Begging Cigarettes ?

Delancey

I have noticed how difficult it has become in the last couple of years to have a ciggie in a public place in peace without being hassled by complete strangers of all nationalities asking me if I have any to '' spare ''.
Dublin city is awful for this, especially at Luas stops , rail stations etc but from what I can see the problem is all over the country.

Now I have no problem giving a smoke to friends , family , colleagues , acquaintances , etc but I do get pissed off at strangers asking me for them. They now work out at well over 40 cent each and I am out of work at the moment so obviously money is tight for me.
I have/would never ask a stranger for a cigarette.

Just interested in other peoples views or experiences on this one.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Delancey

I also never give them out , as you said they are too pricey. I don't remember it always being like this ?
Have you noticed the guys with London accents always call you '' Squire '' ?

Kersmash

Never give em out to strangers, unless I'm pissed and in a good mood! If I was ever in the situation where I needed a fag badly, I'd offer to pay for one, none of this begging shíte.

NoDice

I wouldn't ask someone for a cig unless they were really close and knew that I'd give them the clothes off my back if I had to!

But I generally do always hand them out if asked. Especially to homeless people, usually offer them one or three.

On the topic of paying for someone's "spare" (hate that term, If I had 21 cigs then yes it's a spare) smoke, I think it's the strangest thing!!
Was walking home from the bus stop one day and a fella came over to me threw his bag on the ground and shouted "WAIT!!!", I panicked and let out a little yelp, he panicked because I started to walk faster, he shouted "MONEY!! I'll give you money!!!"

Needless to say it was all very confusing and I really needed a smoke after that. As did he. I gave him a cigarette.. I did not want his money.

Delancey

That is kind of you . I'm just ****ing sick of these beggars now.

P_1

Pretty fed up with it at this stage. Generally respond to 'have you got a spare smoke' with 'no, but i'll sell you one for a euro'. That tends to make them go away.

NoDice

Actually here's a very annoying story for you!

My friend and I went for dinner on Paddy's day followed by a few cocktails. We were having a really good evening after work. We went outside and started walking towards my house after paying for the meal. I started looking for my cigs in my bag (which happens to be like the grand canyon with a handle but filled with rubbish) but couldn't find them for ages so my friend said to me "Here girl do you want a cigarette?".

The second she said this a young, skanky looking girl walks up to us and says "I'll have a cigarette!" so she gave her one for fear of us getting beaten up! Her friends then surrounded us!!! No exaggeration!! All asking us one by one for a smoke!! She gave out four cigarettes before we finally worked up the courage to say no!

It was really very annoying.. :mad: I've never seen it that bad before..

bently

I have known a couple of people who have "GIVEN UP" Smoking, and the first couple of weeks they have bummed ciggies off me,when they are desperate,because they equate not buying ciggies with giving up,crafty buggers

tbaymusicman

bently wrote: »

I have known a couple of people who have "GIVEN UP" Smoking, and the first couple of weeks they have bummed ciggies off me,when they are desperate,because they equate not buying ciggies with giving up,crafty buggers

One of my friends did this and got away with out buying a pack for months clever git He is to genuine to give out too do cause when he did buy them he would always be willing to hand them out .Does anyone remember in the good days when we could smoke in a pub you would buy a round of beer then hand out a round of fags too

lord lucan

"Can i borrow a smoke?" When will i get it back?:mad:

Years ago i never had a problem with giving a stranger a smoke but with the cost of them now i don't go around handing them out willy nilly,only friends will get a smoke from me now.

Peter Abs

i think everybody gets upset when asked for a smoke, no matter who it is really, especially if money is seriously tight! but i mean... i've been guilty of askin strangers for a smoke, think of what its like to be compleeetely skint, not even 50 cent in ur pocket to offer to pay for a smoke and just dyin for one... you will do it... not coz ur a bad person.. just coz ur addicted ! thats kinda one of the effects of smokin on pple....

katiedale

Haha this thread just reminded me I charged a bloke €5 for a cig last Tues nite...I'm a baaad person!!

