Would you have given this guy any money?

[Mr Celine]

I'd have pointed out that normal walking speed for an adult is 4 mph so it would only take 75 mins to get there. I would also consider putting him on the bus and paying the fare, but I wouldn't give him cash.

I did once give a couple of tramps in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh some cash. One held out his hand, which was full of coppers, and said they were trying to get enough together for a can of special brew and only needed another 8p. For their honesty I gave them enough for a can each.

 

[gbb]

I was approached by a mildly upset woman some years ago in a motorway service area...she'd run low on fuel and didn't have enough money for petrol to get home, kids were in the car as well.
I gave her a tenner, she seemed genuinely thankfull (then again, why wouldnt she be, even if she was a scammer). Whats a tenner when youre going on holiday with a pocket full of money, its good karma and left me feeling a mix of perhaps being scammed, but perhaps I'd helped someone to get home.

Several years later...the same thing happened in a different service service area, woman, stuck etc etc etc...yeah right.

That said, id have given him £1.80.

 

[young Ed]

me, no. i wouldn't have given them a penny, i'm skeptical and and prefer to know for certain if i am doing something for good or for charity.
that and the fact i'm only ever seen in town no more than 3 or 4 times a year and i hardly ever carry cash, i purchase most things online or if it is something more bulky or heavy that needs collecting (generally building materials or agricultural supplies) it's always on a plastic card and we park in the agricultural merchants car park or in the timber yard etc and go in have a poke about, buy what we went there for and go home. no time or chance to be hastled in such a way. i highly doubt a scammer looking for a fiver is going to be looking at rifles or timber etc!
Cheers Ed

 

[Dave 123]

I regularly get asked around Cambridge. I'm not one for carrying much cash as a rule. If I get asked I say that I haven't got any cash. If they then give me a bit of stick or hard luck story I stop and say "you empty your pockets, I'll empty my wallet, the one with the most money gives it to the other"

They never want to play that game!

If I ever have a bit of change I stick it in an East Anglian Children's Hospice box or the Arthur Rank Hospice.

 

[nickyboy]

My mum was approached by a woman in a car park saying she was 20p short of the cash needed for the parking charge. She gave her the 20p. Came back a couple of hours later and she was still there, still asking for 20p from folk

 

[young Ed]

well bloody hell if they're asking for 20p or 80p or so to make any many and potentially live off it (albeit not very well) they must be doing this all day, every day. and have a pretty high success rate with getting 20p
Cheers Ed

 

[pplpilot]

I regularly get asked for the 'cost of a cup of tea' my normal reply is no, but ill gladly sit with you and chew the fat over a breakfast in the cafe over there... Needless to say I've yet to have a breakfast with a stranger.

 

[Dayvo]

It would be a quick assessment of the situati

I never buy the ruddy thing so I have no need to know how much it actually is!!

You might be selling the thing one day!

 

[Dayvo]

My mum was approached by a woman in a car park saying she was 20p short of the cash needed for the parking charge. She gave her the 20p. Came back a couple of hours later and she was still there, still asking for 20p from folk

Reminds me of this (true or untrue) story.

Outside Bristol Zoo there is a car park where cars and coaches can park. There was also a nice bloke with a hat and ticket machine charging cars £1 and coaches £5. This parking attendent worked there for about 25 years, then one day didn't turn up for work... Ho hum say Bristol Zoo management - Better phone up Bristol City Council and get them to send a new parking attendant......

Er no say the Council... That car park is your responsibility... Er no say Bristol Zoo the attendant was employed by you wasn't he.... Er NO!!!! Sitting in his villa in Spain is bloke who had been taking the car park takings for Bristol Zoo for the last 25 years...

 

[pplpilot]

Reminds me of this (true or untrue) story.

Outside Bristol Zoo there is a car park where cars and coaches can park. There was also a nice bloke with a hat and ticket machine charging cars £1 and coaches £5. This parking attendent worked there for about 25 years, then one day didn't turn up for work... Ho hum say Bristol Zoo management - Better phone up Bristol City Council and get them to send a new parking attendant......

Er no say the Council... That car park is your responsibility... Er no say Bristol Zoo the attendant was employed by you wasn't he.... Er NO!!!! Sitting in his villa in Spain is bloke who had been taking the car park takings for Bristol Zoo for the last 25 years...

Oooohhhhh pllleeeaaaasssseeee let this be true... Please...

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Ocht I give £2 to Big Issue sellers and tell them to keep the mag and sell it to someone else.

Ah, that's where I went wrong yesterday when I gave the guy £1 and told him to keep the magazine and he gave me the exact same spiel when I came past him again.

On the OP's question, I never know whether I'm in a yes or a no mood until it's happened. I'm changeable, is all I can say. If he had a blanket so sit on and a dog, it would have been the walk past, though. I'm consistent on that.

 

[subaqua]

I regularly get asked for the 'cost of a cup of tea' my normal reply is no, but ill gladly sit with you and chew the fat over a breakfast in the cafe over there... Needless to say I've yet to have a breakfast with a stranger.

this.

have been asked several times for money for bus train tube food and have always replied that i won't give you the cash but i will buy the ticket or some food . always get turned down. I will never refuse to help but i will help in the best way I can.

 

[subaqua]

Oooohhhhh pllleeeaaaasssseeee let this be true... Please...

sorry

http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/carpark.asp

 

[Arrowfoot]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ellers-Romanian-homes-AND-claim-benefits.html

 

[Silver Fox]

I wouldn't have parted with my cash. In the described circumstances my cynicism wouldn't allow it.

As an aside it's not unknown for members of the public to be approached in the street and given a sob story by some stranger. Once a wallet or purse is produced an accomplice snatches it and makes off.