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People going car to car begging for money

  • 21-06-2013 12:49am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 117 ✭✭Clutchkick


    (Not really sure if this is the right place)..My first experience with this was in the McDonalds car park in Waterford about two years ago. I was with a mate waiting to have food brought out to us that we just ordered from the drive through, a traveller got out of a car that had just came into the car park and made a b-line for us. He had a big sob story about how his mother was in hospital and was very sick, he hadn’t a penny to his name, he didn’t eat anything since the previous day, he wouldn’t ask if he wasn’t desperate and would we find it in the kindness of our hearts to give him something to buy a burger with. We gave him the loose change we had from our order, just so he’d go away.

    The second time something like this happened was about a year ago in a filling station. I had just got into the car after filling up when a man came over with his hand outstretched. He was all flattery, ”Jesus it’s a lovely car, I’d say ya paid a fortune for it etc.” then he spotted my iPhone “It’s a lovely phone, I’d love one of them but I could never afford it”, after about 10 minutes of flattery the sob story came. “ I came all the way from Clare, I was supposed to meet up with someone to sell him the van but the fecker never showed up, I have a crowd of children with me that I was supposed to bring to a party and I haven’t a cent to me name, would ya give me something to put into the van to get us home, there’s not a scrap of diesel in it, me wife’s over in the van, she’s crying her eyes out, she’s absolutely devastated , there not even my kids, I was supposed to bring them to a party” and on and on he went repeating himself again and again in one big sentence. Then he went on swearing he’d give it back, he’d post it on to me, he’ll give me his number, take the reg of the van, here’s me licence. I threw €15 down by the gear stick when I got into the car and of course he spotted it so I couldn’t use the I haven’t a penny excuse, I gave it to him and he had the cheek to ask if I had anything else to give him, I just wanted him to **** off without stabbing me more than anything.

    The latest was earlier tonight; again it was in McDonald’s car park in Waterford. A traveller came up to the car and knocked on the window, I opened the window and the hand came straight in, I shook his hand and then of course the sob story came “I came all the way from Gorey, I was supposed to sell the car to someone but he never showed up, me wife’s over in the car, I have a daughter in the back, she’s very sick with bronchitis, would you spare me a few pound for two gallon of petrol to get us home” this time I said to myself not again and told him I hadn’t a penny on me, my friend gave him €4 that he had in his pocket.

    Has anyone ever had any experience with this sort of thing, it’s the kind of thing that if you told anyone the immediate response would be “oh if that was me” but we’ve all heard of people getting stabbed over stupid things like a phone and you just don’t know what kind of stunt they could try to pull if you refused them. I don’t mean to sound discriminant towards travellers but this is just from my experience.


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Why didn't you roll up the window and drive off?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,876 ✭✭✭Scortho


    Clutchkick wrote: »
    (Not really sure if this is the right place)..My first experience with this was in the McDonalds car park in Waterford about two years ago. I was with a mate waiting to have food brought out to us that we just ordered from the drive through, a traveller got out of a car that had just came into the car park and made a b-line for us. He had a big sob story about how his mother was in hospital and was very sick, he hadn’t a penny to his name, he didn’t eat anything since the previous day, he wouldn’t ask if he wasn’t desperate and would we find it in the kindness of our hearts to give him something to buy a burger with. We gave him the loose change we had from our order, just so he’d go away.

    The second time something like this happened was about a year ago in a filling station. I had just got into the car after filling up when a man came over with his hand outstretched. He was all flattery, ”Jesus it’s a lovely car, I’d say ya paid a fortune for it etc.” then he spotted my iPhone “It’s a lovely phone, I’d love one of them but I could never afford it”, after about 10 minutes of flattery the sob story came. “ I came all the way from Clare, I was supposed to meet up with someone to sell him the van but the fecker never showed up, I have a crowd of children with me that I was supposed to bring to a party and I haven’t a cent to me name, would ya give me something to put into the van to get us home, there’s not a scrap of diesel in it, me wife’s over in the van, she’s crying her eyes out, she’s absolutely devastated , there not even my kids, I was supposed to bring them to a party” and on and on he went repeating himself again and again in one big sentence. Then he went on swearing he’d give it back, he’d post it on to me, he’ll give me his number, take the reg of the van, here’s me licence. I threw €15 down by the gear stick when I got into the car and of course he spotted it so I couldn’t use the I haven’t a penny excuse, I gave it to him and he had the cheek to ask if I had anything else to give him, I just wanted him to **** off without stabbing me more than anything.

