How do you treat a pan handler?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I find it hard to believe, Marc, that you don't have anyone in your family that hasn't fallen on hard times. My grandmother came to America as a child on a boat from Ireland back at the turn of the century. She was one of seven siblings, her father migrated to the southern Arizona to work in the mines. Some might say he brought an added burden to society with all those children, but he did what he could to feed his family. This great country was built on families who struggled through some of the worst conditions. Sh!t happens even to good people, and there's no shame in asking a stranger for a hand-out when your belly is empty.

You just made my point with your comments about your grandmother. The immigrants of the past worked their asses off,they didnt have time to sit around and ###### about the price of gas or how expensive health care is, he!! there wasnt any

I was raised by my mom, who stood over an ironing board twelve hours a day. My mom charged 1.50 an hour for ironing her customers clothes. I lived in a little 800 sq. foot house with my brother and little sister. My mom never whined once about it. After we all got older she started taking accounting classes at the junior college at night (after ironing all day) Two years later she had graduated and got an accounting job. She never learned how to drive and at the ripe old age of 80 still walks or takes the bus. All the whining some people post here about ohhhhh how bad they have it, kind of grates on me. Besides, when did pissin and moanin ever help anyone?

Carol is also an inspiration to me. She had a decent job (accounting, lol) A week after recieving her E.A.D . We just got her a car and are planning to buy a house in the next year or two. There is plenty of good and bad in the world its your choice what you wish to concentrate on.

[SteveLaura 0]

Great post..Thank you for posting this! I think you are a living hero for the work you do... many dehumanize those on the streets/those with addictions etc etc., even more marginalize them.. You see value in each human life.. Thank you for your work !!!

Thanks. Not sure about the hero bit (I'd reserve that for people like firefighters - I can't imagine entering a burning building) but I do get pissed off with homeless stereotypes, obviously. Sure, you may encounter an aggressive panhandler, or someone who may be scamming. Extrapolating from that doesn't make sense to me, tho. By far, the men I see want to work. And they have problems they are dealing with.

It's really easy to see where other people are going wrong. It's different when you're living it and can't immediately see a way out.

I always say, if I had a case manager (similar to my role here) they wouldn't have to look far to pick holes in my lifestyle choices. Hey, why aren't you exercising when you say you want to get fit? Why did you buy that fast food when you could have saved money by making your own lunch? Why do you say you care about the environment and then drive here rather than cycle? Etc.

[rebeccajo 14]

No. you have them work for you, then you tell them that makes up for the public assistance they just took.

Hell if they can write they can fill out a application.

I hate to break it to you, but if you 'give' somebody something, it's not public assistance.

If you're going to rant, at least make it intelligent.

[almaty 19]

for my sweet compassionate Canadian sister.....dean

errr...that's the second time you've called me Canadian... now let me preface this with a "there is nothing wrong with being thought of as a Canadian....ahem", but Bro Dean, I'm no Canuck! LOL Not that there is anything wrong with that...

I'll take the flower though...

..sister fraces, i am such a chopf##k...

to my sweet british sister

[rebeccajo 14]

There is plenty of good and bad in the world its your choice what you wish to concentrate on.

Are you listening to yourself now?

[Fandango 1,440]

I give em money...no strings attached.

[almaty 19]

Great post..Thank you for posting this! I think you are a living hero for the work you do... many dehumanize those on the streets/those with addictions etc etc., even more marginalize them.. You see value in each human life.. Thank you for your work !!!

Thanks. Not sure about the hero bit (I'd reserve that for people like firefighters - I can't imagine entering a burning building) but I do get pissed off with homeless stereotypes, obviously. Sure, you may encounter an aggressive panhandler, or someone who may be scamming. Extrapolating from that doesn't make sense to me, tho. By far, the men I see want to work. And they have problems they are dealing with.

It's really easy to see where other people are going wrong. It's different when you're living it and can't immediately see a way out.

I always say, if I had a case manager (similar to my role here) they wouldn't have to look far to pick holes in my lifestyle choices. Hey, why aren't you exercising when you say you want to get fit? Why did you buy that fast food when you could have saved money by making your own lunch? Why do you say you care about the environment and then drive here rather than cycle? Etc.

..you are a good man doing good work brother steven...your friend dean

[Marilyn. 340]

There is plenty of good and bad in the world its your choice what you wish to concentrate on.

