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Craigslist ... the stupid never ends.

Personally, and I'm sad to say, I always look the other way. IMO, if your beggin, your a bum or a theif.

I'm sure someone will bite, but it wont be me. That bum will stab you in the back if there will be a crack rock or a bottle of Ripple on the other side.

Anyone here ever been robbed? The feeling you get when you come home and all your sh!t is ransacked, stolen, all because some BUM didnt want to get a job.

Is anyone here going to justify the guy/s who broke into my house and stole thousands of dollars worth of sh!t because they were hungry or their kids needed to eat? Or wanted a "cold beer"?

This guy is a freaking bum. Plain and simple. And if you are on the on/off ramp when I am coming, dont get too close to the white line. I will do this world a favor and put you out of your misery...

ImageUploadedByTalkBass1371650249.053580.jpg
 
I always give at least a few bucks when ever I get asked. If they're lying to me about being out of work or down on their luck or whatever, that's between them and whatever deity or belief system they choose to believe in. There are enough people in the world today that go through life without helping others, the least I can do is give a few worthless (to me) green pieces of paper to some people who may need them. I also give hot meals if I see them regularly in places I frequent.

That being said, I'd only give a bass to a guy who had a legit reason to need one, and I have before, but this doesn't sound like a legit reason in the slightest.
 
Around here, there is a newspaper that is sold exclusively by the homeless or to support the homeless. Some of the articles are even authored by the homeless. The fellows and sometimes gals are on street corners, on-ramps, etc., and for $1 you get a newspaper. It's actually a good paper with a lot of nice articles in it. We spoke to one of the guys once and he told us that the printing is paid for by ads in the paper, and the sellers get to keep every dollar they make. It's a great idea, lends legitimacy to the standing on the street corner thing, and let's the people who really need help the money that bad to help them selves and provide a product to others. And the guys are always friendly and waving.
 
No, just no. Who in their right mind would ask for a free bass (even if it's a beater) and then request scammers to keep their distance? An Affinity Squier is not all that expensive for this dude to get one (purchased!) new or used. Or a $50 knock off. I'm sure he spends more on a dine-out with the wifey than that.

Stupid ad. Stupid person thinking someone is stupid enough to give away their bass to a grown man (who is perfectly capable of buying a beginner's bass). But maybe, someone actually is. I hope not, for the sake of mankind.
 
Around here, there is a newspaper that is sold exclusively by the homeless or to support the homeless. Some of the articles are even authored by the homeless. The fellows and sometimes gals are on street corners, on-ramps, etc., and for $1 you get a newspaper. It's actually a good paper with a lot of nice articles in it. We spoke to one of the guys once and he told us that the printing is paid for by ads in the paper, and the sellers get to keep every dollar they make. It's a great idea, lends legitimacy to the standing on the street corner thing, and let's the people who really need help the money that bad to help them selves and provide a product to others. And the guys are always friendly and waving.

You got it Bro,

Instead of just giving these dudes money, they give them a way to participate and help themselves. That builds self esteem and can be a pathway back into a better situation in life.
 
Maybe money really is so tight that he can't afford to buy his own instrument. Maybe he is so frugal that he cannot justify spending money on something he would only use once. Maybe he is a con artist making $50k a year flipping basses people give him for free.

The world may never know.

People donate instruments to the salvation army. People give instruments away for free on Craigslist. I've even known people who throw away perfectly functional instruments. The idea of giving or getting a free bass is not so far-fetched.
 
Of course, there are many ways to help the poor without handing out money at intersections.......

I don't give handouts to panhandlers, but one of the ways that I am charitable to people who are struggling during hard times is by not making a bunch of one-dimensional, simplistic assumptions about why they deserve to be at the bottom rung of society's ladder.
 
I don't give handouts to panhandlers, but one of the ways that I am charitable to people who are struggling during hard times is by not making a bunch of one-dimensional, simplistic assumptions about why they deserve to be at the bottom rung of society's ladder.

Nonsense. This is America. The land of one-dimensional, simplistic assumptions. One size fits all here. What, you some kind of Socialist?:)
 
Please tell me more of your deep understanding of complex social issues, John Galt. :ninja: :hmm:

Hmmm, lets see, I now have video surveillance, Romanian built AK-47 with handful of 30 round mags, AR-15, couple shotguns, couple 9mm, .45, and a .357, and Secured by ADT.

Come on over, I'll tell you anything you want to know...

Just to add, "IF" i was ever so down on my luck that I needed to stoop to that level and beg, you would see me standing there with my kids.

My sign would read, "Piss on me, please help feed my kids"...
 
Why not donate to the local soup kitchen or mission? At least there is some sort of vetting process going on. I always think that if you have enough time to stand on the freeway onramp all day, you have enough time to look for a job. I have however, handed out food....

Quick story. I have tried to give to a "homeless" bum that was holding the sign, "Will work for food", only once in my life. This was when I was first married. He was on the corner of a gas station. Not far from the Interstate off ramp.

