Constantly Being Asked for a Smoke in Dublin

danom8

Does anybody else feel they can't light a smoke in Dublin City Centre without being hounded left right and centre for a smoke from some scumbag/junkie.

My answer every time is obviously no but most of them don't get the message. I had a junkie one time ask me for a smoke. I told him I have none. He then asked me for a drag of the one I was smoking. Not wanting to start trouble I gave it to him (clearly didn't take it back).

Another time a junkie asked me for a drag of the one I was smoking and I said no. She then stalked me roaring at me to give her my smoke. I pretended to ignore her until she literally wrestled it out of my hand.

It's at the stage where I don't bother lighting up when I'm in town for fear of getting stabbed for a cigarette.

Anyone else experience this or is it just me?

gimli2112

When I smoked my stock response was "OK here"

Was walking down from Heuston one day just outside James Gate and refused, without thinking. Got serious abuse. Not really worth getting killed over a smoke but there you go....Dublin, eh?

danom8

Haha that's my automatic response these days. It's a killer when it's your last one though as they're always the best.

nocoverart

Every single time I've been in Dublin this happens. Nearly got away with it a few weeks back, but was asked just before getting on the bus which wasn't that bad because It's usually 4 or 5 times. Next time I'm in the city I'll bring two boxes, one for me and for the city.

danom8

Happens to be every time without fail too. The worst places are when you're waiting at any bus stop. It kills me not being able to enjoy a smoke in town without constantly looking over my shoulder. Glad it's not just me. Thought I might have some kind of "I Give Away Free Smokes" sign on my head.

If I gave one away every time I was asked I'd end up buying more for Dublin than myself.

ferrigan101

I work in Temple Bar and get this at least 5 times a day.

I used to give them out no problem, now I just say no sorry. I've been lucky enough to not have any hassle, but I generally turn up the thick Scottish accent a notch and it seems to confuse them enough while I make my escape!

gimli2112

You can always say "I don't have any/this is my last one."

They'll know it's not true but it's very difficult to prove otherwise. It does work.

danom8

gimli2112 wrote: »

You can always say "I don't have any/this is my last one."

They'll know it's not true but it's very difficult to prove otherwise. It does work.

I've tried this but that's when they've taken the one I'm smoking in the past. It's such a hassle. Why do people just expect you to dole out smokes and never buy a packet of their own?

Some of these folks must smoke more everyday for free than I can afford.

It's a joke

Koptain Liverpool

I used to give one to most people who asked me for one but over the years I realized that in this case what goes around doesn't come around. None of those moochers were ever going to be giving me smokes because I myself don't ask people for a smoke on the street no matter how desperate I might be for one.

I still give the odd person one if they seem genuinely stuck and don't seem like they're bumming smokes all day every day.

Boskowski

danom8 wrote: »

Why do people just expect you to dole out smokes and never buy a packet of their own?

Because people who want 'no hassle' keep giving cigarettes to them. Including the ones they're currently smoking :eek: So it works. So they continue asking.

Man up tell em to eff off.

Bummer1234

100% with ya OP.

I don't smoke myself but on the way home from the shops last night with just a single shopping bag,Junkie asks me if i have a smoke,I said "No i don't man" and walked on, Don't know why i used to always so sorry at the end of it cause i wasn't sorry at all...Could have been his attire.

danom8

Boskowski wrote: »

Man up tell em to eff off.

I've never told a junkie to eff off when they're wrestling me to the ground for a cigarette and don't intend to start now. Don't think much good can come from that do you?

danom8

Bummer1234 wrote: »

100% with ya OP.

I don't smoke myself but on the way home from the shops last night with just a single shopping bag,Junkie asks me if i have a smoke,I said "No i don't man" and walked on, Don't know why i used to always so sorry at the end of it cause i wasn't sorry at all...Could have been his attire.

