Post in Reactions to Panhandling (was " Petty Crime")

Jun 28 06:48 UTC

On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 12:18 PM, Bob McLean <grmpllc@comcast.net> wrote:

> A quick follow up: Rick, I can understand how you read my "garbage"
> comment, it was not artfully phrased. I was not referring to the people as
> garbage, but their harassing activity, which is definitely bad for business.
>

First, I appreciate the clarification.  But I remain puzzled over the
reaction (and the depth of the reaction) that some folks have when a
panhandler comes up and asks for money.  As I wrote earlier, I've been able
to simply say "Sorry, not today" and go on with my business.  If the first
entreaty is under the guise of "Excuse me, sir, I have a problem" (or
similar introduction) I'll generally listen to the problem and if it's clear
that it's a request for money, I'll usually say "Sorry, I'm afraid I'm
unable to help."

In St Paul, my experience is that usually wraps it up.

And this is not intended to single out Bob -- but I'm truly curious to hear
from others who are bothered by panhandlers' presence in Downtown.  In
particular, I'm curious about  what provokes negative feelings/emotions when
another person asks for money or other financial help.

     Is part of the reaction a discomfort over having someone simply make
the request?
     Or, is part of the reaction fear that the situation might escalate and
pose some risk of physical harm or embarrassment?
      Is part of the reaction a desire to have only interaction with people
we know (or want to know) and the panhandler's presence upsets that
protective "sphere of privacy" that is treasured?
     Or is part of  the reaction caused by middle-class conventions that
"nice people don't beg" and thus the panhandler is an outlier in our world
of nice/not-nice people?

I suspect that those who are non-plussed by a panhandler's entreaty would
not think twice if another person came up and asked for directions to a
nearby museum, library, office building, etc.

I'll add again that I think panhandlers are symptomatic of larger cities but
that the volume of panhandlers and their "aggressiveness" seems far lower
here than in the cities to which I've traveled.

Rick Mons
as Forum Participant