inkjunkie
Well-Known Member
You may have better luck if you are not standing on the side of the road wearing brand new Nikes, with a cup of overpriced Starbucks Coffee in one hand and a cigarette hanging out of your mouth....just saying.....
I won't give them anything anymore.
I assess the person, and consider the likelihood of true need vs BS.
I then count my blessings, and consider that there but for the grace of God, might be me one day. So I have given money in the past more than a few times. I myself am having the most difficult financial situation I have ever been in, and pray I am not reduced to this to stave off hunger. Despite working 6-7 days continuously for the past 7 years to make a living for my "entitled" family, and perhaps because of it, my wife divorced me.
My employer lost a huge contract at exactly the same time, and I was part of the 25% laid off two weeks later. A person who sabotaged production equipment and destroyed equipment I was repairing (smashing it with hammers and throwing it in the trash dumpster) remains employed.
My child support order cannot be changed to reflect one child graduating high school and loss of income until July 27th, and the debt is mounting fast. The house has been sold, and I won't have a spare penny until closing August 16, I must try to pack and move all my belongings 50 miles away with no help from my family and no money to rent a truck or storage unit. I have been selling things as fast as I can, have a job waiting for me as soon as I get moved, but they understand I am trying to sell and move and are willing to wait.
Unemployment pay is being swallowed 75% by wage garnishment. It is more important that I continue packing than take a job at one third my pay rate. To say I am discouraged is a massive understatement.
I have given money to panhandlers when I sensed real need, this economy can turn on you in a split second.
I now go to bed hungry and wake up hungry.
I am supposed to move with zero cash somehow. One child is helping me a small amount, because teenagers today have no sense of responsibility. I'll have lots of cash on August 16, but am supposed to be out of the house on that very same day.
Then too, I cannot qualify for any house purchase with current employment, but returning to work now will not permit me any time to pack for moving, as soon as I start work I will likely be back on straight 7 day a week schedule, which IS expected in my industry.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
......On the otherhand, if she washes my windshield, and squashes her softness all over my ..............
I saw a guy on the same corner for a week with a gas can before he moved on. Guess he finally got his gas! We used to have a guy at various intersections around town, he would walk with a god awful limp between the rows of cars, when the light turned green he would walk off the street with no limp. Truthfully though I usually wont give a dime but a couple weeks ago I was in Subway and this old guy came in and asked me in a very soft voice, almost like he was ashamed, if I could buy him a cheap sandwich. I went off track and told him to order what he wanted. He refused when I asked him if he wanted a drink also. When I left. he was on the curb outside eating the sandwich.guy comes over to my truck with a gas can and asks for a few bucks for gas. I asked him where his car was, he told me down the street. I then asked what did he drive, he said an old Dodge. I asked him to show me the keys. He showed me the keys all right, I guess he starts it with his middle finger!
I saw a guy a couple of weeks ago begging. He had a sign that said Viet Nam vet. Tugged at my my heartstrings for a few seconds, then I realized this guy should be my dad's age if he was there. This guy was like 45. Totally pissed me off at that point.