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[Marky Mark]

I bought a hamburger meal for a homeless guy once. His sign was asking for food and I didn't think much of it until I was buying my meal and then u thought bugger it I'll buy him one as well. He was very grateful but I felt like a bit of a prick for not asking him what he wanted first.

Another time a young kid caught me as I was running late for a bus. We shook hands, introduced ourselves by name and he asked if I had any change. I did so I quickly grabbed it out of my pocket and, without realising that he was extending his hand to receive it, I just threw it in his hat on the ground and rushed away. Again, I felt like a real wanker when I realised about 10 metres away what I had done but I was in way to much of a rush to go back and explain and apologise.

 

[Inkvoterad]

Jesus christ. get over yourself, OP. A bunch of different reasons could be why they didn't accept your food. And yet your kept pestering them. Stop acting like a victim because you didn't get to play a hero.

OP obviously don't do anything nice for anyone - hence you got a rude brush off by the homeless now being attacked by the liberals.
.

i am laffin

 

[Dennis]

You guys should know that panhandling is a lucrative racket too. On an excellent T junction going to the malls/superstores that requires you to stop, those fuckers can rake in more than $200 a DAY.

With this in mind, some of these people aren't homeless, they can be conning you while they're just going straight back to their car at night.

Meanwhile, in some denser areas, there's a COMMUNITY of homeless people that take turns panhandling at popular stopping spots and they share the wealth with each other to prevent themselves from being attacked from the aggressive types.

More often than not, some homeless don't even look homeless. Those look homeless can be just traveling or too mentally ill to take care of themselves.

But yeah, I've a lot of experience with these "panhandlers", I happen to live near one too for a while. He wasn't homeless, he's just a mentally ill old man bumming. The car story did happen, the con artist even used his wife and a little girl to panhandle with him. He was just dumb enough to go back to his car to get his ID for a cop that busted him, it just happened to unfold when I was waiting for my food at Sonic's.

Yeah, I got some panhandlers operating in my area too.

They have given up on me though. They don't bother asking me anymore. I am too much of a regular in the neighborhood.

 

[The Lone Courier]

Then why are they asking for food?

They probably just want money for "food".

 

[entremet]

Sorry but NYC has turned me heartless when it comes to homeless. I've been hustled too many times. No way. Not giving anyone anything except directions to a shelter.

You're a better man than me, OP.

Same here haha. Kinda sad for me. I used to so be so trusting.

 

[Aureon]

OP, homeless people generally aren't particularly known for their good mood or good social manners.
It also gets very hard to be grateful all the time.


Also, there's a truckton of hustlers. It's less direct, but donating to a relevant shelter or charity is generally a better idea than giving to panhandlers.

There was a big scandal in Rome about the "Racket of the panhandling spots", and i really don't give anything to them anymore.

 

[Javaman]

I always say no, but it gets a little unnerving since that's the exact thing that A-holes do right before you get mugged. They use the money/time/directions question to feel you out and get close enough to strike.

 

[thecouncil]

Please try to calm down, OP. When you lay your head down on your pillow in your warm bed tonight, take comfort knowing that they were the awful ones in this interaction, ok? You shouldn't have to be stressed out over being a hero to the filthy poors.

 

[NomarTyme]

I thought beggars can't be choosers!

 

[RootCause]

Calm down JJ Watt.

 

[so1337]

Why would they be grateful for something they didn't want? Get over yourself.

 

[CoryCubed]

Some people are beyond help. I was at a Churchs Chicken a few weeks ago. A homeless guy came in asking for some food. There was a line of people and the manager declined him. I thought you know I got a few bucks I'll offer a meal, no big deal. Then the guy loses it and goes on a tirade against the manager. Tells him to go back to his country and storms out. So needless to say, I changed my mind real quick after that.

 

[Laekon]

There are a few cities where there seems to be a "its cool to be homeless" scene of 18 to 25 years olds. I've noticed it in both Montreal and Portland.

 

[PopeReal]

Go hand out PBR tall boys in Portland if you want to feel like some sort of hero. People will love you and they don't turn those down.

 

[DigitalRicket]

Probably already mentioned but in my experience homeless people do not just take food from even good intentioned folks because they have no idea whether the food the tampered with, even if it looks sealed.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

You trying to fish out reactions for a potential Seinfeld reunion episode OP?

