I used to give lots of change away to the guys/gals selling the magazine (The Voice, I think) I would sometimes chat them up a bit. Offer them a granola bar from my lunch or whatever.
After living downtown for 4 years I have many many stories of people asking me for change or smokes (when I did smoke). These are a few.
This one woman was asking for change for food - outside of Denny/Sandman and all I had was my debit and credit cards. I said that I have no money, but I could buy her some take out or I could pre-pay her dinner from Denny's she didn't like this idea. She said, well to tell you the truth I don't need food I need money. I said "oh, you just asked for change for food". I gave her a funny look and walked away.
I used to do this one quite often, they ask for change for the bus. I would offer them a transit ticket and they would say no thanks. Like seriously don't lie to me you stinking drunks. I am not stupid nor will I fall for your little tricks.
During the summer months, when all the young kids "RUN AWAY FROM HOME, LMAO" they would always ask me for smokes down at the C-train station and I would take a drag from my smoke and say, "sorry, don't smoke" they would look at me stunnned and say oh, ok man. I loved doing this one.
Now that I live far from downtown and don't really visit it quite often,when I do I still give a bit of change to the guys selling the magazine, as for the homeless that harrass people, I just keep walking.
Oh yea, three weeks ago when I turned a guy down for change, he had the balls to ask me for my water!!! I said, nahhhh dude I'm thirsty.
