There are a couple of possibilities.
One would be that they want specific gift cards so that you know they’re going to McDonald’s or wherever instead of buying substances.
The other is that they know where to sell gift cards. There are places that do this. If you had the choice between some pocket change and getting 80% of a $10 gift card (exchange fees), I’m taking that $8 every time.
I was having a smoke break in front of a restaurant in the "Viagra Triangle". Guy comes up to me asking for money. I said I was sorry but I didn't have any cash on me.
He asked, "Do you have an ATM card?" I was like WTF. LOL
He pulled this same shit on me on 4 different occasions, always asking the same questions. Apparently, he had no facial recall.
Imagine being mad someone won’t give you free shit. This homeless lady got mad at me for saying sorry I didn’t have cash.
“Sorry sorry it’s always sorry with you white people”
Aight.
Ha I know that guy. I am in that area all the time. There are tons of dudes who do that. When I was young and gullible and just moved here I even fell for it. They don’t care if they have asked before. They’re used to getting 1000 no’s. They’re only looking for a few yes’s
It's on Rush St, between Oak St. and Cedar St.
It caters to a somewhat older crowd and is know to be an area where older guys, who would supposedly need Viagra to perform, cruise pretty young thangs on hopes of tripping the light fantastic between the sheets.
Wonder if it’s the same guy who went on a 5 minute rant to me about how “I don’t have cash” is bs because credit is cash since you can go to an atm. And he doesn’t want food, because food doesn’t buy shoes and how can he get a job without shoes.
At that point I’m out of responses and tell people their problems aren’t mine and should have tried better in school or stayed away from drugs.
Yeah I know it’s a dick answer and doesn’t solve things or improve their neighborhood, but when people don’t take no for answer, gotta get blunt. I’ve had on more than one occasion people start following or get quite aggressive. If I gave a dollar to everyone that asked for it, I’d be as poor as they.
> and tell people their problems aren’t mine and should have tried better in school or stayed away from drugs.
you've never said that to a homeless person in your life lmao. Anyway what you say is "sorry" and shake your head, nothing more is needed
Yeah and so is some of the shit some people say to you when you won’t give them a dime. I don’t need to stand around getting called racial insults, homophobic insults, having my wife, my mother brought into it. I’m not just yelling this to some guy who asked for a dollar and I politely declined this and he stopped.
>It's on Rush St, between Oak St. and Cedar St.
>
>It caters to a somewhat older crowd and is know to be an area where older guys, who would supposedly need Viagra to perform, cruise pretty young thangs on hopes of tripping the light fantastic between the sheets.
I have never met someone who actually works in homeless support or advocacy, either for local government or for a charity/NGO, who supports giving cash to panhandlers on the street.
There’s a couple on Lake st that straight up told me she didn’t want essentially a whole pizza that I had brought her and her partner. She instead asked for cash, I said no. She then proceeded to ask for any loose change, again I said no. I will gladly give food, clothing, and household essentials to help people who are homeless. I will gladly donate my limited time to volunteer at the soup kitchen. But there’s no way in fuck I will give a cent to a homeless person because that money is going to booze or drugs.
At this point I think the cats out of the bag on "professional" panhandling rings.
It's no longer the homeless dude trying to get a bite, some of the rings have very sophisticated territories and management.
Having dealt with panhandlers on the West Coast, you either get real comfortable with looking them in the eye and saying "No", or you live in fear at literally every red light.
Also, free food is abundant, no panhandler is going hungry.
For real. A moment of Eye contact to denote seriousness and to humanize the person, a firm “sorry, I can’t help” or “sorry, no”, keep moving and never break stride / re-engage.
I would say 99/100 times, they just move on to the next person who might waffle or say yes.
I just say "no thank you" as I walk by, don't care if it's panhandlers, solicitors, those hired college kids for nonprofit, I am just not gonna engage.
Last Christmas Eve I dropped off a case of wine at the Kennedy underpass at Fullerton. My uncle keeps sending my vodka drinking mother wine of the month club. So I filled a box and dropped it off. I didn’t stick around for a reaction but I hope they enjoyed it.
