Panhandler gets caught in a new ride

[Doc45]

A few months back I got hit up by a guy asking for money outside an Einstein's I frequent. Asked the guy what he wanted the money for, he said he was hungry. I took him inside, gave a $5 the guy behind the register (I'm a regular, they all know me), pointed out the beggar and said the $5 was for food/drink for him. Walked over to my table and finished my coffee while I read the paper. The beggar came over to me after and wanted to give me a buck and change that was left over (their bagels and coffee are cheap). I could see that he did indeed eat. Yes, I took back the change and gave it to the guy at the register to "hold" in case someone ever came in and were short some cash for food. A couple of days later I was told that it went to good use.

[MrPrena]

Beggar vs Hustler

I worked about 9month at a gas station cross road of LongBeach and Compton Blvd. I've seen it all that I even hustle the hustler on the street.
90% of those beggars and hustlers are up for no good.

[Ridge]

But this is the 1st time I had been to Telluride and saw this type of begging. I have seen them on the main street playing music, but not like this. Coincidence with the new pot laws? I think it is a direct consequence of the new laws. I have nothing against people using drugs, but this is the reason we need drug testing for gov handouts, let Darwin win a few more times.

You're blind if you think this is new because of marijuana laws. I knew guys like that when I started going to college in '05. And the only way pot will ruin your life is if the cops decide to bust you for it.

[GilpinGuy]

I separate the homeless and beggers. A good portion of beggers have a place to sleep and are employable.

I hate buskers more than beggers. Plopping your ass down, in front of a business, and (attempting) playing your guitar for hours on end is just plain inconsiderate. Add singing and it's fire hose time.

Notice that I wrote "decent music". Crap gets crap. You're not gonna have to start banging some bongos soon in front of VNBC are are you?

[rondog]

the only way pot will ruin your life is if the cops decide to bust you for it.

Or if your employer cans you because you come up hot on a random test.....

Or you can't get a new job because every prospective new employer tests you and you fail, because you won't stop smoking "because it's LEGAL, and I have RIGHTS".....

Or you get pulled over for some traffic infraction, you're found to be under the influence, and have weed on you, AND you happen to have your CCW pistol on you or a loaded handgun in your glovebox.....

Or you get kicked out of your apartment or rental house for smoking weed "because it's legal and I have rights", despite clear rules prohibiting usage on the property written in the lease that you signed.....

Etc., etc.....

[Ridge]

Or if your employer cans you because you come up hot on a random test.....

Or you can't get a new job because every prospective new employer tests you and you fail, because you won't stop smoking "because it's LEGAL, and I have RIGHTS".....

That may not matter soon

http://www.cpr.org/news/story/colora...ical-marijuana

Or you get pulled over for some traffic infraction, you're found to be under the influence, and have weed on you, AND you happen to have your CCW pistol on you or a loaded handgun in your glovebox.....

That's not because of pot. That's because of DUI. And smoking marijuana keeps you from passing a background check, not from owning a firearm. Nothing so far suggests you will lose a CCP because of it, either.

Or you get kicked out of your apartment or rental house for smoking weed "because it's legal and I have rights", despite clear rules prohibiting usage on the property written in the lease that you signed.....

Etc., etc.....

That's up to the property manager. It's not going to ruin your life to find a new apartment.

[Ah Pook]

You're not gonna have to start banging some bongos soon in front of VNBC are are you?

After tomorrow I'm leaving my options open. I do have a couple of HD 5 gallon buckets... Stocking up on cardboard sign material too.

You're blind if you think this is new because of marijuana laws. I knew guys like that when I started going to college in '05. And the only way pot will ruin your life is if the cops decide to bust you for it.

Pot laws haven't had much effect. We get the drainbows every year. The more recent crop is more needy. They get off the bus expecting to be taken care of. When they are given a sad dose of reality, they usually get back on the bus and go away. The scammers stick around longer.

Funny (or not) EricP's contact isn't uncommon. Some people just don't get no.

[boomerhc9]

a few summers ago, this ok looking chick walks up to me in the west side kingsoupers parking lot and told be a sob story about getting ditched by her boyfriend here, and needing a ride to las animas. I asked, "the street"? and she tells me she needs to get to the town. I laugh and tell her she could borrow my cell phone, but insisted on a ride. I told her no, and she dissapears.

I hear from a family friend in LE that they usualy have you drive somewhere they have someone waiting, and rob you of everything, sometimes even your car.

three weeks later, I see this same chick, lower cut shirt than before, but this time in the walmart parking lot. She tells me the exact same sob story, but asks for money for a pay phone. I tell her she can suck me off for $10, she calls me a perv, and storms off.

about a month later, she comes up to me in the big 5 parking lot, starts to tell her story, sees its me, calls me an asshole, and storms off again.

Either she was litteraly the wost judge of dudes, and was realy getting ditched 90 miles from home, or she was a theif. She was not however a parking lot porn star. I probably used that ten for a range fee that weekend.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Eventually friends and family gets worn out or wise to the enabling part of the addiction cycle. Those closest eventually understand that there is nothing they can do to help someone who is on their ride to the bottom.

This. I have one cousin who I no longer even consider family. He is specifically written out of my will; I'd rather have anything left go to the Humane Society than his lazy dope-smoking con-running arse.

[Aloha_Shooter]

And the only way pot will ruin your life is if the cops decide to bust you for it.

That's a load of crap. Yes, many people can smoke pot without ill effect but there are people for whom pot takes away all incentive to work or get ahead. You might argue those people were already lazy but pot is an enabler for them. Depending on the case, it can be more of an enabler for their laziness than beer or liquor.

On the bright side of things, I used to offer street food to the vent men near my college. Only had one who didn't accept and eat the food gratefully so not all beggars are scum - but I still won't give out cash or even take notice of the ones begging in the street.