Jaxxy

lord lucan wrote: »

"Can i borrow a smoke?" When will i get it back?:mad:

Years ago i never had a problem with giving a stranger a smoke but with the cost of them now i don't go around handing them out willy nilly,only friends will get a smoke from me now.

This annoys me to no end! "Can I borrow a smoke?" BORROW a SMOKE!? A cigarette isn't something you LEND someone. I don't know why this irks me, it's just a turn of phrase, but it does.

And it took me years before I was able to actually say NO to someone who asked to borrow one of my smokes. I used to give them out to anyone who would ask, because I know how tough it can be if you're dying for one. But now I can't afford to do that. I'll even tell my "quitting" mates to F OFF when they try to "share" my fags with me on a night out. Buy your own, scroungers!

Nulty

I don't really have as much of a problem...

I smoke rollies and I get them from someone who works in the airline business so they're extra cheap (relatively speaking).Mostly when someone asks for one I can say "I only have rollies."

They either:
Can't roll
don't like rollies
aren't that arsed

Just in case they are none of these things, the key here is to act like your not going to hang around and wait for them to roll one. More often than not I get away with not giving them away.

One time a fella asked me for one outside Easons on O'Connell St. I had loads of bags and a smoke in my hand and took ages looking for my 'baci and assorted paraphanalia, in fact I took so long and went so slow that the guy just gave up and pissed off all grumpy and resentful.

:cool:

garrfunkel

The "I only have rollies" bit usually gets people to leave me alone, except occasionally in pubs where they will just take a little tobacco and a skin.

However, if I have normal cigarettes I usually will give one to someone who asks, depending on the amount I have left obviously. Usually its only to drunk or homeless people, never give them out to kids.

Best response to "Av ya any fags?" is "Yeah, loads" and keep walking. It seems to disorientate them long enough to let you get away.

Delancey

Nulty wrote: »

I don't really have as much of a problem...

I smoke rollies and I get them from someone who works in the airline business so they're extra cheap (relatively speaking).Mostly when someone asks for one I can say "I only have rollies."

They either:
Can't roll
don't like rollies
aren't that arsed

Just in case they are none of these things, the key here is to act like your not going to hang around and wait for them to roll one. More often than not I get away with not giving them away.

One time a fella asked me for one outside Easons on O'Connell St. I had loads of bags and a smoke in my hand and took ages looking for my 'baci and assorted paraphanalia, in fact I took so long and went so slow that the guy just gave up and pissed off all grumpy and resentful.

:cool:

Why not just tell him to **** off ?

mojesius

Really bugs me this. It's so bad in Dublin these days - everytime you go outside anywhere for one. I just say no instantly and if the person starts getting arsey I point out directions to the nearest shop.

More annoying is ex-smoker friends who ask for one when you're out for drinks. You give one away, soon enough they automatically go outside with you everytime you're having one with their hand out, apologising.

mojesius

mojesius wrote: »

You give one away, soon enough they automatically go outside with you everytime you're having one with their hand out, apologising.

heh this isn't just people that have quit, it's also the lowest of the low "Social" smokers. "Oh I'll get you back when I get a pack later"


I never ever ever give out smokes to people i don't know. One time I was walking past smyths toy store off jervis st and 2 knacks asked me for one and I just shook my head to say no...they called ME an "ignorant cúnt". If you look at someone asking for a smoke with a look of disdain and just say "no" they normally wont push it.

The worst thing you can do is make an excuse like "Oh I don't have many left" or some bollox. You don't have to explain yourselves to these bums, all this does it's makes you look like an easy target and they'll push the limits until they get one.

Chriskavo

All this begging is another reason to give the filthy habit. I woke up along time ago - sick of being a slave to that habit...outside pubs people sucking and puffing like their lives depended on it. Sad...pathetic. Give em up and be free once and for all.


Now where did I put those pesky fags.....

mojesius

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

The worst thing you can do is make an excuse like "Oh I don't have many left" or some bollox. You don't have to explain yourselves to these bums, all this does it's makes you look like an easy target and they'll push the limits until they get one.

