The easy litmus test is to offer to buy them the thing they want.
This is very true.
When I worked downtown and being asked for money was common, my rule was to ask them what it was for and then offer to buy it for them. More often than not, they’d decline or walk away when you made it clear you weren’t giving money but would buy what they needed… food, bus tickets, gas, whatever. A couple times I returned with their requested food and they were gone, but I just gave it to someone else that always was really happy to get it. Most that took me up on the offer were genuinely grateful and so expressive in their appreciation, and I got a few entertaining stories out of it too.
The easy litmus test is to offer to buy them the thing they want.
But I’ve given money to panhandlers twice. First guy said, “hey man, do you got any change? [N-word] needs to get drunk.”
The second time was a group of guys scrounging for change in their car because they were trying to get a dime of weed.
This is very true.
When I worked downtown and being asked for money was common, my rule was to ask them what it was for and then offer to buy it for them. More often than not, they’d decline or walk away when you made it clear you weren’t giving money but would buy what they needed… food, bus tickets, gas, whatever. A couple times I returned with their requested food and they were gone, but I just gave it to someone else that always was really happy to get it. Most that took me up on the offer were genuinely grateful and so expressive in their appreciation, and I got a few entertaining stories out of it too.