Charas-Project
Off-Topic => All of all! => Topic started by: Valiere on February 21, 2010, 04:40:53 AM
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Long story.
So I went to get groceries at Wal-Mart today. The very second I got out of the car, this big black lady pounced on me. She spilled out a sob story of how she had absolutely no money and desperately needed diapers and food for her kids. She said she'd appreciate any amount I could give her.
Since poor people 'round these parts have a reputation for spending your donations on drugs and booze, I said she could come with me into the store, and I would buy her a few things. But not much, I'm a starving college student after all. I could tell she didn't really like this. "How much? Because I need at least $20 for this and this..." She tried to convince me to give her cash, but finding out I didn't have any cash, she said it would be easier if I just got her a gift card. I refused.
Finally, she caved. I should've noticed she only caved when I mentioned my check card, but I'm an idiot. She said the guy who was nice enough to drive her there, a trashy white guy, would come in with us. I tensed up. I knew he wasn't just being helpful to a poor old lady in the neighborhood. He wanted something, and he wanted me to buy it. I should've backed out, but I didn't.
On the way to the diaper aisle, she buttered me up by saying I must be a cheerleader, I'm probably dating a football player, etc. I tried to be amicable, but discomfort was painted all over my face. To make things worse, she kept saying, "Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Jesus!" over and over. I thought to myself, Jesus isn't helping you, lady. I am.
Anyway, diapers. They're expensive. Super expensive. I suggested we get some off-brand ones, but she balked. "NO NO NO, HONEY, let me tell you something. Let me tell you something, honey. Those off-brand diapers will NOT last as long as the real thing. You need the real thing." The white guy, who's apparently an expert on diapers, corroborated this. The "real thing" was $15 plus tax. I told her that's all I could spend, no more.
She was a bit perturbed by this but accepted it. In a weird turn of events, she then asked me to go pay for the diapers myself, because the white guy had to leave. I was annoyed and asked her where she was going, which resulted in her coming with me to pay. In hindsight, I suspect she was trying to avoid letting someone who worked there see her. So anyway, I bought Pull-Ups for hopefully the only time in my life, she thanked me and left.
Shortly after, I wondered: I just did a good deed. Why don't I feel good about this? Well, because I felt like I got robbed.
So I drove my cart to the customer service area, and there she was, empty-handed. She spotted me and ran up, shoving a cell phone in my ear. It was her daughter or niece or whatever saying hi. She wasn't doing this to be friendly. She was trying to convince me there even was a kid. I should've confronted her but didn't, I didn't have proof.
After getting my own groceries, I went back to the customer service desk and asked if anyone had returned diapers recently. Sure enough, the clerk pulled out the same package I'd bought. Since I used a check card, they got cash back. Brilliant, Val, brilliant!
So anyway, I hate myself for ignoring all my instincts that this was all wrong, and I'm never helping anyone in this city again. Thankfully it only set me back $16.34. Regardless, the poor people of Austin can go screw themselves.
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Heh, sucks to be you.
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Honestly, I think you deserve this. As you said, all your instincts told you things just weren't right, and you decided to trust the suspicious person in a bad neighborhood.
Of course, I'm a real cynic, and while I'm polite at first, if people start pushing me, I can be downright nasty.
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Of course I deserve it! I already said I hate myself!
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Poor people are just parasites. Give him money and he'll come back to pester you! Or rob you in a complicated way. Or something like this.
I usually give nothing to beggars or such, except when I feel generous, and even then. I remember this old man saying he was poor and alcoholic, and preferred to beg rather than steal in order to drink, so I gave him 2$, and it's probably the most I gave to someone I don't know. Yet, some old lady who looked like she came out of some grave begged for money and she got nothing from me. Screw you, beggars!
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Wow... just... wow...
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I really can't say much beyond "Ouch."
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http://www.fmylife.com/ You'll definitely get a you deserve it vote there.
I gotta say though you got a weird train of thought. Even thru that, you deceived your own instincts; Not being mean, but- oh what the hell, I am being mean.
Just a thought; have you gone thru something like this before?
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Sorry to hear that, chief.
On a related note, I like the idea of giving money to homeless people, but I'm vehemently against it when they ask. It's all kneejerk.
"can you spare some change"
"NO"
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Just a thought; have you gone thru something like this before?
No. My home city has a homeless population of zero, and no one's ever asked me for money before.