I find myself apologizing too when I say I don't have one. Again I don't know why. I can hold my own and defend myself when I need too but when there's a group of them waiting across the road it just seems easier to say "sorry I don't" and walk on.

SpaceTime

I don't smoke and I got serious abuse from a guy outside Heuston station for not giving him a smoke!

P_1

Back when I smoked I was always on my last one of the pack whenever someone asked. Right pain in the hole it was too.

Ironically I was asked for one the other day (I vape now instead of smoking), it confused the living daylights off them when I pointed out that I don't smoke

snollup

Since I switched to rollups this isn't a problem anymore for some reason. When it was I just said no and luckily was never given any hassle.

cute_cow

Know what you mean OP. Dublin has gotten so bad for it. Was waiting at Fleet Street/Westmorland Street, and in the space of 3 minutes I had 2 lovely people approach me.

Said no to the first old jock, stinking of wee, and a beard as dirty as the ground and he said "sure you're ugly anyway" and moved away.

Next was a rather large (larger than me anyway) "lady" ask if she could have a smoke, and again I said no, and she told me "you're nothing but a fat bitch" and walked away.

Tremendously wonderful interactions

danom8

cute_cow wrote: »

Know what you mean OP. Dublin has gotten so bad for it. Was waiting at Fleet Street/Westmorland Street, and in the space of 3 minutes I had 2 lovely people approach me.

Said no to the first old jock, stinking of wee, and a beard as dirty as the ground and he said "sure you're ugly anyway" and moved away.

Next was a rather large (larger than me anyway) "lady" ask if she could have a smoke, and again I said no, and she told me "you're nothing but a fat bitch" and walked away.

Tremendously wonderful interactions

Wonderful members of society we have walking our city streets :rolleyes:

OldGoat

danom8 wrote: »

I've never told a junkie to eff off when they're wrestling me to the ground for a cigarette and don't intend to start now. Don't think much good can come from that do you?

I've always said No to beggers. Never had any trouble apart from a few stupid throwaway remarks. Feeding the begging habit causes the numbers of beggers to grow. As was said earlier in the thread just say No. Don't stop, don't engage in conversation, don't react to verbal provocation. Say No and walk on. Works well on chuggers too.

If you look back through the responses in this thread and count up the number of people who kowtow to handing over a ciggy (at whatever cost they are now) to strangers then it's obvious that beggers will keep on begging.

DamagedTrax

i usually say 'sorry, i dont smoke'. if i have one in my hand this tends to confuse them for a minute, just enough time to sidestep them and be on my way.

madel

OldGoat wrote: »

I've always said No to beggers. Never had any trouble apart from a few stupid throwaway remarks. Feeding the begging habit causes the numbers of beggers to grow. As was said earlier in the thread just say No. Don't stop, don't engage in conversation, don't react to verbal provocation. Say No and walk on. Works well on chuggers too.

If you look back through the responses in this thread and count up the number of people who kowtow to handing over a ciggy (at whatever cost they are now) to strangers then it's obvious that beggers will keep on begging.

Maybe it a stupid question, whats a chugger?

KungPao

Smoking rollies reduces these requests by about 95% in my experience! When I smoked ciggies I didn't enjoy smoking while out and about...now I smoke away without a bother.

If I am asked for a cig while smoking a rolled up one, I just say "ah it's a rolly" they look a little confused and I just walk on.

OldNotWIse

Yes. Maddening. Sitting outside pubs is the worst.

Can I have a smoke?
No.
But you have a box of smokes there.
Yeah they are my cigarettes.

Also getting tired of people asking me for "a euro for the bus" - what bus is a euro?

OldNotWIse

madel wrote: »

Maybe it a stupid question, whats a chugger?

Charity mugger. Spawn of satan.

OldGoat

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Charity mugger. Spawn of satan.

Yep. It's those sickeningly happy people usually wearing "Concern" tabbards that try to get money from you as you walk through the town.

madel

OldGoat wrote: »

Yep. It's those sickeningly happy people usually wearing "Concern" tabbards that try to get money from you as you walk through the town.