    The latest was earlier tonight; again it was in McDonald’s car park in Waterford. A traveller came up to the car and knocked on the window, I opened the window and the hand came straight in, I shook his hand and then of course the sob story came “I came all the way from Gorey, I was supposed to sell the car to someone but he never showed up, me wife’s over in the car, I have a daughter in the back, she’s very sick with bronchitis, would you spare me a few pound for two gallon of petrol to get us home” this time I said to myself not again and told him I hadn’t a penny on me, my friend gave him €4 that he had in his pocket.

    Has anyone ever had any experience with this sort of thing, it’s the kind of thing that if you told anyone the immediate response would be “oh if that was me” but we’ve all heard of people getting stabbed over stupid things like a phone and you just don’t know what kind of stunt they could try to pull if you refused them. I don’t mean to sound discriminant towards travellers but this is just from my experience.

    Happens a lot at the watling st. Traffic lights in Dublin. A man or two will approach the cars and try to get a few euro of you.
    I've generally found that having the windows rolled up and the doors locked reduces any fear I'd have of anything happening.
    Ignoring them is the best thing to do.
    You giving them money isn't going to stop then trying it on others.
    Likewise, if they don't get any money of anyone they'll eventually stop begging.
    I rather give to charities that help homeless people than to the homeless person begging.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 117 ✭✭Clutchkick


    The first time it wasn't me driving (he came over to the driver side), the second time your man had the cheek to open the door and the third fella leaned in on the door and had his head stuck in the car (as casual as you like).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,515 ✭✭✭arleitiss


    I once came out of topaz sat into car and was checking phone, another moment I notice a a woman sits into my car and says: "okay I am ready".

    Questions: Who? Why? Where?

    Then she apologized and said she confused cars with taxi car beside me. Since then I got into habit of always before moving off - press lock doors from inside. Makes feel safer so I know that no body will sit into my car and do anything.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,685 ✭✭✭✭wonski


    You lucky bastard, the only girl that get into my car and (kind of)said I am ready was my neighbour's cat( not even sure if it was girl tbh).
    Why would you lock the doors, keep them open and let them in:D
    But only when they are ready...


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 181 ✭✭Dublinpato


    I was walking down the quay's one night just about to turn on O'Connell st and i could spot this chap from a mile away not sure if he was homeless or just looking for his next fix but anyway's i could see him picking people out until i was walking past he come's up and started this sob story actually now that i think of it he was homeless because he said "here bud can i tell you something i'am basically homeless" blah blah blah didn't hear the rest but he didn't look like he was sleeping rough must of been a fresh spawn or something so i said to him before he got into his story "That's not my problem" he just gave me a look like he was shocked and say's "I didn't say it was you're problem did i" then storms off, but that's when i'am shocked because i didn't think he would give up that easily anyway's the key to stop people from wasting you're time looking to get in you're pockets is to stop them before they can finish their story that they have spent all their energy memorizing that they won't know how to react if you shut them off.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,515 ✭✭✭arleitiss


    wonski wrote: »
    You lucky bastard, the only girl that get into my car and (kind of)said I am ready was my neighbour's cat( not even sure if it was girl tbh).
    Why would you lock the doors, keep them open and let them in:D
    But only when they are ready...

