I had one hit me up just a few weeks ago. I told him that I would give him 150.00 if he helped me load my Pick up and trailer. He refused. Actually I paid a neighbor to do it after the panhandler tried to rob me.

Marion has been a craphole ever since the Mafia left it. The Mafia kept all the petty criminals and people that preyed on the old, women and children run out of town.

Keith

Best sign lately

Goldfish died
Need money for funeral

Last year they were in every town around. Mostly white but some foreign. I saw the violin trick once, done by foreigners. After reading this thread I realized I haven't seen any in a long time. Not sure if laws were passed or they just figured out there ain't no money in this area.

The ones I see here are almost always whites and usually the same ones at different places

It has, but it is was a craphole without foreign beggers scamming on the streets! Still known as little Chicago. Its about like dayton or west Columbus now. Now its a whole new ballgame. Thank God I dont live nearby.

A few times, in downtown Anchorage where I recognized the regulars, I'd respond to a panhandler's request for money with, "Why don't YOU give ME ten dollars?"

It always sets them back a moment. Sometimes they'll swear at you and slink off, like they're embarrassed.

Then there are the ones that stand their ground, while you walk away, and swear at you until you've left them behind.

Then was the guy who followed me down the street, not cursing, but yelling and arguing at me. I'd offended his dignity. I didn't know how hard it is to have to beg for money. This was a real pro, dedicated to his profession... and I offended his dignity. I probably also offended his beggarly sense of competence. I think it became a matter of professional pride for him to extract ten bucks from me.

He never did cross over to my side of the street. I was lucky he was sane and not drug-addled. He broke off his pursuit when I reached the federal building at my appointed hour. The last thing I heard behind me, before the door closed and cut him off, was, "Oh, you're a LAWYER! One of them ARSEHOLE LAWYERS!"

So that went on for several days, until that case concluded anyway. Every time he saw me he'd start in with, "You're that ARSEHOLE LAWYER!" and he'd follow me as far as he could. See, that's how I knew he was a pro: he was careful not to violate a law or get close enough that I could accuse him of intimidation. He had me and he knew it. He was just a beggar...he was allowed to yell things. People expected it. I was the only one embarrassed by these encounters.

Pretty soon, I found a different route to the federal building. And that is how I learned my lesson: Don't trifle with beggars.

I'm not kidding now: Whoever said to ignore them and walk on by hit a homer. This is the safest course, legally and otherwise. If they resort to threats or intimidation, it's a different ball game, but otherwise don't trifle with them.

Jim

Yep Jim you"re correct. I learned that in the Philippines many yrs ago. Just walk on by and pay them no mind.

Where I lived in Philippines there was actually a law against giving them money! (never enforced)

The beggar in Shenandoah, VA is a white female (I think).