Are you listening to yourself now?

sometimes bad things happen to good people through no fault of their own... it doesn't mean they were concentrating on the bad stuff

Edited August 29, 2007 by MarilynP

[Sister Fracas 5]

for my sweet compassionate Canadian sister.....dean

errr...that's the second time you've called me Canadian... now let me preface this with a "there is nothing wrong with being thought of as a Canadian....ahem", but Bro Dean, I'm no Canuck! LOL Not that there is anything wrong with that...

I'll take the flower though...

..sister fraces, i am such a chopf##k...

to my sweet british sister

strike two... pssst, hubster is a UKer... But fank you again for the posies.

[rebeccajo 14]

i give them a dollar...when i got out of the army i lived on the streets of denver for 6 months..i did not panhandle but ate out of dumpsters...i remember some of the people i knew back then....it is karma

isn't that sad that you had to live on the streets after serving your country...something is REALLY wrong there.

aw thanks sister fraces, somethings happen and i took it hard..and wanted to get away from all the people i knew and family..and drifted out there...and just gave up for awhile....i was able to rebound and come back and worked in a facotry and went to college..it was a growth experience for me....and place me in the direction of human services...

Wow.

Dean...that puts you in my 'one hell of a man' category.

There is plenty of good and bad in the world its your choice what you wish to concentrate on.

Are you listening to yourself now?

sometimes bad things happen to good people through no fault of their own... it doesn't mean they were concentrating on the bad stuff

....

Edited August 29, 2007 by rebeccajo

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i give them a dollar...when i got out of the army i lived on the streets of denver for 6 months..i did not panhandle but ate out of dumpsters...i remember some of the people i knew back then....it is karma

Wow, brother...that's got to be a humbling and humiliating experience.

[almaty 19]

for my sweet compassionate Canadian sister.....dean

errr...that's the second time you've called me Canadian... now let me preface this with a "there is nothing wrong with being thought of as a Canadian....ahem", but Bro Dean, I'm no Canuck! LOL Not that there is anything wrong with that...

I'll take the flower though...

..sister fraces, i am such a chopf##k...

to my sweet british sister

strike two... pssst, hubster is a UKer... But fank you again for the posies.

...i am a chopf##k x2

..to my sweet and kind and forgiving sweet American sister fraces....your friend dean

[Carlawarla 1]

I've been asked for lots of money from panhandlers. Usually my response is to ask what they want the money for. Usuallly it's for a coffee, some lunch. I invite them to walk to the McDonald's or fast food place with me, and I usually treat them to a meal, and/or coffee, pay for it, then leave.

There but for the Grace of God, go I.

Carla

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I find it hard to believe, Marc, that you don't have anyone in your family that hasn't fallen on hard times. My grandmother came to America as a child on a boat from Ireland back at the turn of the century. She was one of seven siblings, her father migrated to the southern Arizona to work in the mines. Some might say he brought an added burden to society with all those children, but he did what he could to feed his family. This great country was built on families who struggled through some of the worst conditions. Sh!t happens even to good people, and there's no shame in asking a stranger for a hand-out when your belly is empty.

You just made my point with your comments about your grandmother. The immigrants of the past worked their asses off,they didnt have time to sit around and ###### about the price of gas or how expensive health care is, he!! there wasnt any

I was raised by my mom, who stood over an ironing board twelve hours a day. My mom charged 1.50 an hour for ironing her customers clothes. I lived in a little 800 sq. foot house with my brother and little sister. My mom never whined once about it. After we all got older she started taking accounting classes at the junior college at night (after ironing all day) Two years later she had graduated and got an accounting job. She never learned how to drive and at the ripe old age of 80 still walks or takes the bus. All the whining some people post here about ohhhhh how bad they have it, kind of grates on me. Besides, when did pissin and moanin ever help anyone?

Carol is also an inspiration to me. She had a decent job (accounting, lol) A week after recieving her E.A.D . We just got her a car and are planning to buy a house in the next year or two. There is plenty of good and bad in the world its your choice what you wish to concentrate on.

That's good, Marc. I don't think anyone here is arguing against resoursefulness and determination. It's unfortunate that you've either never experience hitting rock bottom or never known a family member who just couldn't get their sh!t together.

[Emancipation 2]

I've been asked for lots of money from panhandlers. Usually my response is to ask what they want the money for. Usuallly it's for a coffee, some lunch. I invite them to walk to the McDonald's or fast food place with me, and I usually treat them to a meal, and/or coffee, pay for it, then leave.

There but for the Grace of God, go I.

Carla

Indeed...