    I expected that kind of comment so my reply is:

    She was out of my age range. I am 20 + I was going to my friend, doubt she would understand if I came up with woman whos twice as old as me :pac: that would be an awkward situation


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 117 ✭✭Clutchkick


    arleitiss wrote: »
    I expected that kind of comment so my reply is:

    She was out of my age range. I am 20 + I was going to my friend, doubt she would understand if I came up with woman whos twice as old as me :pac: that would be an awkward situation

    There's nothing wrong with a good milf haha


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,515 ✭✭✭arleitiss


    Clutchkick wrote: »
    There's nothing wrong with a good milf haha

    True, but not in my situation :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    Clutchkick wrote: »
    I threw €15 down by the gear stick when I got into the car and of course he spotted it so I couldn’t use the I haven’t a penny excuse, I gave it to him and he had the cheek to ask if I had anything else to give him, I just wanted him to **** off without stabbing me more than anything.
    Clutchkick wrote: »
    this time I said to myself not again and told him I hadn’t a penny on me, my friend gave him €4 that he had in his pocket.
    Clutchkick wrote: »
    it’s the kind of thing that if you told anyone the immediate response would be “oh if that was me” but we’ve all heard of people getting stabbed over stupid things like a phone and you just don’t know what kind of stunt they could try to pull if you refused them. I don’t mean to sound discriminant towards travellers but this is just from my experience.
    Short answer is that you're feeling needlessly intimidated. Just smile and keep moving and they'll ask someone else. Beggars are well used to a 99% failure rate, you need to stop being the other 1%.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 909 ✭✭✭camel jockey


    Clutchkick wrote: »
    There's nothing wrong with a good milf haha

    There's no suggestion that the woman in question was a milf.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,875 ✭✭✭✭MugMugs


    Anan1 wrote: »
    Short answer is that you're feeling needlessly intimidated. Just smile and keep moving and they'll ask someone else. Beggars are well used to a 99% failure rate, you need to stop being the other 1%.

    This sums it up. Don't engage and they'll move on to the next head.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,004 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    MugMugs wrote: »
    This sums it up. Don't engage and they'll move on to the next head.

    Exactly.

    Used to be a few (Obviously a commerical enterprise of beggars) at the lights in Sandyford asking for money. Friend had an Impreza with blacked out rear windows. Begger started giving the sob story so my friend gave your man the thumbs up and a smile, and began to roll down the rear windows. Obviously thinking it was pay day the beggar went towards the back of car.

    Don't think I've ever seen an Alsatian make more of an attempt to get through a 4" gap in a window. Needless to say, the car was forever more given a wide berth.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,217 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    arleitiss wrote: »
    Since then I got into habit of always before moving off - press lock doors from inside. Makes feel safer so I know that no body will sit into my car and do anything.
    +1. many aftermarket alarms if fitted can be set to do this automatically. Also, lock your car/arm your alarm when getting petrol. While you're in paying for go juice your car and it's contents are vulnerable. My local station guys have told me it's regular enough that phones and satnavs to go walkabout in this manner at some stations. Don't be a target basically. I achieve this by looking rougher and poorer than the beggars.

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    locking the doors is a good idea and we should all do it as a matter of course. We also should remember to take our iphones out of their cradles when in the Garden Centre....(mostly aimed at me, quite a shock when I sat back in and saw it grinning at me in full view of the entire car park)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 585 ✭✭✭NobodyImportant


    Have seen it once or twice near Connolly now, not with cars, but stopping people, standing right in their way and starting into a conversation with the victim. it really throws the person and its hard for them to escape.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,181 ✭✭✭Davidth88


    OP , just by reading your post you are well over 15 euro down giving money to chancers.

    You have to learn something I learnt when working in central London

    Just blank these people utterly. By that I mean if they approach you , don't make eye contact ignore them . The same goes for Chuggers and mad religious types .

    I would stop going to that branch of McD's , it's obviously a fav haunt of chancers , most of whom almost certainly have more disposable income than you have.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,964 ✭✭✭Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime


    Around dublin a alot it happens alright.

    Between people trying to clean your windscreen with a sponge and people handing you paper with writing saying please give me €2 for this peice of paper.

