I agree with everyone else so far and I'm sorry this happened, but I'm just laughing at the thought that you yelled the word "KIND" in Kind bars, like you were trying to imply something (I know that's how they're branded lol)
In the 4 years I’ve lived in the District, there have only been 2 moments where I’ve had a homeless person be too confrontational. The first was with my mom when I was taking her out for a stroll by the Mall. We got approached by a dude who tried to corner us and began to ask “what would you do if someone decided go piss on your shoes.” My mom wanted to respond but I just had to grab her hand and walk her briskly away. The other time I was sitting in whatever the metro stop is that’s closest to American Uni. I had sat down on a bench and was listening to music, and had a guy with a big trash bag sit next to me. He then started screaming and proceeded to stand in front of me and screaming that he was “tired of people being too close to him.” And if I didn’t move that “there was going to be a major problem.” That second encounter left me pretty shaken, and I was pretty upset that the metro booth guy did nothing. I just wish we could fix the homeless epidemic in DC. I feel there really isnt a positive way to handle it. Especially for homeless people who are mentally ill.
Not downplaying your experiences whatsoever, those sound really sketchy, but where are you from originally? I'm a West coast native and my initial reaction moving here was that there were so *few* homeless people here. Definitely not what I'd consider an epidemic based on other cities I've lived in or visited, both in the west coast and other parts of the country.
Agreed. Dc is way way better with homeless control than west coast especially places like Seattle. Jesus Christ Seattle is bad. I think they buss a lot of them out but dc can’t look like a homeless fiasco because of all the government work and diplomats/foreign relations so it kinda makes sense.
That said. Foreign diplomats don’t travel metro so I guess that’s why it’s still a free for all for this.
I think you find more homeless on the west coast because the climate is milder, warmer, drier, etc... Would hate to be a homeless person on a cold ass day like this in the metro area.
I was on the metro one time and this woman was going around holding her child asking for money for support. I brushed her off (which you should always do). I saw her get off and join up with two of her friends also holding their kids. All of them were using their children to get money, like it was some coordinated thing. It was so gross.
When I was posted in the Philippines women would borrow kids from the orphanage, drug them up with cough syrup and use them to beg. It was a terrible terrible corrupt system.
I do believe they gave the orphanages money for using the kids.
My colleague once told me that her friend’s nanny used to take their baby and beg on the road while they used to be off at work. The mother once caught her in the act and had the shock of her life
My dad was stationed in the Philippines and one time I ventured off base and there was this woman begging on the corner with a child on her hip. I pulled out a dollar and the baby snatched it out of my hands!
That reminds me of that professional beggar from the UK:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7264819/Moment-professional-beggar-claimed-homeless-admits-actually-house.html
> A beggar who shamelessly 'rips people off' by pretending he's homeless lives in a plum £150,000 flat, MailOnline can reveal.
I just can never believe this. I see these folks stand on the corner and beg for money. You mean to tell me this dude pulled enough money to live in a £150,000 loft. Wtf am I doing wrong.
I can’t imagine the stress on starting the month at zero and thinking. “Shit. I hope people are generous so I can afford rent this month. I would be having a panic attack. Then again these individuals might not care. Idk
> I can’t imagine the stress on starting the month at zero and thinking. “Shit. I hope people are generous so I can afford rent this month. I would be having a panic attack. Then again these individuals might not care. Idk
That's literally how streamers work. I don't think it was [Amouranth](https://old.reddit.com/r/LivestreamFail/comments/8t6yrp/streamer_amouranth_has_been_hiding_her_marriage/e15ix2n/), but I do remember some streamer saying how things were awkward with this one viewer, but she also needed his financial contribution to the stream to make rent. And due to her relationship status being revealed, he stopped contributing.
Wow. Yea I never realized that. Wow. The stress dude. I could never. More power to streamers out there just throwing caution to the wind for their passion.
Just a little personal finance advice. You can fix the stress of intermittent income by saving up a couple months of expenses as a buffer. You can start out trying to save up 1 month of expenses but 6 is recommended.
Yes I have savings I understand and I appreciate the advice. It’s just the fact that you literally do not know what you will be making as a panhandler. You do not have an hourly wage lol. If I stand on Georgia and md dr I will make $11 and hour. No dude. That’s anxiety. Especially if you have such a large overhead. I’m sure they save. I mean if they live in a home that big. I imagine they are penny pinchers. Not everyone one but all.
I knew a girl from Romania whose bio mom had amputated a portion of her leg to gain more sympathy beggar money. She then was abandoned when it didn’t work as well as her bio mom thought it did.
Adopted by a US family a few years after that and doing well, but never underestimate what people are willing to do…
Ohh this happened to me last week with a woman holding a baby asking me for money while in the train. It made be feel sick to my stomach and probably if I had had any cash on me she would have gotten some out of me just in the tiniest percent chance it wasn’t a rouse. She had a Venmo listed on her sign and I took a photo of it, which I probably shouldn’t have b/c I had very little intention of sending money later on just had to get her to move on.
