Toronto tourist dies after attack by panhandlers

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Regarding crack Macs- I have heard that one of the reasons there's not a 24/7 police presence there is they know the drug deals are going to go down; if they close that area down the dealers will simply move. So it's better to have a known section of town- that way us non-users know what area to avoid.

Not sure how much of that I buy, but it does make sense in a "police have given up" sort of way.

I'd rather it be moved away from there because that place is important for many commuters. Sometimes I walk from the west end of downtown to work and catch the train there. So far I've encountered a murder scene where someone got shot over a bad drug deal with police tape marking everything off, a murder on the C-Train last week, Constant crack dealing and using going on, and persistant scum that make many commuters (especiallly older women) feel nervious. It's about time the citizenry form a coalition and just have 20-30 people there all the time to make sure there are eyes on everything.

[habernac]

they've certainly stepped up police presence on the pathway near the river by the drop-in centre, which I certainly appreciate.

[bigtmac19]

Just got home from 3 days in Toronto, stayed downtown. Was approached by two panhandlers, once before and once after coming out of a theater on Yonge Street, both fairly aggressive with sticking their Tim Horton's cup in my face, but when I said no, they left us alone. Took a cab back to the hotel from the theatre, because it was late, I thought more of the creeps may be out at night.
But overall, was a nice visit, haven't been to Toronto for many years, and my son really enjoyed it, so that made it worthwhile.
I read this story when we got home and was pretty horrified.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I'd rather it be moved away from there because that place is important for many commuters. .

Yup and add to that the fact that there are a number of apartment complexes in the area. I lived in Garden Towers (right beside the Macs) years ago. The area was pretty bad then but not as bad as it is now. Still though it was very uncomfortable coming home after dark and passing by that Macs.

[Bill Bumface]

I've still never seen panhandling worse than in San Francisco. I had a guy grab my wallet through my pants and tell him I had a wallet so I should give him money. It was a little scary and I really felt like he was close to trying to fight me when I kept saying no.

[CaptainCrunch]

Whenever I walk by a pan handler or they approach me, I always ask them for change or a smoke before they ask me.

Then I walk away.

I remember telling one panhandler that I would give him 75 bucks if he would clean out my garage, and he refused because to him it sounded like too much work.

[habernac]

had one on 17th ave ask me for $100 so he could buy beer. He didn't get it obviously, but at least he was honest.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Why are 22-year old kids panhandling in the first place? They could get a job tomorrow if they tried. I just don't get it.

Possibly because they're crack heads ... or Fetal Alchohol Syndrome offspring ... or both. Some of these kids really have the deck stacked against them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to defend them. They need to be dealt with for the sake of public safety. I'm just saying that many of them come from a different background and face a different reality than I (we) do. I'm grateful I don't have their lives to live.

Many people argue that street people have a choice and they don't have to choose the life they do. In some cases I agree, but not in all cases. I know a young mother who has three kids, by three different fathers, two of whom are in prison. Two of the three kids were conceived while the mother was using crack. They are the type of kids you'll be reading about in the news in 10 years for doing stuff like this. It's sad when the writing is so clearly on the wall and nothing is done about it. The grandmother of these three kids tried to get custody, but social services felt they were better off with their mother, despite multiple drug convictions and failed treatment programs. Good call ... not. So their mother has failed them, and social services has failed them. It will be no wonder when they grow up to be like the kids in the Toronto story. The oldest of the three, who is about 14, is already a crack head and has attempted suicide. He attempted suicide because his step dad was getting out of jail and he was afraid his step dad was going to beat him to death. How sad is that? The kid was about 10 or 12 at the time.

That's why some of the street kids don't just get a job and turn their lives around. Some of them may be just lazy, but a lot face obstacles we thankfully have never had to deal with.

[Gravitykillr]

Originally Posted by Muta

Me too. I'll flat out tell a panhandler that they cannot have my change, because I need it. Or I'll tell them that they simply can't have it.

One time at the crack Mac's on 7th, I had just bought from Subway there, went onto the train station to catch the next train, and proceeded to get harassed by a woman wanting change. When I said that I wasn't giving her change, she asked if she could have my sub sandwich I just bought. Like hell I'm giving someone my lunch, just because they wanted it. I told her 'yeah right', and then she asked for my chocolate milk. Again, I said 'yeah right'. I also added 'you're not getting anything, take the hint.' So she called over her boyfriend, who when I saw him must've been about 6'8" and 300 lbs, so I booked it off the platform into another building. As much as I wanted to Chuck Norris his ass around Southern Alberta, reality let me know that wasn't a situation I was about to handle.

I just don't understand why panhandlers think they're entitled to your money. Sometimes I'd just like to bust out the 'get a job' argument to them (especially in today'd economy), but then I realize that doesn't really accomplish anything except enrage them.

I had a guy at the same Mac's one day tell me that me giving him a quarter wasn't enough to feed him, being a smart ass I pointed at the Mcdonald's told him they'd hire him and give him 50% off his meal, I got sworn at pretty goot for that one lol.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I've still never seen panhandling worse than in San Francisco. I had a guy grab my wallet through my pants and tell him I had a wallet so I should give him money. It was a little scary and I really felt like he was close to trying to fight me when I kept saying no.

