How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

This has happened to me twice this week...

Someone asked me for a quarter to use a pay phone-- and was very rude in asking.. like I owed it to her or something.

Then another guy today asked me for 50 cents so he could get on the train-- which costs $1.50.

Both times I just said, sorry I don't think I have any change on me...

Like, if this was someone really in need, that's one thing-- but, I am not going to stop. Look through my bag, and open my wallet to give you money.

And secondly, who doesn't have a cell phone or a whole $1.50 on them??

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

Last time someone asked me for $$ I was in the parking lot of Houllihan's. Some guy came up to me and my friend and said his daughter was in the hospital and he needed to take a cab to see her but didn't have any money. I said "oh, what hospital" and he rattled off the name of a hospital that doesn't exist. I said, "Sorry we used a credit card for our dinner because we don't have any cash on us".

Woud you believe the man said "oh, i think the taxi would take your credit card"! I looked at him like he was crazy, walked past him and got in my car....what a freak.

I despise being asked for money.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

We had that happen when we were visiting my SIL in Virginia. We were in Chik-Fil-A and some guy asked us for $10 after he bought himself some food. We told him no and he seemed mad, like we owed it to him

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

I wouldnt give out $$$$ for the exact reason you stated. the fumbling through the pocket stuff. I would be fumbling while they would be robbing me blind. Who the heck knows what happens in those few seconds.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

This happened to me today!

I was at Best Yet in Bethpage.......I was in the parrking lot, car running, finishing up a phone call & the guy tapped on my window. I rolled it down an inch & he asked for $3 for gas. I said sorry I have no cash............

So my answer is I hate when it happens because you don't know who to trust & who might be telling the truth & be actually in need.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

I always tell them I don't carry cash

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

There was a similar thread to this last night about someone coming up to you and asking for $ (their car broke down, They need gas etc).

IMHO, Its All a scam and I never give $ to strangers.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

Message edited 11/10/2011 4:12:56 PM.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

How do I feel about it? My feeling is get a job & work your tush off like I do. I never give anyone a dime if they're begging.

The Penn Station homeless guy burned his bridges when I bought him a muffin he was staring at & he said "I'll need a coffee too." How about THANK YOU?

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

Message edited 11/10/2011 4:13:31 PM.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

Nope sorry - I will give to charities but no one personally. Too many sickos out there ruined it for people who might actually be in need.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

i give money to no one.

I take a lot of subways these days and there is always someone preaching about something with a paper cup looking for money. I look straight ahead and ignore them.

Even the ones that don't look employable. Sorry, that may be mean, but I used to buy people food and they wanted money..obviously they weren't hungry like they were insisting.

It's crap.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

Sometimes people honestly need a quarter. I had three quarters and needed a 4th for a meter. I asked 5 people untill a nice guy gave me one. I offered him a dollar for the quarter but her refused.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

i would never give it. They could easily rob you and you dont even know what they are reallu using the money for.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

When I was growing up, there was a guy on the boardwalk that we all called "The Money for Coffee Guy" because that's all he ever used to ask people for. I was standing with a guy one day when the MFCG came over and gave his line. The guy I was with straight out told him that if he truly wanted coffee, he was more than happy to buy him one, but that he was not giving him money to buy alcohol. Suprisingly, the MFCG walked off, no longer interested in the offer of free coffee

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

One time, i was coming out of Penn Station. There was a man sitting on the little ledge outside of where the escalators are. I was a generous college student who thought that i could save the world one homeless person at a time. He had a cup, looked he was holding it up, so i dropped some change in it.

And, coffee splashed out of the cup.

The guy was not homeless, and apparently, wasn't exactly all that happy about me thinking that he was.

I never gave anyone any money after that.



to answer the question though- i HATE it. And, honestly, i don't understand how anyone (sans those in dire emergencies) could feel like its an acceptable (and even, expectable) act?!

When people ask me for money, i jsut say,"No, but Thank you." It leaves thema bit confused

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

Posted by neenie

One time, i was coming out of Penn Station. There was a man sitting on the little ledge outside of where the escalators are. I was a generous college student who thought that i could save the world one homeless person at a time. He had a cup, looked he was holding it up, so i dropped some change in it.

And, coffee splashed out of the cup.

The guy was not homeless, and apparently, wasn't exactly all that happy about me thinking that he was.

I never gave anyone any money after that.




to answer the question though- i HATE it. And, honestly, i don't understand how anyone (sans those in dire emergencies) could feel like its an acceptable (and even, expectable) act?!

When people ask me for money, i jsut say,"No, but Thank you." It leaves thema bit confused

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

I work as a paramedic and last summer we stopped to Atlanta Chicken for dinner. We were the city car and the chicken is AMAZING. It's not in a great area, but people really like to see us around and they are all very nice to us.....well a scruffy looking guy in torn clothes came up to me and my partner and asked for some money to buy food. We offered to buy him whatever he wanted from the menu, but he said no I woiuld rather have rib shack.....this is right next door, but why would you be inside Atlanta Chicken if you want rib shack anyway we said ok let us pay for our dinner and we'll go over to Rib Shack with you and you can get whatever you want from there. He said no he would take about $20 dollars though because come to think of it he wanted to go buy groceries for his family. I said ok we'll meet you at the Stop-N-Shop for groceries. He then said...... " Look lady I want some whiskey can you help me or not?" Needless to say we left and he screamed at us for about 1 blk as he ran after us. I will NEVER offer to help again

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

I agree, that sometimes people do really just need a quarter or 2. Have you never left the house accidentally without your wallet -- no cash, ATM card, nothing?

I really take each situation by itself and then decide whether or not to give my money.

I never give to those people asking for $ for gas because they ran out, or to those asking for $ for a cab ride -- those are truly scams IMO. What drives me nuts is the kids outside the grocery stores selling candy and stuff.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

I will give change to people at the parking meter in the carpark where I park my car for work, as I see these people are genuinely struggling with the right change and I see the money going right into the meter, so I figure...one good turn will deserve another, someone will be kind to me when I need it.

But as for panhandlers, no way jose.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

I feel sad. Sad if life is so bad you have to beg or scam

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

everytime I go to my neighberhood walgreens, there is the same guy standing there asking for change.. I swear he stands there all day, every day... hey, einstein, you could get a job

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

A couple of weeks ago I took my DS to a park in Bklyn with my brohter and niece and nephew. We were sitting down eating pretzels when this emaciated young girl comes bounding up to me and asks for $5, her mother passed out and is in the cab and they need to get to the hospital. I would have given it to her, had I NOT seen the track marks up and down her arm. I said I'm sorry I dont have any more $ on me, this freakin junkie said to me, Oh you can buy your kids pretzels but cant spare me $5? UHHH do I know you, are you my kid, no didnt think so, I dont have to support your smack addiction

She walked off and asked every person in that park

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?

Message edited 8/3/2007 8:44:42 AM.

Re: How do you feel about strangers asking you for $$?