March 13
How do you engage with panhandlers on the street?
I avoid eye contact. Not just with panhandlers, but with pretty much everyone. I think I have social anxiety. I can still go out, I just get anxious. And the pandemic has magnified the issue. But now I’m totally off topic.
Anyway, yeah, avoiding eye contact. If I do have something to offer, which I often don’t, I might give something small. Does this make me a bitch? Oh well… if not this, I’m sure tons of other things make me a bitch. There’s a place in hell reserved for me. If you believe in that sort of thing.
p.s. — Buskers, on the other hand… I always give to them. Well, unless they totally suck. Yep… I’m a bitch.
p.s. — On a totally unrelated note, today marks one year since pandemic hell ‘officially’ began. My kids only just now [well, two weeks ago] went back to in-person school… and it’s only two days a week and not quite full days. But at least I’ll get a few hours to myself twice a week. Maybe I can finally reconnect with the poor guy I had to break up with a year ago.
[Thanks to my lovely friend Marquessa for this 31 questions challenge.]
In the past I would squat down and have a conversation with them trying to show genuine concern. It is always a dilemma whether to give cash, or not, especially if they appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Normally I would give enough for them to get a decent meal. Now I hardly leave the house so don’t get to see anyone!
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I hardly leave also. Not sure if that is good or bad…
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I avoid them all haha all the time
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I can understand that!
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When I lived in downtown Toronto, there were a few regulars in my neighbourhood, so whenever I went to the grocery store, if one of them was around, I’d ask if they wanted anything. It was usually something simple but it always made me feel better knowing they at least had something to eat that day.
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That’s very kind of you.
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