Spare a dime for a famous millionaire actor?

[vintage68]

Great story about Sir Ian McKellen being mistaken for a panhandler:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ellen-mistaken-for-tramp-outside-theatre.html

As a rule I don't give out money to panhandlers, but if I saw anyone with a bowler I'd have to break my own rule

 

[Shangas]

We Aussies are naturally generous.

 

[miss_elise]

well, he was dressed as a tramp...

incidentally if you get a chance to see 'Waiting for Godot' I thought it was excellent

 

[Silver Dollar]

That's funny. Well what do you expect? He definitely dressed the part.:eusa_clap

 

[Tomasso]

This story sounds like something spun from the theater's PR department to drum up business.

This photo was certainly staged.

 

[miss_elise]

the photo is staged - especially considering the article keeps mentioning a guy who gave him the coin...


but actually, I think a lot of people are quite generous to street people as we don't have heaps of them about - and anything better than those chuggers (charity muggers)

 

[Tiller]

Great story about Sir Ian McKellen being mistaken for a panhandler:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ellen-mistaken-for-tramp-outside-theatre.html

As a rule I don't give out money to panhandlers, but if I saw anyone with a bowler I'd have to break my own rule

I hear you. I also have a rule about giving money to beggars, but if he was wearing a bowler hat I'd just have to for the sake of it lol.

 

[Undertow]

Oh, I can believe it. People do all sorts of things either out of generosity, or plain ignorance. I've seen it many times. In fact, here in Des Moines, some of our panhandlers are so well kept, you might not know they were homeless. I've been leaned up against a rail reading a newspaper and people have offered me money. And I was clean shaven! [huh]

Besides that, it's like going to an art show and commenting how boring some prints are only to have the artist himself laugh and say, "Well, you're quite right, I never did much like painting them either." <-- Yes, I've witnessed this firsthand.

 

[Chas]

That's why I don't give money to panhandlers. He's just going to spend it on crystal meth anyway.

 

[vintage68]

I stopped giving money to panhandlers when I lived in San Francisco and saw a homeless guy with a cell phone.

I still give money, but now I give to charities themselves.

 

[Chas]

There are so many places in Vancouver that give out free food that any moneys given to street people goes right into the drug trade.

There was once a famous/infamous panhandler in NYC called Broadway Rose who tended to prey upon show biz people; Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller were her favorite targets. She would demand money (bills, no change) and if you didn't pay she'd follow you down the street screaming and cussing you out. She was so successful that she was able to purchase a house in Brooklyn free and clear. She managed to get on stage with Charlie Barnet once, and tried singing "Lover, Come Back To Me"; off-key and very badly off time. When the audience started booing her, she started screaming and cussing out Charlie. She disappeared after '44 or so, she probably died or was institutionalized.

 

[Tomasso]

I still give money, but now I give to charities themselves.

My parents taught me never to give on the street. Even well established and respected charities like the Salvation Army will experience some leakage on the trip from the street corner to the counting room.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

" I have to wear dark spectacles in public I have such kind eyes, that beggars cluster around and annoy me"

 

[lolly_loisides]

" I have to wear dark spectacles in public I have such kind eyes, that beggars cluster around and annoy me"

I do love a Nancy Mitford quote!

 

[Undertow]

My parents taught me never to give on the street. Even well established and respected charities like the Salvation Army will experience some leakage on the trip from the street corner to the counting room.

Wow, that is really sad and unfortunate. I'm sure it doesn't happen every time, but I hope it isn't something the Charities just budget for.

 

[Lear]

When dressing in rags there's no need to conform, make any kind of effort or comply. You become invisible, and can go about observing other people. I practically live in the black jacket shown below (had it on today in fact). The most I've been offered is £2.00, on a cold December evening in 2008, waiting outside Charing Cross Station (I declined the offer). Match this with two weeks of stubble, plus a pair of trainers that soak up damp pavements, and you're set.

Besides, is this not recycling at its best? Worn until it can be worn no more!

Lear (the ugly one)