HOW TO DENY PANHANDLERS W/O INCIDENT

[Fed Up]

    It's so simple, I can't believe more people don't do this.
When you see you are approaching one, quickly whip out your cell,
& pretend you are talking to someone. I do this every single time
I come upon one & they always leave me alone.
Wouldn't you?  Put yourself in their shoes. If you interrupt someone on their phone, you know they're gonna be pissed & you can forget getting any $ outta them.
It's win-win. They don't approach you & you aren't put in a potentially awkward situation
by having to turn them down.
Please, PLEASE everybody - let's all start doing this practice & who knows? maybe if enough
people start doing it, we might actually be able to make 'em go away.
 

[tenkani]

Meh.
I just say "sorry, no" and move on.
Or I give them some coinage if I get a sense that they actually need it.
No need for deception IMO. Your mileage may, and apparently does, vary.
 

[kingy]

i dont have a cell phone. should i carry around my cordless home phone?  

[Raver]

I always say, sure, got change for a hundred?  no?  Oh sorry, I have nothing smaller.

[Lise]

They so damn agressive. There was one time this lady approached me and I gave her the usual, "Sorry, no change" and she started to hurl abuse after abuse at me. Scary. I just shuffled out of her way quickly.

  Do you guys get those handlers who come to your table in the food court and they put something on your table? Like a "help me, I can't speak" note on your table? So annoying.

[Moolah!]

Those low lifes aren't worth all the ENERGY you'll put into ACTING and FAKING to be talking on the phone.



Man... you're giving them even more control on your life, as if they don't have enough already.



Don't think that they have any manners that they won't interrupt. They always interrupt me when I'm talking with a friend.



A casual "Get lost" works well for me.



Don't even establish eye contact - because with an eye contact you're acknowledging them and implicitly giving them the permission to pester you.



And never, NEVER apologize for not having any change.



Spend as little energy for those scum as possible.



Firmly say "No change" and move on.



   

[healthy guy]

Some of those "Low Lifes" have gone through some hard times and experiences. Some of them, not all, but some would love nothing more than to NOT ask you for money. Some will, yes, use that money for drugs. But some need it for FOOD and also to FEED THEIR CHILDREN!  

[Lil Me]

I try to give them food, if I have any.
 
 
   

[Sportsdude]

  I'm really surprised Vancouver doesn't have a homeless newspaper.  Its a proven fact those papers help the poor.  

[a href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Issue"]vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Issue[/a]



 

[Lise]

Well, it's easier if you were a dude and can say that. If you look like a meek little bonnie lass, they kinda 'attack' you.    

[tenkani]

 This thread makes the Jesus cry. Literally.
I have no experience with Vancouver homeless, but around here some of these people have actually fallen on hard times and need help. Some are scam artists and loonies, others have just had a string of very bad luck. I would be careful about characterizing all beggars as scumbags.
   

[Sportsdude]

 [a href="vny!://www.bigissue.com/bigissue.html"]vny!://www.bigissue.com/bigissue.html[/a]


Gosh now you guys are getting me motivated to start working for poor people issues.

   

[Lise]

It's true, tenkani but you know, you can't help it.

[Sportsdude]

 Seattle has a homeless paper. Really shocked Vancouver doesn't have one.

Its gives homeless people jobs and creates income for them it it true works.
   

[Sportsdude]

[a href="vny!://www.realchangenews.org/"]vny!://www.realchangenews.org/[/a]

That's Seattle's homeless paper