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Last night I gave a guy $20 and I feel stupid

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Kthulhu

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Context:

Went to go pick my friend up from the a bus trip from Dallas to Houston. We can't find each other and it's dark out, so I just told him to meet me at the McDonald's near by.

Big mistake.

I never come to this part of town, so I didn't know how sketchy it was.

I pull into the McDonald's parking lot and just sit there waiting for my friend to arrive.

While waiting, a dude comes up to my car to talk to me, I roll down my window to see what's up.

Mistake number 2.

He asks me for some money. There are a lot of homeless people in the area, so I assumed he was gonna use it to buy something to eat. So I give him $5.

Mistake number 3.

He asks for five more, I hand it to him. He then asks for 10 more, claiming "it's his birthday". I should've just drove off, but this guy was creepy and I didn't know if he had a gun or something, so I did it.

He than asks for a hug and gives me one.

Mistake number 4.

Dude rubs his whisker covers face on mine. Which I fucking hate. And then leaves. He smelled like aftershave, so now I don't think he was homeless or down on his luck, I think I just got robbed in the most nonviolent way possible.
 
I gave a guy three dollars and a hug once. I still see him around town and he doesn't remember the three dollars or the hug. :'( (because he approaches me as if he's never seen me before with the same pitch)
 
That's the only feeling that isn't keeping me from banging my head against my desk.

My friend thinks I got scammed too.

I mean, you didn't really get scammed. The dude straight up asked you for money and you gave it to him multiple times :P

At least you got an awkward hug out of it.
 
Instead of giving money to the homeless, donate money to shelters that will feed them. A lot of homeless people have mental health problems and will spend the money they recieve unwisely.
 
This is one reason to carry plastic instead of cash. You can whip out your wallet like you're super charitable nice guy and then be all "oh no, looks like I'm out, sorry dude."
 
I've had a similar situation before... gave a guy money for a bus ticket... saw him in the same spot the next day. I asked him if he ever caught that bus, and he pretended to not know me.

It can be frustrating. Now when people ask for money outside of fast food places, I'll ask them if they want to come in and I'll buy them whatever they want. Just makes it easier, and you know the money is actually going to food or a necessity and not drugs.

OP, ok to feel frustrated, confused... but the worst is that you're out $20.
 
Lol, I mean at lest it turned out okay. But yeah, you should had left when he kept upping it. I give down and out people money when they ask all the time to my wives disagreement but I don't think I would feel right if the asked amount kept going up.
 
Don't get mad. Now you have a great story. Not everyone has a good story and you do.
I can steal this guy's story and I didn't have to waste 20. Plus it's a bad story since it shows weakness.

OP don't give money to strangers anymore I hope you learned.
 
On the bright side, the hug indicates he was thankful and needy, so even if buying contraband he really needed it and appreciated your support.
 
Was the hug through the car window? Or did you get out? Isn't it possible he was just trying to pick your pockets?
 
Lmao at just giving a friendly homeless guy all of your spending money just because he asked nicely.

Have you never been pan-handled before? Just say "Sorry man" and they'll thank you and move onto the next person. And never roll your window down in a strange neighborhood unless you want to risk losing your watch, wallet, and car.

Edit, not only did you roll it down, you rolled it so far down he could reach his entire body in to hug you. Why would you need to do that?
 
I can steal this guy's story and I didn't have to waste 20. Plus it's a bad story since it shows weakness.

OP don't give money to strangers anymore I hope you learned.
You don't have to steal it, just ask op if you can have his story, just make sure to hug him after(just don't rub your cheek on his or wear aftershave he hates that).
 
Lmao at just giving a friendly homeless guy all of your spending money just because he asked nicely.

Have you never been pan-handled before? Just say "Sorry man" and they'll thank you and move onto the next person. And never roll your window down in a strange neighborhood unless you want to risk losing your watch, wallet, and car.

There are 2 types of pan handlers. The ones that say hi, have a good day to all people (these are the nice ones, even if they probably arent homeless) and then the ones that swear at you if say "sorry I have no money".

My least favorite is this girl in Toronto who walks up to you and says "excuse me" as if to ask for directions and then says "Do you have any money" when you take your headphones out and turn around to see what she wants. When you say no she swears at you.
 
Dude rubs his whisker covers face on mine.

disgstd.gif
 
I mean, I give strangers money sometimes too, but I don't continue to give them anything if I've already done it once. I can't believe the dude kept raising the amount on you and that you actually followed through with it.
 
well op, I was out with some friends a few night ago, and while walking to our cars a woman in the early 30 call out on us and asks if we can spare 5 eur for a train, since her car wasn't starting, and when she was walking to get the train she realized that she left her purse in the car...
I just gave her the 5 eur, and said w/e, though sounded a bit fake, as if you leave the purse in your car, you would normally go back to the car to avoid someone breaking the glass to get the purse from the car... but then again it was kinda late, so if the car was far, she wouldn't make it back there.. so i said w/e.. if she tricked me, she tricked me over 5 eur, else i just helped someone in need so it's either a good samaritan act or a minor inconvenience..
 
Was the hug through the car window? Or did you get out? Isn't it possible he was just trying to pick your pockets?

I was through the window.

He probably saw me put it in my big cargo pants pocket. So I doubt it.

Edit: I was actually rolling my window up and he was walking away and he came back and asked for the hug.

I then rolled my window back down.

God I'm a fucking idiot.
 
This is one reason to carry plastic instead of cash. You can whip out your wallet like you're super charitable nice guy and then be all "oh no, looks like I'm out, sorry dude."

Then they take your wallet.

That's the worst advice ever. Never whip out your wallet to show people how little you have, you're just asking them to snatch it and run.
 
Which is the default response every time. I never explain myself anymore. It's always, "no, sorry."

You don't owe anyone an explanation so don't feel afraid to not provide one.

I always give people a 'sorry mate' as an acknowledgement rather than just blanking them. There's one really angry Scottish dude that I pass every so ofen, and first time I did it to him he started following me down the street shouting abuse, along the lines of 'I don't want your sorry you prick, blah blah blah'.

Now when I see him I always stop, look him in the face and say it, before walking off laughing as he loses his shit.

I'm an awful person, but he should know you catch more flies with honey.
 
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