Yup and I see fellow smokers constantly lying to cig beggars. I never lie to them - If more people just said 'no' firmly, this culture of scabbing/ thinking it's ok to call a stranger a 'scabby c*nt' wouldn't be as rampant.

mojesius

Chriskavo wrote: »

All this begging is another reason to give the filthy habit. I woke up along time ago - sick of being a slave to that habit...outside pubs people sucking and puffing like their lives depended on it. Sad...pathetic. Give em up and be free once and for all.


Now where did I put those pesky fags.....

Later this year, after the beer garden season, I'm done with them... they just taste so damn good.

Spook80

i usually give them out too but the ones that annoy me the most are when they ask ya for a spare smoke and then put it in a smoke box which already has a few in it like he's collecting them for later.:mad:

BigBenRoeth

I'm from Gorey so I don't get asked very often.
If it's a scabby looking skanger child then I give them a firm no,If it's a decent enough person I give them out.
The only time I ask a stranger for a fag would be when I'd be at some social event or some situation where I had no fags I would ask someone I had been speaking to but didn't particularly know for a smoke.

BigBenRoeth

I'm from Gorey so I don't get asked very often.
If it's a scabby looking skanger child then I give them a firm no,If it's a decent enough person I give them out.
The only time I ask a stranger for a fag would be when I'd be at some social event or some situation where I had no fags I would ask someone I had been speaking to but didn't particularly know for a smoke.

the_syco

I've gotten into the habit of saying "I don't smoke", even if I have to take the rollie out of my mouth to say it

lord lucan

Mr.S wrote: »

Or

"Sorry that was my last one" with a packet in your hand

I do that a lot!:D

Steodonn

I am guilty of this sometimes but only if I run out when out and realise that I don't have enough money.

If I have loads I give them out if someone asks me nicely. Best excuse if I don't want to is that I tell them I got it of some guy up there pointing aimlessly up the road works best in town as they go off desperately looking for a smoke

keepkeyyellow

I've only ever asked once while drunk and offered to pay, the nice woman gave it to me

And if ever anyone who isn't a friend asks me in college I insist they pay,

But I gave one to a homeless guy last week and he offered me hash..

misslt

I had a guy outside Easons on O'Connell street one day ask me for one

'can i have a fag'

'sorry, this is my last one'

'can I have a drag of that one'

'eh..no' *walks away*

Next thing yer man has a hold of my bag and jacket pulling me back! I was afraid of my sh*ite! Grabbed my bag and jacket off him and ran away. It was so scary!

GA361

I give them to friends without any bother. I've gotten into the habbit of saying that this is my last one. But if a stranger offers to give me money i'd just give it for free because of the geninuity.

fillefatale

I was waiting at the bottom of Grafton St. on a friday night for a friend, sitting down, passing the time smoking and got asked twice in less than 5m! Both by two dodgy looking fellas who hovered over me threateningly. After getting his fag one of them had the cheek to ask me for money for 'petrol' for his wife and baby who were stuck in the broken down car, thankfully my friend came along and he got ****ing pissed off when we wouldn't give him money for 'petrol'.

Thank god i smoke rollies most of the time because then they can't be bothered.

Killer_banana

I don't mind people asking me for fags as long as they're nice about it and don't take advantage of it. I've been asked by people a few times who basically demanded them and they're the sort of people who you're too afraid to refuse as well. One of my friends wouldn't roll for a stranger before and got slapped across the face.

There's a lot of 'homeless' people around Galway who'll ask for a fag and if you give them one they'll suddenly remember their brother/friend/cousin needs one too. I think if someone's nice enough to give you a fag then be thankful and leave them alone. Even if you can't afford them it doesn't give you the right to take as many as possible off the people who can afford them. Especially since most people can't afford them as often as before.

