The great bum purge of '09?

[David]

No way, the bums here are so unmotivated that if you just keep walking past they leave you alone. I didn't say they were polite, I just said they dont have the energy to keep bothering after you say no or walk past.

If you're stopping when some total stranger says "hey man, let me ask you a question" that might be your problem. You're getting sucked into the vortex.

I've heard every story under the sun when it comes to panhandlers, I must give off a "go away" vibe or something.

This is all way too subjective to really debate about though. I can't speak for your experiences, but from my point of view, I've noticed in some larger cities the panhandling is of a "higher quality"

The ploys are more clever, the stories are more believable. They even dress sharper! Don't you know Atlanta busses their less talented hobos here?

[stephElf]

I don't know where all these allegedly polite bums are around here, but most of the ones I run into aren't polite at all, they're downright rude and pushy.

I'll second that.

Growing up in NY & NJ I encountered my fair share of bums ... but all they ever did was stand on the side of the road with a paper cup. You either put money in it, or you didn't.  Either that or they came hauling ass behind you and swiped your bag or wallet.  Those are my kind of bums.

Here they all have some story.  And my experience with Jax bums has not been good ...

1) Gave a bum a dollar -they replied "that's it?"
2) Husband gave a bum half of a gas station sandwhich - took it, then said you don't have money? um no. then walked away with the sandwhich
3) husband gave a lady bum by burrito gallery a dollar bc he felt bad i guess bc it was a woman... then we see her at London Bridge drinking a $4 import! Not even some cheap beer or a gas station 32 oz Hurricane. That's a crafty bum with some expensive tastes. lol

All kidding around aside... I'm sick of bums. That's 95% of the reason I don't miss my apartment on stockton & park... towards the end I just had it. They were there a lot because of the bus stop right there. They would come up to me in my car.  One time I literally thought a guy was dying in my front yard so I called 911 and the fireman came... they were like omg he is a regular and hauled him off. He was going through alcohol withdrawal vomiting and whatnot.  I still love Riverside - just not the bums.  I could never enjoy the park by 5 pts (not memorial) b/c there was always like 2 dozen of them asking me for something when I walked my dog.

I have thought about volunteering somehow to help these people but I'm sorry I am one of those people stuck in the mindset that if they want to not be a bum they will find a way... all they do is depress me and piss me off.  I'd rather spend my time for some other cause - sorry if my comments offend some people.

[stephElf]

Don't you know Atlanta busses their less talented hobos here?

haha!  But you are right you do have to give off that "Don't you dare effing talk to me vibe." That works better than anything else...

[Bewler]

2) Husband gave a bum half of a gas station sandwhich

3) husband gave a lady bum by burrito gallery a dollar

Thanks. Oh wait you forgot some.

4) husband let bum borrow his car

5) husband gave bum title to house

6) husband is currently playing chicken against a train

7) husband is a complete idiot

[stephElf]

Thanks. Oh wait you forgot some.

4) husband let bum borrow his car

5) husband gave bum title to house

6) husband is currently playing chicken against a train

7) husband is a complete idiot

there is nothing wrong with being a nice person. it just doesn't pay for j-ville bums. they are greedy and unappreciative.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

So...   anybody else thinking about the South Park solution yet?

[ChriswUfGator]

2) Husband gave a bum half of a gas station sandwhich - took it, then said you don't have money? um no. then walked away with the sandwhich

Same thing happened to me...

A while back, I had just come from Chick Fil-A at Roosevelt Mall, and they had this 2-4-1 deal going on, so I wound up with 2 extra sandwiches. I was getting off the Roosevelt Expwy. at the Edgewood Ave. exit and there was a bum there holding a sign saying "Hungry...will work blah blah blah". I felt bad, and rolled the window down and said "Hey, I got an extra sandwich...". The guy goes "You got any money?". I said "no", and his response was: "Nah I don't want that $h!t".

And I said this before on another thread, but the ones around here have an ego on them! It's very annoying. You have to suffer through the 3 minute-long speech about "Now, I ain't never asked for no handout in my life..." before they go right on to ask you for a handout.

And I've tried just walking right past them and ignoring them. I did that to one lady-bum by the Subway/Wachovia Bank in 5 points, she followed me from behind and pushed me and said "Pay attention when someone's talking to you, SON!". I know you're not supposed to hit a woman, but I came within a millimeter of smacking her in the face. She really startled me.

Out of all the ones I've run into, be it here, NYC, ATL, BOS, you name it, the ones here (at least in my experience) are the absolute worst. They're rude a$$holes, and I'm completely sick of dealing with them. I for one am very glad the cops are finally cracking down.

[Bewler]

I was just poking fun Steph, I should have included the smily wink.

So...   anybody else thinking about the South Park solution yet?

Haha, California is pretty far though. Maybe they'd settle for Miami?

[Deuce]

I'll reiterate my methodology on handling bums again: be rude, aggressive, loud, pushy, and just plain crazy before they have a chance too. Some will yell and cuss back but they'll be doing it as they run in the other direction. If we make them feel as unwanted as possible, the transitory ones might be more inclined to move on and the more permanent ones may look for haunts elsewhere in town.

I am glad the cops are cracking down. Don't worry about offending people with your comments steph. Some of my opinions on the matter are very offensive, so I'm keeping them out of a public forum and just sticking to being a heartless bastard. 

[David]

Amen Deuce. It works doesn't it?

I've just had panhandlers in other cities literally chase me, not give up even when displaying the same apathy i've displayed here. It must be the out-of-towner vibe.

If you want them to leave you alone and at least appear to offer help you could point them towards the soup kitchens, homeless shelters around town.

Or you could just ask them for a dollar when you see one approaching you. That seems to work too.

[stephElf]

another tactic that works is

"Sure, I can help you out - do you accept credit cards?"

I really pissed a bum off with that line at the LB.

[David]

yeah but what if they say yes? haha

[RiversideLoki]

yeah but what if they say yes? haha

Where do I swipe the card? OH GOD!

[Sigma]

I'll reiterate my methodology on handling bums again: be rude, aggressive, loud, pushy, and just plain crazy before they have a chance too. Some will yell and cuss back but they'll be doing it as they run in the other direction. If we make them feel as unwanted as possible, the transitory ones might be more inclined to move on and the more permanent ones may look for haunts elsewhere in town.

I am glad the cops are cracking down. Don't worry about offending people with your comments steph. Some of my opinions on the matter are very offensive, so I'm keeping them out of a public forum and just sticking to being a heartless bastard. 

Correct, once I learned to act crazier than they do, I've never had a problem with 'em.

[David]

there is nothing wrong with being a nice person. it just doesn't pay for j-ville bums. they are greedy and unappreciative.

Unlike those bums from Yale & Harvard.

Alright this is sad. Jacksonville is so desperate for an identity we're trying to claim that our homeless population is unique to other areas haha.

But back on topic, the downtown ambassadors are out on patrol late into the night. I've seen them deflect several panhandlers from harassing the club goers on Bay St. The city is definitely toughening its stance in that sense. They're really trying to make people feel comfortable when they visit.