 

[SugarDave]

I think OP has heard enough about how he's this massive egotistical twat now, eh people? Or are you levitating so highly above him that you can't tell half of these posts are just trying to be mean.

 

[Maximus.]

I was walking trough my neighborhood when I see two homeless people, one girl, one boy in their early 20s sitting in the local Publix parking lot. Since I was heading to buy some stuff at Publix, I decided to get food and drinks for them so I bought them sandwiches and Gatorades. As I was walking to them, I wave the girl and this is how it went down.

Me: Hi, this is for you.
Her: OMG! thanks but we already have so much stuff in our backpack!
Me: Uhh? Here, they are sandwiches for you.
Her: We don't want to carry a lot of stuff with us.
Me: I gave her the bag and started to walk away.
Her(talking to the boy): Look at all this stuff! I can't believe this shit!

How can you be so ungrateful? Maybe they just want a place to sleep but her attitude literally ruined my otherwise good day.

You did good, but ask first next time, instead of assuming?

 

[PopeReal]

I think OP has heard enough about how he's this massive egotistical twat now, eh people? Or are you levitating so highly above him that you can't tell half of these posts are just trying to be mean.

Hey I wasn't mean I gave him good advice. Well I guess not good since it is probably wrong to hand out alcohol to a group that is likely filled with addicts. But it is fun.

 

[psynergylover]

Op after this thread:

"Look at all this stuff! I can't believe this shit!"

"Right know I'm beyond pissed!!"

"I showed NeoGAF"

LMAO!!!!

 

[Alex Stroud]

Op reads like an overheard conversation at the Met.

 

[David Incorporated Esq.]

One time an old guy bought myself and everyone in the diner their breakfast. I made a thread that it upset me and people said I was weird for not accepting generosity.

Get your shit together, GAF!

 

[half a moon]

Ask if they want something next time?

 

[Shin Johnpv]

Sorry but NYC has turned me heartless when it comes to homeless. I've been hustled too many times. No way. Not giving anyone anything except directions to a shelter.

You're a better man than me, OP.

Specially if you take the transit systems. I've seen so many fucking scammers coming onto NJ Transit trains or the subway, claiming to have lost their wallet and they just need 15 bucks for a ticket home, and you see them every day on the same trains pulling the same shit.

I've had so many weird encounters when I was working in the city. One that always stood out was a dude who approached me for money saying he just wanted to get some food. I don't carry cash on me, but then I was bringing my own lunch to work every day. I figured fuck it I can skip lunch or pick something up near work so I offered him my lunch. Dude responded with a pissed off look and scream "I can't buy weed with that, fuck you asshole!"

 

[travisbickle]

This is why I give homeless people cash. It's lightweight, non-perishable and they can use it when they need it.

 

[UrbanRats]

OP if you buy me Pizza I'll praise you like s fucking god. For the love of God someone buy me Pizza using their money that the worked for at their job.

Inherited money pizza is not good enough for you, huh?!

 

[8BitsAtATime]

Nvm

Nvm

Nvm

Nvm

Nvm

Nvm

Nvm

Nvm

What's going on here?? Lol

There are a few cities where there seems to be a "its cool to be homeless" scene of 18 to 25 years olds. I've noticed it in both Montreal and Portland.

Are you sure you're not mixing up the homeless with just regular crust punk kids. From what I hear Portland has a huge punk scene

 

[josh924]

You know it's not gonna end well when the words "beyond pissed" and "homeless" are used in the same breath.

 

[Stasis]

Communication is a wonderful thing.

Good on you for wanting to be a nice person but the anger is misplaced, and quite frankly strange.

 

[brokenbeans]

I would of taken the sandwiches back, sat in the corner and angrily stared at them whilst eating the sandwiches and downed the drink in one.

 

[cameron]

What's going on here?? Lol

bomblord1 just received a gig as a scriptwriter for a new movie about the homeless.

Communication is a wonderful thing.

Good on you for wanting to be a nice person but the anger is misplaced, and quite frankly strange.

The OP probably envisioned a super grateful reception for the good deed while he was paying for the food. Played it out several times in his head. Like when you think you have a great gift idea for a friend. The homeless girl shattered that fantasy.

 

[SexyFish]

"Oh, okay!"
Now I have sandwiches for lunch for a day or two!

