Cities in Canada, if you're smoking, it's impossible to walk somewhere without being asked for a cigarette. It always goes something like this, "Hey man. Can I buy one of those? I'll give you a buck." Everyone knows they're overpaying for that cig on street, but it's fine.
In life, I've been down to my last dollar. Came very close to being trapped and homeless permanently. Becomes very difficult to get a job for instance, if you had no place to shower before the interview and your clothes are dirty.
So instead of panhandling, I'd hustle people. Get my hands on some cigs, put one in my mouth as a signal or beacon to attract a mark, and walk up and down the street, for hours, selling cigs at a premium to anyone that asked. It wasn't hard to take one of those dollars, negotiate, a buy two or three cigs for a buck. With enough time I could easily convert something like two or three cigs into enough money to be able to smoke, drink coffee, and eat. Plus nobody was getting ripped off. Those people were literally handing out dollars. It was their choice. I was simply accommodating them.
Before all that, I used to be so annoyed when someone would offer a buck for a cig. Later used it to my benefit and often wondered how many others were up to the same games.
Some of those folks holding the signs and doing nothing drive pretty nice cars. It's an act.
I get asked for cigarettes here all of the time and I've never even smoked one in my life. I get it though, the more people you ask the more likely you are to get one.
Can't believe you used to slang individual cigs like that. That's gotta look epic on a resume 😉 Also that is such a better way than begging for money on a corner with a sign.
I once saw a group of people rotating who held the sign. After their shift was over, they'd walk down the hill and get in this big van they were sharing. This happened when I was very young so it impacted how I view these types of things a lot.
If you just try to bum smokes for free, you'll hear "No" all day. Some would look at smoke in my mouth, or see me holding a pack out in the open (another way to signal), hold up a dollar coin without even asking. Outside of a bar in the evening would be like a gold mine. Nobody ever suspected I was struggling either. Would just blend right in.
Vote begging here comes in a few other forms. Some directly ask, like you've pointed out. Others are playing the victim card, exploiting pity, making others feel sorry for them, playing on their heartstrings. And of course it's all a ruse. Can't be "sick and dying" or experiencing "family emergencies", yet be here daily, for several years, talking about it. Those con artists can be quite convincing though...
That’s some pretty genius tactics you were using.
Maybe I’m cold hearted, but I usually don’t fall for those sympathy stories. There have been only a few that made me want to do what I could to help. Now genuine pain and suffering, that’s totally different and a lot more obvious that it is truthful.
Comes across as genuine when someone is showing signs of struggling, and that's out of character or unusual.
I don't think it's cold hearted. More like it's normal. If every sob story was met with the attraction and help from gullible minds, you'd see a never ending stream of "new accounts" in turmoil surrounded by the help of strangers. That's simply not how life works though.
I think it's wise to always consider every possible outcome including the thought someone might be taking you for a ride. For your own safety as well. Old lady could flag you down, tell you she needs help moving a chair, so you enter her home, and three days later you're still tied up in the basement while some crazy guy prances around wearing only socks.
I remember the last time I fell for this trick. Never again. That basement was cold and smelled god awful.
I know all about it...
https://peakd.com/steemfest/@nonameslefttouse/my-road-to-steemfest-cut-short-why-i-will-not-be-attending-steemfest-in-thailand
🤣 I love it