This is so funny that it is not funny at all

[NY Disney fan]

I saw a woman yesterday sitting on the curb. Homeless and begging for money. She put her cup on the curb and a sign that said "Please help". At the same time she was texting on her blackberry.

 

[dejr_8]

I saw a woman yesterday sitting on the curb. Homeless and begging for money. She put her cup on the curb and a sign that said "Please help". At the same time she was texting on her blackberry.

Are you sure she was homeless?

 

[Jeafl]

Even if she had a job when she bought the BlackBerry, it still costs a lot for the monthly fees so she must have SOME money. I would think twice about giving her any money.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Are you sure she was homeless?

She may not have been homeless but she was sitting in the street with a sign and a cup asking for money. Maybe to pay for her texting bill.

 

[Magpie]

I saw a woman yesterday sitting on the curb. Homeless and begging for money. She put her cup on the curb and a sign that said "Please help". At the same time she was texting on her blackberry.

How do you know it as HER blackberry? She might have borrowed it from a friend.

Alternately, it was one item she had left over from her previous life, before she ended up homeless. It's not like Blackberry's have much resale value. And the monthly fees are not huge if you get a basic plan - it may be cheaper than scraping together first and last months rent, just so she can put in a home phone, and then pay monthly on THAT. When people are living hand to mouth it's hard to convince them to put their pennies in the bank. For what? So she can have no phone for a year or more, while she tries to raise all that money?

Or she bought it super cheap "off the back of a truck", as it were.

When people have so little, I really try not to judge them for the things they do have.

 

[NY Disney fan]

When people have so little, I really try not to judge them for the things they do have.

Perhaps. I just found it highly unusual. I know people who work who can't afford these things. But I get what you are saying. I think that if you're pan handling, it doesn't look good for you to do this.

 

[Tinkermommy]

How do you know it as HER blackberry? She might have borrowed it from a friend.

Alternately, it was one item she had left over from her previous life, before she ended up homeless. It's not like Blackberry's have much resale value. And the monthly fees are not huge if you get a basic plan - it may be cheaper than scraping together first and last months rent, just so she can put in a home phone, and then pay monthly on THAT. When people are living hand to mouth it's hard to convince them to put their pennies in the bank. For what? So she can have no phone for a year or more, while she tries to raise all that money?

Or she bought it super cheap "off the back of a truck", as it were.

When people have so little, I really try not to judge them for the things they do have.

But should would still have to pay for the monthly service. So I can see being skeptical.

I tend not to give cash to needy people. I will buy you lunch, a pair of shoes or a coat if you really need it though. I also give to charities that help (especially children's charities) that help people who need it.

 

[wdw4life]

Regardless of why she had the Blackberry it would probably make some people think twice about giving her any money.

 

[ajk912]

How do you know it as HER blackberry? She might have borrowed it from a friend.

Alternately, it was one item she had left over from her previous life, before she ended up homeless. It's not like Blackberry's have much resale value. And the monthly fees are not huge if you get a basic plan - it may be cheaper than scraping together first and last months rent, just so she can put in a home phone, and then pay monthly on THAT. When people are living hand to mouth it's hard to convince them to put their pennies in the bank. For what? So she can have no phone for a year or more, while she tries to raise all that money?

Or she bought it super cheap "off the back of a truck", as it were.

When people have so little, I really try not to judge them for the things they do have.

I know I shouldn't laugh..but...

If I was about to live on the streets I don't think it's a stretch to say that I am speaking for 99.9% of the population when I say that my SMARTPHONE would be the first to go before being homeless. I am talking real homelessness. Staying with friends/family till you get on your feet, I get that. But begging on the side of the street homelessness, once you reach that point, the smartphone has to go. And they aren't THAT cheap, at least $60 a month plus taxes depending on carrier. I agree with the PP, maybe she's begging to get someone to pay her overpriced cell phone bill. To be honest, this is really mean of me but I also would have little sympathy and wouldn't feel the urge to give money to someone playing on a blackberry while begging for change.

 

[kwelch10377]

No matter what the reason for her having a Blackberry to use, it was very poor marketing on her part if she was trying to get people to give her money. I am sure that you weren't the only one to take notice.

 

[MushyMushy]

There was a panhandler in the city on the route to where my DH worked. He'd give the guy a couple of bucks once in a while because the guy was pretty nice, and they would strike up short conversations when traffic was stopped. He told DH that he'd average about $75 a day during weekdays... tax free of course. This guy knew how to work his corner.

