Has the World Gone Mad ????

You know what my 16-1/2 year old did.  (Dah no, you didn't but I am gonna tell you)

He had heard about that woman I gave $5. to last week.  It was money I had on me.  I also always tell my kids, if you give someone money, do not ever expect it back, so only give $$$$$ what you can afford to part with - forever.

So, he was at a fast food joint.  A grown man went up to him, told him he needed money for gas and that his wife and kids were stuck on the other side of town and she had the ATM card and money.  So, my son, who carries no ca$h, swiped his ATM card, got $20. and gave it to a full grown man!  Do people have no fricking shame ???  Grown man asking a teen for gas money ?

While I said what he did was thoughtful, DO NOT DO IT AGAIN!!!!  DO NOT SWIPE YOUR DEBIT/ATM CARD FOR NOBODY!!!!  If he had cash on him he feels he can part with, fine - donate.

  This ticks me off in a big way.  An adult asking a teen for gas money!  The teen needs gas money himself for crying out load!

What is wrong with the world - has everyone gone MAD !

Yes, I often feel that the world has gone crazy!  Truly, a lot of people have no shame at all about scamming a teenager. Your son was lucky the guy was just shady & not dangerous or malicious, he could've robbed him blind, or worse, once he got to the ATM. Very sweet of your boy, but wow!

Geez. Once in a great while I will lend change. but this is my money, earn your own

i felt like a idiot the time i gave money to a guy who needed the bus. i felt ok at first but then i realised he could have walked. But I guess loads of people had turned him down. and the way he acted afterwards was kinda creepy he kept touching my hand and saying thanks, asking me where i lived and saying that is a posh area ETC and its no wonder that I gave him the money cause I must be loaded. im glad I watched him get on the bus cause if I found out he brought smack or something then I would be pi$$ed anyway its made me thing twice about who i give money to, I always run into the ' i need x amount for my baby's stuff' but the baby isnt with her...

oh and I know that the guy who asked your son for money was in the wrong (oh i forgot im 17 next month and happens to me too) but there obviously cant be anything wrong with the world if people like your son will give up some money to help others even though they dont deserve it.

Maybe what that guy did was wrong, and his story is kind of sketchy, but I admire you're kid. I think people are maybe too hesitant to give when maybe they shouldn't ask questions.

I often give money to those who may need it, standing on the side of the road, asking for it. Maybe they're just going to spend it on drugs and alcohol, but maybe one day they'll realize the charity of others and decide to do something better with that money.

But that's not for me to judge.

 

 

Well, good for your son, first of all.  I'm 17, live in the city and every day pass people asking for money.  The other day actually, I passed this one guy, and he tried to make small talk as i was walking by and then he was like, the church is having a dinner for the handicapped this weekend, and I was like, "Sorry, I don't have any cash."  And he was like, "I'll wait for you to go to the ATM."  BS.  You wear a uniform or something when representing an organized function like that.  I should have asked for paperwork.  But I didn't donate anyway.

 

And no, some people don't have shame.. I think they get desperate and gradually become comfortable with begging, etc.

 

Any actually this happened to my younger brother, who was 10 at the time.  It was this kid he met at the park's deadbeat dad.  A parent asking their kid's 10 year old friend for whatever amount of money... My mom was pissed.

He obviously had no morals, I never understand this asking strangers for money thing, I would be too embarrassed to.

At the very least, you know that your son is a warm and caring person who is willing to help others...even if he might not have gone about it in the best way.

All you can do is hope that the man really did need the money for gas.

Wow... My dad just bought a couple of raffle tickets from a kid who was fundraising for something and I almost killed him

That guy's story is so BS - one of the oldest scams in the book.  I once had a guy come up to me in a fast food joint saying almost the exact same thing, but I was with my mom and she had heard it all before.  First of all, if his wife and kids are in his car across town, how did he get to the fast food joint?  Second of all, why wouldn't he just call a friend??  And the reason he asked a 16 year old is probably because he figured a kid wouldn't know any better.  Pathetic.

