People beg for money on the streets and elsewhere for all sorts of different reasons and some are just better at it than others. Now, I don't really know which sorts of people give money to beggars, but I know that I do relatively often, but I do have some standards.
Good way to get money from me, be cute, have a baby or have a dog. Punkish hair and/or piercings also helps. I will, under absolutely no circumstances, give money to someone begging if I have ever gone to school with them. I'll offer them a ride or I'll buy them lunch, but I won't just give them money. Why the differentiation in treatment there, I don't know, but I think it's okay.
One sure fire way to get me to turn you down (if you ever decide to beg money in a parking lot near me), is to do what this lady today did to me in the lot at DeVargas:
I'm walking to the movie theater from the car and I realize I've forgotten my wallet in the car. I go back. On my way to the car a woman stops me and goes, "Excuse me, would you like to buy a drawing of Jesus--I need help with gas money."
First off, the parking lot is hot. No one wants to stop in the parking lot. Try the shade near the enterance on the public sidewalk so security can't throw you off (they'd rather not call the police, so this is a safe bet), also, it's near the movie theater and two light-fare mall restuarants, which means people will have just gotten change, as they are less likely to use credit or debit cards at these locations (not that I've EVER begged myself or anything...).
Secondly though, who in their right mind would think that, in the liberal enclave of Santa Fe, that the way to guilt someone into giving you money would be to try and sell them a picture of Jesus? Please, make it more difficult for me to say no next time. I'd like to give beggars money, but I'd like to give only to the savvy beggars--at least they are paying attention.
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