    Rather annoying but windows closed and doors locked.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,625 ✭✭✭wmpdd3


    That guy with the car sob story has been at it with years he was removed from the Tesco car park last year.seem he is back for the summer again.just say you were sure you saw him collecting his money at the post office the other day!
    Or total blank.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Not particularly Motors related.
    >>> AH


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,456 ✭✭✭fishy fishy


    Clutchkick wrote: »
    (Not really sure if this is the right place)..My first experience with this was in the McDonalds car park in Waterford about two years ago. I was with a mate waiting to have food brought out to us that we just ordered from the drive through, a traveller got out of a car that had just came into the car park and made a b-line for us. He had a big sob story about how his mother was in hospital and was very sick, he hadn’t a penny to his name, he didn’t eat anything since the previous day, he wouldn’t ask if he wasn’t desperate and would we find it in the kindness of our hearts to give him something to buy a burger with. We gave him the loose change we had from our order, just so he’d go away.

    The second time something like this happened was about a year ago in a filling station. I had just got into the car after filling up when a man came over with his hand outstretched. He was all flattery, ”Jesus it’s a lovely car, I’d say ya paid a fortune for it etc.” then he spotted my iPhone “It’s a lovely phone, I’d love one of them but I could never afford it”, after about 10 minutes of flattery the sob story came. “ I came all the way from Clare, I was supposed to meet up with someone to sell him the van but the fecker never showed up, I have a crowd of children with me that I was supposed to bring to a party and I haven’t a cent to me name, would ya give me something to put into the van to get us home, there’s not a scrap of diesel in it, me wife’s over in the van, she’s crying her eyes out, she’s absolutely devastated , there not even my kids, I was supposed to bring them to a party” and on and on he went repeating himself again and again in one big sentence. Then he went on swearing he’d give it back, he’d post it on to me, he’ll give me his number, take the reg of the van, here’s me licence. I threw €15 down by the gear stick when I got into the car and of course he spotted it so I couldn’t use the I haven’t a penny excuse, I gave it to him and he had the cheek to ask if I had anything else to give him, I just wanted him to **** off without stabbing me more than anything.

    The latest was earlier tonight; again it was in McDonald’s car park in Waterford. A traveller came up to the car and knocked on the window, I opened the window and the hand came straight in, I shook his hand and then of course the sob story came “I came all the way from Gorey, I was supposed to sell the car to someone but he never showed up, me wife’s over in the car, I have a daughter in the back, she’s very sick with bronchitis, would you spare me a few pound for two gallon of petrol to get us home” this time I said to myself not again and told him I hadn’t a penny on me, my friend gave him €4 that he had in his pocket.

    Has anyone ever had any experience with this sort of thing, it’s the kind of thing that if you told anyone the immediate response would be “oh if that was me” but we’ve all heard of people getting stabbed over stupid things like a phone and you just don’t know what kind of stunt they could try to pull if you refused them. I don’t mean to sound discriminant towards travellers but this is just from my experience.


    are you at home for holidays for the gathering.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,569 ✭✭✭Hoop66


    I don't like to look through people as if they don't exist, so I just say "sorry, can't help you".

    Don't know if it's any better or worse than ignoring them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,456 ✭✭✭fishy fishy


    arleitiss wrote: »
    I once came out of topaz sat into car and was checking phone, another moment I notice a a woman sits into my car and says: "okay I am ready".

    Questions: Who? Why? Where?

    Then she apologized and said she confused cars with taxi car beside me. Since then I got into habit of always before moving off - press lock doors from inside. Makes feel safer so I know that no body will sit into my car and do anything.

    I did that once - my OH was coming to collect me one rainy evening and had parked up waiting for me. I came down the road, saw the car and jumped in and started chatting. Never even looked at my OH. When I did (about 10 seconds later) I noticed I was in the wrong car. I was so embarrassed, but apologized and burst out laughing as did the driver. I got out and there was my OH in the car behind also having a laugh. Two exact same cars.

