Do you consider panhandling (begging) harassment?

Question

Just curious to see some of your opinions/stories. I live in a nice neighborhood in a smaller city in Florida. There's a Walgreens near my house that is convenient for random things (there's also a publix but isn't open too late)
Anyways the last three times in a row over the past two months I've stopped there I have been followed to the door and followed to my car by a woman once and the same man twice. They both ask for money, and right away I inform them I don't carry any cash on me. They always continue to persist and it makes me very uncomfortable. I'm all for giving food and do so anytime I have some on me.  I know, I know, I don't have to go to that certain Walgreens but I just wanted to see everyone's opinion on it & maybe how you ladies deal with it because I know there are some bigger cities that have it much worse than mine.

Answer

Depends. 
We have a local lady that jumps in front of cars, waving them down, and acts like it's an emergency only to get you to stop and roll down your window for her to beg for money. This is dangerous and definitely harassment. 
On the other hand, we had a guy begging at our local gas station. He had lost his job and everything he owned. He truly wanted to just get back on his feet. Our neighborhood got together money for him to stay at a nearby hotel, donated him clothes and suits, helped him write up a resume, and connected him with a job headhunter. 
There are differences in people out there begging for money. Some have no intention of doing anything but panhandling the rest of their life. Others just need that helping hand to get back on their feet.

Answer

There's a difference between people that actually need the money, and people who just expect it to be handed to them and use it for the wrong things, and most the time you can tell the difference, the ones who just expect it tend to beg more and follow you until you finally give in and give it to them. I was actually at a Walgreens about a month ago and there was a man who was outside asking everyone who was walking in and out for change, literally on their heels begging, and when they'd give him some he actually had the nerve to be like "that's all you got?" And then a lady gave him a bag full of food, and I actually watched him go through the bag and pick out the things he liked and then throw the rest of it into the garbage. And then the staff came out and made him leave the property because I guess the guy actually frequently sat outside that Walgreens and would try to return the stuff people would buy him for money so he could buy alcohol. I was disgusted by how someone could just be comfortable taking advantage of people's kindness like that.

Answer

ill carry a granola bar and bottled water in my car for someone but i will not give money anymore. I live in a small town with a large interstate that goes right next to our walmart so allot of people stop to grab a few things in their travels. anyways we had a man sit in a wheel chair holding a sign "hungry need help, handicap,  stuck here" so people would stop and give him money and anything you could think of. he did this for months with a brand new nissan mini van right behind him, eventually he just put the sign in his mini van windsheild and did that for at least a year. it was ridiculous. But when i carry water and a granola bar ive had people almost to the point of tears thank me on a hot day and chug it down right infront of me, its so sad. some people really do need  help . others are just there to take advantage.

Answer

Okay Idk if you happen to live in Orlando, or if Dr.Philips is what you're referring to, but I have been stopped COUNTLESS times by the same exact guy, like seriously he creeps me the fuck out, and I've ran into him at CVS, chick fil a, publix, homegoods, like wtf ?!?!?!

Answer

I swear Americans hate poor/homeless people more than they hate criminals 🙄

Answer

omg.. what city? I'm in south Florida  (Broward county ). and I always get asked for money at Walmart,  wallgreens, win dixie.. etc.  I don't mind giving, but every single time I go, I get accosted multiple times. .

Answer

One time a lady yelled at me some nasty stuff for not giving her anything and scared me, but generally no.

Do you consider panhandling (begging) harassment?

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