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robot_parade · 08-04-2010, 05:31 PM

So. I gave a cute girl in front of Walgreens $15 cash a little while ago. She approached me as I walked up, and said "Excuse me, sir, could you help me out?". At first I thought that either she wanted me to buy her beer (she looked like she could be under 21), or it was some sort of scam. She proceeded to tell me that she was with her grandfather, and needed cash for "a prescription for antibiotics". She said the copay was $14, so I gave her the cash in my wallet ($15). She offered to buy something for me in return with her wellfare card (here in TX, wellfare recipients get a card...I guess maybe you can only buy groceries with it), but I turned her down, telling her to 'pay it forward' when she got a chance.

I'm interested by these exchanges. I have no idea if her story was true...but...really, if she was willing to ask, I was willing to fork over some cash. I don't think it mattered too much that she was a cute young girl (waaay too much make-up, though). I've been thinking about the situations in which I've given panhandlers money. Usually, if I have cash, and they ask politely, I'll fork some over. I once gave my gloves to a panhandler when I didn't have any cash, and I felt a little better about that than giving cash, but usually I'll just give them whatever cash I have handy if they ask. I know the arguments against giving them money, but really, I don't care.

What are your rules WRT panhandlers?

08-04-2010, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
robot_parade Junkie Location: San Antonio, TX	Hard luck cases So. I gave a cute girl in front of Walgreens $15 cash a little while ago. She approached me as I walked up, and said "Excuse me, sir, could you help me out?". At first I thought that either she wanted me to buy her beer (she looked like she could be under 21), or it was some sort of scam. She proceeded to tell me that she was with her grandfather, and needed cash for "a prescription for antibiotics". She said the copay was $14, so I gave her the cash in my wallet ($15). She offered to buy something for me in return with her wellfare card (here in TX, wellfare recipients get a card...I guess maybe you can only buy groceries with it), but I turned her down, telling her to 'pay it forward' when she got a chance. I'm interested by these exchanges. I have no idea if her story was true...but...really, if she was willing to ask, I was willing to fork over some cash. I don't think it mattered too much that she was a cute young girl (waaay too much make-up, though). I've been thinking about the situations in which I've given panhandlers money. Usually, if I have cash, and they ask politely, I'll fork some over. I once gave my gloves to a panhandler when I didn't have any cash, and I felt a little better about that than giving cash, but usually I'll just give them whatever cash I have handy if they ask. I know the arguments against giving them money, but really, I don't care. What are your rules WRT panhandlers?