    Nobody felt threatened, it was an honest mistake and taken in good humor.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,383 ✭✭✭✭Birneybau


    Dublinpato wrote: »
    I was walking down the quay's one night just about to turn on O'Connell st and i could spot this chap from a mile away not sure if he was homeless or just looking for his next fix but anyway's i could see him picking people out until i was walking past he come's up and started this sob story actually now that i think of it he was homeless because he said "here bud can i tell you something i'am basically homeless" blah blah blah didn't hear the rest but he didn't look like he was sleeping rough must of been a fresh spawn or something so i said to him before he got into his story "That's not my problem" he just gave me a look like he was shocked and say's "I didn't say it was you're problem did i" then storms off, but that's when i'am shocked because i didn't think he would give up that easily anyway's the key to stop people from wasting you're time looking to get in you're pockets is to stop them before they can finish their story that they have spent all their energy memorizing that they won't know how to react if you shut them off.

    Joycean


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 496 ✭✭SoapMcTavish


    I had one of these geezers chance that " need money for petrol to get home " crap on me at a petrol station.

    Told him I had no cash - only debit card - but I'd pay for some petrol for his van ( full of kids and the wife ) - but I want to see the petrol gauge first.

    Told me to F*** off and stormed away.

    Just another chancer. Never trust anyone .... ever.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,012 ✭✭✭Plazaman


    I remember a few years ago, a nightclub were handing out flyers that looked like €10 notes with FUN MONEY clearly written on it. I only had it in my hand a couple of minutes when I was approached by a sob story merchant and without really thinking I just gave him the flyer and he seemed to go off happy.

    I thought I seen him glaring at me from the back of a squad car about 2 hours later but I'll put it down to my mind playing tricks on me and probably the 2 second twinge of guilt I felt when I realised what I gave him.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    There used to be a one legged Romanian girl at Newlands Cross scabbing


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,181 ✭✭✭Davidth88


    There used to be a one legged Romanian girl at Newlands Cross scabbing

    She seemed to be at every large junction in West Dublin at one point ..... I saw her at Palmerstown , and at the Red Cow as well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭General General


    Print off a couple of copies of 20 Euro notes. Then hand these out to these sob story merchants.

    Unless that's illegal. I don't think it is. If it is, print off a couple of copies of UK£20 notes.

    If that's illegal, ah... come up with your own ideas.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Happens a LOT in London. Problem used to be really bad with gipsies attempting to wash your windows at traffic lights and begging. Police have done a lot to address the problem though.

    I was at traffic lights at Albany Road in Walworth one day. Woman with about four kids literally hanging off her were at my car window begging. I ignored her. Lights changed. I drove off. She decided to moon at me. Blue veins and stretch marks everywhere!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,533 ✭✭✭Jester252


    Just power through OP. If you have to walk through them do it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 130 ✭✭WanabeOlympian


    I have a built in stubborness in such situations. I've had plenty of people with stories and asking for money, be it connolly station or grafton street. Generally when I'm waiting for someone and can't walk on with a blank stare. Never once have i given in. It actually frustrates the hell out of them. It's nearly like a challenge or game to some I think. Sometimes they could be there for 10 minutes attempting to extract money from me. I guess i take a sadistic pleasure in refusing them. I've been insulted, sure, when they know I won't budge, a hearty laugh as they walk away is the icing on the cake.


    On a side note, I donate to charity and I'm very generous by nature. But never to a chancer :-)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,023 ✭✭✭Dostoevsky


    Clutchkick wrote: »
    People going car to car begging for money

    They only do it because people give them money. The only people to blame here are therefore the people who give them an incentive to beg by giving them money. In other words, the donators are wholly responsible for the continuation of begging.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,316 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Clutchkick wrote: »
    We gave him the loose change we had from our order, just so he’d go away.
    <snip>
    I threw €15 down by the gear stick when I got into the car and of course he spotted it so I couldn’t use the I haven’t a penny excuse, I gave it to him
    Some beggers have a knack of spotting those with a soft touch.

