Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for August 03, 2021

All of the ones I see work on making you feel guilty.

Write TMI! on the other side of the sign.

I see a lot of those people at stoplights. My mom gives ’em money sometimes.

A lot of areas in Florida are outlawing panhandling so that the people needing help have to be more creative than just having “Will work for food” signs as the cops can arrest them after giving them a warning. The logic the cops used to get these laws enacted was safety at intersections as many panhandlers normally stake out a busy traffic light to ask for change. I think the violation is similar to trespassing or an ordinance citation in most counties so it is not really helping to solve the homeless problem, just creating a lot of paperwork and if not for the Covid, overcrowded jails. Many areas are not locking up non violent misdemeanor offenders due to the high probability of Covid spreading like wildfire through the jails and correctional facilities and they are just being given a summons to court, I wonder how many of the homeless actually show up in court????

oh, I think they are feeling better now that he’s gone…

I saw this one guy in Austin, Texas. He wasn’t getting enough action from his sign, so he put it back in his backpack and thumbed through 40 or 50 others until he would one he thought would work better. Street hustling is their job. I saw one guy once that looked like he really was starving. I went over to McDonalds and got him a meal and brought it back. He wasted no time in devouring it.

This guy should feel a good deal of satisfaction; he just made this fella’s day.

He needs to have a “Stop!” sign, too.

What makes things even harder than being homeless? Jerks.

I never share with anyone until they’ve asked if they can visit with me.

Coulda been worse, he coulda coughed covid all over him.

“Be careful what you ask for…” may be a pithy old saying, but for real, there is always some azhole who may just take you literally just because he can.

Not only did he share, he bonded as well. A bit sub-prime was it?!?

When I was reading it a minute ago, my mouse happened to be over one of the icons on the right, and a little black note popped up: “Share on Facebook.” Actually, that’s one reason I don’t do Facebook.

According to my neighbor who has an app on his phone for comebacks to anyone who speaks ill of Trump, 80% of them are either drug addicts or insane. The 80% number must come from Fox News,

I know two homeless people personally. Neither is a drug addict or insane and one of them has a job.

According to two non-using drug addicts (clean for more than a decade) I know who now work with active drug users, most of their clientele are white and have jobs and homes.

My neighbor believes that the homeless should all be put in jails (which are over crowded) or insane asylums (as if we had adequate metal health care facilities). He had no mention of how to pay for the needed mental health care.

Like many people he doesn’t like seeing these people and just wants them to “go away” – they add to crime (even though they are more often victims than perpetrators) also they drive down property values – after all the GOP is more interested in property rights than human rights.

This plays into one of my favorite sarcastic retorts… " Thank you for sharing! "

Change sign to “Will listen for money.” Don’t start listening until you hear the coins drop.

I’ve seen some scammers. Like a guy who went running from his corner when the rain started and jumped in his new car parked nearby. Nevertheless, I can’t help but believe that most of the stories are just to make you feel better for never giving anyone anything. Notice how when anyone mentions any charity, there is always a story about how they are bastards? That makes you righteous for being a cheap ass.

Keep a small supply of granola bars in your car and offer one to those folk (at stop lights). If they accept with gratitude, THEN give them a couple of bucks – maybe $5. If they give you attitude, then they’re not needy – just greedy. Drive on with a clear conscience.

This is a way to hear things you don’t want to hear.

They should feel better to know that even rich people have problems.

I do like the scene from Horse Feathers where the guy asks Harpo, “Can you help me out? I’d like a cup of coffee.” The most surreal scene in movies.

I’m sure you all know that there’s such a thing as “Too much information”.

Friends of Rosencrantz and Tyrone?

People asking for help at grocery parking lots or exits don’t make it look like an enviable “job.” I sure wouldn’t want to spend my day among idling vehicles, even to make lots of money (plus lots of rejection and antipathy). I often buy enough to share food on the way out. I feel very fortunate and magnanimous. And yes, there ought to be options with more security for all who are in need.

The sign said “please share”, not “please *over*share”!