And I was conscious of everything that happened being "off," which is why I zipped to the customer service counter after she took the diapers. All I can say is I was so uncomfortable with what was happening that I just wanted to get it over with. Also, I felt like I'd gotten off easy by only buying the diapers.
If I'd called her out or made accusations, I could've ended up with my car keyed, or worse. The white guy looked like the type of person who'd do damn near anything if you pissed him off.
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People tend to cringe and back away from me when I'm in the store. I guess I just look like a bad mother ****er. There was this one guy who asked me for change and I just gave him a quick glare and he backed up. Must suck to be a pretty female (I've seen your pics Val) in this terrible economy. I guess, just try and get mean with people and don't let them walk on you. Though, you do live in a really shitty *** crime infested fuckhole of a town too. So, I feel for ya dude.
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For some reason that reminds me of when I was in middle school.
I overheard this one girl say that she thought that I was cute but didn't want to ask me out because my dad scared the piss out of her.
:{
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Ouch, dude. XD
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No. My home city has a homeless population of zero, and no one's ever asked me for money before.
And I was conscious of everything that happened being "off," which is why I zipped to the customer service counter after she took the diapers. All I can say is I was so uncomfortable with what was happening that I just wanted to get it over with. Also, I felt like I'd gotten off easy by only buying the diapers.
If I'd called her out or made accusations, I could've ended up with my car keyed, or worse. The white guy looked like the type of person who'd do damn near anything if you pissed him off.
I meant going against your instincts.
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Amazing.
But the best one is when they ask for change and you dig your pockets and they notice your wallet in the midst of it. With the wallet in sight they pick up a long sharp object or a gun and demand you to hand it over.
So yeah, never trust people who say anything about poverty or their kids.
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A guy once asked my parents to give him money for food.
They bought him a loaf of bread and some cheese.
He saw this and said "What the hell is this crap?"
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See, this is why I'm selfish.
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If it's any consolation, I, and probably others, respect you for doing something nice. Still, what a bitch!
I just blurt out "I can't got no like and ummm yeah" and just walk off with my head down when someone acts like that towards me.
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Don't ever give other people money/stuff if the ask you for it. Ever.
If you still feel the need to make yourself feel better for helping someone, take the money you would have given and donate it to a charity that helps real people in need. People who can make it to the store to beg are better off than those who can't.
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Sometimes, you kinda feel pressured into providing for them. I always feel uneasy when donating to people
who aren't carrying any form of credentials. I recently gave some man £2 and he gave me this weird leaflet
about some octopus God or something.
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People tend to cringe and back away from me when I'm in the store. I guess I just look like a bad mother ****er. There was this one guy who asked me for change and I just gave him a quick glare and he backed up. Must suck to be a pretty female (I've seen your pics Val) in this terrible economy. I guess, just try and get mean with people and don't let them walk on you. Though, you do live in a really shitty *** crime infested fuckhole of a town too. So, I feel for ya dude.
Truth be told, I think they'll beg from anybody. The black lady started calling for me before I even got out of the car. Their rate of return is probably so low (Most people have lived here long enough to know better) that they can't be picky.
Hehe. Sorry to hear that.
If someone asked me for money (and I had it, which I never do), I would offer to buy them something. If they said they just wanted money... I would say I'm sorry, and then just keep walking while ignoring them.
But you know... Some times, people DO need food, and stuff like that. Once this kid came asking for spare change while me and my family were in the street, and instead of money my father went to this place that sells food and got him a pastel (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Pastel.jpg). The kid was so damn happy for that.
But there are also people who just want money to buy stuff. This guy knocked on my grandmother's door once, asked for money to buy food, my grandfather gave him a plate with food, the same they were having for lunch, the guy threw it on the ground and walked away yelling about how he just wanted money.
That's what I did though: offer to buy her something. I thought I was being clever. I didn't factor in that if you use a check card, Wal-Mart refunds you with cash. If I had said I was using a credit card, that would have changed everything, because the money would have refunded back into the account if they tried returning it.
That's hilariously awful what happened to your grandma though. What a d-bag.
Anyway, now that I think about it, I have been asked for change before here, but it was always by men. When I see a homeless man, I automatically think, "Rapist! RUUUUN!" and "That money is going straight to the bottle." Seeing a desperate woman, however, I thought she might be legit and may really have children who need help. Boy, was I wrong!
Before you say "But there's tons of charities out there to help poor women and children"....I'm taking a class called "Poverty and Politics" which might as well be renamed "All Welfare Policies Are Completely Ineffective." Thanks a lot, education!
