Panhandler Pimp?

[annasuave]

Did I really see this? Driving down Edmonton Trail this morning, a truck pulled over and stopped at the corner in front of me. A guy got out of the passenger side carrying a card-board sign, one of those "Please help. Need bus fare home to Hamilton" kind of jobbies. Driver hands him a lunchbox, beeps the horn, and drives off.

It looked for all the world like the guy was being dropped off for the start of his shift or something!

It makes me wonder. Can it be that all those folks I see standing around panhandling for bus fare to Hamilton aren't really trying to get there at all? Were there other guys that got dropped off at other corners? Was this guy their "pimp"?

Did I just imagine this?

And perhaps most importantly - why doesn't MY boss prepare a nice box-lunch for me?

[ken0042]

And for the record, if you go into a Welfare office and say you are from Ontario and need assistance, they will hand you a one way Greyhound ticket.

[Locke]

This is clearly fraud.

If they were really hard up for cash Hamilton is the last place they'd be going.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by ken0042

And for the record, if you go into a Welfare office and say you are from Ontario and need assistance, they will hand you a one way Greyhound ticket.

Really?

[ken0042]

Yes. Years ago I talking to a panhandler. and she told me that her and her b/f just arrived from Ontario. They didn't have jobs so they went to the welfare office. She complained about how welfare said they would help them out, and how they waited for 3 hours and they came back with bus tickets and meal vouchers for them for their return trip home.

I actually thought it was a good idea- have our provincial tax dollars spent on a one time fix as opposed to letting them live on the dole.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by annasuave

It makes me wonder. Can it be that all those folks I see standing around panhandling for bus fare to Hamilton aren't really trying to get there at all?

Hahaha, that would be the idea. Just like the guy downtown who needs seventy-five cents more for a train ticket but isn't really going to be taking the train at all. Or like the guy who's only a buck short of a happy meal but his idea of a 'happy meal' is a six pack. Or the guy who only needs $2.50 more to fix the electronic gas converter in his pick-up so he can get home in time for his grandmother's funeral but probably doesn't have a pick-up or a grandmother.

I think I've just about heard them all after living and working downtown for years.

[Boblobla]

I hate bums. If they put 1/2 the effort into looking for a job as they did creating sob stories...

I had a bum swear at me once for giving him food after he asked for change for food. I guess by food he meant meth.

[socktape]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Hahaha, that would be the idea. Just like the guy downtown who needs seventy-five cents more for a train ticket but isn't really going to be taking the train at all. Or like the guy who's only a buck short of a happy meal but his idea of a 'happy meal' is a six pack. Or the guy who only needs $2.50 more to fix the electronic gas converter in his pick-up so he can get home in time for his grandmother's funeral but probably doesn't have a pick-up or a grandmother.

I think I've just about heard them all after living and working downtown for years.

My favorite was the guy who wanted me to come with him to the pawn shop so that he could use my ID to pawn a camera that he "owned".

[Jayems]

Ah yes, the Professional Panhandler.

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=84523

Not a one will ever get a penny out of me again. Ever.

[Berger_4_]

We had one guy come up to us right by Chinook mall...at first he didn't look like a panhandler, just a young guy who was lost in the city. So he comes up to us and we're thinking he's gonna ask us for directions, but nay. He asks us if we have any money or anything for food cause he'd slept in the park the last three days...We say no, but we've got some frozen yogurt he could have if he wanted. Without batting an eyelash he looks at us and says "I don't do ice cream. I only eat healthy stuff"...moron. If you'd have came up to me and said "Hey do you have any money for beer?" I might have given you something...this way, nuh-uh.

[Ironhorse]

Anyone remember Roland Kafka, who was exposed by the Sun a while back as using a wheelchair to "professionally" panhandle?

These guys have been around for a while now.

[ericschand]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Anyone remember Roland Kafka, who was exposed by the Sun a while back as using a wheelchair to "professionally" panhandle?

These guys have been around for a while now.

Where and what is this about?

I was in Eau Claire, at the coffee shop, for a couple of days early last week.

There's some old(er) guy on a wheelchair. Both mornings he comes in with
someone, they go have a coffee, chat a bit. Then she goes away, and
he moves to the door of the mall and sets up.

Pulls out a sign asking for money, goes from bright/perky to desolate.

I was watching and thinking wtf??

ers

[habernac]

the "Shaky Lady" from Toronto (I think) had a nice gig going a few years back. Busted by the media, who were then chased out of her nice apartment complete with kick ass big screen TV by her very large sons.

[CaptainCrunch]

I have a simple method for panhandlers when I worked downtown.

I would have my own sob story and ask for handouts or smokes from them. Basically I had just lost my job, had 6 kids, and needed bus fair to Ontario, plus I was out of smokes.

I used to give money to them if they had a fairly original story, or they were willing to clean out my garage for pay.

[Boblobla]

I would give money to this bum, but that is about it...

[JohnnyFlame]

I don't give them a penny and haven't for a very long time. They are an annoyance and I'm tempted to pop the persistent ones with a few head shots(but what if everybody did this --would there be a call for a ban on headshots to bums?). I contribute to bonafide charities and that's it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cowboy89]

I went up to pay for my C-train ticket at a machine at the station between Centre and 1st street SW and I was acosted by some bum that wanted me to buy his still valid used ticket (Presumably retrieved from the garbage or on the ground from another passenger) instead of buying a new one from the machine. I plugged my money into the machine with glee and I told him I trusted our municipal government with my $2.50 much better than him (Which is saying a whole lot considering my posts in the City budget threads).

[Table 5]

What sort of bothers me most about some guys is when you do decide to give them change, it is never enough and they act like you're being a jerk who owes them.

The other day i was walking out of McDonalds, and a guy asked me if he could have some change so he too could get a burger.I said, sure, reached into my wallet and grabbed a dollar bill. They guy started whining that I didnt give him enough. I don't expect anyone to treat me like a hero for giving out a fricking dollar, but a kind, respectful thank you is warranted no? Obviously if i have money to throw around, i probably wouldnt be eating at a macdonalds).

[Bill Bumface]

I love it when guys have the balls to ask for a "spare twoonie" or "spare dollar" instead of asking for spare change. I wish I had a handful of pennies to throw in their face when I get asked that...

My friend got completely owned by a bum however. The bum comes up to my friend asking for change, my friend says he needs it for bus fare. The bum says no problem, I can sell you this bus ticket so I can use the money for food. My friend who drove to work, realizing he was busted in his lie bought the bus ticket he didn't need off of the bum. That's a well deserved $2... haha.

[Bobblehead]

I see the same guy at the corner of 16th/68th NE on most days. Same guy for weeks with a "Need money for food, and God Bless" sign. And half the time I see people giving him money.

A agree with the sign I see on the C-Train, give the money to the shelters instead of the panhandlers, then you know it will be going to a worthy purpose.