This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can’t be giving out 20’s to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say “oh no, I donate to services that help the needy” because that person isn’t necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to “get rid of them” but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
May not be the most polite thing to do, but when outside I always wear headphones walk at fast pace and don’t hear anyone no matter who speaks to be.
I’ve noticed that as long as I have my headphones on, even if they aren’t playing, most ppl won’t speak to me anyway.
I used to take public transportation and wore those big, over-the-ear headphones (can’t stand the piss poor audio quality of earbuds) and for whatever reason it attracted more people trying to talk to me. I never understood that.