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I wonder ......
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I wonder ...... |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State 
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…..did he really need it? Ok, I left for lunch, headed for Jack in the Box. When I pull into the parking lot, there stands a man, holding a sign that simply says “Hungry”! Rolling my eyes, I drive on thinking to myself, I see them on almost every street corner these days and it drives me crazy not knowing if they REALLY need it or not. There are non-stop panhandling scams in our area! Then, sitting in the drive through line, I begin to feel overwhelmingly guilty. I want to order him something, after all, I’m not giving him money and it’s only a few bucks out of my pocket. Of course by this time I have already ordered and there was a string of cars lined up behind me. So, I proceed with my order and drive back through, ordering a sandwich and a drink. I head back out of the parking lot and hand him the bag of food and drink. He looked tattered and dirty and seemed genuinely grateful. He said “thank you so much” and walked away towards the bushes. I told him your welcome and drove away. Now here is the kicker ….. As I pull out onto the main drag, I look to see if I can still see him, and he is standing there talking to another man in a flannel shirt that is standing back in the bushes a bit! I have just been taken! At least I am not sitting here felling guilty and wondering if her really needed food or not. I believe I did the right thing, gullible or not. At least I was smart enough NOT to give him money. But the saddest thing to me is, there are really people out there that need help (and I know there are shelters etc) and these scammers are taking advantage of their situation. OK, thank you all, I feel better now that I got that off of my chest. ~Sheri |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
why would you think you got taken just because the man was talking to another man? |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
s'what i was wondering as well...? did ya miss telling us something girlie?  |
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Marshalzu  
since 2001-02-15
Posts 2681Lurking |
I'm all confuzzled |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State |
I’m sorry, I guess I neglected to include a few facts. Panhandling scams are very popular here and most of them operate in a ring. When money or anything else is passed, there is almost always a “lead” that handles and distributes the money accordingly at the days end. After watching a special several months ago, I learned that this action was typical, typical because of fear of being “busted” by the police with masses of money on hand. After all in many areas of our state, it’s illegal to panhandle, and if busted, money can be confiscated. To them, it's a safety measure. They actually showed hidden video of these people leaving their corners, changing their cloths and getting into brand new cars and driving away! I could certainly be wrong, but I felt I was taken…….. ~Sheri "Don't wait for your ship to come in ... Swim out to it" [This message has been edited by Irie (10-08-2002 05:52 PM).] |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
you gave him food he said thank you and he went to talk to another man in the woods.... just because you've seen something on the news that tells you there are rings of panhandlers who hand over their money to some "lead" and you've seen this on film, you believe that this person "took" you for a hamburger because he was talking to someone? do you think he gave the other man some pickles and a few bites in exchange for keeping him employed so that he could eat something again the next day by "taking" some other sucker like you? LOL i'm sorry to laugh but i don't get it. the news media sure is a powerful force. that's all i have to say about how it's affected your fear of being taken. sounds to me like you fed a hungry man who happened to have a friend or acquaintance. *smile* you did a good deed. next month when it gets really cold, carry an extra blanket or two in your car and hand them out. you'll feel as warm inside as those who receive your kindness. |
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Miah Senior Member
since 2002-08-26
Posts 1062Pennsylvania |
If there were more people in the world with your kind heart we would live in a much better place, thank goodness for people like you. It's hard now a days to do a kind act, because so many people have been taken advantage for their generosity. You did the right thing, giving him food is much wiser, in my opinion then just giving him money. At the very least you know someone who is hungery is going to eat it.  |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State |
Ok Doreen & Chris ….now I feel completely stupid.  Maybe he didn’t take me, maybe he did. I know it was only a sandwich and drink, but ….I guess that bothered me. Now I’m not sure what to think…. Maybe he was just sharing his food, but why in the bushes? You do have a good point. I guess I should just feel good that I did the right thing, whether he needed it or not. Thank you for the "wake up" slap!  Thank you miah for the encouragement! Makes me feel better! ~Sheri "Don't wait for your ship to come in ... Swim out to it" [This message has been edited by Irie (10-09-2002 02:32 PM).] |
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