Go! Bother Someone Else!
April 2nd, 2008 by Empress NightshadeI live in Sacramento County and it is illegal to panhandle ‘agressively’ here. You would think that would stop the hordes of desperate individuals holding up signs and following you if you refuse to fork over change, correct? Wrong.
Sacramento’s police mull extra patrols after dozens of panhandlers, some aggressive, invade shopping centers. Business owners on one of our busiest streets said they have increased foot traffic but not by paying customers. One owner complained, “Some customers don’t want to come back because there’s too many homeless here.”
So, what is panhandling ‘agressively?’ Simply asking for money repeatedly and continuing to follow you or block your path.
Are there problems with panhandlers on your side of the world? What do you feel is the solution?
Hi Empress - Jim here!
Happy first post as a founder - we’ll be issuing your founders badge shortly!
Pan Handling -that phrase must originate from San Fran and the 49er’s panning for gold, does it?
So you’re in Sacremento as in the capital of California - I studied in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) for 12 wonderful months in 93-94. Before heading over ot Cal I’d always assumed either SF of LA was the capital….
So, back to Doo-bye - there is no on street begging, pan handling or anything of that nature as the place is so new and also very few reasons to actually walk in the street. It is largely air conditioned shops, malls, apartments and offices and far removed from the harsh reality of the poverty is most modern Cities world over.
Disneyland Dubai has wealth gaps but as its a dictatorship few stories of poverty make it to the press.
GO! figure.
It is illegal to beg in Dubai and has plenty of ‘organised’ poverty. Most priviledged expats and locals over here prefer to turn a blind eye though.
FF, what do you mean by ‘organised’ poverty?
Empress Nightshade’s last blog post..Fred Flintstone Has a Rap Sheet!
Well Empress a couple of examples are the is exploitation of Indian labourers building Dubai, Chinese prisoners brought in in boats to build part of palm island and the western accessory of fillipino house maids - most earn $200 per month while the employer retains the passport!
FF may enlighten you more…
Jim
Where can you get a maid for $200 - i’m looking to fill a position
Keep it CLEAN now Angry!
Spit n polish, what? Shiekh n vac…
Jim, the word ‘panhandle’ came from the 1890’s is not connected with panning for gold, but rather when beggars would approach others on the street holding a tin pan or cup.
I oftened wondered if other countries have the homeless and panhandlers I see everytime I leave my home. A friend of mine told me that one particular guy that begs at a gas station near my home makes more money in one day than he does working in an office.
It must take a certain type of personality to beg. I am one that no matter how low I became, I would never stand on the street asking for money. I would find other avenues — all legal, of course.
Empress Nightshade’s last blog post..Fred Flintstone Has a Rap Sheet!
There’s really a guy who makes more money “panhandling” than he does working in an office??? I think I might panhandle for a while…
(doing the bat symbol just because I know how)
Zack - how do you do the Bat Symbol?!
I bet you were just waiting for someone to ask
arvind’s last blog post..7 Tips to Stop Losing an Hour of your time EVERY Day
haha Arvind. Bridget yelled at me for not reading other posts that show how to do it. Supposedly, I’m supposed to read every single comment ever in history.
Here it is— Just type a : [ close together
If you copy the symbol then paste it in the comment box it shows you
Thanks Gareth
arvind’s last blog post..7 Tips to Stop Losing an Hour of your time EVERY Day
Really, Zack. It’s true. I should do some reasearch by getting in the streets and talking with some of them to see how much they can make in a day. I wouldn’t have to go far — my own ex-brother in law does it.
Empress Nightshade’s last blog post..Fred Flintstone Has a Rap Sheet!
Empress - great first post.
I am told by a lot of Indian friends that most of the beggars in Mumbai, especially around the international airport are a highly organised gang of “pan handlers”.
