A coworker and I stopped in for lunch at the Luby's on I45 and West Greens and on the way out two women stop me in the foyer area. I see the woman rolling a handful of pennies then she goes into a spiel about being out of work and her disability paperwork not complete yet, blah blah. I think she is going to ask for spare change or a dollar but no, she motions to her 50 lb overweight daughter and asks if I would buy them lunch. I say no I have no cash and she says no problem, I can follow the two of them back inside and pay with my bank card. I tell her no way and she moves on to the next person.

Neither women appeared to have skipped any meals recently and even if I wanted to help it would have cost a minimum of $20 to feed 2 people at Luby's.

Is there no shame left in the world? If you were truly hungry and didn't have money to eat wouldn't you panhandle in front of McDonalds for dollar menu food and at least look like you need to eat.

sometimes you really need a LuAnn!

[This message has been edited by Diggity (edited 8/15/2012 2:57p).]

Should've said you would only buy one meal and that they would have to fight to the death in order to win the satisfaction of a meal at Luby's.

You should try ignoring them and continue to walk away.

I was recently approached in the damned grocery store.

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sometimes you really need a LuAnn!

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I always liked Wyatts better.

There's one dude at Studemont and I-10 that just walks up and asks for money, no sign or anything...I appreciate his bluntness.

But I still ignore him...

Square fish is sheet!!

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There's one dude at Studemont and I-10 that just walks up and asks for money, no sign or anything...I appreciate his bluntness.

But I still ignore him...

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The one who looks like Chuck Norris' weakling crackhead brother? I heckle that MF'er just about every time I pass him and he has flicked me off at least twice.

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that just walks up and asks for money, no sign or anything...I appreciate his bluntness.

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That's certainly better than the Canadians who approach you when you're traveling on foot with the classic smooth intro: "Scuse me can i talk to you for a minute? I ain't asking for anything, I just wanna talk."

Like they want to discuss the latest book they read or something.

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The one who looks like Chuck Norris' weakling crackhead brother? I heckle that MF'er just about every time I pass him and he has flicked me off at least twice

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Yup, that's him...he really doesn't say anything though, just uses hand motions...

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Is there no shame left in the world?

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They start out young learning that there is no shame in begging.

I was with my nephews at IT'z awhile back (it's like a Chucky Cheeze on Crack) and two sets of kids came up to me asking if I would give them some tickets. They couldn't beg for tokens because all the games use game cards, which I'm so glad most arcades do that now for that very reason.

After saying no, they didn't even sulk or anything, they just went on and played more games. It's been taught to them as something normal.

When I was walking downtown I told one dude I didn't have any cash...his response, "there are ATMs everywhere".

YES...I'll take you to an ATM...

I have an urge to run a study on the average rate of return for a beggar that spends time telling some annoying story vs the guy that just asks for money flat out. Hopefully someone has already done it though.

I almost always support the ones that ask for money for beer. Honesty should be rewarded.

I also have a soft spot for bums with dogs, I really hope they use some of the money for dog food.

I wonder what kind of bank I could make if I begged at a prime intersection clean shaven in a suit with a professionally made sign.

I have a buddy that just asks them for money, sometimes even BEFORE they ask him.

Always blows their minds one way or the other. He's never gotten any money, so he never gives any money. Seems like flawless logic to me.

Faking a disability is the best. I read an article about a guy that faked being retarded for years hanging out begging for change in some downtown area and was actually living in a nice apartment and driving a nice car outside the city.

I also wonder if a van or something drops them all off in the AM and picks them up in the PM...the ones in the Heights are always the same people in the same spot

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I also wonder if a van or something drops them all off in the AM and picks them up in the PM...the ones in the Heights are always the same people in the same spot

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My understanding is that there is a heirachy for positions and begging outside your area can results in getting your ass kicked.

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I also have a soft spot for bums with dogs, I really hope they use some of the money for dog food.

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Cops are more likely to leave bums alone when they have dogs, that's why they have them.

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I also have a soft spot for bums with dogs, I really hope they use some of the money for dog food.

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Patrick Bateman strongly disagrees with you.

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Faking a disability is the best. I read an article about a guy that faked being retarded for years hanging out begging for change in some downtown area and was actually living in a nice apartment and driving a nice car outside the city.

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There a squirly little black dude who hobbles (almost looks like he's dancing) around in a big black walking boot at North Main and 45 pretending to be crippled but it is the worst acting I have ever seen.

[This message has been edited by North Mayne (edited 8/15/2012 4:04p).]

There is a rather large woman that totes a rolling cooler and sits at Hwy 290/34th st. with a sign that says she's pregnant. I'm going to call the Guinness book of world records to tell them she has the longest human gestational period. She's been "pregnant" for about a year and a half.

I have seen that "pregnant" lady recently too, now that you mention it that baby has been in there for a while. I was driving by with my 3 year old son and she came up to the window smiling. My son smiled back and waved and said "daddy is she my friend?"


[This message has been edited by bonfarr (edited 8/15/2012 4:18p).]

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I was recently approached in the damned grocery store.

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Won't even go to the randalls on louisiana anymore because of this. I expect it near my apt and on the streets of houston, but not while I'm ****ing grocery shopping

They got a little campsite at the on ramp to I-10 West, at the Blalock/echo lane and I-10 intersection. North side, so the village cops don't mess with them I guess and HPD does not care.

Surprises me every time I still see them there. They have been camped out for months.

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My understanding is that there is a heirachy for positions and begging outside your area can results in getting your ass kicked.

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Yep...I've experienced said ass kicking. I think it's controlled by the local gangsters/dealers too. At 45 and North Main I once saw a gangsta lookin dude pull up in his gangsta car, get out and start beating the **** out of a beggar I hadn't seen before. Nothing appeared to provoke it other than the beggar dude probably being at the wrong intersection at the wrong time. I've also witnessed what can only be described as "shift changes" on numerous occasions.

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I think it's controlled by the local gangsters/dealers too.

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They let the beggars bum all day and then tax em?

Seems pretty smart to me

Most of the beggars are clientele of the dealers, no surprise that some have a strong relationship.

Gangbangers will also go beat the hell out of bums for no reason. Or maybe for practice. It's basically consequence-free recreational violence for them.

Guess maybe they might take what little cash the bums have managed to accumulate.

[This message has been edited by Harry Lime (edited 8/15/2012 5:25p).]

There is a troll colony of panhandlers / meth-heads that live under the Heights / Yale bayou bridge just south of I-10. The recent rain may have washed some of their camp away but last year during the drought they had sofas and other furniture set up. If you look off to the right on Heights you can see the trail that goes off the street and under the bridge.

Also have observed shift change as described above.

About a year ago around 10:30 am I saw a dude fly past me going south on Yale on a POS mountain bike. Dude was riding like he was be chased by a swarm of bees. Looked closer and he had some lady's snake skin designer hand bag under one arm. Dude rides off the street and retreats under the bayou bridge. My guess is that he broke into a car at the post office or anytime fitness on Yale and 11th.

Recently I have encountered panhandlers in the downtown tunnels. Guess they like the ac this time of year.

There are lots of homeless dudes that seem to like camping out right where Richmond hits Main. I don't ever seen them panhandling in that area though.

Not long ago I pulled up to the Valero at I10 and Shepherd and parked. Getting out of my car I look over and see a guy squatting next to the Cadillac Bar dumpster just in time to see him drop a deuce. I go inside and and buy my beer and Mega Millions ticket and I see the sheeter standing on the Valero sidewalk accepting what looked like a take out meal from a Cadillac Bar waiter.