 

[Gattsu25]

I've been homeless OP and it ain't fun sleeping rough. My temper and demeanour weren't very polite when I was in that state neither, so give them a break.

Spoiler

they were rude though, but still

I was homeless, too. It's fucking demoralizing.

Were they actively panhandling? If not then it may have been an interruption in a momentary reprieve and a reminder of their current state. Also, when I was homeless it was an arrestable offense to accept gifts as a homeless person and a ticketable offense to give to one. Not sure if that was a town or state (Florida) law or if it is still the law of the land.

 

[exmachina64]

Op after this thread:

"Look at all this stuff! I can't believe this shit!"

"Right know I'm beyond pissed!!"

"I showed NeoGAF"

I love GAF.

 

[Randy Monk]

I'm not homeless but if someone came up to me and insisted I take a Gatorade, I'll throw back at them. Do I look like I'm trying to be like Mike?

 

[Laz-E-Boy]

What's going on here?? Lol

Saw those posts earlier. Had a bit of meltdown and probably decided to delete them after seeing how silly it looked

 

[old manatee]

One time I came out of Starbucks and I saw a homeless and I dropped my change in their cup and they were like 'wtf that's my coffee' and I was so pissed because the coffee came to 4.18 so it was .82 cents I gave them and they weren't even happy.

 

[FDC1]

Maybe it was some european sandwiches? No american would accept to eat that

 

[Syncytia]

Homeless people aren't starving people. They need a house not food. (OK, the two aren't mutually exclusive but being homeless doesn't automatically make someone undernourished)

Maybe it was some european sandwiches? No american would accept to eat that

Probably one of the infamous struggle sandwiches.

 

[Karsticles]

You built up your purchase as a "nice thing", and you wanted to get praised by them for your generosity so you could feel good about yourself. Then they didn't want it, so you're angry at them.

 

[andythinkpad]

Anyone uses the word "beyond pissed" sound like a child.

 

[Shadybiz]

Sorry but NYC has turned me heartless when it comes to homeless. I've been hustled too many times. No way. Not giving anyone anything except directions to a shelter.

You're a better man than me, OP.

Same for me and Philly. I lived there for about a year, and also took the train to 30th Street for a year when I went to school there. It's sad, but you just become desensitized to it after awhile.

 

[Metalmarc]

Edit nvm

 

[evilromero]

A good tuna melt is great.

Tuna is good if you get the premium stuff, but the cat food grade crap is shit.

Matters not. Soon there won't be any tuna left in the world so such decisions will be removed.

 

[Spiral Insanity]

Your heart's in the right place, but your first instinct is to treat them like street animals. They're humans you could communicate with first.

Ok this is getting out of hand. Fuck.
The op had empathy and decided to do something about it.

If they had a sign asking for food, this dogpile should stop.

Assuming op saw them as street animals... Wow. Maybe he got the idea when he was already shopping so couldn't go out and ask?

 

[sono]

All people have pride, did you consider that aspect of this encounter ?

 

[Spiral Insanity]

All people have pride, did you consider that aspect of this encounter ?

But they were outside Publix with a sign that they were hungry.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

If they ask you for money/food or are asking others, then it would make sense to get them something. Just getting it for them unprompted might not be what they want, for myriad understandable reasons.

If someone asks me for money and I'm getting food, I'll just ask what kind of food they want and then get that for them (and say I don't have any cash to give away, since I typically don't carry it). I could totally see how someone might not want food unprompted, or just not that particular food, even in that situation, even with that sign.

 

[IndoAssassin]

When you give never expect anything in return, you will always be disappointed.

Especially when you loan money, make sure you can afford to lose it, and tell yourself that you will never see that money again. 9/10 people never pay you back.

Same with gratitude. Expecting gratitude from 100% of the population is impossible. So again if you give something, do it because you wanted to, not because you expected gratitude in return.

 

[Goliath]

In the hopes of helping all you jaded people here is my story:

Went on a date to DC to a nice Italian restaurant. Afterwards on our way back to the metro I saw a homeless lady and guy. I went to reach for my wallet and the lady stopped me and asked if she could have the leftovers instead. I happily gave it to them.

Another story:

Another date in DC near the natural history museum. See a homeless looking Asian guy sitting on the steps in front of the museum. Drop some change in his cup next to him. He looks at me and tells me, "Hey I'm not homeless!" I was "Beyond Pissed" lol.