Beggars can be choosers

By adamg on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 9:44am

Spare Change Guy probably should have chosen a better place to ask for money than a march by people asking for money. Eeka, who forwarded this photo, reports SCG wasn't having much luck this morning.

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Comments

BEWARE OF THIS GUY

By anon on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 11:44am.

Years ago this same guy asked me for money- I gave him a dollar and he was acting friendly, asking me some questions, and then launched into some extremely sexually explicit questions/suggestions.

I'll never forget his face, as I was rather shaken up by it at the time.

While we must have compassion for the homeless and mentally ill, I urge women in particular to be cautious- you never know what forms the mental illness could take and don't want to put yourself in danger if someone is a sexual predator.

Beware of the sky?

By SwirlyGrrl on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 1:36pm.

Is it falling?

Hmm ... following the spare change guy link and posting everywhere - even in year old threads. Interesting.

I'm not saying that I doubt your story - Adam posted something about similar warnings a while a go. You really don't have to anonymously post your warnings on every thread ever at UHub - in fact, it is better that you don't. Pseudonymously post them once and we will get the point. Way less stalkerish that way.

Good advice in general but...

By eekanotloggedin on Sun, 05/03/2009 - 1:25pm.

...there's a lot of research showing that people with obvious/outward signs of mental illness are way more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. When we see people muttering incoherent stuff or sleeping on benches, our discomfort should really be directed at making sure no one robs or beats them.

There isn't a lot of overlap between presenting as disheveled/disinhibited and following through on violent and/or sex offenses. The profile of sex offenders and violent offenders includes having great social skills and being able to gain trust and affection.

Sure, a lot of people with frontal lobe dysfunction (whether from alcohol, schizophrenia, brain injury, whathaveyou) will say dirty things to people, and it's appropriate to feel grossed-out and violated, and it's wrong of them to do it, but most people who act this way aren't going to go beyond that. A lot of them could use a sandwich and a warm jacket though.

It is comforting to hear

By anon on Mon, 05/04/2009 - 11:10am.

It is comforting to hear that this type of dysfunction does not normally proceed to actual violent sex offenses- thank you for the information.

At the same time I feel it is fair to post warning's about John's behavior. As you say, one feels "violated" by an unexpected barrage of sexually explicit material, after he has "gained trust" by starting off with some nice innocent small talk.

I would not want my sister, daughter, or girlfriends to have one of these exchanges with him- even if it would not lead to an actual assault- I would at least like women to know about this tendency, and then they can decide whether they want to chat with John or keep walking.

Giving people money...

By mmennonno on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 3:45pm.

...does not = compassion.

Just so you know.