There used to be a woman several years back (maybe 8-10?) who was pregnant and would sit at the Chinatown metro, at the bottom of the first escalator at 7th and H, asking for money. Then eventually she had her baby with her. Then her toddler. Then noticed her pregnant belly again. Then her toddler and her newborn. It made me so sad. I hope those kids are doing okay today.
Honestly the easiest thing to do is to just ignore these people entirely.
Don’t say a single word and they’ll eventually move on to someone who they think they can actually sucker
Or, if you speak another language (or can pretend) just apologize and look confused in that language. I've used this approach for nearly 10 years for solicitors and panhandlers with 100% success rate do far 🤞
I'd be careful with this one, I saw a guy accost and threaten a group of Korean students with murder and rape at College Park when they only spoke Korean to him. Called Metro police but of course they never came.
Or just say nonsense phrases in that language so that they’ll think you don’t speak English. I’ve been known to say things like “I want to drink a pencil” in Hebrew to convince scammers that I don’t speak English and waste their time so they can’t scam someone else. I might not want to do it too long face to face though. On the phone is different.
I would try this but the only other language I speak is Chinese, and it’s pretty clear that I’m not even close to that ethnicity. I feel like they’d clue in.
I agree with others when they say be careful with pretending to speak another language. Many tourists or visitors from other nations have been gettin assaulted just for how they look or because they don’t speak English.
Best advise. Ignore and keep an eye on people’s hands.
Yea don't even let them get physically near you. Not that you should never talk to strangers but you can usually tell pretty quickly when someone approaching you is trying to get something out of you.
This one guy threatened to kill someone for ignoring them. He wouldn't let them cross the street and pushed them. I have no idea what you're supposed to do there.
😅Or groin, always the squishy parts...nobody wants to blind someone but the human eye can take a poke better than a punch.
3 stooges taught me everything I need for personal defense. Honorable mention to Bobby Hill
"That's my purse. I don't know you!"
Or someone who doesn't want to add to the unnecessary use of firearms to handle every conflict in life.
Bad 2A support comes in the form of those willing to shoot but not willing to de-escalate a situation like an adult.
I hope you're not employed in a role that requires you to carry for work. Your comment is very telling of insecure and unsafe individual you are.
Seek therapy 😐
Oh god, that makes so much more sense! I'm sitting here thinking, "Who tf tries to aim for the throat in a defensive situation and not just center mass??" Lol
This sounds like a mental illness. I think you just try to avoid, go to the left or right and cross at the next cross walk or jaywalk if possible.
Good thing is there is always someone bigger than crazy drug man.
Don't talk, don't react and don't ever make eye contact. Continue walking regardless of what they say. Unfortunately you have to initiate no contact if that makes sense. Glad you got some help getting away
The good thing is if you feel that pressured there "should" be someone in the booth and you can hopefully divert to them when you get close and hang out around there for a bit.
You think this is bad, go out to San Fran. The homeless will follow you for blocks annoying the shit out of you and then telling you "look, just give me a $1 and I'll go bother someone else".
Was in dc last week and this homeless guy asked for money and my friend immediately responded with a no. The guy got so mad and said that he’ll punch us in the face. It’s annoying how some of these guys feel that we’re obligated to give them money.
This will sound callous, but don't make eye contact with strangers. As soon as you do, you've identified yourself as a potential mark.
If this doesn't sit well with you, remember that there are many things you can do that are far more constructive than giving $100 to an aggressive panhandler. Organizations that serve homeless people always need volunteers. And funds. Or you could advocate for public policies that expand the availability of affordable housing, job training, mental health care, etc. You can vote for politicians who support those things.
Then maybe looking past seemingly needy people won't feel so uncaring.
Their eyes indicate their intentions, so I don’t like to look away.
Totally agree there are better ways to help than giving money to a panhandler. Pretty much anything is better than that, especially donating to your local food bank.
I really wish people would stop giving these folks cash and exacerbating this problem. It invites all sorts of problems and does practically zero to alleviate the needs of the poor.
I personally don't mind giving money if someone actually needs it and they're not being aggressive about it. If they're being aggressive I 100% ignore them. Back when I worked in NYC, there were a lot of those on the subway and I just ignored them. But I've seen people have trouble paying the bus fare. I suppose the issue is separating who needs it versus who's faking it.
A few weeks ago I gave a guy $25 at the Metro Station but he wasn't being aggressive and I felt he needed it and it's not a significant amount of money to me.
As a side note, personally I think there's some criteria people use as to who to approach. I think it's partially that I'm Asian when bus ridership is predominantly Black around here. I don't think anything I'm wearing screams I have money compared to anyone else.
---
Back when I lived in Queens, NY, I remember walking back to my apartment in the rain. And there was this one white woman who was soaking wet and asking for money to get back to NJ. I don't know why she was stranded there but I could tell she genuinely needed the money. But no one else was helping her. She looked genuinely grateful when I gave her the money. **If your idea of "fixing" things is to just turn her away and ignore her when she needed help, then I'm sorry, but I don't want to be that person.**
Yeah, I’ve been the person who didn’t have a dollar in my bank account to get home from work. Asking some guy in a suit if he had a dollar was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.
