How do you respond to "panhandling" (homeless people begging for $)

I usually give them what they ask for be it spare change or a cig if I can spare it. Then I give them a smile and tell them good luck... before I light them on fire.

I used to be all against giving money, just food etc. Then I read ''give unto every man that asks of you when it is in your power to give'' and realized there are no conditions in that verse. So now I give give give.. how can I argue that... :)

always give homeless people food instead of money.

HOBO: "hey excuse me do you smoke?"

ME: "YEAH i smoke tons im a chain smoker"

HOBO: "oh ok... do you have an extra cigerate?"

ME: "yeah i just bought a carton i dont know what im gonna do with them all"

HOBO: "oh i see... may i have one?"

ME: "LOL NO"

If I bum a cig I offer compensation like a quarter or a dollar for like 4. Hey, I'm investing in your next pack! Go easy! lol

I don't encounter many, if any, around me. The WORST here is people asking for cigarettes. I yell at people when they ask me, I let them have it. Well, usually what happens is, they ask and I say sorry, no. Then they proceed to whine and complain and beg and act like I'm being mean for not handing one over, and that's when I lay into them. It PISSES ME OFF!!!!!!!

I don't think its right to just suspect that they'll just go buy beer and ciggs. And Hell, if they are.. you're still helping them. Its just about being a good person. And what kind of person are you if you just suspect thats what they'll do. A dollar or 2 won't hurt you. But I prefer to give food out.

Here's my business model:

I give them some change in my pocket and hook them up with Crack rocks. Once they are addicted it is my turn to collect money from them.

I live and work downtown so I get hit up a hundred times a day for $ and smokes. I almost always refuse or wear my headphones so I don't have to. But if I see someone who is genuinely handicapped, or has a child, or is making something (ie: Palm crosses/figures, window washes, playing music) I'll give em something. It bothers the hell out of me that people think asking a perfect stranger for their personal property. I usually say "change comes from within" when someone asks me for it. Or I'll say "my name isn't bro" then they say "idk your name" then I say "then why the FUCK would you ask me for money?"

I give them drugs since that's probably what they were going to buy.

I was driving my car to school one day and I saw a man in front of the local Church's Chicken wave a sign saying that he needed $5 to feed his young daughter. I gave him $2, as that was the only cash I had on me. He shook his head and told me that this was not enough, that he needed $5. Ungrateful piece of shit.

I usually dont give them the money myself, who knows what they will use it for after all?

I politely ask them what kind of liquor they would like then I go and get it for them.

The worst kind of Bum is the ones who have the signs "Will work for________ (Food, cigs, booze, etc.), yet if you ask them to work, they tell you no. If thats the case, then fuck you!

A friend of mine was approached by a bum wanting a pack of cigarettes, said he was willing to work for it. My friend had a whole carton and told him, "How about I give you the whole carton?" The bum was like really? then my friend was like yeah, and hands him some tire shine and a rag. If you shine the wheels on the van, you can have the whole carton. The bum then hands the tire shine and rag back and says, "Fuck you, I ain't your Nigger!", calls him a racist, and other nasty things. The bum goes to his friends and tells them, "this man wants me to be his boy!" They approach and my friend tells him "I told him he could have a carton of smokes if he shines my wheels". they curse him, and my friend tells them "No work, no fucking smokes!" and drives off.

(BTW, The use of the word Nigger isn't to be racist, its what the Bum said.)

I usually don't have any myself, but if I do, I may give depending on how nice they ask,if i am not needing to buy something (like food!),and if i am not wanting a soda. If a charity finds me first, though, they win. I almost always give to charity when I can.

Funny signs may earn a bum more.

I always tell em if they cant afford to smoke how are they ever gonna pay thier hospital bill when they get cancer. and walk off. although i always cary pipe tobacco as well and offer them a little bit of that but only if they have rolling papers lol.

I ignore them or tell them that I do not have any money on me.
Reason being is that I do not normally carry cash, but when I do, it is more than $20 or so dollars (which, to a broke person like me, is a pretty sizeable amount). Usually it is after I have cashed a check or made a withdrawal and need to pay a bill (my insurance bill needs to be paid in cash) and my fear is that they will see the money in my wallet and
A) Be dissatisfied with the small amount that I am giving them and ask for more
*Get violent if I do not oblige and then it turns into a mugging
B) Mug me later
C) Tell their friends and they mug me

I've given them money before (out of fear, mainly, I live in the city and when they seem very desperate, I am not taking my chances), but for my own safety, I try to avoid them or tell them I don't have anything. Either way, I could get mugged but I'd prefer not to give them motivation to do so (seeing my money).
In general, I do not like to whip out my wallet in public, save for when I am in front of a cashier. You're just begging for it then.

i go out of my way and go buy them food, like from the dollar menu or something. then they don't have to go buy it or make a tough choice as to what to do with the little money they have. also, I saw a tv show where a heroin addict fully funded his addiction by panhandling. people thought they were helping someone when really he was just buying drugs with it. i never give them money.

Up til now, I've always ignored homeless people, and still do, but each time I feel pity when I look at them poor souls...

I was talking to a hobo today, -he was so nice! lol- and I was like, "Honestly dude imma give you the money regardless, I just want to know, What are you planning on buying?" I gave him a dollar, "Well miss, I find I really can't stand dollar burgers anymore, so i was trying to get 4 more dollars to buy a Subway sandwich :D" AWW!! I couldn't help it, I have him 3 more dollars lol he was like, "Thank you ma'am! Can i give you a hug?" I didn't really have a say in that because he already draped a shoulder over me and smiled. I'm happy that i made his day :D

i feel sorry for homeless people. more often then not they have other issues like addiction, abuse, neglect and mental health issues.

I never give to the homeless because 99.99% of the time they're going to use the money to go get drunk or get high.

If you want to give, give the money to charity. They more than anyone else can help them.

I believe in Karma :D -that and I'm a nice person, who always assume they are going to buy something to eat lol- If they ask really quickly and don't seem interested or greatful, just the change on the bottom of my purse. If they seem embarrest or they look like they need it, $1 and the change. If they come up happy and make conversation and are nice $2 and some change. Either way i always give, becuz i'm not that strong and if they get mad i didn't give them money, they may try to steal my purse :( That would be NO Bueno!! lol

I say no and walk away. I don't know if this is the best thing to do but I know there are soup kitchens and churchs that help whoever is in need so I just give to them instead. Plus, I don't want to be giving them cash to go buy booze or illegal substances.

I give them $1.

I ignore them, here I've seen the same ones get dropped off by a van everyday..

I Would most likely yell, Only because of the fact that there is a such thing AS WORKING.. DOESN'T MATTER YOUR SITUATION OR LIVING CONDITIONS, THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE!!! if you really wanted a job you could get one.. Only my opinion though.

Punch them in the face and light a $20 bill in front of them...