As for asking for fags, the majority of my friends don't mind lending me fags and I always pay them back, I feel terrible if I don't. As for asking strangers, I have on occasion when I'm really desperate but I do hate doing it and I don't mind them saying no, although some people are unnecessarily rude about it. I was once told I shouldn't smoke. Fair enough I look under eighteen but I still think it kind of hypocritical when you've got a fag hanging out of your mouth.

etoilerose

It's really annoying when people beg for a smoke..so I usually just say "Sorry, this is my last one" but if the person asks very nicely I might give them one.

paulportoloive

they ask nicely thinking they will get one - one word does be my answer - nooooooooooo - i broke ass and maybe they broke but jesus they prob drive a BMW parked around corner - tight f..cks:D

John Player

I never give em to strangers for the reason that id never ask someone I don't know. I've often been dying for one and id pick up a half smoked one on the street before id ask, or just go through the bins at home for butts and get skins and "recycle"

Chriskavo

John Player wrote: »

I never give em to strangers for the reason that id never ask someone I don't know. I've often been dying for one and id pick up a half smoked one on the street before id ask, or just go through the bins at home for butts and get skins and "recycle"

I agree - sometimes I root through the ashtrays that are secured outside pubs and clubs. Usually you will find a half decent butt amongst them. Another trick is when you see someone with a smoke in their mouth run past them and grab the cig as quick as you can from their mouths - be warned though - I got my ass kicked a couple of times.

lord lucan

Chriskavo wrote: »

I agree - sometimes I root through the ashtrays that are secured outside pubs and clubs. Usually you will find a half decent butt amongst them. Another trick is when you see someone with a smoke in their mouth run past them and grab the cig as quick as you can from their mouths - be warned though - I got my ass kicked a couple of times.

I hope i never meet you!:p

Delancey

Chriskavo wrote: »

I agree - sometimes I root through the ashtrays that are secured outside pubs and clubs. Usually you will find a half decent butt amongst them. Another trick is when you see someone with a smoke in their mouth run past them and grab the cig as quick as you can from their mouths - be warned though - I got my ass kicked a couple of times.

Don't take it personally but I have to say you richly deserved it :p

As for taking butts from strangers ashtrays ? Thanks but no thanks - has anyone ever heard of Hepatitis ?:eek:

i.need.a.job

i always say if you cant afford to do it then you shouldnt be doing it.... if i cant afford ciggs i go with out or smoke rollies.. id bum off close friends but always give them back .. but even friends seem to think its ok if you spark up in a room of 6 or 8 friends for them all to ask for one... go away, they are mine... my housemate the other night bummed six off me because he was too lazy to go to his car.. not fair... i made sure to get them back off him the next day , he is working and im not... piss off people.. my fags

mrbruno

If you think about it, smoking is an absolute luxury. Its not a neccessity at all. So to be honest i cant see any justification for denying a homeless person one. Naturally you shouldnt give one to the leaches who always look for free ones.

Nulty

delancey42 wrote: »

Why not just tell him to **** off ?

I'm a nice guy who likes to share of course!

generalmiaow

mrbruno wrote: »

If you think about it, smoking is an absolute luxury. Its not a neccessity at all. So to be honest i cant see any justification for denying a homeless person one. Naturally you shouldnt give one to the leaches who always look for free ones.

This makes no sense to me. I am more likely to deny someone needy a luxury than a necessity. If a homeless person asked me for a piece of bread I would feel bad about not giving it to them, but if they wanted to borrow my TV or something I would think "No, I am not obligated to share my luxuries".

If you mean that I should be more willing to share cigarettes because I can live without them, it is true that I will survive if I give some away, but I have no reason to because no homeless person benefits from my sharing them.

magneticimpulse

i dont think its that bad in dublin at all. in France its a nightmare. Because the majority of people smoke in France, they assume they just ask everyone for a free ciggie. Whereas being a non smoker in Ireland, nobody has ever asked me that question back home. I hope people dont give them out for free...i wouldnt if i smoked. obvisously they must get them free from some people, otherwise why do they keep asking?

That_Guy

There's nothing more annoying than being asked for a cigarette when at a bus stop. I get my bus home from Liberty Hall and I pray that the bus is waiting there ready to go.