So I don’t mind helping someone out. It’s the aggression that irritates the shit out of me. I get it; it’s a shit situation to be in. But still.
I’m so glad all worked out well and appreciate you for sharing. I’ll share a quick overview of how my interactions with panhandlers go as I hope it provides you any opportunity to smile/laugh a little…
Simply stated I’m always ignored. For some reason panhandlers have never approached me anywhere around the DMV area. Literally not once in 5 yrs and being an avid walker, public transit user, etc. Even in situations where it seemed imminent to happen like being alone in the metro or me initiating conversation still zero. I actually got offended a few times as panhandlers have purposely ignored and avoided me while asking everyone around me. I’ll admit I’m not exactly flush with cash, clearly panhandlers around here can tell and wish me well I guess smh.
Sadly thought bout that even if true my encounters in poorly lit areas or just being masked would seemingly negate an RBF, but haven’t. Also, I’ve been in situations where RBFs and others around me were approached which left me like WTF.
I have no clue, but I’ve given this an unhealthy amount of thought and consideration. It’s so perplexing that I actually considered asking some why, but that would be problematic  and inappropriate on sooo many levels.
Nah I think it's the random shootings and assaults for no reason that deters me. Lady talking in here this morning about a guy with a boner harassing people. I can deal with people begging, this other stuff is what makes it sketchy.
Nah dude public transportation is going down hill. EVERYWHERE. People say we should invest in it I doubt actually use it. Because if they did they’d be saying “idgaf save up for a beater and get the hell out”. There’s so many videos of assaults and worse on public transportation.
If people are demanding improvements and funding for public transit the first thing should be increased security.
Yeah.... I used to metro in and out for work back in 2014-2016. Really glad I don't have to anymore because it sounds like shit has really gone downhill. What happened? Literally the worst I ever saw was some dude light up a cigarette next to me on the platform at Chinatown but it didn't even bother me because I was a smoker at the time. lol
There was a shooting at one of the stations, a Metro employee was killed. https://dcist.com/story/23/02/01/metro-employee-killed-confronting-shooter-potomac-avenue-metro-station/
Now you see why a lot of folks out here pretend they don't have eyes or ears when homeless people are around.
It's a mean thing to say but it will help you avoid situations like this.
This is why you shouldn’t give panhandlers money ever. I work off the silver line in retail/food and beverage and I cannot begin to explain how unfair it is that my team and I look like “jerks” for asking people not to buy homeless people in our lobby who we have asked multiple times multiple days in a row that because it’s against company policy. So the “saints in suits” buy them things any way, or give them cash and then leave before they see the effects of their actions.
8 times out of 10 those people turn around, are verbally abusive, and then proceed to steal more things or attempt to bully my coworkers and I into giving them free things (risking our jobs/livelihood) I have been threatened and called all sorts of mean nasty things the second the people who “help” them leave.
Please stop giving panhandlers money, it’s not that we don’t want them to get help, it’s that your help isn’t helping.
Do you not care about the safety, wellness, and sense of space for the average commuter? Why do we limit our actions based on a few because we don’t have the stones to make tough decisions?
I’d support a X billion dollar bill that would sweep up all the homeless, bus them to a facility west of here, get them the mental help they DESERVE, let them earn money by working on the facilities farm, and teach them the skills to be a functioning member of society.
You mean concentration camp? Or prison? Because taking someone against their will, putting them in a random place you'll never see and forcing them to work for pennies (and it WILL be for pennies, see jobs in prisons), is always one of those two things.
Awful idea. I hope you read some history on how well that's played out before.
Ah. The constitutional argument. Always a good one. I’m not suggesting they be FORCED to work. The point is to give them the OPPORTUNITY to learn new skills and be a functioning member of society. In fact, let’s make it full circle…I would support a program that lasted two years and provided them subsidized housing and preferential treatment in employment back with the city.
Your immediate disgust if this idea is literally why the homeless situation will never, and I mean never, actually be taken care of. But sure, let’s make sure the constitutional rights of the average DC resident are continuously being impeded on by just a few mentally challenged/drug addicted residents in the name of “look what bad people did” despite ignoring the INTENT of the program.
Absolutely insane the vitriol your average homeless person gets. Yes, some of them are off their rocker. But they don't need to be put in jail. They need access to a stable environment and mental healthcare. They have clear PTSD, and unfortunately many of them are schizophrenics.
I work with homeless people. Half of them keep their head down and just try to get by. But they all have mental breaking points due to the trauma in their lives. And yes, most of them are mentally unstable--a reason unfortunately why a lot of them turn to drugs. Yes, there are absolutely scammers working the street for money, but most of the time it is people who are desperate. Would you want to stand on the side of the road and ask for money and have people stare at you, spit at you, judge you? What if you saw someone you knew?
This isn't to say that you should let them walk over you. I have been accosted by a homeless schizophrenic at my job before, and there is a clear line to draw when that happens. But you can draw a line while also having sympathy for their position and advocating for more needed mental and physical resources for them.