So much for exploiting the compassion of the tourists.
arvind’s last blog post..7 Tips to Stop Losing an Hour of your time EVERY Day
arvind,
Wikipedia reads: “In many Hindu traditions, spiritual seekers, known as sadhus, beg for food. This is because fruitive activity, such as farming or shopkeeping, is regarded as a materialistic distraction from the search for moksha, or spiritual liberation. Begging, on the other hand, promotes humility and gratitude, not only towards the individuals who are giving food, but towards the Universe in general. This helps the sadhu attain a state of bliss or Samadhi.”
What an interesting fact!
Empress Nightshade’s last blog post..Fred Flintstone Has a Rap Sheet!
In that case there must be a lot of enlightened beggars, oops I mean Sadhus, in India and elsewhere in the world
arvind’s last blog post..7 Tips to Stop Losing an Hour of your time EVERY Day
G’Day Empress
nice first post…..
We dont have panhandlers as such in Oz, but we do have loads of the homeless.
From time to time someone will ask for change for a coffee mostly in winter, but its not often….
We have a welfare system which pays a small amount each fortnight… many of our homeless are people who have simply dropped out from society… and there is a small but increasing subculture of homeless… on the outskirts of sydney a group of men live in caves… two actually go to work everyday and return home to their cave…. true….
Rather ‘Panhandling” folks tend to Busk for cash…. in shopping centres and on streets… they will get permission from the shop own to stand outside the shop front and perform… it could be playing and instrument, singing, circus acts… anything… the shop owners dont mind because it brings attention to their store, shoppers dont mind because it is entertaining, so its al good… they generally have a bag or similar which you drop coins in…. in the main centres buskers can make hundreds a day….if they are good… and same are very good….
Also it gets their dignaty intact, the image of shopping area nice etc…. at night as thw shops close down the homeless came out and settle down for the night.. in areas in sydney and other major cities we have van which are run by charity’s which each night go to certain spots and serve up soup, meals hand out blankets and coats etc…. they also keep an eye out if someone been missing for a while and let the police know….. there is also homeless shelters which give them a bed for the night free of course…. but they rotate them…. depending on numbers..
This isnt to say its all perfect far from it… drugs and alcohol the main issues…. but we are trying… it does work…. A guy where I used to live would come over each to the Tafe we I studied and we would make him a coffee and give him a few biscuits…. from time to time when his pants were ruined we would bring in a few pairs and leave them lying around he would talk them when we had left .. we new he got them because the next day he was wearing them… he would say proudly… i found them over there are they nice… he was quite mad but harmless…..
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Ahhhhhh the panhandlers, before I used to give beggars something, but that won’t really help them and just be dependent. So I don’t give them anything anymore. I mean, I work hard to earn my keep, they can work if they want to even small jobs like street sweeper or whatever anything decent and not just beg … also it’s against the law here… but of course there are lots of soft hearted people so they’re still around.
Ausie that’s an interesting story, they live in caves? wow! I’m glad we have our own home and we don’t pay rent.
Empress that’s some interesting fact up there, hmmmmm, who could argue with religion.
earthlingorgeous’s last blog post..Let Go and Move On
Great post Empress - welcome on board the good ship Flowers. Post length
Post Content 
We have some homless people in town where I live - they tend to just sit there. I find the best thing rather than give money, is to give them a coffee and cake or something. Once I want mad and bought some guy a huge bar of chocolate - although I probably killed him from a sudden choc rush - whoops.
Most times I just walk by lost in my own world though.
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Mike,
to deal with ‘agressive’ panhandlers, they gave us the advice to walk confident, use eye contact and be very direct when you say ‘no’. But, that’s not in everyone’s makeup. Some people don’t make eye contact with people they know, let alone a stranger.
I rarely give to them. But, last week, a couple was standing next to a store with their shopping baskets full of what looked like junk. They had a plastic bag filled with changed washing it off. They spotted me and asked for change to get coffee….COFFEE! It wasn’t cold, so the liquid wasn’t for warming them up. As I was giving them the four quarters, I thought to myself..here I am giving them money for their caffeine addiction. For others, we could be supporting their drug or alcohol addiction.
