Should you give your phone number to panhandlers?

This question might be totally unnecessary, but I’m asking anyway... mostly just hoping I might find at least one positive response out there.

Would you EVER actually give your cell phone number to a panhandler you just helped out (maybe you gave them some cash, or picked up something for them at a convenience store or whatever)?

Imagine this: the person asks for your number so they can call you later to ask for specific things they need—like diapers, groceries, or just anything else—and then suggests meeting up somewhere in Washington, D.C., even if you don't even live near the city!

And then, maybe because you're feeling compassionate or just moved by seeing them in such a tough spot, you actually go ahead and give them your number... only to spend the next fifteen minutes laughing at yourself for being so naive and realizing there are a million better ways to help than handing out your personal contact info. So... yeah, I guess I'm just asking you all.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll be totally blindsided the next time you run into him. For all we know, he might suddenly start sparkling like a diamond and turn out to be this incredibly cultured, highly educated, super wealthy guy who just happened to have a really bad day... you know, the kind of day where his luck ran out because he bumped into you... maybe the whole thing will transform into one of those gorgeous fairy tales you'll tell your grandkids, passed down through generations until it becomes a legend told all over the States...🙂
Honestly, I’d probably hand over my number if the guy could actually convince me he isn't seeing anyone else... though, let's be real, he probably won't be calling me every single day since he doesn't exactly have the funds for it... even though, based on how he talks, it sounds like some sort of verbal non-aggression pact where he's basically saying, "I'll give you a ring whenever I'm feeling the itch"...🤷

Sam Lee2 said:Maybe you'll be surprised next time you run into him. Who knows, maybe he'll shine like a diamond and turn out to be this super cultured, well-educated, and incredibly wealthy guy who just happened to have an off day... except for running into you. Maybe it'll all turn into one of those beautiful fairy tales you tell your grandkids, and it'll be passed down through generations (all over the world, too)...🙂
I guess I might give my number if someone could actually convince me they weren't seeing anyone else... though honestly, it doesn't sound like they'd be calling me every day since there's no reason to. Based on how it went, it sounds more like some kind of verbal agreement where it's just "I'll call you when I need something"...🤷

It’s pretty unlikely to turn into a romance because, well, the woman asked for my number and I'm not a lesbian, so... yeah, probably not happening. 🙂 Plus, she's way too old for me. 🙂)

My folks actually laughed at me when I told them what happened! My boyfriend got upset with me too; he thinks I'm just too nice and way too naive for my own good!

I don't think she was lying, though, because she didn't ask me for money directly. She just pulled me into the store to ask me to buy her some Nestlé, and since I didn't have the cash on me to buy that for her, I just picked up some baby wipes instead. She asked for my number and I didn't give it to her, mostly because I'm not from NYC and I just headed out.

I felt kind of bad about it along the way, since I'm in NYC quite often to see my boyfriend, so I thought to myself... maybe I should have just given it to her. Then, about 10 minutes later, I ran right into her again! So, I gave it to her. Honestly, instead of just taking her number, I should have maybe gotten her address so I could send her something from a friend of mine (my friend also has a baby).

But, I have to say, I started liking her a little less when she told me at our goodbye that I should help her out by buying diapers next time we meet. Like, seriously? I'm a college student, I barely have enough $27 for diapers. How am I supposed to 😁

Some guy tried to pull the same scam on me. He’s acting all helpless, like, "Oh, please help this poor guy, throw a couple of bucks my way."

So, naturally, I lost it and was like: "Buddy, if you're blind, how do you even know I'm young?"

He totally froze up right there, so I just gave him the finger and sent him on his way. If nobody had been around, I probably would've absolutely leveled him. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Jerry Brown3 said:I had this guy try to pull the same trick on me once. He was totally acting like he was blind and said to me, "Miss, could you help a poor blind man out? Could you spare a few dollars?"

So, naturally, I lost it and told him, "Buddy, if you're actually blind, how do you even know I'm a young woman?"

Hahaha! That’s such a great way to frame the question.🙂 I guess it probably would have taken me about half an hour to realize what was happening myself, though. 🙂

I remember my college professor in NYC once ran into this guy walking around on crutches, begging for money. She just looked at him and said, "I'll give you $3.25 if you can actually straighten those legs!" So, he straightened them, she gave him the $3.25, and that was that. 🙂

The guy made a pretty solid point... you’re being way too nice... and we all know how things ended for Jesus 😁

So, here’s what you’re looking at:
A) You call her back, buy her a pack of Pampers, and just sit there waiting for the bill for her kid's preschool tuition to hit your inbox...
B) You give her a ring and explain that you're also completely broke.
C) You stop answering calls from numbers you don't recognize altogether.

Keep in mind that options B and C are basically just different flavors of damage control. There's a decent chance this lady—who sounds like she's living on nothing but vibes and handouts—is going to be even more offended by option B than she would be by option C, but there's an equally high probability she'll just keep blowing up your phone until you finally pick up...