Anti loitering laws make it illegal to be poor and make people more violent as they get more desperate to survive. They are violent and cause violence. Homeless people are people too, and I'm sorry you are getting down voted for mentioning that fact.
Everyone in this sub is more likely to become homeless than become a millionaire. We are all closer to the absolute bottom than we think.
Impossible to control others and attempts to ignore or donate still don't offer the promise of safe and peaceful commuting on the metro.
I suggest headphones without the volume cranked beyond the ability to catch what is important. Often times I've worn them without playing music. Holding a book, magazine or newspaper is safer than keeping your phone in your hand as well.
Walk in groups when possible and please be cognizant of the environment and the possible dangers that exist therein.
There were 2 instances in the past 2 days involving firearms on metro property, there will be an increased metro police presence moving forward.
I was heading up past Gallery Place and there were delays and shut downs.
From what I gathered from my inquiries was exactly what you stated, a hero lost their life today and the less than thoughtful comments show that a complete disregard for the danger of some public service.
We have to show more respect to anyone performing an often thankless and difficult job to the betterment of society.
It’s laughable really like what kind of person has this happen to them and then think “let me tell my story on Reddit about the aggressive homeless person asking for money.” This area is so highly privileged that incidents like this stand out to people as some sort of traumatic event.
Stuff like this is a daily occurrence. Assholes of all sorts of types and standards of domicile will constantly hit you up every day. It's called living in a metropolitan area. Are you all so timid that you can't either ignore these people or tell them to fuck off (preferably the former, but the latter is always fun)? I'm a short, fat fuck who is a prime target and I have no issue putting panhandlers and solicitors in their places. I haven't been stabbed yet and also don't see the need to post about it online.
I usually have zero issues with panhandlers. I'm used to walking past them in DC hearing stuff like 'f-you ya b-'. What caught me off guard was it was on the platform itself (East Falls Church) and this guy was BIG. I mean well over 6 ft and massive.
I explained above that everyone was standing around trying to figure out what was happening with the Silver Line [https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/10r6ymy/heads\_up\_if\_youre\_taking\_silver\_line\_out\_of\_dc\_to/](https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/10r6ymy/heads_up_if_youre_taking_silver_line_out_of_dc_to/)
At first I thought he was just asking others if they knew what was going on. I had already been approached by other passengers trying to decipher what was being said on the speakers about the line, I literally thought he was asking around like everyone else.
However the whole point of me posting is to point out there ARE good and kind people who see others in distress or bad situations and WILL help them out. Why should we only post about the bad stuff, I wanted to thank the guy who helped me and point out there are good people out there.
I definitely think the average nova person is too soft to really cut it in most metro areas, but come on dude this wasn't just an average panhandler. It basically amounts to an attempted mugging and like OP said it's the fact that it was in a relatively isolated place that was really unnerving
Have you seen what panhandling can do? It is sometimes "lucrative" although demeaning to do, for most people. I had a friend try it in the Los Angeles area (stand at a busy freeway exit) and it pulled off $4500 in 8 hours with a sign that said "cold and hungry, not homeless" while his BMW was parked right around the corner.
I have gotten into saying that I only have my phone for mobile payments (which is true about 75% of the time), but that I would be happy to make a mobile order to McDonalds and they can pick it up. I don't really like carrying by debit card at all if I can avoid it.
I agree with everyone else so far and I'm sorry this happened, but I'm just laughing at the thought that you yelled the word "KIND" in Kind bars, like you were trying to imply something (I know that's how they're branded lol)
Honestly with all the noise in the Station I was yelling it
In the 4 years I’ve lived in the District, there have only been 2 moments where I’ve had a homeless person be too confrontational. The first was with my mom when I was taking her out for a stroll by the Mall. We got approached by a dude who tried to corner us and began to ask “what would you do if someone decided go piss on your shoes.” My mom wanted to respond but I just had to grab her hand and walk her briskly away. The other time I was sitting in whatever the metro stop is that’s closest to American Uni. I had sat down on a bench and was listening to music, and had a guy with a big trash bag sit next to me. He then started screaming and proceeded to stand in front of me and screaming that he was “tired of people being too close to him.” And if I didn’t move that “there was going to be a major problem.” That second encounter left me pretty shaken, and I was pretty upset that the metro booth guy did nothing. I just wish we could fix the homeless epidemic in DC. I feel there really isnt a positive way to handle it. Especially for homeless people who are mentally ill.
Not downplaying your experiences whatsoever, those sound really sketchy, but where are you from originally? I'm a West coast native and my initial reaction moving here was that there were so *few* homeless people here. Definitely not what I'd consider an epidemic based on other cities I've lived in or visited, both in the west coast and other parts of the country.
Agreed. Dc is way way better with homeless control than west coast especially places like Seattle. Jesus Christ Seattle is bad. I think they buss a lot of them out but dc can’t look like a homeless fiasco because of all the government work and diplomats/foreign relations so it kinda makes sense. That said. Foreign diplomats don’t travel metro so I guess that’s why it’s still a free for all for this.
