No, it was in B-town, so it was on hway 37.

 

look, if they feel hurt by what someone says to them, then that is their own personal problem. like the saying goes: "bricks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me."

btw, when a person is panhandling, they are by definition soliciting others for money. and when they solicit others without other's explicit permission, then they are being rude. so in that sense, nearly all panhandling is an act of rudeness. being solicited for monetary donation on the street by panhandlers is just as rude as telemarketers calling you to solicit you for whatever it is that they want, not to mention, it is just as annoying...

 

the problem with providng them with info and resources is that that is not what most of them want or care for. they want your cash, period, and that is what they are asking for money and not info and resources.

 

It depends on the sign. I feel compassion for someone who writes "Will work for food" instead of "Stranded, need money to get home. Trust Jesus"

But that area is kind of different than on a major interstate....

 

True, but then again, many of the "will work for food" people are probably hoping people will just donate. I don't know, sometimes I just feel real pity for those folks, but some of the posts in this thread have helped to harded my heart (isn't that a sweet-ass 80s song.. hehe).
I suppose rather than giving to a guy with a sign who is likely making quite decent money, I should donate to a charity here, or even better- one who serves those REALLY in need- people in the third world. Where help really isn't even available to them. And a little bit of money for those people goes even further.

 

Oh, and just thinking about donating has been the most rewarding experience of my life...

 

Something happened last night that made me think of this thread...

So I'm on my way to pick up my financee to take her out for Valentine's dinner. I'm at this red light and some homeless guy was there begging for change. I had all my windows up. He came up to my passenger side and asked for quarters. I glanced at him, then ignored him like I usually do. He then KNOCKED on my window and tried to look in through the tinted window, leaving his dirty fingerprints on my window. Pissed off, I lowered the window about 2 inches and yelled at him, "Touch my car again and I'll rip your arm off. Back away from the car. And go get a damn job."

I'm such an asshole.