Chit Chat
This day is flying by and there is a million things I want to do. I never seem to have enough hours in my day. I slept late and then got up, turned on the TV, checked my email, Wrote a letter, checked the blogs etc. Finally I decided I better motivate myself and did some laundry. I got one load done and another in when I realized I needed to run to the store. I know a lot of people boycott Walmart but it is still my store of choice when it comes to buying odds and ends, because like it or not they are just plain cheaper on there prices. I had the afternoon to myself so I strolled up and down the isles taking my time and looked around.
I found a storage container just the right size to use for my upcoming trip to Gettysburg. I plan on putting things like paper plates silver ware (the plastic kind) a spatula matches, Aluminum foil and that kind of stuff in there. I am bad to throw things into bags, and then when it is time to use them I can't find them. I hope this organizes me.
I also bought a new knife for paring. I probably have a dozen but I haven't bought a new one in a long time so it was an impulse buy. Once in awhile we just have to have something for no reason. I also bought a new house plantto kill for the living room.
Other than that I just got odds and ends. As I was putting my things into
my car an elderly man approached me. He quickly told me he was not looking for a ride, but claimed he had just got off the bus (the station is about a half mile away)and that they had told him there was a shelter with in walking distance. He went on to say he was homeless. I told him no there was not a shelter nearby, and I suggested he go over to the end of the parking lot where there is a drop off shed for one of the local thrift stores. I explained to him perhaps they could help him since some usually is there. He started to ask me another question but I cut him short telling him that was all the help I could give him. Got in my car and closed the door.
Rude? Heartless? Maybe, but I have heard this EXACT same story by other people in this same Walmart before. It really irritated me, because I know it is a scam. They are just trying to get people to give them money. With this in mind I drove up the front entrance of the building where I saw an employee going in. When I told him what had happened he told me they already knew about the man. Since I had my window down I could hear what he said to the lady at the door checking bags....Are you ready for this
He told her I was RATTING OUT the old man in the parking lot..EXCUSE ME! RATTING OUT? I believe I was reporting someone who was clearly stopping customers and harassing them. There are big signs all over the parking lot that states NO SOLISTING OF ANY KIND. I think this means trying to get people to feel sorry for you and hoping you will give them a hand out.
Now mind you I could have very well gave the man a dollar and went on my way. I wouldn't have missed it, but the point is if he really was down and out and needing to find a local shelter why didn't he simply go inside and ask for a phone book. He could have got the number of several places in our area that would help him. Heck they probably would have even come to pick him up. No phone you say? Well I am sure the walmart store manager would have called for him. Also just for the record, there is a grocery store, two chain store hardware stores a large buffet restaurant and several small stores all in the strip shop with Walmart..
It makes me wonder just how much money he made today.
To top it off as I was sitting at the light waiting to leave. Another guy was standing there with a sign that said HOMELESS HELP PLEASE...
What part of help your self and get a job don't people get..GEEZE!
*Note* I am not making light of those in our country who truly are homeless and need real help. It is these men (and women) like I met today who try and scam others that make me angry. It really does give those in real need a bad reputation and causes people as myself to not want to deal with a person who is down and out. This makes me sad because the next time someone might really need my help and I would turn a deaf ear because of these people.
I found a storage container just the right size to use for my upcoming trip to Gettysburg. I plan on putting things like paper plates silver ware (the plastic kind) a spatula matches, Aluminum foil and that kind of stuff in there. I am bad to throw things into bags, and then when it is time to use them I can't find them. I hope this organizes me.
I also bought a new knife for paring. I probably have a dozen but I haven't bought a new one in a long time so it was an impulse buy. Once in awhile we just have to have something for no reason. I also bought a new house plant
Other than that I just got odds and ends. As I was putting my things into
my car an elderly man approached me. He quickly told me he was not looking for a ride, but claimed he had just got off the bus (the station is about a half mile away)and that they had told him there was a shelter with in walking distance. He went on to say he was homeless. I told him no there was not a shelter nearby, and I suggested he go over to the end of the parking lot where there is a drop off shed for one of the local thrift stores. I explained to him perhaps they could help him since some usually is there. He started to ask me another question but I cut him short telling him that was all the help I could give him. Got in my car and closed the door.