Try roma gypsies in eastern europe (not generalized to all people of romani descent, just those who make a living as pickpockets and thieves). I doubt that there are more aggressive panhandlers anywhere, and the thing that makes them a little scary is the fact that regardless of whether they're men, women or children, they'd not think twice about robbing you if they think you're worth it and they can take you. And they're so numerous: often approaching you in groups of as many as a dozen.

[HelloHockeyFans]

You guys are reminding me of the panhandlers in China now. Now those are super aggressive.

If you ever give any money to one, the rest immediately come and surround you because they're always watching. Not to mention the rings in China who kidnap children solely for the purposes of getting them to panhandle for them... after they've done something gruesome (burns to the face/body, limbs cut off, etc.) to them in hopes of getting more sympathy from people who see them. Brutal.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

You guys are reminding me of the panhandlers in China now. Now those are super aggressive.

If you ever give any money to one, the rest immediately come and surround you because they're always watching. Not to mention the rings in China who kidnap children solely for the purposes of getting them to panhandle for them... after they've done something gruesome (burns to the face/body, limbs cut off, etc.) to them in hopes of getting more sympathy from people who see them. Brutal.

Yep. Had that problem in China as well... you give one person something, everybody wants something from you. Best thing to do is just ignore them. You just can't be giving to everybody.

And I've seen the ones with no limbs try and panhandle from me. Sad, yes. But I'm not going to be coerced into giving my money away especially when I'm traveling.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Gravitykillr

I had a guy at the same Mac's one day tell me that me giving him a quarter wasn't enough to feed him, being a smart ass I pointed at the Mcdonald's told him they'd hire him and give him 50% off his meal, I got sworn at pretty goot for that one lol.

LOL

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Muta

One time at the crack Mac's on 7th, I had just bought from Subway there, went onto the train station to catch the next train, and proceeded to get harassed by a woman wanting change. When I said that I wasn't giving her change, she asked if she could have my sub sandwich I just bought. Like hell I'm giving someone my lunch, just because they wanted it. I told her 'yeah right', and then she asked for my chocolate milk. Again, I said 'yeah right'. I also added 'you're not getting anything, take the hint.' So she called over her boyfriend, who when I saw him must've been about 6'8" and 300 lbs, so I booked it off the platform into another building.

You should have gone back the next day, apologize and give a sub to make amends. Of course, the sub would have a thick layer of sliced scotch bonnet peppers and a liberal coating of one of those hot sauces that you have to sign a waiver to buy.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by habernac

had one on 17th ave ask me for $100 so he could buy beer. He didn't get it obviously, but at least he was honest.

The problem is 'being honest' is just their latest gimmick now. By 'beer' he probably meant 'crack'.

[Bertuzzied]

haha. there was this 16 year old kid waiting at the stoplights on 16th by the Foothills. He had a sign saying "I don't Smoke Crack".
He needed a 2nd sign to say "I am a Lazy butt Cheek!"

[BlAcKNoVa]

All the panhandlers I've come across in the past couple years have been pretty good. Usually saying "okay n/p, thanks anyways" or just ignoring me and walking away. Me and my brother (decked out in Flames jersey's) on our way to work one day close to City Hall station got stopped by this one guy and his two buddies, and proceeded to rap about the Calgary Flames for 4 or 5 mins lol...he was kind of high I think but he did a damn good job. He asked for a few bucks afterwords so he could grab a beer for him and his two friends. I couldn't refuse that! haha

[Muta]

Originally Posted by BlAcKNoVa

All the panhandlers I've come across in the past couple years have been pretty good. Usually saying "okay n/p, thanks anyways" or just ignoring me and walking away. Me and my brother (decked out in Flames jersey's) on our way to work one day close to City Hall station got stopped by this one guy and his two buddies, and proceeded to rap about the Calgary Flames for 4 or 5 mins lol...he was kind of high I think but he did a damn good job. He asked for a few bucks afterwords so he could grab a beer for him and his two friends. I couldn't refuse that! haha

See? that's definitely worth your loose change. When I was in Quebec, there was panhandler who played three recorders at once - one in his mouth and one in each nostril. How he breathed, I have no clue, but he was putting on quite the one man symphony.

I figured, this man needs my wallet. So I gave him like 7 or 8 bucks or something, and it was definitely worth it.

Work for that change!

[TheCommodoreAfro]

The most interesting (bestest) thing about panhandling in Japan is that it doesn't even exist. (The closest thing are the hawkers - particularly the Chinese hostesses - who try to get you into their clubs but they tend to take no as an answer eventually). In fact, the homeless in Tokyo prefer to be left alone, and tend to get angry when approached (unless you come bearing a bottle of something). When I go back to Calgary, I'm always stunned at the agressiveness of these guys - I was staying in Sunnyside, went for a run around the river area in shorts and T-shirt and had a couple of these idiots line up to ask me for money while I was jogging past them....
As for these guys in TO, I have a friend who is a crown prosecutor and I hope he gets the case, and puts these twits away.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Muta

See? that's definitely worth your loose change. When I was in Quebec, there was panhandler who played three recorders at once - one in his mouth and one in each nostril. How he breathed, I have no clue, but he was putting on quite the one man symphony.

I figured, this man needs my wallet. So I gave him like 7 or 8 bucks or something, and it was definitely worth it.

Work for that change!

See that is better than just sitting on the street with your hat on the ground asking for spare change.