Panhandlers at the Gas Station

[rbattelle]

The whole "I'm on my way to see [elderly relative] who is suffering with [tragic ailment] and wants to see [his/her] grandchildren but we ran out of gas" scam is getting more prevalent, and the story seems to be getting more complex. It must be pretty lucrative.



Has anyone else noticed this at the gas station? Good grief, in the last month I've been hit up twice.



Just this evening by a guy in a late model Expedition with the most complex story I've ever heard. Wife and 2 young girls in the truck. He's headed back to Georgia Tech where he's got an internship with Lockheed Martin (if that sounds inconsistent, it is. ) But they had transmission trouble and now can't afford gas. The guy even had a Georgia Tech student ID to "prove" it.



When I said, "No", he said, "if not for me, do it for those two sweet little girls!" I noticed all the other people he hit up offered some kind of vague excuse. Maybe he was insulted because I didn't bother making up an excuse?



The last 3 that have hit me up were all headed to GA. I must admit, I do find the variations and complexity of the stories fascinating.



-Ryan

 

[HOBrian]

I've been hit up twice in the last two months. Both have been coming out of the local Dunkin Donuts. I need money for gas, I'm strnaded and I need to get home in NY...



I can't imagine anyone doesn't have a credit card!!

 

[Dl5treez]

I spend enough time in foreign countries with legitimate hard times that when I get a panhandler all they get from me is a story about how good they have it here and how crappy it really could be for them... . they usually get bored about 30 seconds into my rant and walk away.

 

[JLEONARD]

I got it at Lowe's a couple of times. Last time was a few months ago. I went in and talked to the store manager. He went outside to get them to move on.

 

[EWalshak]

Ive been hit up twice. Not recently though. I know better now. From now on I just give them an abrupt NO! The stories are so complex it isnt funny. Always with a sense of urgency. Makes you wonder if they are that creative why they cant come up with a means to work for a living.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I didn't know Lockheed Martin was in GA I do know they are here in FL. But don't tell anyone.

There just some people that want someone else pay their way so they don't have to use their own money.

And the way the is economy there are a lot of panhandlers out there.

 

[Dl5treez]

Lazy people bred by a society (government) that allows them to be lazy and get away with it.



I don't mind helping the truly down on their luck who just need a lift, but a guy just can't tell who's who anymore.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Drop fuel and its every station you go to. I got a kick out of the stories one day it was this the next it was this. As you said tell them no and they get P O and want to fight. I always pulled out a bic lighter and pulled the vapor recovery hose off an enveloped them in fumes and ask what will it be well done or extra crispy. I kind of miss all the BS that people come up with and how stuiped some are to belive it

 

[rbattelle]

I don't mind helping the truly down on their luck who just need a lift, but a guy just can't tell who's who anymore.

I agree with you.



I told my wife she's not allowed to go to the gas station anymore. Too easy for these leeches to prey on women and children.



Missouri, LM does have a presence in GA, I believe. I think they build F-22s there. So his story was loosely plausible. But it was readily apparent to me that he had loaded his wife and kids in the car and headed to the gas station to see if he could fill his tank for free.



Bignasty - well, now I have an excuse to carry a lighter!



-Ryan

 

[jgillott]

Monday afternoon at our local Get-Go, I had an older gentleman of all things, call me literally every name in the book and then some that I haven't heard before, when I didn't give him what he wanted. It's amazing the lack of tact, personal pride, and/or good old common sense that is going around with these people.



I'm sort of proud of myself though..... for the first time in my life I just stood there and let him make a fool of himself, not saying a word. When he gave up, I simply said "Have a Nice Day" and drove off. Nothing like killing them with kindness. :-laf

 

[rbattelle]

in foreign countries with legitimate hard times

Monday afternoon at our local Get-Go, I had an older gentleman of all things, call me literally every name in the book and then some that I haven't heard before, when I didn't give him what he wanted.

Did the guy want gas, or cash? I mean, did he have a car? Only in America can you own a car and claim to be poor.