If I'm waiting for the bus I'll always light up a smoke but I know that as soon as I do the fcukers will be crawliing up from the Luas stop to "borrow" a fag.

Very annoying. I always say no. I don't care if it's someone I know because I know they'll get me back another time but why should I give someone a smoke I paid money for. If they were to offer me money for it I'd say ok but some of these people think it's a right that they should be handed cigarettes from people and then kick up a fuss if they don't get one.

Cheeky fcukers.

That_Guy

That_Guy wrote: »

There's nothing more annoying than being asked for a cigarette when at a bus stop. I get my bus home from Liberty Hall and I pray that the bus is waiting there ready to go.

If I'm waiting for the bus I'll always light up a smoke but I know that as soon as I do the fcukers will be crawliing up from the Luas stop to "borrow" a fag.

Very annoying. I always say no. I don't care if it's someone I know because I know they'll get me back another time but why should I give someone a smoke I paid money for. If they were to offer me money for it I'd say ok but some of these people think it's a right that they should be handed cigarettes from people and then kick up a fuss if they don't get one.

Cheeky fcukers.

That's my main problem with cigarette beggars summed up: They expect you to give them a cigarette, as if they're entitled to it. Cigs are almost 50 cent a piece!

There must be lots of people giving them cigs though, the fools.

the_syco

Unless I know them, I tell them I don't smoke.

The annoying thing is, I have to take the rollie that I've been smoking out of my mouth to tell them that :P

Delancey

That_Guy wrote: »

There's nothing more annoying than being asked for a cigarette when at a bus stop. I get my bus home from Liberty Hall and I pray that the bus is waiting there ready to go.

That area is a nightmare for bums begging ciggies - anyone who wants to experience it at its worst : Try lighting up outside Busaras and the vermin crawl out from everywhere.

Chewabacca

At first this is gonna sound very cheap but hear me out.

I smoke drum and I absolutely hate when people ask me for a rollie. I know they're half the price of fags but its not the price I care about. There are 2 things that annoy me about it. People seem to feel like asking for a rollie is a last resort and like they're owed one after asking for fags. They make it out like you're just going to hand them out cause they're cheaper than fags and that you're a prick if you don't. Once I went to a girl I met's house with her friends. On the way someone said they should buy fags and someone, who I'd met 2 hour's before said, "it's alright, he has drum".

Now to what really annoy's me about it. Heres the usual situation- randommer-"can I have a rollie". Me-"yeah no bother*pass them pack, filter and skins*" Randommer-"no, you roll it for me". What the hell? They're cheap and I have no bother letting somebody roll one but asking for one and then not only askin, but expecting them, to make you a rollie for them. It's ridiculous. Thats why I don't mind giving them to homeless people, they always roll them themselves.

It's the whole snobbery towards people who smoke rollie's that annoys me so much. This is the way I look at it. People go around asking for cigarettes. This is like someone looking for someone attractive to pull. They get sick of not having success and "settle" for someone who isn't hot and feel like the minger is someone who you don't even have to work for, just go over and take the prize. Except in this case the minger is a rollie.

Anyways, it's not the act but how it's done that annoys me. Rant over.

Chewabacca

Actually I have to post this gem of a story.

Me and a few friends were walking up the street in Galway City at around midnight. This 15-16 year old scummer emerges from an alley and shouts "you, have ye any fags, rollie's, anyten?"

This girl was a proper scummer, not the kind who's mommy buys them €150 nike TN's every other week so just in case I said "sorry, don't smoke".

This knack replied in disgust "So ur tellin me that none of ye smawk?"

"Sorry", we reply and walk on. Next thing we know we hear that excuse of a human being shouting "I asked them for a fag and they called me a whore". Next thing we know lads are roaring at us and the usual do we stop and sort it out or keep walking conversation goes on. Thank god our mates brother was, for whatever fluke reason, with them and stopped them from kicking the sh*te out of us.

Delancey

Aw poor Chewabacca - I'm sure your not a Minger