 

[daughtersrus]

I'm always amazed to see people standing in the line at school registration to apply for free/reduced lunch for their children while they have an expensive phone, manicured nails, designer clothes/shoes, expensive hair styles...the kicker was when I went out to the parking lot and saw a lady that was just in that line getting into an SUV with a license plate that said "Y WORK".

 

[Jeafl]

I'm always amazed to see people standing in the line at school registration to apply for free/reduced lunch for their children while they have an expensive phone, manicured nails, designer clothes/shoes, expensive hair styles...the kicker was when I went out to the parking lot and saw a lady that was just in that line getting into an SUV with a license plate that said "Y WORK".

Sadly, that isn't too unusual. I had a student last year whose mom drove a brand new Escalade, got her nails done all the time, carried a Louis Vuitton bag (and YES, it was real) and still applied for (and got) free lunch for her kids.

I am sure someone will jump on me and say that all of that could be left over from a "previous life", but the Escalade was new mid school year, and she talked all the time about how she had to run to get to her nail appointments or to her yoga class on time. Since I was the teacher of one of her kids, I was privy to some personal information, and trust me, there was no financial need for free lunch. She felt that if others were entitled, so was she.

 

[moburg]

I saw a woman yesterday sitting on the curb. Homeless and begging for money. She put her cup on the curb and a sign that said "Please help". At the same time she was texting on her blackberry.

I've watched beggars finish up at the end of the day, walk around the corner and get in their spotless Lexus to drive home.

Begging must be very lucrative.

 

[ilovesugar]

The news did a story on this once and I was amazed. We have quite a few people asking for money in downtown and the news did a study that showed that a lot of them make more money in one day then if they had a real job. Unfortuately, because of bad apples, I don't give money to anyone. I will be more than happy to buy someone food. I find that when that is offered, they just walk away pissed off at me for suggesting it.

 

[jfoofj]

My Verizon Wireless bill is so high these days (2 blackberry's, 2 phones, and wireless for computer) that I feel her pain. Kinda. If we weren't making the money we are making, we would cancel them.

 

[luvmy3]

How do you know it as HER blackberry? She might have borrowed it from a friend.

Alternately, it was one item she had left over from her previous life, before she ended up homeless. It's not like Blackberry's have much resale value. And the monthly fees are not huge if you get a basic plan - it may be cheaper than scraping together first and last months rent, just so she can put in a home phone, and then pay monthly on THAT. When people are living hand to mouth it's hard to convince them to put their pennies in the bank. For what? So she can have no phone for a year or more, while she tries to raise all that money?

Or she bought it super cheap "off the back of a truck", as it were.

When people have so little, I really try not to judge them for the things they do have.

Sorry, but I do if they are begging for money on the street then they certainly shouldn't be using that money to pay for their smartphone, which if it was from Verizon would cost and extra $30 permonth not including what she pays for her minutes. I'm betting she could put that $30 she has to beg for to better use, but thats just my opinion. But, I'm cold and heartless, I actually believe that if you can't feed yourself then you shouldn't be paying a cell phone bill.
And, if it was a friends, mayeb she should ask them for money in return for some sort of favor instead of asking random strangers for a hand-out.

 

[Luvchefmic]

this thread will end badly but let me throw this out there anyway,
since everyone is giving opinions based on assumptions:

is anyone sure exactly what was going on? Is it possible at all that she found this blackberry or whatever she actually had in her hands? If so concerned why not just stop and ask her...maybe find out if she needed help...if you're afraid she is armed dangerous, contagious, will bite you, simply take your mobile device and dial 9 1 1 "I think someone might need help"

 

[Rora]

Sour thread to be..

It definitely isn't smart on her part to have a Blackberry out, even if it's not hers. That being said, she might actually need help. Some people insist on trying to appear a certain way to society and their peers that other things (fancy cars, fancy phones, brand name clothes) take precedence over eating.

That being said, we all have to use our own judgement in these situations.

 

[tink1969]

I've watched beggars finish up at the end of the day, walk around the corner and get in their spotless Lexus to drive home.

Begging must be very lucrative.

I agree! I was in downtown Toronto and and new Lincoln Navigator stopped in front of me. A well dressed woman got out, opened the back and pulled out a sign. A grubby dressed man also got out of the car, took the sign, she gave him a kiss and drove off. He set up the sign, (which was "help me, I'm poor and need money" sign) and sat down beside it.

Are you kidding me?