Wife said, "Aww, poor guy. Stop and give him some money". So, being the quick thinker I am, I stopped down the road at McDonalds. Got him a couple Big Macs, big fries, big pop. Even back then, this was 15 bucks. Stopped and said, "Here you go man. It isn't much, but it's food".

"Geez man, Thank you so much"

Driving away with big ol' grin thinking I was the nicest guy in the world helping out that bum. I look in rear veiw mirror and see him walk to the trash can and throw it out. SAY WHAT?

Lucky for him the wife was with me. I was going to go back and knock his last 3 teeth down his freaking throat...
 
Quick story. I have tried to give to a "homeless" bum that was holding the sign, "Will work for food", only once in my life. This was when I was first married. He was on the corner of a gas station. Not far from the Interstate off ramp.

Wife said, "Aww, poor guy. Stop and give him some money". So, being the quick thinker I am, I stopped down the road at McDonalds. Got him a couple Big Macs, big fries, big pop. Even back then, this was 15 bucks. Stopped and said, "Here you go man. It isn't much, but it's food".

"Geez man, Thank you so much"

Driving away with big ol' grin thinking I was the nicest guy in the world helping out that bum. I look in rear veiw mirror and see him walk to the trash can and throw it out. SAY WHAT?

Lucky for him the wife was with me. I was going to go back and knock his last 3 teeth down his freaking throat...

You expected the guy to eat at McDonald's when he is obviously dining on lobster and prime rib when his panhandling shift is over?
 
This thread is so far off topic that my post here is either going to:

A) Kill it

or

B) Make it Catch'A'Fire

~

I'm betting on (A).

~

Case study (X):

***

There is a mission and it is based in America. And it wants to "help" those that have been suffering and continue to suffer. Haiti sounds like a nice place to help out some long time suffering people.

They decide to get a group of young people together and they raise funds to help these poor people. They raise almost 70 thousand dollars and fly the gorgeous young group of college kids down to Port Au Prince.

They arrive with paint, books, paper, pencils, school uniforms, food, and money.

Down to business: They are going to help restore a school and make it better.

They give all of the children new clothes. Not only new school uniforms, but also new jeans, T-shirts, and shoes.

They paint the entire school, and even add a new wing...(so that they can name it after themselves, and the children will be forever grateful)

Then, after having the greatest time away from Mom and Dad, and putting that feather in their cap and on their resume, they go home.

-- What did they really do? --

#1) They put the local clothes shop out of business. The hard working natives find that, with all of the kids getting "free" clothes; nobody in town needs their services.

#2) The book sellers? Nobody needs their books now!

#3) The paint? Well, the children have learned that if they throw rocks at the freshly painted school, it will need more paint and the Americans will come back sooner!

#4) All of that canned and long shelf life food? The dude trying to scratch out a living selling milk has been put out of business.

#5) The teachers? They each got a stipend to spend on their classrooms. LOL.

#6) The fathers and husbands, seeing their wives accepting free food because their children are starving, are shamed. They often leave their families for at least a few days, starving themselves and feeling humiliated because they couldn't be enough of a man to support their family. The wife feels the shame too, but she forgets her pride because of the children.

#7) I could go on and on.


---

But seriously: think about the damage that well meaning people are doing to others by "helping" them.


And, if anyone finds this interesting, I can give examples of how to give and make a difference. In Haiti, or to your local bum.


And, one last thought...

Do you think it impossible that one day you find yourself homeless?

Yes, You. Homeless.

☼
 
Set a saucer of milk out for the neigborhood stray cat. Before you know it, it never leaves. Give a bum money or free stuff... You get my point.

In my town, stray cats get rounded up and put down.

Sounds like a good start to me.

For all you people who feel pity for this bum, you go right ahead and give up your bass.

And when he pulls up in a BMW, you will be the fool...

I'm done with this thread.....
 
Hmmm, lets see, I now have video surveillance, Romanian built AK-47 with handful of 30 round mags, AR-15, couple shotguns, couple 9mm, .45, and a .357, and Secured by ADT.

Come on over, I'll tell you anything you want to know...

Just to add, "IF" i was ever so down on my luck that I needed to stoop to that level and beg, you would see me standing there with my kids.

My sign would read, "Piss on me, please help feed my kids"...

Internet tough guy. How incredibly impressive. I'm sure someone you shout down at on a forum is just chomping at the bit to pull off a home invasion....

It's nice to know that there are enough paranoid people out there to keep the surveillance business happy.
 
Set a saucer of milk out for the neigborhood stray cat. Before you know it, it never leaves. Give a bum money or free stuff... You get my point.

In my town, stray cats get rounded up and put down.

Sounds like a good start to me.

For all you people who feel pity for this bum, you go right ahead and give up your bass.

And when he pulls up in a BMW, you will be the fool...

I'm done with this thread.....
You definitely sound like someone who's new 'round these parts. Hopefully, you'll get a better feel for the place.