Driving around Lexington it never fails. The same intersections in the same group of guys it seems work the corners.
Panhandlers - what percentage are for real?
- Thread starter CaptainBoogerBuns
- Start date
100% are really panhandlers imho.
A few years ago Twitch from ZRock panhandled at the corner of Maxwell and Broadway (money went to charity). He said it was the easiest money ever.
I never give money to panhandlers. They’ll just turn around and spend it on drugs or alcohol. I keep my money so that I can afford drugs and alcohol.
Saw a new one at New Circle and Boardwalk. “WE ARE REFUGEES”. He didn’t appear to be Ukrainian or Syrian.
Did you tell him, "You don't have to live like a refugee"?
When I tended at Pazzos homeless would come in all the time. I would walk them to McDonald’s (when I was broke as touch) and offer to buy them anything they wanted. By the time we got there (2 minutes later) they didn’t want anything food wise. Touch those guys. Die on the streets losers.
The fact this is a thread now hammers home the point at how rampant this is. Saw a woman at the exit ramp at Gene Snyder and Bardstown Rd yesterday. She wasn't your typical looking panhandler. Clean cut, attractive, and nicely dressed. She held a sign that said she was new to the US and needed food and money. I couldn't decide if I was angry or sad.
A few years back on my way to wotk, there was a fella who would work the corner at Fern Valley and Thorntons across from White Castle. Always held up a sign for money or food. I felt bad, so one day I got him a few double stacks, a fry and a coke. When I didn't see him at the corner, I looked around and he was hopping in a fairly new f150 at the Fivestar. I've given since though. Once it's out of my hands then it's on you. It's your guilt that will get you, not mine.
A few years back on my way to wotk, there was a fella who would work the corner at Fern Valley and Thorntons across from White Castle. Always held up a sign for money or food. I felt bad, so one day I got him a few double stacks, a fry and a coke. When I didn't see him at the corner, I looked around and he was hopping in a fairly new f150 at the Fivestar. I've given since though. Once it's out of my hands then it's on you. It's your guilt that will get you, not mine.
Somewhere, somehow, somebody must've kicked them around some.
I've seen them in hamburg change shifts. One gets in a van and another gets out.
There used to be ome out there that would give you the same story how their family was at UK hospital and they had no gas to get back to frankfort...its like well uk hospital is not close to hamburg...
There used to be ome out there that would give you the same story how their family was at UK hospital and they had no gas to get back to frankfort...its like well uk hospital is not close to hamburg...
If I have a buck on me I’ll usually give it to them. I was always confused about people that would question if they really needed it or if they were “gaming the system”. I mean the person is standing by the highway wearing raggedy clothes and begging for change I’m sure they’re not a retired attorney or something.
Seen that at the corner of New Circle and Boardwalk, they handed off the signs they were using. What pisses me off more is the guy on Nicholasville Road who puts "Disabled Veteran and God Bless" on his sign. I usually yell out the window at him every chance I get. He's full of ****
A man in a wheelchair rode up to my car in a Wal-Mart parking lot a few years ago. Was very aggressive in demanding money rather than politely asking. Pissed me off, at this point ready to knock his *** on the ground after reaching into my car and when I got out, he took off running. It was a miracle how he was no longer paralyzed all of a sudden.
It’s easy to say that they should get a job. But if you were truly homeless would you even have a place to get cleaned up for your job at BK or McDs? Or how many have problems with background checks? I try to give the benefit of the doubt.
But reality is they’re doing much better per hour as beggars than the $15 per working fast food. In my life I can recall 4 or 5 times when young people (teens) told me straight up they were planning to get disability or a “crazy check”. That’s the culture.
And the true addicts- always the saddest to me. Just feeding their habit when you give.
I’d say 75% are able bodied and should be working.
But reality is they’re doing much better per hour as beggars than the $15 per working fast food. In my life I can recall 4 or 5 times when young people (teens) told me straight up they were planning to get disability or a “crazy check”. That’s the culture.
And the true addicts- always the saddest to me. Just feeding their habit when you give.
I’d say 75% are able bodied and should be working.
That's been a big problem in my neck of Appalachia for decades. As for myself and panhandlers, I'll offer to buy food if food is available close by. I've gotten responses that have ranged from a quick no, to a "no thanks, but I appreciate the offer" to people who took me up on it.
A city near me tried to combat the issue by placing a purple parking meter in an area where there were a lot of panhandlers. The idea was that you could pair money in the meter and the city would use it to pay for homeless shelters and such. I’m sure it had to piss off the beggars.
Quid pro quo.
Hopefully you aren't suggesting attorney's are somehow more respectable.....
Same. If someone is truly hungry I’ll never ignore them.
https://www.lex18.com/news/bogus-beggar-arrested-in-eastern-kentucky-for-panhandling
"In the past, our partner station WAVE 3 reported that Thompson has said he makes around $100,000 a year from panhandling."
What's Gary Thompson up to nowadays, I wonder?
"In the past, our partner station WAVE 3 reported that Thompson has said he makes around $100,000 a year from panhandling."
What's Gary Thompson up to nowadays, I wonder?
When I worked in downtown Louisville we got homeless coming into work all the time. I was always happy to give them water in the summer and coffee or hot chocolate in the winter. And a place to use the bathroom. And when I lived in Lexington I worked at a hotel with a fire pit. Would always let people warm up with that as long as they cleaned up after themselves. Most did and were very polite and grateful. But never give money directly to them. Sucks that the bad apples ruin it for the people that really need help.
Yeah. He's been busted all over the state.
https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/13/please-do-not-refer-me-bogus-beggar-gary-thompson-out-jail-back-it/
XD
I will occasionally give them a dollar. But even if I do, there is a guy on the next corner mad because I don't have money for him. I can't afford to drive around town handing out money all day.
I left Lexington for a decade and came back. It’s wild how many people have come to work the corners. I mean, shocking. Maybe it snuck up on you, but it’s a problem.
I volunteer at the food pantry and happy to help out the needy with free groceries.
I give nothing to interstate panhandlers. Seen too many get dropped and pimped out for easy cash.
I give nothing to interstate panhandlers. Seen too many get dropped and pimped out for easy cash.
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Back before I lost my son to fentenayl 2 years ago, we had him in rehab multiple times. We would go to the counseling and they would without fail say not to give money because it would be used to buy drugs or alcohol. If you feel the need to help to take food...as far as I know, he never panhandle. It's sad.
I’ve never understood this type of thinking. Does it help you or make you feel better about yourself when you think or believe something like this?
Sorry to hear about your son.
I love this
This is a terrible thing to think about, but I sometimes wonder if by tolerating this stuff for the bottom 1% we've now ended up with a bottom 3% who are in a similar situation? What I mean is, by supporting these people we've made others see a survivable path here.