    If they ask nicely, I say "no", if the hand comes out I tell them to "fúck off", and if they ask impolitely, I tell them to "fúck off and get a job".

    For chuggers, beggers, etc, I see them, I look at a point beyond them, and I walk forward. They get out of my way :D Have yet to walk into one that was brave/foolish enough to stand in my way.
    Rather annoying but windows closed and doors locked.
    Usually have the windows down in Dublin. Of course, I also usually have Pantera playing full blast, or some diddly trad playing (also full blast), with myself grinning and bouncing around the car like a demented nut :D
    biko wrote: »
    Not particularly Motors related.
    >>> AH
    Would've thought Ranting & Raving would've been a better choice, no?

    =-=

    On a night out, I'll give two euro, or some loose change to the first respectable Irish begger who asks nicely. And I'll tell each and every other to "fcuk off".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,515 ✭✭✭arleitiss


    I did that once - my OH was coming to collect me one rainy evening and had parked up waiting for me. I came down the road, saw the car and jumped in and started chatting. Never even looked at my OH. When I did (about 10 seconds later) I noticed I was in the wrong car. I was so embarrassed, but apologized and burst out laughing as did the driver. I got out and there was my OH in the car behind also having a laugh. Two exact same cars.

    Nobody felt threatened, it was an honest mistake and taken in good humor.

    I never said I felt thrathened, but situation like this just showed how easy I am open to everyone on street, it could be a crook or something instead of you for example who would get in and steal something.


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  • Site Banned Posts: 4 ASnailInMyNose




  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 17,425 ✭✭✭✭Conor Bourke


    Happens a LOT in London. Problem used to be really bad with gipsies attempting to wash your windows at traffic lights and begging. Police have done a lot to address the problem though.

    I haven't seen this happening as much as it used to. The first time it happened to me I was only learning to drive, I had no idea what was going on and I genuinely had no money with me. I asked them not to wash the windscreen but they kept at it and got really aggressive with me when I told them I had no money on me. I had to drive off as the lights had changed and I felt awful, until I thought logically about it for a few minutes. Nobody should ever be intimidated into handing over money. Any time I've been approached like that since, I flip the wipers on to the fastest setting before they get a chance to touch the windscreen. Simple but surprisingly effective.

    Slightly OT but coming back to the point made about keeping windows up and doors locked, a colleague of mine was in traffic in town with her handbag on the passenger seat and the window slightly down and some scrote tried to reach in to take her bag. Absolute scummy bastards :mad:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 986 ✭✭✭joe stodge


    There was a one legged woman around the traffic lights beside the Hilton on the n32 in Dublin a while back, she used to go car to car on crutches with her trousers rolled up to show her lack of leg. A few times when she was leaving I seem her strapping on a prosthetic and walking off no bother to her.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 655 ✭✭✭HurtLocker


    When I was small there used to be a junction with red lights where Romanians would come up and wash your windscreen. It was very annoying coming home and some chancer would pour dirty soapy cold water on your car. When people started ignoring them they started opening car doors with their randsom demand. guards were called and they moved on. Since then I've always associated beggers as an annoyance so I generally don't notice them or there pleas.

    During the boom Romanians would call around to the house every month selling paintings. They had no English. You'd open the door and theyd present a shoddy picture with €50 written on a piece of paper. Nothing to do with cars but similar as they'd try to put you on the spot.

    I've never given a begger money directly.


    *before people accuse me of rascism they were actually Romanian.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,383 ✭✭✭✭Birneybau


    HurtLocker wrote: »
    When I was small there used to be a junction with red lights where Romanians would come up and wash your windscreen. It was very annoying coming home and some chancer would pour dirty soapy cold water on your car. When people started ignoring them they started opening car doors with their randsom demand. guards were called and they moved on. Since then I've always associated beggers as an annoyance so I generally don't notice them or there pleas.

    During the boom Romanians would call around to the house every month selling paintings. They had no English. You'd open the door and theyd present a shoddy picture with €50 written on a piece of paper. Nothing to do with cars but similar as they'd try to put you on the spot.

