfully I said “Sorry, I dont have any” and went on my merry way to break a twenty for my book, coffee, and apple. On my way back up the street she (still sitting there) sent me the nastiest glare, and Ive seen a few doozies, and said “Is that a coffee” to which I replied… “sorry,” in an ashamed way and walked on.
I shouldnt have to feel ashamed for drinking a god damn coffee. With that being said… I normally give change to panhandlers.