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Sometimes, you kinda feel pressured into providing for them. I always feel uneasy when donating to people
who aren't carrying any form of credentials. I recently gave some man £2 and he gave me this weird leaflet
about some octopus God or something.
WTF?
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Homeless people stand at the intersection near my Wal-Mart and stand there with signs, hoping someone will pull over for them. Also there's a crazy homeless guy that thinks he's a detective. They never actually approach people though. Just stand by the road with signs. And I agree that is a good Fmylife story. I prefer mylifeisaverage though. It has stories about homeless people holding signs saying witty things such as "I bet you can't hit me with a quarter" and "I bet you a dollar you're reading this sign" But I figure that happens much less often than people who are just douchebags.
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pastel (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Pastel.jpg).
Thank you for this. I honestly thought you were talking about art supplies.
Anyways, I admire honesty and wit. If I see a homeless person who has a sign that reads "need booze money", I'm more likely to give them a buck. If I see "I need the cheeseburger more than the fat-ass Hummer driver", I'll give them that buck. If I see "Jesus loves us all, please help with $$$", I'm out of there.
Of course, I grew up in a shitty part of town. It's not unusual to see something on the news about violent crimes. Hell, it's practically at the point where it doesn't qualify as news anymore. I'm used to the homeless, how they work, and their motives. I know how to deal with them, too. When it comes to these people, I know how to operate. I guess I'm just used to everyone else knowing what they're doing that I can't help but see people who've been scammed as incompetent losers. It's a conditioned thing.
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weird leaflet about some octopus God or something.
...whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?
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Ja'hed.
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I once saw an old homeless man with a large, beautiful, professional-looking sign. Did he hire someone to make it for him? Did he buy a ton of art supplies?
It said something like "Spit on me, 5 cents. If you're going to judge me, just keep on walking, God bless you." And as I was reading it, someone walking by was telling him to get a job, so the homeless guy called him a pigfucker.
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That man would get a dollar from me.
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I once saw an old homeless man with a large, beautiful, professional-looking sign. Did he hire someone to make it for him? Did he buy a ton of art supplies?
It said something like "Spit on me, 5 cents. If you're going to judge me, just keep on walking, God bless you." And as I was reading it, someone walking by was telling him to get a job, so the homeless guy called him a pigfucker.
Wow... maybe he has photoshop. OH WAAAIT...
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I know it's fun to give money to people who are honest about their boozin' habits, but doesn't that make you an enabler?
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I don't enable, I disable. =3
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(http://www.vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/sign-father-killed-by-ninjas-414908896.jpg)
But seriously, the only thing I give is food if I have it. People ask me all the time around where I live for money. Holyoke, Massachusetts and the outlying areas are kind of poor. I see this all the time. I feel bad for them, but you know there's the people who just want their crack/booz money or are making a living off of it. Though, you can usually tell the difference between a hungry guy and shivering crackhead. XD
I once saw a guy in a city ten miles from my town panhandling and I swear the next day he was at my work in MY town asking for change... ten miles away. granted, he could've walked, but I've seen him all over the place. I really feel like this guy isn't poor and makes a killing off asking people for money.
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I know it's fun to give money to people who are honest about their boozin' habits, but doesn't that make you an enabler?
So? I'd want the same thing if I was in his position.
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(http://www.vagabondish.com/wp-content/uploads/sign-father-killed-by-ninjas-414908896.jpg)
XD!!! I chuckled at this.
I once saw a guy in a city ten miles from my town panhandling and I swear the next day he was at my work in MY town asking for change... ten miles away. granted, he could've walked, but I've seen him all over the place. I really feel like this guy isn't poor and makes a killing off asking people for money.
You are probably right, I think there are people who go out dressed like beggars (as in, wear old clothes and worn out stuff) but are actually not poor at all and making money off sympathetic people.
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Yeah, I've heard about people doing that. He came in where I work once with a crummy old folder and tried selling us what amounted to MSPaint doodles printed out on sheet paper for like 50 cents each. He said it was just some art he had done and was trying to kickstart his career. This is the same guy who can teleport all around western Massachusetts.
ALSO, this.
(http://stuff4restaurants.com/blog2/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/panhandler.jpg)
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I have long hair, only black clothes, I walk slightly slouched over like a Troll from WoW but not as much, and I look pretty pissed usually while walking alone. No one ever asks me for anything.