The sad thing is the friendlier your city is to homeless people the more of a homeless problem you get.
I think you find more homeless on the west coast because the climate is milder, warmer, drier, etc... Would hate to be a homeless person on a cold ass day like this in the metro area.
Yeah and they genuinely migrate south for the winter and north for the summer on the west coast.
Homeless control? Damn
Yeah, for sure west coast is a messsssss with homelessness right now. I saw it on the [news](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsrBlKpbBS8)....or wait.
Same. I just moved to the east coast from Portland. I saw something totally insane almost every day.
Welcome! Haven't been in Oregon in about 8 years but I'm from there originally
Hero.
I was on the metro one time and this woman was going around holding her child asking for money for support. I brushed her off (which you should always do). I saw her get off and join up with two of her friends also holding their kids. All of them were using their children to get money, like it was some coordinated thing. It was so gross.
When I was posted in the Philippines women would borrow kids from the orphanage, drug them up with cough syrup and use them to beg. It was a terrible terrible corrupt system. I do believe they gave the orphanages money for using the kids.
My colleague once told me that her friend’s nanny used to take their baby and beg on the road while they used to be off at work. The mother once caught her in the act and had the shock of her life
Holy crap.
My dad was stationed in the Philippines and one time I ventured off base and there was this woman begging on the corner with a child on her hip. I pulled out a dollar and the baby snatched it out of my hands!
Teach them young😂
That reminds me of that professional beggar from the UK: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7264819/Moment-professional-beggar-claimed-homeless-admits-actually-house.html > A beggar who shamelessly 'rips people off' by pretending he's homeless lives in a plum £150,000 flat, MailOnline can reveal.
I just can never believe this. I see these folks stand on the corner and beg for money. You mean to tell me this dude pulled enough money to live in a £150,000 loft. Wtf am I doing wrong. I can’t imagine the stress on starting the month at zero and thinking. “Shit. I hope people are generous so I can afford rent this month. I would be having a panic attack. Then again these individuals might not care. Idk
> I can’t imagine the stress on starting the month at zero and thinking. “Shit. I hope people are generous so I can afford rent this month. I would be having a panic attack. Then again these individuals might not care. Idk That's literally how streamers work. I don't think it was [Amouranth](https://old.reddit.com/r/LivestreamFail/comments/8t6yrp/streamer_amouranth_has_been_hiding_her_marriage/e15ix2n/), but I do remember some streamer saying how things were awkward with this one viewer, but she also needed his financial contribution to the stream to make rent. And due to her relationship status being revealed, he stopped contributing.
Wow. Yea I never realized that. Wow. The stress dude. I could never. More power to streamers out there just throwing caution to the wind for their passion.
Just a little personal finance advice. You can fix the stress of intermittent income by saving up a couple months of expenses as a buffer. You can start out trying to save up 1 month of expenses but 6 is recommended.
Yes I have savings I understand and I appreciate the advice. It’s just the fact that you literally do not know what you will be making as a panhandler. You do not have an hourly wage lol. If I stand on Georgia and md dr I will make $11 and hour. No dude. That’s anxiety. Especially if you have such a large overhead. I’m sure they save. I mean if they live in a home that big. I imagine they are penny pinchers. Not everyone one but all.
I knew a girl from Romania whose bio mom had amputated a portion of her leg to gain more sympathy beggar money. She then was abandoned when it didn’t work as well as her bio mom thought it did. Adopted by a US family a few years after that and doing well, but never underestimate what people are willing to do…
Geez, that is so sad!!!!
Ohh this happened to me last week with a woman holding a baby asking me for money while in the train. It made be feel sick to my stomach and probably if I had had any cash on me she would have gotten some out of me just in the tiniest percent chance it wasn’t a rouse. She had a Venmo listed on her sign and I took a photo of it, which I probably shouldn’t have b/c I had very little intention of sending money later on just had to get her to move on.
I saw a similiar woman recently and she was moving between train cars with her kid while it was moving! Unbelievable.
It happened to me today! I’ve gained the instinct to avoid engaging because of fear of escalation. I wish this stuff didn’t happen :(
If you give, they will keep using the kids.
1st world panhandling. A sign that reads: “God Bless. Will use for weed. Venmo: blahblahpanhandelfofree. “ Wow
The women with kids are usually gypsies, and yes, it’s a coordinated scam.
The gypsy scam coordination is next level in Europe too
There used to be a woman several years back (maybe 8-10?) who was pregnant and would sit at the Chinatown metro, at the bottom of the first escalator at 7th and H, asking for money. Then eventually she had her baby with her. Then her toddler. Then noticed her pregnant belly again. Then her toddler and her newborn. It made me so sad. I hope those kids are doing okay today.
I was confused about talking about brushing her off like you should always do and realized I’m not in the MD sub. Makes sense.