Rude? Heartless? Maybe, but I have heard this EXACT same story by other people in this same Walmart before. It really irritated me, because I know it is a scam. They are just trying to get people to give them money. With this in mind I drove up the front entrance of the building where I saw an employee going in. When I told him what had happened he told me they already knew about the man. Since I had my window down I could hear what he said to the lady at the door checking bags....Are you ready for this
He told her I was RATTING OUT the old man in the parking lot..EXCUSE ME! RATTING OUT? I believe I was reporting someone who was clearly stopping customers and harassing them. There are big signs all over the parking lot that states NO SOLISTING OF ANY KIND. I think this means trying to get people to feel sorry for you and hoping you will give them a hand out.
Now mind you I could have very well gave the man a dollar and went on my way. I wouldn't have missed it, but the point is if he really was down and out and needing to find a local shelter why didn't he simply go inside and ask for a phone book. He could have got the number of several places in our area that would help him. Heck they probably would have even come to pick him up. No phone you say? Well I am sure the walmart store manager would have called for him. Also just for the record, there is a grocery store, two chain store hardware stores a large buffet restaurant and several small stores all in the strip shop with Walmart..
It makes me wonder just how much money he made today.
To top it off as I was sitting at the light waiting to leave. Another guy was standing there with a sign that said HOMELESS HELP PLEASE...
What part of help your self and get a job don't people get..GEEZE!
*Note* I am not making light of those in our country who truly are homeless and need real help. It is these men (and women) like I met today who try and scam others that make me angry. It really does give those in real need a bad reputation and causes people as myself to not want to deal with a person who is down and out. This makes me sad because the next time someone might really need my help and I would turn a deaf ear because of these people.
Labels: Chit Chat, On The Home Front, Rants
posted by Patty at
Thursday, September 17, 2009
7 Comments:
I'm with you. Unsolicited approaches by strangers is not a good thing. There are people in the businesses that could help them. I had a woman in a lot come up and tell me her car broke down on the freeway a mile away and she had her babies in the car and needed cash. I told her "you left your babies in the car in 105 degree weather?" She blinked. "How old are they?" I asked. She blinked. I saw her several times in the lot doing the same thing. I ended up narc'ing on her at the store whose lot she was trolling. Another time, on the way home from work every day I saw a man on the off ramp of the freeway with a homeless sign. One day, he changed his tune and got a homeless vet sign and sat in a wheelchair. A few weeks later, he was on another off ramp on his feet again and out of the fatigues and wearing street clothes like a business man with a "businessman out of work" sign. Jeez! You did the right thing--a woman alone should always guard herself like she's the Queen Mother!
No one can be sure of these homeless people. They could be out panhandling to receive money to buy booze of drugs.
I give to charity that can help these people.
As for walmart. I'm not a big fan but it real the only place to get things.
I use to get up set if I didn't complete my goals or my to do list. Now oh well.
Coffee is on.
I agree with you. Furthermore, not only are many of these people fakes, some of them are dangerous.
The really sad thing about this is that it makes us all very leery of everyone so those people who are truly in need get stuck in with the people who just want to play on other people's sympathies.
I think you did the right thing and you weren't ratting anyone; the store manager should have gone out and taken care of the problem rather than know that someone was out there scaring customers and doing nothing about it.
I did the same thing. Older lady who you could obviously tell drank a lot asked me for a ride to her trailer park. I said I was going the other way. She's the same one who walked up to me and asked me for a cigarette. You just get tired of it after awhile. I'm blogging again. Can you tell? ;o)
Hello Patty, I stumbled upon your blog thru "Cute and Cool" blogs as I am also on the side bar. I enjoy reading what people have to say and I agree with your post. If a homeless person asks me for money because they are hungry, I tell them I will buy them a burger or something and every single time...they refused. It's hard deciding who to believe. And yes...I spend way too much time on here...lol
tootles,
bunny
hi patty....i have the same problem. living in the city, people are looking for handouts everywhere. i give a lot to charities but you just can't be sure of street people approaching you. i avoid certain areas because as soon as you start parking, someone shows up to "help" you and then expects a handout. they prey on your guilt and i just don't like it. i really have no trouble saying NO!
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