Pet Peeve -- Rude Panhandlers

I was on my way to meet some friends for dinner tonight when I was approached by a panhandler. I don't remember if I just ignored him or waved him away, but he started to taunt me and then dropped a few F-bombs. I was already a few yards away, but when the F-bombs dropped, I turned around and said, "Excuse me? Why don't you get a job?" He continued on with his tirade and added racial slurs to his rendition of F-bombs.

Another instance a couple years ago ... leaving the office on a cold winter evening, a young man stopped me and my co-workers right outside the building and asked if we could spare him a dollar for some ice cream. We said sorry and walked on when he yelled out, "Might as well, you're all kind of fat anyway!" Huh?

Now, why would these able bodied men think that insulting me or hurling obscenities would make me change my mind and make me want to open my wallet for them? They're as able as any to carry a mop or broom or ask, "Would you like fries with that?"

Just a few weeks ago, I was coming back to the office, when I saw a heavy-set man standing in front of Temple Square carrying a cardboard sign indicating that he is hungry and homeless, talking loudly into his cell phone. I'm recalling my memories of the beggars I encountered in the streets of Indonesia, none of them were fat ... or talking into a cell phone (which by the way was fancier than the one I currently own).

I'm all about helping those truly in need. In addition to paying tithes and offerings to my church, I budget a certain amount of money to give to various charities each year. However, I REFUSE to enable these panhandlers by giving them money for nothing! Seldom will they take food or offer for a job. They sit there at street corners and prey on the people visiting Temple Square. UGH! It just bugs me to no end!