How much do those guys on the street corners make?

I used to be disgusted by these people begging, until I realized that they're actually selling something.

They're selling satisfaction. If you believe that you're actually helping them, then you give these people a couple of bucks and walk away feeling good about yourself.

I was also offered a BJ for ten dollars. Sadly, I was in a hurry and had to turn it down.

DrewDad wrote:

I used to be disgusted by these people begging, until I realized that they're actually selling something.

They're selling satisfaction. If you believe that you're actually helping them, then you give these people a couple of bucks and walk away feeling good about yourself.

yeah, it is satisfying to give to someone that needs what you can offer.

couple of winters ago I had a bunch of extra blankets from something involved with work. I didn't really think about them until we had one of those bad wet cold snaps that was going to turn to ice during the night. I was going to take them to a shelter, but on the way there, going through downtown I spotted a shopping cart lady. Little bit of a thing she was. Elderly, not a crack head. I stopped to ask if she needed a couple of blankets (her cart didn't have blankets that I could see, just her clothes and stuff) which she was glad to accept. She saw I had more, and she said she could give them to people who would not want to go to the shelter. I thought that sounded right, and I could tell this woman was a good person. I'm sure the people who chose to stay on the street that night enjoyed them.

yes, that did feel good.

What didn't feel good was when my husband hired this guy who put in a bodaccous days work. What you would have expected from 2 guys. He came back the next day and worked just as hard. I had made a turkey and invited him to sit at our table and enjoy.

He didn't show up the next day, and my husband worked by himself. The day after when wally when to unlock the shed to get his tools out for the day, the locks had been cut and $10K worth of tools were gone. Thank God we were insured. That night before, I had thought I heard something in the backyard, but was 3/4's asleep.

The man sat at our table and ate with us. That's what pissed me off the worst.

I wished we had broken glass all over the back yards, and trip wires set up.

Can't afford a dog and really wouldn't want one on the streets anyway, too dangerous for the dog. What I really want is work.

Its strange but lately I've been standing on a street corner adjacent to the local FOX affiliate and club juggling while standing next to a sign saying that I have skills and need work and handing out resume's. Busking for work I consider it, a rationalization to prevent me from thinking I've degraded to the level of panhandling and hoping to air my plight on the 11 O'Clock news.

A couple of days ago one of those street corner panhandlers asked what my sign said.

When I told him I was in desperate need of work he said "I got a job. I have this." and he held up his cardboard sign.

Then he said, "But I've worked enough, now I'm going to get as drunk as ten bears."

Since then I've been thinking seriously about panhandling. After all if your ambition is to garner enough money to get drunk as ten bears--it has made me realize that his success comes far easier than my fruitless attempts at finding work.

So perhaps I need a small dog that does tricks.

Rap

You know how violin players will play down in the subway, or on the corner, case open and people putting money in it? I've seen people stop to listen for a minute before putting money in, others drop in their coins/dollars while walking by.
I consider these people providing a service. Hearing them brings beauty to those around them, can change moods, or just provide a momentary distraction. They're doing something for their money, not just standing around.

cool!