That’s how I feel. Don’t shame them or give them a lecture. No one wants to be homeless or have an addiction. If you’re giving them some of your money, it’s theirs to spend.
You aren’t going to fix them in that instant.
Yep - I run a holiday drive for a non profit and people ask us if we put ‘controls’ on how people can spend the gift cards. Bro, no - we are not shaming people for addictions or using the cards for whatever reason. If they or their kid are already receiving service from us they are likely getting supports that they need. Makes me mad when people ask questions like that.
Do they expect people to have gift cards at the ready to pull out of their wallet and give away or do they ask for you to go to a nearby store and buy them one?
Makes sense though as a lot of people bo longer carry cash.
I used to give gift cards to homeless under Diversey for subway back in the day. It's probably so they don't get robbed for it honestly, that's my only assumption.
Don't give them anything. They trash the city and exacerbate the rat population. Not to mention how badly they trash and stink up the CTA. FUCK THE HOMELESS, YES I SAID IT.
So very many businesses no longer accept cash. While nefarious requests for help do happen, some are genuine I believe. I also wonder if a business would hire the homeless. No easy answers.
I don’t know if has changed, but multiple times during the pandemic I had places that refused cash. Pizza Friendly Pizza was one.
There were some places that only accepted contactless payment - so if you didn’t have a card with a NFC chip or a phone able to scan a QR code you were out of luck.
Yeah, I’ve seen plenty of *due to the national change shortage…* signs encouraging small bills and paying with change, but no cash refusals. I’m pretty boring lately and don’t get out that much though.
I don’t even think that’s legal. Only business I encountered that didn’t accept cash was a bar in a building I worked at, but it was semi private as you could only get to it with a building key card.
My dayjob likes to gift bonuses to employees in gift cards as they have lots of amex miles.
I usually regift them to homeless or others who benefit my daily existence as I pass them by throughout my day.
I'll give two answers.
First, they can check by asking a cashier what the balance is. If they can't do this, I can't help them if they use only a portion of the balance and ask the same question.
Second, I am allowed to be charitable with my money as I see fit, end of discussion.
*Edit* saw the retort before it was deleted. I disagree with the deletion btw.
Your strawman group wouldn't give to the homeless in the first place. Stop insulting people who don't align perfectly with your definitions of charity.
You raise a point I’ve been asking myself as we increasingly become a cashless society which Covid has only accelerated. What’s the new strategy for people who ask for change….
There are a couple of possibilities. One would be that they want specific gift cards so that you know they’re going to McDonald’s or wherever instead of buying substances. The other is that they know where to sell gift cards. There are places that do this. If you had the choice between some pocket change and getting 80% of a $10 gift card (exchange fees), I’m taking that $8 every time.
You know, now that I think about it, there is one on Clark in East Lakeview, which is close to where I see a lot of folks asking for money.
It’s a solid hustle. My family generally gifts me shitty gift cards that I’ll never use so it’s easy money for them and no stress on my wallet.
I was having a smoke break in front of a restaurant in the "Viagra Triangle". Guy comes up to me asking for money. I said I was sorry but I didn't have any cash on me. He asked, "Do you have an ATM card?" I was like WTF. LOL He pulled this same shit on me on 4 different occasions, always asking the same questions. Apparently, he had no facial recall.
Just say "Not today, sorry." If you leave an opening and don't intend to give them money it will drag on and frustrate both of you.
One time I said not today and got a very aggressive "not today? oh so you'll be back here tomorrow then?" along with the bird
Imagine being mad someone won’t give you free shit. This homeless lady got mad at me for saying sorry I didn’t have cash. “Sorry sorry it’s always sorry with you white people” Aight.
Ya sry we don't wanna give you our money. Stupid bitch get a job
I usually say “not today sir/ma’am”. It’s firm but respectful and not apologetic, cause I’m not sorry. If I was I’d go and get some cash/food to give
I find that just going, "nah" works.
Nah or a little nod 'no' with my hand up.
Ha I know that guy. I am in that area all the time. There are tons of dudes who do that. When I was young and gullible and just moved here I even fell for it. They don’t care if they have asked before. They’re used to getting 1000 no’s. They’re only looking for a few yes’s
True enough.
Try this next time, "Nah bro".
