What do you do when people ask for gas money?

[Mr Nice Guy]

Great story

[rj.phila]

just a heads up to all the naysayers here-there's a really easy way to discern charity from scammers. remove a cash transaction from the matter. i live in philly, and people ask me for a buck all the time to get something to eat. ive grown accustomed to saying "you hungry? want a sandwich? ill go buy you one right now". i'd say about 90% of the people take me up on it. once, a woman said "YES-in fact, will you get me some chicken i can cook for my family?" it was wierd, but she was thrilled when i came back with a couple pounds of raw chicken.

[photo]

Except for true emergencies, isn't the situation of running out of gas kind of like running out of money? Very poor planning?

The few times I've encountered the situation, I've offered to call the police for help. Not surprisingly, I wasn't bothered again.

[jteezie]

I never carry cash (nor a wallet for that matter) on me so it's pretty easy to say "I don't have cash." I only carry an ID and 2 CC's. I also rarely ever drive so I don't find myself at gas stations too often, but I did help a couple once. In retrospect, I think I was naive because people likely have cell phones and could call friends for help especially if they're just "going down the street" near their neighborhood.

[RedSilk]

Usually the people with some sob story asking for money are the ones who deserve it the least. The good people who work hard have too much dignity to ask for any money.

Personally, I no longer give money to those who beg for it unless they're severely handicapped or very old. I prefer to help people who are actually trying to make a living no matter how meager their situation may be.

[Frügal]

We give sandwiches and dog food to the corner hoppers. No more.

[nick__45]

I think you folks are too nice and encouraging these lazy bums to pollute your cities and towns. They need to be rounded up and sent to work camps.

I would say that the chance of someone truly need some help in a real emergency like the fellow with a newborn is less than 1 out of 100,000 encounters. Since a majority of the time, it is just lazy bums that are probably muggers, if the situation suits them, they need to be reported and the polices got to do a better job of keeping the place clean and safe. I got sick and tired of people asking me for money when I was on a business trip to Atlanta. It is a beautiful city with many bars and restaurants. But it is filthy because in the evening as well as early morning, muggers ask for money while try to see if they can snatch your purse or wallets. Because of that, I am probably not looking forward to business trip in that region and that hurts their economy because we stayed at the Ritz and ate all 3 times a day and had over 200 dollars food/drink tab each day. I never had that problem in South Beach and the bumps in D.C. aren't that aggressive.

[nick__45]

just a heads up to all the naysayers here-there's a really easy way to discern charity from scammers. remove a cash transaction from the matter. i live in philly, and people ask me for a buck all the time to get something to eat. ive grown accustomed to saying "you hungry? want a sandwich? ill go buy you one right now". i'd say about 90% of the people take me up on it. once, a woman said "YES-in fact, will you get me some chicken i can cook for my family?" it was wierd, but she was thrilled when i came back with a couple pounds of raw chicken.

It's not your job to do groceries for people. It's bad enough you and I are taxed like mad to feed them. Buy me a sandwich if you feel like doing charity and want to feel good about yourself. I make good money and am a productive member of society and has no problem accepting a free sandwich.

[YLTL_Dan]

Professionals

I live in New Orleans and see this a lot. It can definitely wear on you because you feel like you should help them, but without a doubt, these guys/gals are professionals. They prey on people's guilt and they know if they ask enough people, they'll eventually get some money.

[jenn_jenn]

Depends. Being a young female I often try and avoid these people all together...avoid making eye contact etc. However, when these situation do occur I go with my gut. I don't mind helping someone out that needs it. Just the other day I paid a guy's bus fare because he'd forgotten his ID card (college students...we get free bussing around campus) and had no cash on him. Didn't know him, never seen him before but I could tell he needed help. I believe in helping out neighbors (and I'm not just talking about those people that live on your street). If we live our life by always thinking someone is out to get us or scam us, we lose the opportunity to help those truly in need. I understand that there are WAY too many con artists out there, and I'm really tempted to hand the guy I see begging for money at the mall every.single.day a job application but if we always take a pessimistic approach or outlook what kind of world are we living in?

Also, for those that are thinking those that hand out money in good faith are being naive...don't be naive enough to think you yourself could never be in a position of requesting the help of a stranger. I've walked out the door with my purse but no wallet before and driven 2 hours away from home. Thank goodness I had a full tank, and a few spare dollars, or I don't know how I would have paid for gas to get home. I immediately put a $20 bill in the glove department for those kind of situations but sometimes things happen. We are only human after all.

[toys]

just give 'em what they ask for...

you could simply ask the cashier to put $10 on pump #X for the guy. You'd find out quickly if he really did need gas!

That's what I always do. Nine times out of ten, the person gets p.o.'ed and storms off when I make the offer. I find I get these type of requests most often when I am at a gas station that is adjacent to a liquor store.

I do the same thing with food requests. They ask for a few bucks to buy some food and I offer to walk with them to the nearest fast food / convenience store / restaurant. And the ratio is the same, nine times out of ten, they rush away muttering something incoherently negative.

However, that one time out of ten, the one time they do really need it... it feels good to share, to know you're doing something useful. Even the hardest working people can simply be 'down on their luck' sometimes.