If you're a total altruist like me, you might be better off just ignoring her entirely, because let's face it, option A is probably more likely to happen to you than option B. Personally, though, I’d probably just take the call, because I don't have the mental stamina to deal with unknown callers, and I'd try to shut the whole thing down before she manages to drain me dry... 😁

Sam Lee2 said:Well, you put it pretty nicely... maybe a little too nice... given how things ended for Jesus 😁

So, here are your options:
A) Reach out, buy her some diapers, and then just sit there waiting for the call about paying the daycare tuition...
B) Get in touch and just explain that you're broke too.
C) Just stop answering calls from unknown numbers altogether.

I guess you could look at B and C as two different ways of doing damage control. There’s a decent chance she might be more annoyed by option B than if you went with C, but there's also an equal chance she'll just keep calling until you finally pick up...

If you're a leftist like me, it might be better to just stay silent, because option A feels way more likely to happen than option B. Though, personally, I think I'd answer, mostly because I don't have the patience for ignoring unknown callers and I'd try to end the conversation before she completely drains me...😁

I didn't used to answer unknown numbers, but quite often people I actually know would call me from a landline or someone else's cell phone, so I usually pick up. But I always check the area code first... if I see a number starting with a weird prefix...🙂

My first thought was to just pick up and get her address. Because honestly, what am I going to do, drive all the way into NYC just to meet her near Importante? Not really happening...🙂

The last resort—and a lot of people seem to agree on this one—is to answer and just say, "Sorry, you have the wrong person." Or maybe tell her the girl who had this number sold it to me, just so I don't feel like I'm lying to the woman...😁😁😁

I definitely know where my limit is, and I really wouldn't want to act like Catholic Charities right now. I had three different people begging me for money that same day, so I decided I should probably cut back on my solo trips downtown.😁

Never giving anything to beggars—they're just disrespectful little punks

I was walking by the other day and he hits me with the "Got any spare change?!" line. As if I'm just supposed to hand over my cash right there under a streetlamp...👎

There isn't even a snowball's chance in hell, not even if you squinted really hard at it.

I'm certainly not handing them any money, let alone my phone number.

🤣
No.

Good heavens, I truly believe I would! 🙈

I was once on a Greyhound bus, sitting in those back rows where there are only five seats. The bus was mostly empty, yet this vagrant sat right next to me.
In moments like that, my first instinct is to get off at the very next stop, but I decided to be brave and stay put. He told me I was beautiful and then started rambling about how he’d recently lost his job and was having a hard time, eventually asking if I’d let him use my phone to make a quick call. I was terrified; I nearly handed it over before stammering that I didn't have any money in my account. I managed to endure the rest of the ride and finally bolted when I could. 🙂

Robin Turner61 said:Oh man, I think I would too! 🙈

Come on, I'm definitely not the only one 😁😁😁

Sweetheart said:I was on the bus once and this homeless guy sat right next to me. I was in those back seats where there are only five, and the bus was pretty empty, but he chose to sit right by my side.
In moments like that, I usually just get off at the very next stop, but I tried to be brave and stayed put. He told me I was pretty and started venting about how he recently lost his job and things have been really tough, then asked if I could let him use my phone to make a quick call. I was honestly terrified—I almost handed him my phone, but I managed to stutter out that I didn't have any money in my account. I somehow just endured the rest of the ride and finally bolted when I could.

I really hate that. I can't stand people who sit right next to you and then start crowding your space or trying to talk to you, especially if they seem intoxicated. I guess the best thing we can do is exactly what you said—just hop off at the next stop and wait for the next bus.

I don't really carry a phone around. Actually, I have an old Apple sitting in a drawer that hasn't seen any action in quite a while.

I honestly don't know 😕 I mean, I usually make it a rule never to give my number out to people I don't know. 🤷 If anything, I'd probably just give him a fake one. 😬

Look, everyone has my number. Why shouldn't some random panhandler have it too?🤷

I mean, if I don't feel like picking up, I'm not picking up. End of story. It’s the same for a beggar as it is for anyone else!🤣

Richard Sanders7 said:I'm not really sure 😕 I mean, I don't usually hand out my number to people I don't know. 🤷 I'd probably just give them a fake one. 😬

To be honest, I don't typically give my number to strangers either 😁 But hey... I guess there's a first time for everything! 😁

slyfox8 said:This might be a redundant question—but I’m asking anyway, hoping against hope for at least one positive response.

Would you EVER give your cell number to a panhandler you just helped out (maybe gave them some cash or bought them something at a convenience store)?

Picture this: the person asks for your number so they can call you later to ask for more supplies—diapers, groceries, whatever—and wants to meet up in Chicago, even if you don't live anywhere near Chicago!

And then, being all soft-hearted and moved to tears, you actually give it to them... only to spend the next 15 minutes laughing at your own stupidity and realizing there were a million better ways to help without handing over your private info. Yeah... so, what do you guys think?

Yeah, no way in hell would I.

oh please, as if