So this Deaf/Mute fellow came into my office

[Cass]

Yesterday, this fellow walked into my office, I stood to greet him and ask could I help him. He thrust a business card at me that read something like "I'm a deaf mute, can you spare some change?'

Just a few moments earlier, my husband and I had been talking about hiring some more employees for general help.

I asked if he understood what I was saying (did he read lips) and he nodded yes, I asked him if he would like a job? I said he could start right away or the next day, whatever was good for him.

He pulled the card out of my hand, gave me the finger and stormed out of the office.

 

[Tazicket]

Geez. Maybe he thought you were making fun of him?

 

[ElizK]

He was looking for a handout, not an honest living. I wonder if he was really a deaf/mute. What a jerk.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

If I just needed $.50 for a vending machine and someone offered me a job instead, I may be a little peeved, too.

 

[MELSMICE]

If I just needed $.50 for a vending machine and someone offered me a job instead, I may be a little peeved, too.

But if he had a job he wouldn't to ask for hand outs.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

OH good grief.....it is a racket.

I cannot tell you how many times I am in the Food Court Mall and they sweep in and pull this stunt.

Usually they give out a pin, or some token,your guy didn't even give you ANYTHING!, well except the finger.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

But if he had a job he wouldn't to ask for hand outs.

That's true. Because people who are employed always have cash in their pockets

 

[Mickey&Donald]

If I just needed $.50 for a vending machine and someone offered me a job instead, I may be a little peeved, too.

How many people do you know who print up a business card to get some spare change? Seems like this might be a recurring habit for this guy.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

He was looking for a handout, not an honest living. I wonder if he was really a deaf/mute. What a jerk.

Yep, I've seen this before. All he wanted was a handout and nothing more.

 

[Lanshark]

Maybe he was deaf/mute/lazy or maybe it was a scam.

 

[Maleficent13]

That's true. Because people who are employed always have cash in their pockets

I'm employed and I don't have any cash on me right now. But I'm not going to wander into a random office and ask a total stranger for money, no matter how badly I'd like a Snickers bar.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

I'm employed and I don't have any cash on me right now. But I'm not going to wander into a random office and ask a total stranger for money, no matter how badly I'd like a Snickers bar.

No kidding!

And, if someone who is employed needed change, they would ask "can I borrow $.XX [insert whatever amount they actually needed for the parking meter or whatever]," not "can you spare some change?"

 

[MosMom]

I've been handed those cards before.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

My sign language teacher in the 1980s told us NEVER, NEVER give money to these folks. He said it's a total scam.

If I feel like it's a safe situation, I will offer to buy a meal for a person (about a third of panhandlers accept this offer) but I don't give $$$.

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm employed and I don't have any cash on me right now. But I'm not going to wander into a random office and ask a total stranger for money, no matter how badly I'd like a Snickers bar.

And I highly doubt you would have a preprinted business card on you asking if you had change.

 

[Luv'sTink]

If I just needed $.50 for a vending machine and someone offered me a job instead, I may be a little peeved, too.

That's true. Because people who are employed always have cash in their pockets

How many people do you know who print up a business card to get some spare change? Seems like this might be a recurring habit for this guy.

This is exactly what I was going to say!

 

[freckles and boo]

He didn't need a job because he clearly was either making enough begging or only wanted the cash for liquor or drugs. I ignore panhandlers (even those with legitimate disabilities) except when they have kids with them. THAT makes me angry. A few years ago there was a woman who would panhandle with a small child on the subway landing during the winter. The kid didn't have mittens or a hat, so one morning I just took mine off and put them on her. The next day they were still there and the mittens and hat were gone. After I read her the riot act I called 311 and reported her. Beg if you want to, but don't drag your kids out into the weather to do it. There are social services all over the city to protect these kids, but all these people want is the cash.

 

[helenabear]

Sounds like a scam to me as well. No offense to the PP who made the point about wanting money for a vending machine, but why on earth would he have PRE PRINTED cards just for that? I can see the pre-printed for deaf/mute part, but if he wanted to borrow money he could simply write down what he wanted.

Screams total scam to me. And maybe I am jadded after living on a campus full of pan handlers and scammers, but I really don't think this guy was trying to make an honest living. Part of me wonders if he is truly deaf or not...

 

[Tosie]

I studied ASL and Deaf Culture and I can tell you it is a scam. Those people give Deaf folks a really bad name. That's how a lot of them make their living.

Dh and I were actually approached in a mall and the woman almost passed out when dh started signing to her!!

 

[Cass]

Usually they give out a pin, or some token,your guy didn't even give you ANYTHING!, well except the finger.

You know the old saying give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime?

We hire lots of people who are new to Canada, don't speak English yet and can't find jobs, I would have liked to have helped a deaf/mute person with a steady income, we pay 10.00 an hour to start and full medical/dental/prescription after 3 months.

After storming out of our office he went to others down the corridor, we saw him leaving later he was driving a KIA SUV.