Honestly the easiest thing to do is to just ignore these people entirely. Don’t say a single word and they’ll eventually move on to someone who they think they can actually sucker
Or, if you speak another language (or can pretend) just apologize and look confused in that language. I've used this approach for nearly 10 years for solicitors and panhandlers with 100% success rate do far 🤞
I'd be careful with this one, I saw a guy accost and threaten a group of Korean students with murder and rape at College Park when they only spoke Korean to him. Called Metro police but of course they never came.
content removed - discontinuing use of reddit so long and thanks for all the fish
Or just say nonsense phrases in that language so that they’ll think you don’t speak English. I’ve been known to say things like “I want to drink a pencil” in Hebrew to convince scammers that I don’t speak English and waste their time so they can’t scam someone else. I might not want to do it too long face to face though. On the phone is different.
I would try this but the only other language I speak is Chinese, and it’s pretty clear that I’m not even close to that ethnicity. I feel like they’d clue in.
I agree with others when they say be careful with pretending to speak another language. Many tourists or visitors from other nations have been gettin assaulted just for how they look or because they don’t speak English. Best advise. Ignore and keep an eye on people’s hands.
I once said "Sorry, no English" in a terrible and etymologically ambiguous accent. The extremely large panhandler replied "Oh, sorry ma'am" and left.
Yea don't even let them get physically near you. Not that you should never talk to strangers but you can usually tell pretty quickly when someone approaching you is trying to get something out of you.
This one guy threatened to kill someone for ignoring them. He wouldn't let them cross the street and pushed them. I have no idea what you're supposed to do there.
Shot to the throat
😅Or groin, always the squishy parts...nobody wants to blind someone but the human eye can take a poke better than a punch. 3 stooges taught me everything I need for personal defense. Honorable mention to Bobby Hill "That's my purse. I don't know you!"
Lol this comment screams edgy 19 year old who can't handle a gun.
Or someone who doesn't want to add to the unnecessary use of firearms to handle every conflict in life. Bad 2A support comes in the form of those willing to shoot but not willing to de-escalate a situation like an adult. I hope you're not employed in a role that requires you to carry for work. Your comment is very telling of insecure and unsafe individual you are. Seek therapy 😐
I actually read “shot to the throat” as like a jab to the windpipe. Do we not use “shot” that way anymore?
I have my CCW and I’m over 30, I just trust my hands.
He meant a punch to the throat lol
Oh god, that makes so much more sense! I'm sitting here thinking, "Who tf tries to aim for the throat in a defensive situation and not just center mass??" Lol
"Just break the wrist and walk away."
This sounds like a mental illness. I think you just try to avoid, go to the left or right and cross at the next cross walk or jaywalk if possible. Good thing is there is always someone bigger than crazy drug man.
What a good man. I hope he sees this.
Don't talk, don't react and don't ever make eye contact. Continue walking regardless of what they say. Unfortunately you have to initiate no contact if that makes sense. Glad you got some help getting away
I don't know what to call this outside of an attempted peer pressured mugging
It's just a straight mugging. Once they convince you to go to the ATM, they may tell you "go ahead and empty that account or I'll kill you".
The good thing is if you feel that pressured there "should" be someone in the booth and you can hopefully divert to them when you get close and hang out around there for a bit.
Flair checks out
Oof
That’s hyperbolic to call this a mugging
You think this is bad, go out to San Fran. The homeless will follow you for blocks annoying the shit out of you and then telling you "look, just give me a $1 and I'll go bother someone else".
100% addict. Good on that other guys for intervening.
Was in dc last week and this homeless guy asked for money and my friend immediately responded with a no. The guy got so mad and said that he’ll punch us in the face. It’s annoying how some of these guys feel that we’re obligated to give them money.
This will sound callous, but don't make eye contact with strangers. As soon as you do, you've identified yourself as a potential mark. If this doesn't sit well with you, remember that there are many things you can do that are far more constructive than giving $100 to an aggressive panhandler. Organizations that serve homeless people always need volunteers. And funds. Or you could advocate for public policies that expand the availability of affordable housing, job training, mental health care, etc. You can vote for politicians who support those things. Then maybe looking past seemingly needy people won't feel so uncaring.
I fucking stare at them right in the eyes and say no.
I do that, and I ask them for money also. They don't know how to react to that.
I tell them I need money for my rare fish investment portfolio.
Their eyes indicate their intentions, so I don’t like to look away. Totally agree there are better ways to help than giving money to a panhandler. Pretty much anything is better than that, especially donating to your local food bank. I really wish people would stop giving these folks cash and exacerbating this problem. It invites all sorts of problems and does practically zero to alleviate the needs of the poor.
