Do panhandlers scare you at night?

Well, panhandlers beg for themselves, so at least you know where the money is really going, even if you don’t agree with what the panhandler does with it. I’d rather give to an individual than an organization.

And what does that have to do with night time?

@Dutchess_III Night time is scary walking alone downtown.

Well, sure. Everyone scares me at night, not just panhandlers! I’m just saying that the details seem to ask something like, “Should I give to panhandlers or charities?” It doesn’t match the question you actually asked.

@Dutchess_III If they scare you at night then you donate to a charity and stick to the rule.

There are many charities which don’t involve religion.
This program provides nice, professional looking clothes for people to work or seek employment.
Toys For Tots
This is different by region, but worth checking into.
I can list more, if anybody cares, I just need to think about them.
I think giving to panhandlers is a crap shoot. Most of the time it is a good thing for a person who needs the healing of a face to face act of kindness. There are a few who are lazy, greedy, and have found ways to make a living at it. I think giving person to person is important, sometimes, but people giving that way should have no expectations whatsoever.

No, panhandlers don’t scare me.

The Salvation Army helps a great number of people, however, they were not helping any LGBT community, even those badly in need, as it went against their religious beliefs. You might check into this if it is of a concern.

Yeah, panhandlers would scare me at night because I know that a large percentage of the homeless are mentally ill, and it’s harder to evaluate the individual in the dark.

They scare me during the day because I’m very tempted to help, but then where do you stop? Giving to panhandlers is like gambling – once you start, where do you stop if you tend to be OCD, as I do.

Not to be a broken record, but a member of Fluther put me on to Kiva, and I think it’s a tremendous site. I keep 100% of my funds loaned out, and I’ll add $25—$50 to my account when I want to commemorate something.
I added funds in @gailcalled’s name, and once since then. I like the idea of helping people out, one at a time, and seeing the results.

Not as much as nighttime drivers.

Nope, I just pass them by with a “No, sorry” or a “Non, désolé” as I would in the daytime. I live in a large city; there are all kinds of people around at night, it’s not particularly scary.

Well, um, how about I just give panhandlers money during the day, and give money to charities at night, @RedDeerGuy1? Will that work?

The people to be scared of are the people you don’t see coming. I have been mugged twice and neither time I saw it coming.

Never any real problems with panhandlers. Panhandlers tend to be somewhat territorial. I see the same people in the same spots all the time. I assume they have found the good spots and would like to stay there. Robbing you is pretty much going to force them to have to move.

I gave some money to a homeless woman at the mall 2 nights ago, and a homeless man in between bushes in a business park at night a couple weeks ago. I approached them. They were not begging. I will tell you that from the looks they had on their faces, they were very afraid of me.
I am sure they are routinely victimized.

Most panhandlers don’t scare me but I have encountered a few that have made me feel very uneasy. When you decline most of them here, they just say “have a blessed day” & move on to the next person. I have encountered a few who just wouldn’t take no for an answer. One in particular walked in front of me with his face pressed up against mine as he cursed me for being a heartless bish. I pointed out to him that I didn’t have my purse with me & I had no pockets in which to hide any cash. Still he persisted in calling me names. Finally a police officer came around the corner & saw what he was doing & distracted him enough to give me a chance to keep on walking alone. To this day, I’m still not sure that he wouldn’t have attacked me had the officer not intervened. Fortunately, that one time has been more of an exception than the rule!!!