Mom asked me to ask around...

[Fozzy]

There are alot of folks scaming out there... However, there are alot of drivers not doing so well. And even though it may be a little topic, it might help each of us to remember that "but for the grace of God, goes I..." Any one of us could find ourselfs out on our luck, trying to get home.

I think for all of you that are braving the roads, maybe a list of places or groups that can help you out if you find yourself in a jam might be a good thing to have with you.
Just in case.

This also reminds me of a story of a woman with a small child coming up and asking money to feed her child. If I thought for one second, that I let a child go hungry because I said no and had it, i could never forgive myself.

Many years ago I fed a woman and her two kids who were dumped at a truck stop. The story may or may not have been true, I bought them food (a trip to the buffet there) and the kids acted like they were starving. I bought a bus ticket for the son of a driver in Red Bluff Ca one day because he blew up a truck and they fired him. He offered me his TV because that's all he had, he kept his TV, I just took him and his kid to the bus station and bough the ticket and watched them get on the bus. To give CASH to people is just not smart. I offered a woman in Oakland who claimed she was "starving" my balogna sandwich and got cussed like a drunken sailor... I saw one panhandler in St Louis in a drop yard asking each and every driver for money (she was driving a car and had car seats in it with no children). She got a few of them to cough up money and then got around to me. She was young, semi-good looking and seemed to be pretty able-bodied..she looked up at me in the truck and asked;" are you going to be nice to me too?"... I simply replied.. NOPE! she had a shocked look on her face and eventually got the message and moved on..

I already have people to support and and four of them (my kids) tended to always claim they were starving... :shock:

[fatman]

From a little different perspective. A christian one that is, and a bible verse that has always stuck with me. I have seen this many times also. You reap what you sow.

Your mom gave $20 to someone claiming to be in need. Whether they were or not, your mom will reap that back when she is in need. Not only will she reap that back, but more. Give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, and over flowing.

I know all that may sound weird, she will be given back when she least expects it and more than likely when she needs it the most. She may not reap it in money form, but she will reap what she sowed. Recently, I learned you can reap a harvest for what you sowed even seven years ago.

I'm not saying to give to all pan handlers, but when you do give don't beat yourself up when you trusted what the person said, but found out differently.

Nah man that don't sound weird at all. And for another perspective:

There are homeless people everywhere.
This homeless guy asked me for money the other day.
I was about to give it to him and then I thought he was going to use it on drugs or alcohol.
And then I thought, that's what I'm going to use it on.
Why am I judging this poor bastard?

[GMAN]

I have given money, purchased gas and bought food for those I felt were in need. I am sure some didn't really need help, but sometimes it is difficult to know the difference. I will normally not give money to someone who is standing by the roadside holding a sign that reads something like "Will work for food." I figure that if they are able to stand by the road all day holding a sign, that they could find a job and work. There are people who are in real need. We all need help at some point in our lives. One of the best signs I have seen was on an exit ramp in West Memphis, Arkansas. This guy was holding a sign which read "Why lie, I need a beer." I almost gave him money for his honesty.

[Skywalker]

Gman.... I would have bought the guy a 6 pack....because he was honest! 8)

A couple of years ago in Vegas.... a guy came up to me, carrying a gas can, said he was a driver with my company...and had had to take time off to help his sister move and ran out of money. I asked him a few questions about the "company"....he answered the questions pretty much correctly. What the hell, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and gave him a few bucks.

The next day.... I'm at the other end of town, and here he comes again. This time I ask him for his photo ID that the company issues. Whooooops, he ain't got it, then I remind him that I gave him money the day before. Well, he says "see ya later", and lopes off with his still empty gas-can. :shock:

Yes, there are people who are in true need....but there are 100 or more shills for every truly needy person.

What I worry most about is pulling my wallet out in front of strangers... one never knows what might happen next.

[Aligator]

I have turned down a lot of people....

One guy who needed money for gas so that he could attend his Mamma's funeral....he evidently left home with only half a tank and figured he'd.....what? I dunno.

One guy who had his arm and legs all gimped up and wobbling when he walked. But he wasn't doing anything I couldn't do if I tried...

Turned down a lady panhandler in traffic in Dallas. Sign said she needed money to go to St Louis. Saw the same gal some weeks later. In San Antonio. Same sign.

BIG guy tried to bum a ride in Meridian, MS. Said he was going to Florida to work. He was big and well fed, so I said I was headed north. Saw him 3 weeks later hitchhiking on I59 northbound. Just after I saw him a highway patrol lady (OK...officer) passed me so I flashed her down. I told her the story and said that someone, somewhere, is looking for that guy, I just gaurantee it. She turned around to talk to him.