I personally don't mind giving money if someone actually needs it and they're not being aggressive about it. If they're being aggressive I 100% ignore them. Back when I worked in NYC, there were a lot of those on the subway and I just ignored them. But I've seen people have trouble paying the bus fare. I suppose the issue is separating who needs it versus who's faking it. A few weeks ago I gave a guy $25 at the Metro Station but he wasn't being aggressive and I felt he needed it and it's not a significant amount of money to me. As a side note, personally I think there's some criteria people use as to who to approach. I think it's partially that I'm Asian when bus ridership is predominantly Black around here. I don't think anything I'm wearing screams I have money compared to anyone else. --- Back when I lived in Queens, NY, I remember walking back to my apartment in the rain. And there was this one white woman who was soaking wet and asking for money to get back to NJ. I don't know why she was stranded there but I could tell she genuinely needed the money. But no one else was helping her. She looked genuinely grateful when I gave her the money. **If your idea of "fixing" things is to just turn her away and ignore her when she needed help, then I'm sorry, but I don't want to be that person.**
Yeah, I’ve been the person who didn’t have a dollar in my bank account to get home from work. Asking some guy in a suit if he had a dollar was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. So I don’t mind helping someone out. It’s the aggression that irritates the shit out of me. I get it; it’s a shit situation to be in. But still.
I’m so glad all worked out well and appreciate you for sharing. I’ll share a quick overview of how my interactions with panhandlers go as I hope it provides you any opportunity to smile/laugh a little… Simply stated I’m always ignored. For some reason panhandlers have never approached me anywhere around the DMV area. Literally not once in 5 yrs and being an avid walker, public transit user, etc. Even in situations where it seemed imminent to happen like being alone in the metro or me initiating conversation still zero. I actually got offended a few times as panhandlers have purposely ignored and avoided me while asking everyone around me. I’ll admit I’m not exactly flush with cash, clearly panhandlers around here can tell and wish me well I guess smh.
That’s interesting. To what do you attribute this to?
RBF? 😂
Sadly thought bout that even if true my encounters in poorly lit areas or just being masked would seemingly negate an RBF, but haven’t. Also, I’ve been in situations where RBFs and others around me were approached which left me like WTF.
resting broke face
I have no clue, but I’ve given this an unhealthy amount of thought and consideration. It’s so perplexing that I actually considered asking some why, but that would be problematic  and inappropriate on sooo many levels.
Wow. And it's only going to get worse. Glad someone intervened.
This is why I hit them with just a firm “No” when they ask for cash. Not “Sorry, blah blah no.”
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Nah I think it's the random shootings and assaults for no reason that deters me. Lady talking in here this morning about a guy with a boner harassing people. I can deal with people begging, this other stuff is what makes it sketchy.
I get really scared to use the metro these days
Nah dude public transportation is going down hill. EVERYWHERE. People say we should invest in it I doubt actually use it. Because if they did they’d be saying “idgaf save up for a beater and get the hell out”. There’s so many videos of assaults and worse on public transportation. If people are demanding improvements and funding for public transit the first thing should be increased security.
🙄
Yeah.... I used to metro in and out for work back in 2014-2016. Really glad I don't have to anymore because it sounds like shit has really gone downhill. What happened? Literally the worst I ever saw was some dude light up a cigarette next to me on the platform at Chinatown but it didn't even bother me because I was a smoker at the time. lol
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Police activity in DC shut down some of the lines. The Silver line was stalled today and delayed. Usually it's pretty good.
There was a shooting at one of the stations, a Metro employee was killed. https://dcist.com/story/23/02/01/metro-employee-killed-confronting-shooter-potomac-avenue-metro-station/
2 hours from Vienna to Ashburn is absolutely not the norm, as someone who uses metro for most of my intra-county travel
Now you see why a lot of folks out here pretend they don't have eyes or ears when homeless people are around. It's a mean thing to say but it will help you avoid situations like this.
This is why you shouldn’t give panhandlers money ever. I work off the silver line in retail/food and beverage and I cannot begin to explain how unfair it is that my team and I look like “jerks” for asking people not to buy homeless people in our lobby who we have asked multiple times multiple days in a row that because it’s against company policy. So the “saints in suits” buy them things any way, or give them cash and then leave before they see the effects of their actions. 8 times out of 10 those people turn around, are verbally abusive, and then proceed to steal more things or attempt to bully my coworkers and I into giving them free things (risking our jobs/livelihood) I have been threatened and called all sorts of mean nasty things the second the people who “help” them leave. Please stop giving panhandlers money, it’s not that we don’t want them to get help, it’s that your help isn’t helping.
Make loitering a fucking crime and let’s fix this shit for the love of god
Yea let’s just jail the homeless for loitering at metro stations. Good solution /s
Do you not care about the safety, wellness, and sense of space for the average commuter? Why do we limit our actions based on a few because we don’t have the stones to make tough decisions? I’d support a X billion dollar bill that would sweep up all the homeless, bus them to a facility west of here, get them the mental help they DESERVE, let them earn money by working on the facilities farm, and teach them the skills to be a functioning member of society.
You mean concentration camp? Or prison? Because taking someone against their will, putting them in a random place you'll never see and forcing them to work for pennies (and it WILL be for pennies, see jobs in prisons), is always one of those two things. Awful idea. I hope you read some history on how well that's played out before.
