The easy answer is yes, but the real answer is no. I can't tell you how many times I have been at a concert, 4th of July thing, whatever involves a bunch of people in one area and one of these panhandling monks shows up and asks me for a "donation". Now don't get me wrong, I clearly know that not all Monks are like this, but the majority of Monks I have had a run in with, are. I've also seen them on my way to and from work from the train station just asking for straight cash with no book to give me like the ones at concerts.
I figure, if you're going to ask me for money, then you need to give me something in exchange, hence why I will usually ask 'One Arm Push Up Guy' (A local panhandler here in Boston) to do at least 20 one arm push ups for the dollar he is about to get, or I ask a panhandler for a sweet story about how he became so broke (if I have time to kill, or I have been drinking). At least this way, I get something for giving someone some of my hard earned money. I mean seriously, who just asks for money with nothing to offer? At least the guy in the above picture lets you verbally abuse him, not that I am into that kind of thing, but someone out there def is and will pay to call that guy a scumbag or worse. Point being, YOU HAVE TO OFFER SOMETHING.
The moral of this story is, that Monks are nothing but new age panhandlers who say they will give you the book about vegan diets or whatever it is Monks are into these days, but giving is not giving when you follow it instantly with "...for a small donation". Listen buddy I don't have a small donation, and I like to eat steak. You probably shouldn't be trying to sell your books at NIN concert (I've had a lot of run-ins with Monks at NIN concerts amazingly) and even if I did have a small donation, it wouldn't go to you, it would go to one arm push up guy because at least he does something cool, you just meditate sometimes and sell shitty books about shitty food. I get that you are at least offering something like you should be, but take off the orange suit, grab a piece of cardboard and write "Will sell shitty book for a couple bucks" on it and join your fellow panhandling peers where you belong, on a street corner.
This is very true, there is a guy in DC that tells jokes, and they are funny as shit. I used to give change to people when they ask me but now I have stopped doing that. I work 10-12 hours a day so I best be getting something in return if I am going to give you money.
ReplyDeleteIn the homeland where I come from (Eastern Europe) the gypsies play this game called "Where is the ball?" loose translation. It consists of 3 cups and below one of the cups is a ball. They move the ball from cup to cup really fast and ask you to guess where it is. You can bet money and if you guess right you get double what you put down. The problem is you will never guess right, these fing GYPSIES are really fast and really good. At first in order to attract a crowd they do the same routine except the guy who is betting always WINS, the problem is the guy betting is another GYPSY who is working together with the "Where is the ball?" guy. Long story short, around the world these guys are all the same when they ask for money, whether they wear orange jumpsuits or look homeless, great post.
Peace and Love,
GYPSY MAGIC
Thanks guy!
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