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Panhandlers scaring everyone away from downtown!  A rant by: 30something Is there not a way we can stop this? It's so frustrating and irritating! I'm starting work downtown this month after working in Transcona for years. I'm not looking forward to getting asked for change 4 times a city block. I had a friend visiting from out of town last year and she will never forget Winnipeg because of the number of bums who hassled her for change. Nice memory. I love this city, but I hate that part of it. << Back Add a Comment Comments ( Add a Comment ) WinterSix says: 2005-11-16 22:01:09 ^^That's a great idea!! Myst says: 2005-11-16 22:37:01 That IS a great idea! I usually avoid eye contact, and keep my head down when walking. If they do talk to me, and I decide to answer, my tone is usually pretty harsh and nasty. They either back off, or get mad that I won't give them change. I have NO tolerance for panhandlers. None. If they don't want to work and support themselves, well, I want nothing to do with them. Simple as that. Anonymous says: 2005-11-16 23:12:11 Today I gave money to a deaf guy and a guy who said he needed money so he could stay at the Sally Ann. Do you really think that most of these people will get hired at fast food outlets? I know plenty of young, clean eloquent kids who can't get a simple fast food job. It's not that easy to get hired anymore. Anonymous says: 2005-11-17 14:40:58 Wasn't there an article or two not long ago about pan handlers bringing home six figure salaries? (I think it was $200000 or so...) Think about it when you see a bum/panhandler next time.. CreamSoda says: 2005-11-17 20:48:18 I dont know how true this is, but I've been told by several people that there is a lady who begs for money on the median around the downtown/osborne area who is a millionaire. The reason she has so much money is apparently becuase she doesnt spend anything, she lives off people's change day by day. According to these people it is well known throughout winnipeg. They said there was a point where this lady switched her jacket and started wearing an older fur coat, at which time people stopped giving her money, so she switched back to her grubby one. I thought it sounded rather strange and had never heard of her before. Has anyone else heard of this? 30something says: 2005-11-19 17:23:31 I'v never heard of the millionnaire lady and I really like the idea of handing out Subway and McDonalds applications but only to the younger kids. I have to admit I do have a soft spot when I see an older person who is clearly down on their luck. I don't mind those people so much, although it is luckily very rare that I do see somneone who seems genuinely in trouble and not just lazy or drunk. Anonymous says: 2005-11-21 04:23:46 I think it\'s a good thing thing that ppl are aware of a social problem here, the panhandlers are not at fault, the public just needs to work hard to help these ppl. When I walk down portage everyday, I\'m hassled, but I assert myself and say \'no\'. I\'m not afraid of panhandlers. Whoever is scared or annoyed by them are just big babies. nekochan says: 2005-11-24 22:33:48 I\'v never heard of the millionaire lady, but there\'s always a guy infront of the staples on the corner of portage and vaughn. Looks middle aged and he\'s got a beard and usually a fannel jacket. He\'s panhandling for rent money. But he has a job outside of the panhandling. FreedomFries says: 2005-11-24 23:13:07 The best is the guy with the sign that says. "Ninjas stole my wallet, need money for kung fu lessons" Anonymous says: 2006-02-20 15:08:02 Geez, quit whining about it, all you have to do is say 'NO' and walk by, then eventually as you walk down the same block everyday the panhandlers who work that particular block will remember you and won't bug you as much as before. And if you don't like your job due to the measly couple minutes spent everyday walking a couple blocks outside in downtown winnipeg, then by all means quit your job and alienate yourself in transcona. paydirtgirl says: 2006-02-20 21:08:22 To Anonymous 2006-2-20: I used to walk on Portage from Dominion to the IG building everyday, twice a day. The same people would consistently ask me for money, everyday, twice a day! I don't think they were so discerning or polite to leave you alone if you'd said no before... And it bothers me that they would say, "Can I have a dollar for a coffee?" and I would be jealous that they could afford $30/month for daily coffee breaks. I have a degree and was working a ok paying job and still my budget could not cover that! One day I offered a girl a wrapped granola bar because I could never afford to give change. Instead of saying "thank you" she asked me what kind it was?! Along the same lines, that irritating woman in Osborne once got me to go through my newly purchased groceries to see if I had anything to spare. I offered her milk and some fruit and she had the nerve to say, "Got anything good?" Argh. Anonymous says: 2006-02-23 15:18:06 If you happen to get annoyed by ppl asking you 'what kinda granola bar is that?' or asking you for the good stuff out of your groceries, then don't bother doing something you don't wanna do. Anonymous says: 2006-04-06 09:13:55 Speaking of the woman at Osbourne and the groceries... Its so aggravating, if she sees people walking into the safeway, she asks them if they are going shopping, and if they could pick up something for her. I decided to be a good samaritan one day (I had just moved here) and told her I would pick up a sandwich for her. She had the nerve to say, "No, I don't want a sandwich, could you get me a bag of perogies and some sour cream instead? " I was appalled! Anonymous says: 2006-04-09 00:49:15 We have a school system that teaches people they are entitled to live off others. Teach people that if they work hard they will be rewarded and more will lead productive lives. Teach people that they have a right to be parasites and many will do just that. BigB says: 2006-04-10 02:34:13 It will never be the case that the people that work hard live good. Most people that work hard die young. Labourers that work long hours die young from worn out bodies and business minded work until a stroke or heartattack because of stress. The key to life is living in your grandmothers basement eating cheetos and playing nintendo all day. sucraman says: 2008-02-07 20:42:23 Hey watch out for the people[not deaf]who give deaf people a bad name.They approach you with sign language cards in which they try to sell to you only to solicit money from you.This scam is very popular in other major cities. sucraman says: 2008-02-07 20:55:19 To the people who ignore these panhandlers and look away or have your head down.Just to let you know,that may be the point when they decide to attack you,as most of these people are desperate and on drugs and will not think once about attacking you,i find it's best to look them in the eye and say you don't have anything,at least if they're going to attack you you'll see it coming.Maybe it's time to re-open all those homes that the Government closed and pushed all those with mental illnesses out on to the street.I wonder how much money they saved on that move? BlahBlahBlah says: 2008-11-08 16:13:56 I actualy had a bum threaten to rip out my lip ring because I said No when she asked for fifty cents. It's kind of hard to ignore them when there yelling at you. I hate them all. n1gger says: 2009-03-02 14:57:36 Everyone is a bitch you f***in dumb bitches learn to understand life |
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Keep McDonald's and Subway job applications in your pocket, and hand them out when they ask for help. I recommend this only during the daylight when people are around. Headphones also help!