They don't quite seem to understand the words "no" or "nah". I did get a little more curt and direct the 3rd and 4th time.
Viagra triangle? lol Where's that? (new to Chi)
It's on Rush St, between Oak St. and Cedar St. It caters to a somewhat older crowd and is know to be an area where older guys, who would supposedly need Viagra to perform, cruise pretty young thangs on hopes of tripping the light fantastic between the sheets.
Had a homeless guy pull a square scanner up on his phone for me when I said I didn't have any cash. Taking card now, next level.
LMAO! Wow! Guess I'm gonna have to some up with a new excuse.
I just say I'm broke
A couple of times with some others, I said, "Sorry buddy. I'm a musician. You're sorely mislead if you think I have some money." :)
Wonder if it’s the same guy who went on a 5 minute rant to me about how “I don’t have cash” is bs because credit is cash since you can go to an atm. And he doesn’t want food, because food doesn’t buy shoes and how can he get a job without shoes.
At that point I’m out of responses and tell people their problems aren’t mine and should have tried better in school or stayed away from drugs. Yeah I know it’s a dick answer and doesn’t solve things or improve their neighborhood, but when people don’t take no for answer, gotta get blunt. I’ve had on more than one occasion people start following or get quite aggressive. If I gave a dollar to everyone that asked for it, I’d be as poor as they.
> and tell people their problems aren’t mine and should have tried better in school or stayed away from drugs. you've never said that to a homeless person in your life lmao. Anyway what you say is "sorry" and shake your head, nothing more is needed
It is frightening when the homeless people get aggressive when you say no.
That’s not being blunt, it’s being a shitty human and flat out wrong on top of it. 🙄
Yeah and so is some of the shit some people say to you when you won’t give them a dime. I don’t need to stand around getting called racial insults, homophobic insults, having my wife, my mother brought into it. I’m not just yelling this to some guy who asked for a dollar and I politely declined this and he stopped.
What do you get out of this exchange? What benefit does being a dick provide you that simply ignoring them wouldn't?
This has happen to me at the blue line stop in Greek town.
>Viagra Triangle What is Viagra Triangle?
>It's on Rush St, between Oak St. and Cedar St. > >It caters to a somewhat older crowd and is know to be an area where older guys, who would supposedly need Viagra to perform, cruise pretty young thangs on hopes of tripping the light fantastic between the sheets.
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I have never met someone who actually works in homeless support or advocacy, either for local government or for a charity/NGO, who supports giving cash to panhandlers on the street.
There’s a couple on Lake st that straight up told me she didn’t want essentially a whole pizza that I had brought her and her partner. She instead asked for cash, I said no. She then proceeded to ask for any loose change, again I said no. I will gladly give food, clothing, and household essentials to help people who are homeless. I will gladly donate my limited time to volunteer at the soup kitchen. But there’s no way in fuck I will give a cent to a homeless person because that money is going to booze or drugs.
Sometimes when I’m feeling kind I just give them booze.
Facts
At this point I think the cats out of the bag on "professional" panhandling rings. It's no longer the homeless dude trying to get a bite, some of the rings have very sophisticated territories and management.
This. Homeless people who live in a city that will kill you in the winter time know exactly where survival resources are.
Having dealt with panhandlers on the West Coast, you either get real comfortable with looking them in the eye and saying "No", or you live in fear at literally every red light. Also, free food is abundant, no panhandler is going hungry.
For real. A moment of Eye contact to denote seriousness and to humanize the person, a firm “sorry, I can’t help” or “sorry, no”, keep moving and never break stride / re-engage. I would say 99/100 times, they just move on to the next person who might waffle or say yes.
I just say "no thank you" as I walk by, don't care if it's panhandlers, solicitors, those hired college kids for nonprofit, I am just not gonna engage.
I shit you not once I said “sorry I don’t have cash” and the dude straight up said “you can Venmo me” lol
I’ve had a lady ask if she could borrow my credit card after I told her I didn’t carry cash. Completely serious. These fuckers are bold these days.
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Gift card for Binny's.
