As I was strolling through the Canberra Centre on my lunchbreak chilling out to the dulcit tones of Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry’s ‘Aint Got No Home’, I was approached by a vaguely familiar person. He told me he desperately needed my help.
Turns out a tragedy had struck his family. Apparently his brother had fallen off his pushbike and had been taken to hospital. This poor chap needed to borrow $10.00 to get to the hospital*. He kindly offered his wallet as colateral for the loan. I looked the poor fellow in the eye, mustered as much compassion as I could and stated “Hmmmn you told me the same story three months ago, only it was your girlfriend. And I still don’t have any money.”
Anyone else get hit up for cash by this guy today?
* yep $10 too much for a bus, too little for a taxi.
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I had him a while ago outside of Debacle, I offered him a lift (I wasn’t busy and you know, I’m a good samaritan) and he kept saying he didn’t want to inconvienience me. I kept offering and he kept declining.
Silly joke!
I wonder if ‘Excusemesir?’ is still hanging around the casino, telling his sob story?
punkarella said :
it is a long, cold walk back to the village. he just needs something to warm him up…
When one of these people says “spare change”?, I normally respond with “no thanks, I’m cashed up already”.
I was approached with the girlfried/car accident story about 6 months ago near the merry go round. I’d been approached by the same guy a few months prior to that but then he was saying he needed money to pay for his meds to control his schizophrenia.
My philanthopic generosity doesn’t extend to this bullsh!t.
To be honest they would have chance with me if they went with a straight forward ‘Mate, I’ve been hanging out for a hit since Monday morning and I’ve gotta tell you, I’m on the verge of insanity …’
I always feel so sorry for them I give them what they ask for, sometimes double! for Gods sake, the guy needed your help!
Pesty said :
Can I have $20?
Katie said :
He approached myself and my wife while we were having a lovely al fresco meal in Civic.
Suffice to say he will remember not to ask me in future
Ahhhhrrr.Don’t give it to em laddy ! They have plenty of booty treasures burried up at dem Pinnacles, and dee forget dare pick and all. But for gods sake laddy, couldnt yee at least give em a scull of yees rum flask dare!
punkarella said :
older guy with white/gray hair and an accent? if so, he is still in civic (and has been for the 8 years i have worked here), usually near the canberra centre or the interchange wanting money for a bus.
doesnt seem to remember that i didnt have any money 5 minutes ago when i walked past.
djk said :
he won’t remember you. he never does… If he does get some cash off a samaritan, he either goes for the casino, or up to olims.
Pesty said :
I’m the same, if they ask I give(except for the arse#@les)
I like the girl who offers to sing you a song for a few bucks, but then again I like the windscreen washer guy as well.
There was a larger bloke with a walking stick outside the civic centre that would hobble up to people and ask for help. only after you had stopped to help him did he hit you up for cash. My old office looked over his work area he used to clean up. At the end of the day he put his walking stick under his arm and lit a cig while he walked off. If you are in this game just pretend to be disabled you cant lose.
Yet woe betide thee if any of these people decided to become window washers.
Whilst picking on a bloke who’s so desperate he’s begging for money may make a man out of some, there are two simple words you can use if you don’t have any change to give or don’t wish to: No, sorry.
There, that’s not too hard is it?
The “can i have some money for the bus” ones irk me the most. I’d probably give them some money if they could come up with a more creative or entertaining reason.
Schizophrenia medication costs $5.30 for a month’s supply for someone with a health care card, which he would presumably be entitled to if he did actually have schizophrenia.
Surely Centrelink payments would be sufficient to cover $5.30 a month…
Pesty said :
I don’t believe that appealing to strangers in the street is an appropriate way to seek help in the circumstances described by the original poster. Ultimately what would his attending the hospital achieve anyway?
there’s one guy (maybe the same one) that hangs around the various government departments and asks for a couple of bucks for something to eat. Once my co-worker offered to buy him a sandwich – his kindness was rewarded with a “ahhh, go f%@% yourself’.
On the note of weirdos in Civic, does anyone know what the deal is with the older guy who wears glasses and trackies, and crouches near street corners with an exercise book open atop his supabarn re-usable bag?
Whilst picking on a bloke who’s so desperate he’s begging for money
Um, dude, they aren’t that desperate, and are making up lies. There are charities and services that help these people upon request. The Church Of Pedophilia is one example.
“older guy with white/gray hair and an accent? if so, he is still in civic (and has been for the 8 years i have worked here), usually near the canberra centre or the interchange wanting money for a bus.”
This sounds like the same guy who used to live in the old McPherson Court government flats near O’Connor shop about 20 yrs ago. He was always hanging around the shops asking for money. When he got enough he’d shoot straight across the road to the TAB.
A few years ago, I often saw him near the bus stop in Marcus Street in early evening. It never ceased to amaze me how many generous passersby would help him with “small change for the bus fare home”. I got sick of telling him that I barely had enough money to feed my own kids, let alone give it away to strangers. In the end, as he approached me, and before he could open his mouth, I’d ask if he could lend me a few bucks. He’d piss off quick smart.
djk said :
Sadly, he’s been there a lot longer then 8 years. The poor old b@$tard has been there since the nineties. It would be better if you helped him out by not rewarding behaviour that contributes to his sorry plight. He’ll probably never learn but will likely give up a lot quicker each day if he’s not successful.
Ah when I came to power………….
I have a female cousin that often begs in the city for money to buy cigarettes. I’ve given her $20 the few times I’ve seen her doing it and told her to stop bothering other people.
As for others in town if I’m asked for money I’ll always say no. I’ve seen them go straight into the grog shop for a cheap bottle once they get enough. If they happen to ask for a coffee I’ll offer to buy them one. If they say no they deserve to be left high and dry.
VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :
So you know the background of every beggar in civic?
RE Ryan: “On the note of weirdos in Civic, does anyone know what the deal is with the older guy who wears glasses and trackies, and crouches near street corners with an exercise book open atop his supabarn re-usable bag?”
no but I’d love to know what deal with him is – he my favourite civic crazy. Another is the guy who lives in/around the Canberra Centre with his backpack and swag. Word on the street is that he isn’t crazy, just enlightened
He was apparently VERY rich and gave it all away to ‘unclutter’ his life… fascinating.
Olwen said :
I heard that too a few years back. Not too sure that the Canberra streets would be the place I’d spend many years of my life if I was feeling ‘enlightened’ – particularly not in winter! The way he stares off into space when he sits on those green seats in the middle of Northbourne Ave. freaks me out a bit.
Spam Box said :
Likewise because a little bit of empathy doesn’t go astray. It’s tough to live on bugger all.
The last time I was asked for a couple of bucks I gave the old bloke a fiver and received a soft and genuine Thank You in return, which made me feel good. For bonus points, immediately afterwards I had taken literally five steps away from the recipient and paused to do a bit of window-shopping when something caught my eye and I looked down, only to see another $5 note on the ground, peeking out from under my shoe…
How’s that for karma?
vg said
vg said :
vg zoomed behind a billboard, swiftly assumed his policeman costume, sprang back out and frightened the beggar who went running wildly off.
arescarti42 said :
There is 1 guy who hangs around Woden Interchange & does this same thing. Once a bus passenger gave the man some money, but the bus driver told the bus passenger about the guy. Well within a flash, the bus passenger was ordering his money back.