i just need gas i just need food for my kids...

These days anyone that walks towards me with "that look" get's told to #### off! before they ever open their mouth to ask fo anything.
Did you ever notice that they all have the same "look" about them?

I have no time for a sob story...It's easy, Work, get paid, pay your own way! If you haven't figured out the formula by the time you reach adulthood, It's not my problem.

 

same as will work for food. try to get them to do some work and then take them into eat. they don't want that

 

What about all the ones that have a sign that says--disabled vet. I guess the government is now out of money.

 

In Ontario Oregon i talked to the mayor about the panhandlers at wal mart, he said there is no law in oregon to stop them, but one time he seen a couple with a sign that said need money will work for food, so he went and bought them some burgers and fries and gave it to those people,, they gave the food to theyr dog, beleive that.

 

On the flip side of this......

Our Mayor, and the employees at his restaurant are now about $15k richer for their charity.

They helped a man out with one of those signs, sitting on the hood of his car, loaded with a wife and kids.

They fed them, bought them gas, and gave them a bit of cash. They were trying to get to family in Nevada.

The guy returned after getting back on his feet, rather nicely I assume. And doled out just over $15k total among the employees, as a personal Thank You.

 

This is why these bums fry me so much. There are actually people out there who do get caught by circumstances on occasion but get blown off because everyone thinks they're just another professional mooch.

On the other hand you can have a bit of fun with these guys:

1. Once had a mooch come trotting up to me just as I was starting up to hit the road. Cut him off in mid-beg with "Don't ask me man, I'm just stealing this thing". Saw him in the rear-view still standing there with his mouth open.
2. At the FJ in Jackson Ms (yeah, I know) I got the same old "outa gas, wife and kids" story. Asked him "Do you guys go thru training for this or sumpin.... all using the basic same 5 stories an all?". Told him I'd give the $10 to the first one who came to me with an original story. 15 min later he walks back to me with a big smile and says "How about this one?" and spins me a long convolouted tale. Long story short I gave him the $10 for a good laugh. Told me he averages $500- $600 per week tax free doing this kinda stuff and yes, they are organized.

Lastly..... Two Mexicans were working this scam. First Mexican sits outside shopping mall with a box and a sign "Need money to feed wife and six kids". At the end of the day he returns home with $25 in dollar bills and change. 2nd Mexican walks in with box full of tens and twenties plus all pockets stuffed and smoking a big cigar. First mex is dumbfounded and asks why 2nd mex got so much more money than he. 2nd mex smiles and answers "Because I set up at a truckstop with this sign".... Need $20 bucks more for family bus fare back to Mexico.

 

The Petro outside Baton Rouge off 10/12 is a pretty rough spot. I can always see it coming long before we get there and we usually get in when the full moon is shining bright. Been accosted by one of their own employees before. Last time through, like 3am, on the way out to the truck from shower, guy gets out of nice truck far down the line. My eyes are always scanning everything, and I think he thought I didnt notice him get out. Now he's just standing there in between trucks waiting for me to walk by......... Hey man, someone stole my truck about 4 days ago man, the Louisiana State Patrol is in on it. My wife and 4 kids are living out of a garage about 20 miles away. Give me whatever cash you have and my boss will double it once we figure this thing out...... As Im walking away, he gets right back into the driver seat of the nice truck without trying to be sneaky...


And co-drivers can be freaking bums too, man. For sure. Sucks real bad when you're freaking broke yourself, just starting out in trucking and the scam artists you work for pair you with someone who has mental issues, dependecy issues, no place to even freaking go when he isn't "working"....
He blows through his own money like.... it was never even there.... Then leaned on me for almost 2 weeks, bumming smokes all day, food, etc..
The best was in Miami when he called from some shady, shady strip club and told me to PAY for a cab down there, PAY for his last 2 lap dances, because he was out of money, then PAY for the cab ride home.......Shortly after I hung up on him he arrived back at truck stop in the back of police car...... Once in GA, he ran a bar tab for about 2 hours at a bennigan's and just magically assumed I was paying the other half, even though I was in the truck the whole time. "Co drivers are family," of course . Later that night, he found a shady motel, shady ppl, and a plastic pen to smoke some shady stuff out of....... Sigh, Sigh, Sigh...
Its humorous to me and I gotta keep this job.... and thanks to him Ive quit smoking and halved my debit card.

He lives off company money. Ive seen him spend $250 bucks in ONE driving shift, on nothing more than utter useless stuff at the truck stops. He pops an advance every working day... When we sit, He'll pop 2-3 advances per sitting day. He's been way over the "limit" for god knows how long, but the night shift wont give out any more money, only our FM can give him advances now...... and amazingly the FM does
consistently, daily....


Anyways, Im ranting off in the middle of my own head! BUMS SUCK FTW
How did I end up like this

 

Been there done that... Best to get rid of the bum asap.

When people start making plans and using your paycheck in the math...it's time for them to have a rude awakening. I find this works equally as well with family.

 

There will be those who read this and think I'm bragging. I'm not....I'm explaining in hopes that someone else may join me in this.

I give. I just don't give to panhandlers.

I watch people. I watch in the stores for the people buying food for their kids and counting out a change jar. Then I pay for the groceries for them.

I watch for the people in truck stops pulling food out of the dumpster behind the restaurant. I buy them a meal inside. I buy them food that doesn't take refrigeration.

I watch for the guy with the family and he goes inside to pay for $5 of gas. I pay for a fill up.

If you watch people, study them....pay attention to their eyes, the lines around their mouths......you'll begin to see the difference between panhandlers and the ones with their backs to the wall. It's strain, worry, and sometimes shame.

What I try hardest to do is to do it secretly. I go to the manager, clerk etc. I don't want someone to know who I am or that I gave to them. I want no thanks no recognition because then they must feel gratitude and sometimes especially for men.......they feel "small".

I ask the manager, the clerk etc to tell them "pass it on when you're on your feet".

I enjoy doing this. But then you see......a long time ago....I was the one in need and it was given to me. I'm simply passing it on.

 

I have never "given" money to any of the sad stories. I have however bought items from them before, that made the situation a win/win (at least in my eyes). I have a very good claw hammer, kleins, small set of wrenches, and wire cutter because of a guy who was offering to sell some of his tools to get where he needed to go. I don't know if his story was legit, but I got a better deal on the items than I would have got in the local truckstop. Also I know that they weren't stolen (or at least not recently stolen while new) due to some wear on the items.