My money is on the idea that he asked a teenager because a teenager would be embarrassed to say no to an adult. That is the lowest of the low imo.

While the guy shouldn't have asked a teenager for money and while your son maybe shouldn't have given it to him... be happy you have a generous child. :)

Original Post by carrie317:

That guy's story is so BS - one of the oldest scams in the book.  

 Indeed - this was pulled on me just a few weeks ago at Target.  Unfortunately I fell for it, only to see him get in his friend's (a guy) car later.

While I don't think the kid should have been asked for money, and the kid shouldn't have given it, it's good to know he has compassion for others.  I just wish it hadn't been exploited.

I've actually never been directly asked for money; I'm seventeen.

And I agree with the others; while it is sad that this guy would stoop so low as to target younger people for exploitation of money, it's great that your son is so generous.

I've decided to just give food instead of money.  This past weekend I was on my way out of town(Houston...lots of homeless people begging on corners) and gave a man the goldfish crackers we had in our foodbag when I was pulling over for gas...I felt kinda bad about it because they had already been opened and maybe a fourth of it was gone.  But on my way back onto the interstate I saw him sitting under the overpass eating the goldfish.  I still felt a little cheap giving him an opened bag, but I think he appreciated it...and needed it.  I think I'll start keeping granola bars or something else that can keep for a while in the car.  Does anyone else do this?  Any suggestions for what food to keep in the car?

Original Post by hmking:

I've decided to just give food instead of money. This past weekend I was on my way out of town(Houston...lots of homeless people begging on corners) and gave a man the goldfish crackers we had in our foodbag when I was pulling over for gas...I felt kinda bad about it because they had already been opened and maybe a fourth of it was gone. But on my way back onto the interstate I saw him sitting under the overpass eating the goldfish. I still felt a little cheap giving him an opened bag, but I think he appreciated it...and needed it. I think I'll start keeping granola bars or something else that can keep for a while in the car. Does anyone else do this? Any suggestions for what food to keep in the car?

I've seen people on the subways ask for food and always feel so bad that I don't have any.

Granola bars would definitely be good as well as chips and stuff that lasts a while.

Maybe you can teach your children a lesson my father taught me.   As a Preacher, Daddy was always getting a sob story about this that or the other.  Sometimes he helped even when he knew he was getting scammed.  Anytime he had visual confirmation of children being involved, even when he knew he was being scammed he felt obligated to help.   Its not the childrens fault.  They shouldn't suffer, just in case it wasn't a scam.

But, when dealing strictly with adults, my fathers moto was never do anything for anyone they can do for themselves.    Daddy's approach was an interesting one.   He would stop in front of people holding up signs saying "will work for food" Tell them to jump in the back of the truck, he had work at the church they could do.  Or even at our house.   90% of the time, they would say, "Just give me the money"  Daddy would leave them setting there.  Some would come with him because he would say he had work at the church.  Others would say, give me directions to the church and Ill meet you there. 

For those who would actually work Daddy paid.  But, otherwise they were out of luck.  Daddy would bend over backwards for you if he thought you really wanted to help yourself.  But, he never just handed money over until he knew what kind of person you were.

The one time I saw him help someone with the problem your son was facing,  Daddy Called the Cab company, had a cab come and pick the person up and paid the cab directly to take the man to where he said his family was.   

Never ever hand them money they haven't worked for.  You never know if its going in their arm, up their nose or to buy a bottle of Jack.   If they say they are hungry, buy them lunch.  If they say they need gas money,  follow them to the gas station and buy their gas.   If they say they need to get across town, buy the cab fair.    By offering to buy what they need instead of just handing them cash, you weed out the good ones that really need help from the bad ones that don't.

The only exception Daddy ever made to that rule was for street performers.  To him, even if they were just playing a guitar, they were there earning their money.  They were trying.   Ive seen Daddy give 100 bucks to a guy who played badly simply because he was trying to support himself.