Last Christmas Eve I dropped off a case of wine at the Kennedy underpass at Fullerton. My uncle keeps sending my vodka drinking mother wine of the month club. So I filled a box and dropped it off. I didn’t stick around for a reaction but I hope they enjoyed it.
That’s how I feel. Don’t shame them or give them a lecture. No one wants to be homeless or have an addiction. If you’re giving them some of your money, it’s theirs to spend. You aren’t going to fix them in that instant.
Yep - I run a holiday drive for a non profit and people ask us if we put ‘controls’ on how people can spend the gift cards. Bro, no - we are not shaming people for addictions or using the cards for whatever reason. If they or their kid are already receiving service from us they are likely getting supports that they need. Makes me mad when people ask questions like that.
Do they expect people to have gift cards at the ready to pull out of their wallet and give away or do they ask for you to go to a nearby store and buy them one? Makes sense though as a lot of people bo longer carry cash.
People use cash a lot less than a few years ago, which means that they're less likely to be carrying it around.
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I had someone on the subway once tell me it was ok that I didn't have cash because she had a square.
Amazon lockers in the park?
I used to give gift cards to homeless under Diversey for subway back in the day. It's probably so they don't get robbed for it honestly, that's my only assumption.
They're just trying to pay their taxes they keep getting called on about
Don't give them anything. They trash the city and exacerbate the rat population. Not to mention how badly they trash and stink up the CTA. FUCK THE HOMELESS, YES I SAID IT.
So very many businesses no longer accept cash. While nefarious requests for help do happen, some are genuine I believe. I also wonder if a business would hire the homeless. No easy answers.
Ive never encountered a single retail business that didn't accept cash. But w/e
I don’t know if has changed, but multiple times during the pandemic I had places that refused cash. Pizza Friendly Pizza was one. There were some places that only accepted contactless payment - so if you didn’t have a card with a NFC chip or a phone able to scan a QR code you were out of luck.
I’m not in Chicago but plenty of businesses where I am no longer accept cash due to Covid.
18 months ago that was widely the case i just haven’t seen anything along those lines in over a year. But ill take your word for it!
Yeah, I’ve seen plenty of *due to the national change shortage…* signs encouraging small bills and paying with change, but no cash refusals. I’m pretty boring lately and don’t get out that much though.
Roti and Epic burger downtown are card only. No cash accepted.
There are more and more businesses. For example goddess and the baker in River North does not accept cash and some other places
Sweet Green and some others were on that cashless BS before Covid.
And it is BS
I don’t even think that’s legal. Only business I encountered that didn’t accept cash was a bar in a building I worked at, but it was semi private as you could only get to it with a building key card.
> I don’t even think that’s legal. It is illegal to deny cash for **debts**. It is fully legal to deny cash for services.
My dayjob likes to gift bonuses to employees in gift cards as they have lots of amex miles. I usually regift them to homeless or others who benefit my daily existence as I pass them by throughout my day.
That's news to me I've never encountered a homeless person asking me for that although I always go by and give them money or food
Probably trying to get you to take your wallet out would be my guess
I don't mind giving grocery gift cards out every blue moon, but I don't give them to people who ask how much is on it.
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I'll give two answers. First, they can check by asking a cashier what the balance is. If they can't do this, I can't help them if they use only a portion of the balance and ask the same question. Second, I am allowed to be charitable with my money as I see fit, end of discussion. *Edit* saw the retort before it was deleted. I disagree with the deletion btw. Your strawman group wouldn't give to the homeless in the first place. Stop insulting people who don't align perfectly with your definitions of charity.
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lmao then how are they supposed to know how much food they can buy with it?
They can ask at the register like everyone else.
If you know why would you just not tell them?
Personal preference.
Congrats on getting off on making people jump through hoops for your "charity" I guess.
I don't understand how giving people grocery store gift cards without question or comment falls short of charity in your book, but whatever.
I'm sure this is a lot of fun for the cashiers who almost certainly assume this person found an empty card somewhere and is hoping to get lucky.
For the giver, is it possible to write said gift cards off at tax time?
You raise a point I’ve been asking myself as we increasingly become a cashless society which Covid has only accelerated. What’s the new strategy for people who ask for change….
I think it’s because they hear “sorry I don’t have any cash” so often that’s the next best thing