perryfarrell said:
Hmm, when threads reach this conspiratorial level of 'people who look bad off actually have it better than you,' I know it's time to raise eyebrows.
What in God's name moves you to say things like that? Is it to relieve any guilt towards people who are worse off than you? It baffles the mind.
No, not in the least bit. There are legitimate homeless people and then there are people who actually do either work it on the side or do it full time.
Ancedotal evidence... there are 3 girls who place themselves once a week at the corner of the Target that my fiancee works at. This is a great spot because it is surrounded by 2 heavily traveled shopping areas and is off one of the exits without being ON the exit (meaning people have more of a chance to look at your sign than just breeze passed it). They always have a sign that says they are hungry, need money, etc.
I've seen these girls over the course of two years doing this. A couple weeks ago, we were in the mall looking for dress styles that we wanted to try to find in the thirft stores that we shop when we saw one of the girls who panhandles. She was shopping in American Eagle. And she didn't look hungry or haggard whatsoever.
When I approached her and asked her if she was one of the girls that panhandled, she got kind of scard at first but then vehemently denied it. But the initial look in her eye told me everything I needed to know. I haven't seen those girls there since that incident. Ancedotal evidence but... *shrugs* ... this is the internet so take it for what you will.