But I've given 20 here and 20 there....I'll still do it, I guess. Maybe it helps. I hope so.

[BanditsCousin]

If someone wants money ad enough and are REALLY in a jam, they will offer to sell you a CB or dvd's or something of value...not want money for free.

Whenever a panhandler approaches me, I tell lot security.

i must be a big dummy, but i am going to ask. What is a brown recluse? sounds like a ups driver that likes to be alone, and why does he bite people?

[jjcasper]

Brown recluse, A nasty spider w/hour glass shape on abdomin. Venom causes skin to rot at excellarated speed, High fever and ceptic infection.

Or, a UPS Drive that is found in pickle parks

[uglymutt]

mama always told me never talk to strangers..... and to turn and run, yes there are scammers at truck stops ... run

[Aligator]

Brown recluse, A nasty spider w/hour glass shape on abdomin. Venom causes skin to rot at excellarated speed, High fever and ceptic infection.

Or, a UPS Drive that is found in pickle parks

The hour glass belongs on the Black Widow, not the Brown Recluse. Brown Recluse has a "violin" on his back.
Ain't much of a violin, IMO.

[Orangetxguy]

This story reminds me of people standing on a corner with a sign looking for money.

If they'd just go down the street, they could probably get a job holdong a sign for a mattress company.....

B'ham....go down to Federal Way,either the 272nd St off-ramp southbound OR the 320th ST. southbound, be dressed up in ragged clothes, with long but neat hair, 2 day old beard, and that old cardboard "Help me please.....and God Bless You" sign..and see how fast you would want to go down the street and work for minimum wage. Your not gonna wat I think. Not when you can stand at either one of those Interchanges for 3 or 4 hours, and drive home with 4 to 6 hundred bucks in cash.

Have seen it done dozens of times..usually by the same folks..and seen some of them walk off, only to leave a park&ride lot in a better car than I drive..


I gave at the office.

[b'hamWa]

This story reminds me of people standing on a corner with a sign looking for money.

If they'd just go down the street, they could probably get a job holdong a sign for a mattress company.....

B'ham....go down to Federal Way,either the 272nd St off-ramp southbound OR the 320th ST. southbound, be dressed up in ragged clothes, with long but neat hair, 2 day old beard, and that old cardboard "Help me please.....and God Bless You" sign..and see how fast you would want to go down the street and work for minimum wage. Your not gonna wat I think. Not when you can stand at either one of those Interchanges for 3 or 4 hours, and drive home with 4 to 6 hundred bucks in cash.

Have seen it done dozens of times..usually by the same folks..and seen some of them walk off, only to leave a park&ride lot in a better car than I drive..


I gave at the office.

Oh I see it all the time in Bellingham, right at the guide and I-5 interchange. a prime location...

I too have given at the office

[Skywalker]

Brown recluse, A nasty spider w/hour glass shape on abdomin. Venom causes skin to rot at excellarated speed, High fever and ceptic infection.

Or, a UPS Drive that is found in pickle parks

The hour glass belongs on the Black Widow, not the Brown Recluse. Brown Recluse has a "violin" on his back.
Ain't much of a violin, IMO.

You beat me to it... about the brown recluse not having an hour glass on it. That is definitely the black widow.... Don't know about the UPS driver, but I almost shot coca-cola out my nose when I read it....

The brown recluse is called that because it is a "reclusive" spider. Its found only if you try....by digging around under a woodpile, or crawling around under a house where its dark and closed in.... IF bit by this critter, then after a couple of days....the area around the bite will become necrotic...meaning the flesh will begin to rot, and the rotting will spread, and sepsis can set into ones system...and the only way to cure this is by complete removal of all the necrotic flesh and debridement of the area down to new flesh....or amputation of a limb, lest the sepsis set in and poison the body's entire system causing eventual death.

As you can well gather....its not a good idea to go looking for these little devils.....

[Orangetxguy]

Was spider bit while working in the roll-off box storage area at the DuPont Beaumont plant, back in January. Within half an hour had a sore as big as a fist right behind my left knee. At the 2 hour mark I could barely stand on the leg...and as I was checking out of the plant, the Lady whom runs the waste manifest office, had me roll up my coverall leg..so she could see the problem. As soon as she saw the swelling, she called the medical office...and I was done working for the next 5 days.

Went through fever, chills, had puss leaking from the bite, and over the course of those 5 days....7 shots and a pill regimen as well.


Kill em..KILL EM ALL !!!!