Empress Nightshade’s last blog post..Fred Flintstone Has a Rap Sheet!
Yep that is why I never give money.
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New one on me - but i live a sheletered life in derbsyhire i suppose - don’t visit major towns very often at all. Smelly, violent places that charge the earth for everything.
Closest I’ve seen is kids rushing out at traffic lights to clean windscreens in london.
There have been stories of people that beg - then walk out of town - change into business suit and smart car and make a living by begging!
Purple13’s last blog post..It’s great hearing from old friends
Although illegal here in the UAE we still get beggars ringing our door bell as well as being approached in the street by asian guy’s with a large bandage around a finger or similar asking for money - my response is to go and ask a local driving a Mercedes
I was a bit disappointed when recently the North of England suffered an earthquake - i didn’t see Pakistan rushing forward with earthquake relief donations
It was really bad as well Angry.
Casualties were seen wandering aimlessly saying “bang out of order” “mental”
and “sorted”. Some are still confused that something interesting actually
happened in Beswick. Some residents of Middleton were woken before their
giros arrived and it caused quite a panic.
The earthquake decimated half of the Salford area causing in excess of
£17.55 worth of damage. Several priceless collections of mementos from
Ibiza, Corfu, Rhyl and Blackpool were damaged beyond repair including a cute
little donkey that roke wind when you clapped your hands.
Preserved areas of historic importance were destroyed and many piles of
scientifically significant litter were disturbed.
One resident of Moston, Miss Kylie Davies a 15 year old mother of four said
“It was such a shock, little Chardonnay-Destiny came running into my bedroom
crying; my hands were shaking that much I could hardly concentrate on Jeremy
Kyle”.
The British Red Cross has so far managed to send 4000 crates of Red Bull to
the area to help with the crisis. Rescue workers are still searching through
the rubble and have found numerous “Elizabeth Duke” sovereign rings, benefit
books and Poundstretcher ornaments.
We need help now.
There is an appeal that hopes to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those
unfortunate enough to be caught up in the disaster. Clothing is most sought
after. Urgently needed are Lacoste tracksuits, white socks, Burberry caps,
Beanie hats and Rockports. Food parcels are also needed. They include McCain
oven chips, Aldi Beans, Monster Munch, Hollands pies and Iceland pizza.
Alcohol is also in short supply, especially White Lightening Cider and
Special Brew.
Cash donations are also needed. 22p buys a ’signing-on’ biro, £2.50 buys a
pie and chips, £20.00 buys a fake MOT and £16.00 buys 200 Regal ciggies from
the back of Tomo’s lorry.
Heartbreaking stuff Lib!
Where do I send my £2 donation to?
arvind’s last blog post..7 Tips to Stop Losing an Hour of your time EVERY Day
Ugh, pan handlers. My first year of college I rode the bus downtown everyday. And just about everyday I was approached by panhandlers. Most of the panhandlers in our area were just people looking for easy prey, pardon me…easy money. Some even had nice homes that they go to at the end of the day. They were aggressive and scary and just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Very unnerving for an 18 year old girl walking around downtown by herself.
There is a definite difference between a panhandler and a person asking for money because they are in need. I’ve been approached by both and people with real problems and an empty stomach have a way about them that’s easy to see and understand. But those panhandlers just won’t let up, because they are used to bullying people into giving them what they want.
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Funkygirl012003’s last blog post..Informercials and Advertising yourself
I’ve seen beggars recently in Shanghai and some started to get quite insistent, following you down the street for maybe 100 metres. However in the main I don’t see beggars in China, certainly not the North.
I think the easy solution is don;t give them money, however people do so they continue with it.
When working in India, as previously posted I offered food but generally the offer isn’t taken up. In the UK a few years ago I saw a guy with a ‘hungy and homeless please help’ sign so I asked him if he fancied cutting my lawn for a couple of quid (its only about 3 metres sq and the mower is electric), shock horror he told me to ‘get f*cked’, I booted his change cup and ripped up his sign - no need to be rude now was there, I only offered him a job.