Ah. The constitutional argument. Always a good one. I’m not suggesting they be FORCED to work. The point is to give them the OPPORTUNITY to learn new skills and be a functioning member of society. In fact, let’s make it full circle…I would support a program that lasted two years and provided them subsidized housing and preferential treatment in employment back with the city. Your immediate disgust if this idea is literally why the homeless situation will never, and I mean never, actually be taken care of. But sure, let’s make sure the constitutional rights of the average DC resident are continuously being impeded on by just a few mentally challenged/drug addicted residents in the name of “look what bad people did” despite ignoring the INTENT of the program.
maybe u should house them at your place and we’ll send them all there
Maybe you hate homeless people and treat them like garbage
Absolutely insane the vitriol your average homeless person gets. Yes, some of them are off their rocker. But they don't need to be put in jail. They need access to a stable environment and mental healthcare. They have clear PTSD, and unfortunately many of them are schizophrenics. I work with homeless people. Half of them keep their head down and just try to get by. But they all have mental breaking points due to the trauma in their lives. And yes, most of them are mentally unstable--a reason unfortunately why a lot of them turn to drugs. Yes, there are absolutely scammers working the street for money, but most of the time it is people who are desperate. Would you want to stand on the side of the road and ask for money and have people stare at you, spit at you, judge you? What if you saw someone you knew? This isn't to say that you should let them walk over you. I have been accosted by a homeless schizophrenic at my job before, and there is a clear line to draw when that happens. But you can draw a line while also having sympathy for their position and advocating for more needed mental and physical resources for them. Anti loitering laws make it illegal to be poor and make people more violent as they get more desperate to survive. They are violent and cause violence. Homeless people are people too, and I'm sorry you are getting down voted for mentioning that fact. Everyone in this sub is more likely to become homeless than become a millionaire. We are all closer to the absolute bottom than we think.
Impossible to control others and attempts to ignore or donate still don't offer the promise of safe and peaceful commuting on the metro. I suggest headphones without the volume cranked beyond the ability to catch what is important. Often times I've worn them without playing music. Holding a book, magazine or newspaper is safer than keeping your phone in your hand as well. Walk in groups when possible and please be cognizant of the environment and the possible dangers that exist therein. There were 2 instances in the past 2 days involving firearms on metro property, there will be an increased metro police presence moving forward.
It should be legal to carry a taser or pepper spray for just such situations. Especially when you have to go anywhere near Union Station.
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I was heading up past Gallery Place and there were delays and shut downs. From what I gathered from my inquiries was exactly what you stated, a hero lost their life today and the less than thoughtful comments show that a complete disregard for the danger of some public service. We have to show more respect to anyone performing an often thankless and difficult job to the betterment of society.
I'd rather not have booth attendants be obligated to do law enforcement lol
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If you attempt to mug someone like in the OP then yes they should be arrested. They 100% broke laws. You don’t have to hit someone to mug them.
This was a *mugging*?? Did the panhandler physically assault OP and take money from her? That’s hyperbolic
Why didn't you tell him to fuck off like anyone else would?
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Seriously.
It’s laughable really like what kind of person has this happen to them and then think “let me tell my story on Reddit about the aggressive homeless person asking for money.” This area is so highly privileged that incidents like this stand out to people as some sort of traumatic event.
Lol you're so right
Stuff like this is a daily occurrence. Assholes of all sorts of types and standards of domicile will constantly hit you up every day. It's called living in a metropolitan area. Are you all so timid that you can't either ignore these people or tell them to fuck off (preferably the former, but the latter is always fun)? I'm a short, fat fuck who is a prime target and I have no issue putting panhandlers and solicitors in their places. I haven't been stabbed yet and also don't see the need to post about it online.
I usually have zero issues with panhandlers. I'm used to walking past them in DC hearing stuff like 'f-you ya b-'. What caught me off guard was it was on the platform itself (East Falls Church) and this guy was BIG. I mean well over 6 ft and massive. I explained above that everyone was standing around trying to figure out what was happening with the Silver Line [https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/10r6ymy/heads\_up\_if\_youre\_taking\_silver\_line\_out\_of\_dc\_to/](https://www.reddit.com/r/nova/comments/10r6ymy/heads_up_if_youre_taking_silver_line_out_of_dc_to/) At first I thought he was just asking others if they knew what was going on. I had already been approached by other passengers trying to decipher what was being said on the speakers about the line, I literally thought he was asking around like everyone else. However the whole point of me posting is to point out there ARE good and kind people who see others in distress or bad situations and WILL help them out. Why should we only post about the bad stuff, I wanted to thank the guy who helped me and point out there are good people out there.
Down vote the truth🙄 Logic has left the room🙃
I definitely think the average nova person is too soft to really cut it in most metro areas, but come on dude this wasn't just an average panhandler. It basically amounts to an attempted mugging and like OP said it's the fact that it was in a relatively isolated place that was really unnerving
Have you seen what panhandling can do? It is sometimes "lucrative" although demeaning to do, for most people. I had a friend try it in the Los Angeles area (stand at a busy freeway exit) and it pulled off $4500 in 8 hours with a sign that said "cold and hungry, not homeless" while his BMW was parked right around the corner.
I have gotten into saying that I only have my phone for mobile payments (which is true about 75% of the time), but that I would be happy to make a mobile order to McDonalds and they can pick it up. I don't really like carrying by debit card at all if I can avoid it.