Got $2 mate?

nickeax · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:15 pm

I always say,
"Sorry, I have much more than that..."

And walk away! LOL!!!

What do you do?

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2001 · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:17 pm

Get in first I say ...

Ask them the question, before they ask you

Mr. Green

2001

Member Falls Creek 2018 Olympics Committee.

dthead · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:41 pm

"yes yes I do" ( keep on walking too)

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David Head

Bwana · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:47 pm

If I have the time, it's great to ask what they need it for, then offer to buy whatever they need. For eg:

On a Newcastle-Sydney train I was asked for some cash from a guy in his late teens/early twenties in well ironed, clean surfie gear. He explained that he had been robbed in Brisbane about a week beforehand, and was trying to get home to Melbourne. Stop and think about that - so he had been hitchhiking for a week and was wearing clean, ironed clothes? I offered, when we got to Sydney, to go straight to the booking office and get him a ticket to Melbourne on that night's XPT if one was available, otherwise to go downstairs and get a bus ticket. The bloke couldn't get out of there fast enough! Laughing

I'm only on an average wage but could afford to help out someone who was genuinely in need (within reason - I must admit the XPT ticket was a bluff I might have had difficulty following through with). I'll give a guy a bus ticket or a meal or a night's hostel accomodation if he needs it. Amazingly enough I am yet to meet someone who will accept what they say thay are mooching for. So they get sweet FA.

Edit - typo

spethalcam · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:58 pm

My Grandma got asked one day for $2 for something from this bloke and she said "No I don't but do you have $2 for me?"

Funny thing is she got the $2 from him.

Have you seen my baseball?

Gwiwer · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:33 pm

Saw an incident once which will remain with me for all my days .......

Derro with cap in hand, a few coins in the cap, standing on the street corner with said cap held more or less under the noses of everyone passing by.

Skater dudes come by, take a handful of his collected coins and take off into the crowd with a merry "Cheers, Mate!" Rolling Eyes

In general I'm with Bwana on this. Many souls in our society have suffered misfortune and often through no fault or control of their own. Many others choose a particular way of life. How are we to know the difference?

I will offer to buy a coffee or muffin - something worthwhile but still close to a gold coin "donation" - for someone I think might be a genuine case. A few over the years have accepted gratefully. One even thanked me for understanding and not simply walking past. Most would rather spit on me than accept that offer and I take the view that they are in fact collecting money for some other purpose which is entirely their business. As it's their business and not mine the coins stay firmly in my pocket.

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Edith · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:26 pm

I was once asked by a man for money for a tram fare home. I insisted that I buy the ticket for him on the tram itself, as we were both going to the same suburb. I figured that I would take him far away from his pitch if he was actually begging. He surprised me by actually traveling there !

On other occasions I have been asked for $1.00 to make a phone call or way too much for a public transport ticket and have refused them. It is hard to know who is genuine, but I think I will try to err on the more generous side in the future.

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They are something to work for

Ballast_Plough · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:31 pm

Juat say you don't have any coins but do they take Visa!

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BJ Titsengolf · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:50 pm

mubd · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:49 pm

ARG706 · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:26 pm

Graham4405 · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:49 pm

I was buying a carton at the bottle shop one afternoon and a guy who I had briefly met before said he needed to buy a tallie so that he could drink it before giving his son the flogging he deserved, but was 50c short. I gave him 50c... Twisted Evil

On another occasion, a long way from home, I was approached by a woman who asked me my name. I told her my name, then she told me hers, then she said: "Ya got $2?", I said "No", she said "Ya got a Keycard?". I left... Laughing

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CommanderOf42 · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:49 pm

Probly the best thing to do in the situation!

I have always found that there are souls that need help, so I donate to people like the salvos etc.....After all, look what they did for that guy in Melbourne (the shoe shine bloke). They can always do with the $2 to help others.

Commander

nickeax · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:08 pm

The salvos get $12million a year from the government and are a profit organisation.

We pay a LOT of tax, it's partly divided to go to people who need a hand.

If someone doesn't want my hard earned cash as an unemployment benefit, they sure ain't gonna get it by begging in my face!

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VBAndy · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:10 pm

"Got 2 bux mate?"

"Sorry mate, all I got is a slab, a big back of crack and a pack of smokes."