    I've never given a begger money directly.


    *before people accuse me of rascism they were actually Romanian.

    Did you ask them?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 451 ✭✭TGi666


    Just say no, giving money to these plebs only encourages them to keep doing it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 655 ✭✭✭HurtLocker


    Birneybau wrote: »
    Did you ask them?

    Either take my word for it or report me for rascism. This is an online forum not a court room. I did find out they were Romanians. That's why I said "they were Romanians".

    Edit: I had a whole line dedicated clearing up the assumption that I was guessing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,482 ✭✭✭Kidchameleon


    Some Indian looking guy came up to me on Capel street, handed me a note with a sob story on it. I read the first sentence, crumbled it up, threw onto ground* and walked away.

    *saw him pick it up after


  • Posts: 0 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Katelyn Flaky Pedestrian


    Racism? I don't think being from Romania is a particular race?
    I doubt most of us could tell someone from romania or not :D


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,255 ✭✭✭Yawns


    joe stodge wrote: »
    There was a one legged woman around the traffic lights beside the Hilton on the n32 in Dublin a while back, she used to go car to car on crutches with her trousers rolled up to show her lack of leg. A few times when she was leaving I seem her strapping on a prosthetic and walking off no bother to her.

    Sounds like the one from Newlands Cross.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,435 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    Roll the windows down and pump up the auld death metal on the radio



    Problem solved.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,509 ✭✭✭hollypink


    HurtLocker wrote: »
    When I was small there used to be a junction with red lights where Romanians would come up and wash your windscreen. It was very annoying coming home and some chancer would pour dirty soapy cold water on your car. When people started ignoring them they started opening car doors with their randsom demand. guards were called and they moved on. Since then I've always associated beggers as an annoyance so I generally don't notice them or there pleas.

    I used to be so intimidated by the guys washing windscreens at the lights at the top of the exit slip from the M50 to the N7. I assumed they were Roma but maybe I was wrong. I never gave them money or opened my window but I used to dread seeing them there because they used to go around both sides of the car so I sort of felt surrounded. It was great when the junction became free flow so you didn't have to stop. I still see the odd person begging at Newlands Cross but it's always been just one person rather than a group so it's not as bad.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,012 ✭✭✭Plazaman


    Print off a couple of copies of 20 Euro notes. Then hand these out to these sob story merchants.

    Unless that's illegal. I don't think it is. If it is, print off a couple of copies of UK£20 notes.

    If that's illegal, ah... come up with your own ideas.


    Forgery? Illegal? Sure not at all, tis only a bit of craic Guard...... woah, what's with the handcuffs ya kinky son of a.......gweesy with that baton, you'll have someones eye owwwwww............

    Having said that, great idea, I'll keep one or two handy in the watch pocket of the jeans and pray I don't get blitzed drunk and try to use them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭General General


    Plazaman wrote: »
    Forgery? Illegal? Sure not at all, tis only a bit of craic Guard...... woah, what's with the handcuffs ya kinky son of a.......gweesy with that baton, you'll have someones eye owwwwww............

    Having said that, great idea, I'll keep one or two handy in the watch pocket of the jeans and pray I don't get blitzed drunk and try to use them.

    If confronted by a member of the auld GS, I would immediately produce my Dail membership card & tell him/her to walk on, perhaps also advising them to look up their law book while they are at it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 655 ✭✭✭HurtLocker


    bluewolf wrote: »
    Racism? I don't think being from Romania is a particular race?
    I doubt most of us could tell someone from romania or not :D

    Okay I'm not xenophobic so. But I'm pretty sure everyone knew what I meant. When the guys came up the window of the car the first time they said they were in from Romania and they needed money. I asked the person who used to come round with paintings "Where are you from?" To which I gained the knowledge she was from Romania I was hoping she tell me where she was in Ireland ...... So what date is my hate charge in court? :D

    God dammit some people wake up in the morning just to take offence to something.


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