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Charity mugger. Spawn of satan.

Like those guys that used to stand outside HMV Galway ' help disabled kids there please' and he wearing a hanley centre hi vis! Two completely differnet organisations

Not a penny of it going to anyone disabled unless he was talking about himself the c*&t ! Guards constantly down after him

OldGoat

No, these guys are legitimate. They do have a code of conduct to follow and carry ID. They are trained (or so I'm led to believe) that if you clearly say No twice they have to back off. Shame the same can't be said about the ciggy beggers.

danom8

Why should they need to be asked twice. I'm inclined to say No once and f*** off the second time. Don't have the patience for someone trying to guilt me into setting up a direct debit for an organized charity that also runs as a business :mad:

briany

OldNotWIse wrote: »

Charity mugger. Spawn of satan.

That's a pretty harsh association. Poor Satan.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I commuted to Dublin for a period of time and outside Heuston every morning and evening I'd be guaranteed to be asked at least once. It happened a good bit elsewhere around town too, it's not always junkies either, I have had professional looking types in suits asking, plenty of students also.

Pain in the arse, sometimes I give one sometimes I don't, I've never experienced trouble for refusing though. I usually use the 'it's my last one line'.

ardle1

gimli2112 wrote: »

When I smoked my stock response was "OK here"

Was walking down from Heuston one day just outside James Gate and refused, without thinking. Got serious abuse. Not really worth getting killed over a smoke but there you go....Dublin, eh?

I use to smoke and I've been to a few cities around the World mainly in Europe, and I've never come across this behaviour.... I'm actually in shock and I feel sick that Dublin has come to this, obviously and without a second to spare Gardaí need to get a hold on this situation and take Dublin City back before it escalates!!!

"I scabbed this one myself". 0% failure rate.

You're welcome.

dobman88

I used to be seeing a girl who lived in Maynooth (I'm from Kerry) and I would walk from Heuston to Connolly for the train out. I was so sick of being asked for a smoke or " a euro for tea", my hole!! So one day I went to the supermacs in Heuston and asked for 20 one euro coins. Put them all in one pocket and every time I got asked for a smoke or a euro I would say no and put a euro in my other pocket.

I did have to give away 2 smokes as I was smoking at the time and there was a group of scumbags asking me so I'm not gonna say no to more than 3 of them (I'm a country chicken ). I got to Connolly with 17 euro in my pocket minus 2 cigs so 19 times in total. Absolutely ridiculous just walking a couple of miles.

Standman

What annoys me the most is when they act like you have wronged them by not giving them one of your ridiculously over priced cigarettes, as if they are owed one simply because they asked.

gazzer

I dont smoke but anything I was away in the UK for a weekend I would get asked "Can I BUY a smoke off you".

OldNotWIse

gazzer wrote: »

I dont smoke but anything I was away in the UK for a weekend I would get asked "Can I BUY a smoke off you".

This annoys me. "I'll give you 50 c for a smoke" - as if you're gonna take it and look like a st1ngebag! They know this I guess. Also, although 20 times 50 c is more than the price of a box, what good is 50 c when you just want one cigarette on the way home but you've none left? It's not like you can go in and buy one for 50c somewhere along the way.

maalummoja

OldGoat wrote: »

I've always said No to beggers. Never had any trouble apart from a few stupid throwaway remarks. Feeding the begging habit causes the numbers of beggers to grow. As was said earlier in the thread just say No. Don't stop, don't engage in conversation, don't react to verbal provocation. Say No and walk on. Works well on chuggers too.

If you look back through the responses in this thread and count up the number of people who kowtow to handing over a ciggy (at whatever cost they are now) to strangers then it's obvious that beggers will keep on begging.