 

Well, I just had a talk with my son.  He understands the concept, do not give money you cannot afford to give:  I topped off my son for gas !!!!!!

Scum buckets of the world!  He knew the mom would bail the kid out.  BS !!! Never again !

I advised him to take out his cell phone in the future and offer to call for police assistance for his/her problem(s) and watch the moefoe scum bucket run!

Oh, yeah, I do not ever mistrust my children or question thier integrity; it is the lowest scum that slithers the ground I question the integrity of.  How can someone live with themselves ?  Because the mom must have money and bail the kid out?  I will never do that again.  Lesson learned.  My son technically did the right thing, and I suffered.  He fully iunderstands going foward - no more!

It saddens me that there are people who will take advantage of others. 

My dad was also of the "give them food" variety - we bought many a plate of food for grateful individuals.  I will give when people are performing, or when it's a "sanctioned" activity - where I used to live, they had homeless people selling newspapers and I'd always try to buy it from them for $1.00 (several times a week, sometimes).

It's hard to know where to draw the line.  I have been in situations where I needed the "dollar to get across town" - for real!  Sometimes in foreign countries.  And I've been scared to death to ask (due to my humiliation) - but when people respond kindly, it makes you feel so much less embarrassed!  So I thank those people who helped me with train fare, bus fare, directions and the use of their cell phone.  Sometimes I would rather err on the side of being scammed (if the amount is minimal), just in case the need is real.  Due to the number of scam artists out there today, however, I'm afraid I'm way less likely to help even someone who REALLY needs it! :(  When I do, however, number one is safety - if you have a REAL need, you don't mind waiting while someone goes somewhere safe to make a call for you, or get you $5 in cash (never, ever open your wallet in public!!!).  You're not going to follow them to the ATM or make a pest of yourself.

zarelha# 18:  what you say is very true.  It is very sad, that if, someone were in dire need (much like yourself as you described), my kids and I would turn those very people down, due to what we all have just experienced. 

Will me or my family give cash donations again - never, even if it is a "real" charity.

However, I will and I encourage my family to give food, clothes, furniture to a "real" charity or someone in real need of the food and item(s).  If it is a real need, the person or charity will wait for the actual item.  If that charity cannot wait, it wasn't a real need.

This new scam with high gas prices has hit my every last nerve.  I am contacting the local authorities and local news stations to make people aware of this newest scam on A Road. 

So, if you are one of those slithery variety - watch out!

Original Post by gadzooks:

Original Post by hmking:

I've decided to just give food instead of money. This past weekend I was on my way out of town(Houston...lots of homeless people begging on corners) and gave a man the goldfish crackers we had in our foodbag when I was pulling over for gas...I felt kinda bad about it because they had already been opened and maybe a fourth of it was gone. But on my way back onto the interstate I saw him sitting under the overpass eating the goldfish. I still felt a little cheap giving him an opened bag, but I think he appreciated it...and needed it. I think I'll start keeping granola bars or something else that can keep for a while in the car. Does anyone else do this? Any suggestions for what food to keep in the car?

I've seen people on the subways ask for food and always feel so bad that I don't have any.

Granola bars would definitely be good as well as chips and stuff that lasts a while.

I had a guy just 2 weeks ago hit me up for money because he was starving and trying to make ends meet until his first paycheck came through...I think it was bogus, but I offered to buy him a meal at McD's.  Unfortunately they were closed, so I offered him a protein bar which I had in my car and he turned it down because he said it was too hard for his dentures...If I were hungry enough I'd gum the thing over until I could eat it!  I suspect it was a scam for cash.

About a week ago I saw a Korean guy (or that's what his sign said) standing at a gas station looking for gas money to drive to San Franscisco...very unusual, I don't know that I buy the story, but in any case I did not stop.  We have way too many people panhandling in our city for me to not be jaded.