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Is that guy seriously in the middle of the damn street?
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"Betcha can't hit me with a quarter!" *school bus'd*
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"Betcha can't hit me with a quarter!" *school bus'd*
Followed by a man covered in welts buying a feast at McDonald's.
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I'd throw a penny at him.
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You'd be an asshat. Also, hey, we totally posted at the same time.
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I dunno. I mean...
As Benjamin Franklin once said: "A penny saved is a thousand burned." or something like that...
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You'd be an asshat. Also, hey, we totally posted at the same time.
Very well aware of this.
Latter part has actually happened quite a bit lately.
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How about people that SELL stuff?
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How about people that SELL stuff?
People in robes, mysterious raspy voiced strangers who ask "what are ya buyin"?
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I effing LOL'd
I would say; "Not enough cash!...stranger."
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More wonderful news. My bike got stolen.
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>:{
EDIT: Gorram smilies.
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You're happy, on fire, and holding a bow and arrow backwards?
Ahem. Anyway, make sure you lock that **** up. How much did they steal? I've heard of some people taking the wheels off of bikes to take the body, especially if only a wheel is locked to a rack.
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Believe it or not, something similar happened to me too. I think it has to be a common scam.
(FYI if there's anyone in Toronto, this was at Broadview station, so look out for this woman).
I was going to the subway and there was a woman there who said she was pregnant and she lived in Hamilton (a bus ride out of the city). She said she was stranded and her mother couldn't wire her money until Friday (the next day), so she asked if I could give her money for lunch. I told her I could get her something from McDonalds. I figured if she accepted me just getting her a hamburger, she probably was just stranded and hungry. So we walked up, and then she started asking me for $20 for a bus tickets back to Hamilton, and I kept turning her down. She told me some story about how a guy wanted her to do stuff to him in exchange for money, and how she's pregnant etc (she didn't look pregnant but she kept saying she was...). So we got to McDonalds, then she changed her mind and asked if I could get her a sandwich instead because it was healthier...it's more expensive but I felt obligated to get it at that point. She said "If you'd just give me the money for the bus ticket I wouldn't need the sandwich" and she got ruder. So we got to the store, and again she kept asking me for $20. When I wouldn't do it, she ordered two expensive sandwiches, a side, and a fancy drink without even asking ($20 worth of stuff). I think she did it out of spite because I wouldn't just give her cash Couldn't believe it. I left the store right after so I don't know if she returned them, but after reading your post Val, I guess she did. Probably why she wanted to go to the sandwich store (that sold sandwiches and salads wrapped up and returnable) rather than McDonalds.
Another time had this woman tell me she just needed $5 for a ticket home (this time to Brampton). So I gave her $5. The next day, I was at the same place, and she came up to me and told me the same story. I told her she hit me up yesterday, and she went "Oh ok." stopped crying and walked away.
I hate people so much.
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I can't count the things that that got stolen from me. Some in my own house!
Getting stolen by a total stranger is one thing, but by someone in your family it's another one... however, no matter who steals you, getting stolen is of course never fun and I sure hope they die a painful death.
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Ahem. Anyway, make sure you lock that **** up. How much did they steal? I've heard of some people taking the wheels off of bikes to take the body, especially if only a wheel is locked to a rack.
I did lock it up. They took the entire thing, and the lock is still there (and intact), so my best guess is they took the bike apart.
And that's ridiculous, Zerlina...Christ, it seems like none of them subscribe to "Beggars can't be choosers." You MUST give them something, and it has to be the BEST, you rich jerk!!
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You actually got a bike stolen? I've lived in some pretty seedy areas lately and nobody ever touched my bike. Probably because it sucked and if you were going to steal a bike you sure as hell wouldn't steal mine, but maybe that's the secret!
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That's probably the problem. Everyone keeps telling me it got stolen because it was so pretty.
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You actually got a bike stolen? I've lived in some pretty seedy areas lately and nobody ever touched my bike. Probably because it sucked and if you were going to steal a bike you sure as hell wouldn't steal mine, but maybe that's the secret!
Bike stealing is really lucrative in big cities. A friend of mine brought his bike out, realized he forgot his house keys, went inside, came out, and his bike was gone.
Just look at these statistics:
"Toronto police figures show that more than 50,000 bikes have been reported stolen in the city since 1997. Last year alone, 4,585 bicycles were reported stolen. But police said the numbers don't even come close to the real figures because most people don't register their bikes — and victims don't always report the crime."