Just keep walking by and dont make eye contact, never fails. Ear phones are great for this even when not in use

Cool_CM

Keep an empty box in my top jacket pocket for such occasions. Dublin is unreal for it, have no problem giving people a fag if I have enough and if they ask nicely but some people seem to think that their right to my cigarettes is somehow enshrined in the constitution.

allandanyways

The perks of smoking menthols, the majority of junkies won't take them off ya even if you offer them.

Mwahahahaha more mentholy goodness for me

nesf

I found an inverse relationship between how rough (read: unkempt beard) I looked and how often I was hassled for ciggies. If I'd a week's stubble and looked like I'd not slept in a few days I'd get left alone. Clean shaven and I'd be plagued at every Luas stop.

nesf

OldGoat wrote: »

They are trained (or so I'm led to believe) that if you clearly say No twice they have to back off.

I find a look silences them. It's slim pickings for them these days so I think they're getting more choosy about their "marks." At least in Cork anyways.

Gillo

I used to find it ball ache when I smoked.

Getting sick of it one day, so girl came up to me and asked for one, usually I just said no but this time decided to have a laugh so took out a pack, opened it slowly and took one out to hand to her. Just before she touched the cigarette I pulled my hand back, smiled and very apologetically said "Look, I'm sorry on second thoughts you're too pretty to get lung cancer".
The look of disgust on her face was priceless and yeah I know it was kinda dickish to do but it was worth it for the laugh!

OldNotWIse

nesf wrote: »

I find a look silences them. It's slim pickings for them these days so I think they're getting more choosy about their "marks." At least in Cork anyways.

Wonder if this works on chuggers?:mad:

Neon_Lights

I was accosted by a junkie outside connolly, the stereotypical toothless she witch, she asked me for a smoke, and then a drag, i said no, both times assertively, she was like "awh please mistur"... so i rebutted and said "what the **** do I owe you, piss off and leave me alone" it worked, she walked off.

Greenmachine

Some people are just born leechs. I just wish they stayed at the bottom of the pool. Constantly asked for cigarettes in Dublin City. An assertive no usually work. Get the occasional insult thrown at me for refusing. (insert expletive) Skinny,

beakerjoe

Some yakbag was moaning as i walked down the Luas tracks near Collins Barracks about how "its a joke and a disgrace" how he had asked 13 people for a smoke and everyone of them said no.

He couldn't believe how "mad" it was that he couldn't bum a smoke off some one.

The big brave boy in me wanted to say "Buy your own smokes ya junkie scum", however the coward in me just walked on quietly.

dee_mc

I say 'Sorry man, I can't'
I have no idea why, but it always works: no abuse, nothing.
I hate walking out of Heuston Station because I just know I'll be asked at least once before reaching the Luas stop (and of course will then be asked for spare change at the machine when buying my ticket- same response works wonders in that situation too!)

Neon_Lights

dee_mc wrote: »

I say 'Sorry man, I can't'
I have no idea why, but it always works: no abuse, nothing.
I hate walking out of Heuston Station because I just know I'll be asked at least once before reaching the Luas stop (and of course will then be asked for spare change at the machine when buying my ticket- same response works wonders in that situation too!)

Pretend to sneeze when you light up, and they come over, they wont ask you then. We'll im assuming they wont, there are some dirtbags out there who would.

beakerjoe

dee_mc wrote: »

I say 'Sorry man, I can't'
I have no idea why, but it always works: no abuse, nothing.
I hate walking out of Heuston Station because I just know I'll be asked at least once before reaching the Luas stop (and of course will then be asked for spare change at the machine when buying my ticket- same response works wonders in that situation too!)

Between Heuston and Connolly I find the worse area for this. I don't even smoke and i get harassed. Happens once a day a least.

Neon_Lights

beakerjoe wrote: »

Between Heuston and Connolly I find the worse area for this. I don't even smoke and i get harassed. Happens once a day a least.

"yergohheh smowuk? nyeeehh"

beakerjoe

Neon_Lights wrote: »

"yergohheh smowuk? nyeeehh"

Was that you?