Top 10 Ways to Turn Down a Panhandler

[Mballar]

I'm so tired of reading the same posts over and over again from people who claim to be so scared, annoyed, bothered or offended by the homeless in DT Dallas. So, I've provided this helpful guide to assist those who love to whine about the homeless/panhandlers. So, the next time you are approached by a panhandler for money, say the following:

10. "that's funny, I was going to ask you for a dollar."
9. "take a hike. . .we're in a recession."
8. "panhandling is against the law in Dallas. I know you don't want me to break the law."
7. "i don't have anything for you today"
6. "get a job"
5. "go away. . .i gave you money yesterday."
4. "i gave to the shelter, already."
3. "i don't have time."
2. "i don't think so, buddy."
1. nothing. and keep walking


I encourage other members to add their suggestions on how to deal with panhandlers. Please empower yourself with snappy comebacks for people approaching you to ask for things. But whatever you do, stop whining about it. Trust me, you'll feel better for it.

[MDE]

If no one had complained about pandhandling, Dallas wouldn't have passed a law and added enforcement to prevent it. Which means in visitors' eyes, downtown Dallas would continue to take a backseat to downtown Ft Worth. So their "whining" is more meaningful than your whining about their complaints.

[F4shionablecHa0s]

If no one had complained about pandhandling, Dallas wouldn't have passed a law and added enforcement to prevent it. Which means in visitors' eyes, downtown Dallas would continue to take a backseat to downtown Ft Worth. So their "whining" is more meaningful than your whining about their complaints.
Oh, yeah. That's worked FANTASTIC so far. :rolleyes:

[ericthegardener]

1. nothing. and keep walking


I use your number 1 suggestion 99% of the time and I never have a problem. The other 1% I just say "no" and keep walking. Seems to work well too.

I wish that the problem of homelessness didn't exist but I can't say that panhandlers have ever even risen to the level of minor annoyance with me.

[cowboyeagle05]

The iPhone ear buds method works for me cause all you have to do is nod your head no.

[incrediculous]

Try the preemptive ask. You see a panhandler about to approach you, and YOU ask them for a quarter first.

It blows their minds...

... and sometimes they give it to you.

[tamtagon]

I always just say "No Thank You", whatever the question or statement.

Do you have any spare change? No thank you. Sometimes I'll look to see if the miss matched refusal gets noticed.

Even when I sometimes get suckered into a long story by someone who doesn't appear to be about to ask for money, but maybe about to ask for directions... I'll just say Oh, No Thank You when I finally realize what's going on.

[monogodo]

I'm so tired of reading the same posts over and over again from people who claim to be so scared, annoyed, bothered or offended by the homeless in DT Dallas. So, I've provided this helpful guide to assist those who love to whine about the homeless/panhandlers. So, the next time you are approached by a panhandler for money, say the following:

10. "that's funny, I was going to ask you for a dollar."
9. "take a hike. . .we're in a recession."
8. "panhandling is against the law in Dallas. I know you don't want me to break the law."
7. "i don't have anything for you today"
6. "get a job"
5. "go away. . .i gave you money yesterday."
4. "i gave to the shelter, already."
3. "i don't have time."
2. "i don't think so, buddy."
1. nothing. and keep walking


I encourage other members to add their suggestions on how to deal with panhandlers. Please empower yourself with snappy comebacks for people approaching you to ask for things. But whatever you do, stop whining about it. Trust me, you'll feel better for it.

10. I've considered a variation of this, but never used it.
9, 6, & 2 seem needlessly rude to me.
8. They don't care.
7. Implies that you might have something for them at a later date, thus encouraging them to ask you again.
5. Is false, in my case, as I never give panhandlers money, and it's kinda rude, too.
4. may or may not be true, and is irrelevant to the panhandler's current need. If this response it taken, I'd recommend modifying it to "I gave to X shelter, they can help you."
3. you had time to reply, which doesn't take that much less than digging change from one's pocket.
1. the best response listed.

I usually reply with either "no" or "I've got nothing." Since I rarely have cash or change on me, I'm not lying. They usually respond with "God bless you."

[Mballar]

Try the preemptive ask. You see a panhandler about to approach you, and YOU ask them for a quarter first.

It blows their minds...

... and sometimes they give it to you.
Yeah. I love this one. It's an alternative version to my number 10 suggestion, and as you stated, blows their minds. It really catches them off guard. ;)

[RayM]

My favorite is when they ask for change for bus fare. I ask them in return which route they plan to take or how much bus fare is.

I've never had anyone pass either of those tests.

[AeroD]

"No English."

[AndyIvey]

I gave at the office.

[cbr3]

I ask them if they know where I can get a job.

[ksig121]

I ask them if they've accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. They run like flies.

[trolleygirl]

I get asked all the time at the gas station on Dolphin between Samuell and I-30. As I'm pumping gas. After I have inserted my card into the slot.

My response, 99% of the time is, "Are you kidding me? Who the hell carries cash any more these days?"

To me, it just seems like a lost cause to panhandle in a poor/rough neighborhood.

[UrbanBiker]

I tell them "no, I'm not going to give you any money" which I think is a very honest answer.

[hamiltonpl]

There was a bum in Waco near Baylor who had an interesting gambit.

The first words out of his mouth on the street were, "Are you a racist?" In response the white Baylor student would say, "No, of course not." He would then have a line about being a pastor and his car being broken down on the way to church.

This same fellow came up to me three times in a month. He never remembered me. The second time I told him that he asked me that two weeks ago. He denied it of course, and then he left. The third time I just said "yes" to his original gambit. I never saw him again. He knew the jig was up.

[totheskies]

I work for a homeless ministry through my church, and have also worked for another non-profit called Search. The Search cards have the address, phone number and a simple map to the shelter.

If someone walks up and asks me for money, I hand them a card. If I don't have one on me, I just tell them about Search and where it's located. If they're serious about turning their life around, then they'll go and get some help.

[warlock55]

^ That's the best response yet.