-Ryan

 

[Dl5treez]

Did the guy want gas, or cash? I mean, did he have a car? Only in America can you own a car and claim to be poor.



-Ryan

Haha, exactly!



There are people in Brazil living less than a five minute drive from a Ferrari dealership that don't have electricity, and that is a top 10 economic country of the world... . homeless people in the U. S. are about five steps above homeless poor people other places.

 

[jgillott]

Did the guy want gas, or cash? I mean, did he have a car? Only in America can you own a car and claim to be poor.



-Ryan

He was at the pump across the island from me with a newer Ford Escape. He asked me if I would top of his tank before I shut down the pump I was using. I've never heard of anything like that before.

 

[JLEONARD]

 was at the pump across the island from me with a newer Ford Escape. He asked me if I would top of his tank before I shut down the pump I was using. I've never heard of anything like that before.

Wow that's pretty ballsy. I'm not sure I'd be able to maintain my cool if someone pulled that on me.

 

[LBARTLETT]

I was recently at a station near Austin Texas and saw a new one, this guy had his own gas can and would approach people filling their cars and ask them to put some in his can. Then he'd go put it in his van



a younger guy, looked like a hippie from the 60's



Glad I was at the diesel island so I didn't have to tell him to go sell the metal hanging through his lips, nose, eyebrows and ears, at scrap meatal prices he could have filled up several times

 

[fox]

I think I would just tell these leaches that I was considering beating the snot out of them and taking thier gas, and laugh as I watched them walk away!



Anyone in this country can work if they want to. May not be the ideal job but it pays $

 

[rbattelle]

He was at the pump across the island from me with a newer Ford Escape. He asked me if I would top of his tank before I shut down the pump I was using. I've never heard of anything like that before.

What? You've got to be kidding. What was this guy's angle?



A few weeks ago I was approached by a younger woman, maybe 25ish, loaded with tattoos and piercings and some really strange hair coloring. She gives me the usual, "I'm trying to get to Georgia and I ran out of gas and we're just asking everyone if they can help us out a little bit... "



She was driving a late model Honda Civic, newer than the Civic I drive to work every morning.



Good grief, you could sell the car and have bus fair anywhere in the country for a couple years!



-Ryan

 

[jgillott]

What? You've got to be kidding. What was this guy's angle?



A few weeks ago I was approached by a younger woman, maybe 25ish, loaded with tattoos and piercings and some really strange hair coloring. She gives me the usual, "I'm trying to get to Georgia and I ran out of gas and we're just asking everyone if they can help us out a little bit... "



She was driving a late model Honda Civic, newer than the Civic I drive to work every morning.



Good grief, you could sell the car and have bus fair anywhere in the country for a couple years!



-Ryan

I wish I could say that he had an angle, but he really didn't. He just flat out asked me to fill his tank. I thought he was joking until he got so mad.



Your run in with that young person is sad but not surprising to me. I don't consider myself old by any means, but I remember having to work my rear off to earn the little bit I had when I was younger. The kids now are given so much either by their families or by buying the latest and greatest on credit, that they have no concept of what it means to be responsible for their own welfare. That girl probably wasn't the least bit ashamed to be asking you.

 

[SRath]

I spend enough time in foreign countries with legitimate hard times that when I get a panhandler all they get from me is a story about how good they have it here and how crappy it really could be for them... . they usually get bored about 30 seconds into my rant and walk away.

I like that. Truth is truth.



I stopped once on the third day of seeing the same guy with a sign saying "will work for food" on the corner near where I parked my rig after work.



I told him to hop in and we'd hit Perkins down the street and and I'd buy him lunch. No work or strings attached, and I was serious.



He said he wasn't hungry and just give him money instead. I drove on, curiosity fully satisfied.

 

[HBarlow]

I was amazed at all the homeless living in beat up old cars hanging around the Flying Js when I was transporting and on some occasions, young attractive women working the parking lots hitting up or selling to the truckers.

Many Americans live their lives without being aware of that underclass out there who choose not to work.