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[–] GOMAD_OR_GFYAD 1 point 3 points (+4|-1) ago  (edited ago)

I have never given money to a panhandler. They are rarely "marginalized by society" and are mostly just consciousless people who panhandle because it's an easy scam to make a few bucks. They dirty themselves up, look pathetic, and trade in their dignity to beg because the hourly pay is many times what they would earn at an honest job, and it's tax-free!

The fat panhandler was probably way more likely to be a legit homeless person. An alcoholic who begs to make the shakes go away in the morning, maybe keep a slight buzz on all day, eat a couple meals of cheap fast food, and a drink himself into oblivion at night can easily consume 4000+ calories a day with that lifestyle. $5 is a meal or a pint of liquor, and $2 is a 40 of malt liquor or cheap beer.

I dont want to support either lifestyle, so I never give money to panhandlers.

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[–] NotYourDoctor 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Exactly. I see several homeless in my city collecting cans and such to recycle for money, and a few even have jobs. Panhandlers are not necessarily homeless, but are almost always scammers, addicts, or both. The ones begging for food have in almost all cases sold off their food stamps (and yes, you can get food stamps without an address. You can pick them up at the post office or the benefits office). Honestly I have far more respect for prostitute junkies than panhandlers, because at least the prostitutes are doing something to earn money instead of bothering people until they get a handout.