(source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/07/17/bike-theft.html)
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An Austin Chronicle article helpfully informed me of who probably stole my bike: a crackhead.
So nice to know more of my money/property is going to support the local crackhead community.
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Yeah, Val, thanks for the bike.
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Chicken man stole mah bike!
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Oh, hah, lol
exactly how I pictured it too
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Yes, you did get scammed; but don't worry about it too much, because if she had been legitimate, and you called her out for it, you'd probably be feeling much worse about yourself right now. Just be grateful you weren't hurt; and remember that this sort of thing happens to the best of us.
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I know...I'm pretty much over it now that I have the theft of my bike to seethe about. $100 bike > $16.85.
Also something I hadn't considered as it happened...If I had called her out, she had the white guy waiting outside. Sure, she said he was gone, but we all know he wasn't. He was the getaway car. If I had torn into her in the middle of Wal-Mart, she could have signaled the cavalry before I made it outside. They both knew where my car was, since that's where they found me, so they could have either keyed or otherwise damaged it out of spite or followed me home.
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This is why you need the A-Team. Mr.T know how to mess up some foos.
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I know...I'm pretty much over it now that I have the theft of my bike to seethe about. $100 bike > $16.85.
Also something I hadn't considered as it happened...If I had called her out, she had the white guy waiting outside. Sure, she said he was gone, but we all know he wasn't. He was the getaway car. If I had torn into her in the middle of Wal-Mart, she could have signaled the cavalry before I made it outside. They both knew where my car was, since that's where they found me, so they could have either keyed or otherwise damaged it out of spite or followed me home.
Simple answer: Buy a gun. Texas has some pretty nifty gun laws, too.
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If not, you guys have rangers, right? You know, that know karate and stuff?
Edit: Though seriously, yeah, some form of protection/defense.
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If not, you guys have rangers, right? You know, that know karate and stuff?
Seriously, you don't **** with a Texas Ranger. Bad-*** motherfuckers right there.
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Gun: too much trouble. How bout some nice pepper spray?
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That works too! That stuff burns!
And XD@Archem
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Well, pepper spray is temporary while a gun can make it permanent.
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Well, you can also shoot people in the feet if you don't need to protect your life right off, it disables them. Stubbing a toe can disable a person for a while, bullet in the foot would definitely work.
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If they get infected or the bleeding doesn't stop, or if they have a heart attack, sure. Though on the last one if they have a weak heart they shouldn't be attacking people in the first place, so their fault.
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He said he emptied a whole ammo holding thingie but only hit the guy once, in the arm I think.
It's called a magazine. Sometimes referred to as a "mag". Often erroneously confused with a clip.
Anyways, it's possible that your friend only hit one out of a mag. You'd be surprised at how bad a shot people can be.
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Though on the last one if they have a weak heart they shouldn't be attacking people in the first place, so their fault.
Remember, kids: only pull a knife on people if you have no prior heart condition.
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You'd be surprised at how bad a shot people can be.
Like Star Wars storm troopers and 98% of soldiers in cartoons and movies including Godzilla (not like they do much anyways)?
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All the adrenaline can make you really shaky.
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All the adrenaline can make you really shaky.
I'm the inverse, usually I get less shaky and focus more, though I get tunnel vision sometimes.
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Shooting in real life isn't like shooting in a FPS, you know. You don't have the convenient interface with a little crosshair. It's HARD to hit things you're pointing at, especially if they're running and you're fighting the recoil of the weapon.
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True, I wasn't making that comparison. I've handled guns before. My cousin and dad used to do target practice.
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Shooting in real life isn't like shooting in a FPS, you know. You don't have the convenient interface with a little crosshair. It's HARD to hit things you're pointing at, especially if they're running and you're fighting the recoil of the weapon.
Hell, I can rarely hit a target that's standing still, with a rifle. ...but then again, I have terrible eyesight and they were .22 targets.
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The largest I've ever gotten is a paintball gun.
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I've got a POS airsoft pistol. Double feeds, jams, or fails to feed a BB at all. And then it won't shoot straight.
I am saving up for a Mosin-Nagant, though...
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All the adrenaline can make you really shaky.
Or maybe it's just the way them ni-... Uh... I mean, gangsta-like folk hold it up upside down/sideways while they shoot. 'cuz dat shiz be HOT, yY0
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Shooting in real life isn't like shooting in a FPS, you know.
Well there go all my plans.