 | San Francisco People to Avoid Reviews | Tips 41 - 50 of 64 |  |
Lots of street people (homeless). It's time we start refering to them as what they really are-drunks, addicts, street-smart con artists, mentally unstable. For many, not all, begging is a chosen lifestyle. If they truly ARE homeless, there are so many goods and services available for those who are sincere about finding help. Beggars...Avoid them. If they ask for change, ignore them, or pretend like you're a deaf/mute. Do your best to avoid engaging them in any conversations. Avoid eye contact. They're street-smart and know all the tricks to distract you. Look straight ahead and keep walking steadily away from them.
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Myself and a friend (From Scotland) have just had the same problem tonight. We meet him on Third on Mission.
We both knew deep down that he was a fraud. But part of us wanted to see what he would come up with next. ( He was entertaining)
He said to us that his band had just gone back to LA. Him and his wife were about to go this Paul Young recording which was going to be a special on HBO. He had seven tickets back stage. Though, his band has just gone back to LA. So he had extra tickets if we wanted it?
After a long chat a little walk with him into a posh hotel lobby. Where he then asked for money. $12.50 each. It's at this point that I said I don't have any money so would need to go to an ATM. We said we would be back in 2 mins. It was at this point he said: "Oh, don't worry...I've got money for one....so you only need to buy one
So we told him to wait a couple of mins....and we didn't go back.
I can see how easy it would be to be taken in by him. He seems very well educated and had a story about anything we mentioned.
He tried to make out he was lost and didn't know where he was....but the giveaway sign was when walking down the street. He told us all the local history (How could a man lost...know all this stuff?)
It was classic conman stuff.......keep talking.....not a second to think and he never left us alone at any point.
As the saying goes....if it sounds to good to be true....it normally is!
I'm just glad we weren't taken in by him.
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One thing to be aware of in Sanfrancisco are the beggars which seem to be on every corner, some are more forthcoming than others, not that we ever felt threatened even at night, but it just becomes a real pain looking the other way, and which do you give money to if any. I suggest none, hope that doesnt make me sound hard, because I'm not, but its the easiest way to get around the city.
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Panhandlers and Bums are not shy around tourist areas like the cable car turnarounds, or at Fisherman's Wharf. For the most part when they ask for a dollar I reply "Sorry, I don't have anymore today." Which kind of sounds like I have a certain amount I give on a daily basis. In fact, I don't like giving money to bums but at a petite 5'2" I can't exactly shout, "Get a job, Bum".
Once I left a restaurant with a nice take-out box and a bum came up to me to ask me for a dollar because he hadn't eaten all day. I offered him the box and he sneared at it (it was really good food!) and called me a name!
No, I don't like giving money to bums. Leave a Comment
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San Francisco's homelessness is epidemic. Those who really are sincere about getting off the streets, generally do so. San Francisco has more goods and services for the homeless than any other city in the world. However, there are certainly way too many "permanent fixures" and incorrigibles to keep visitors vigilant. According to the CVB, it is the #1 complaint from the city's many visitors. "Why are there so many of them?" I get asked this question time and time again.
At any rate, many have recently been diagnosed with a very nasty strain of Tuberculosis and other contageous diseases. In dealing with the homeless, it's best to avoid all contact. Don't get into conversations with them, avoid eye contact and for God's sake DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MONEY! Simply act as if you know where you're going/doing and move on. This may sound like a harsh thing to say but it's like feeding pigeons in the park. Everyone knows they can be a real nuisance, but many take pity on them which just makes matters worse and does nothing to solve the problem. Remember-what you feed, grows. Remember, it's YOUR health and well-being that's on the line.
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San Francisco. Same story as with Danny Greene, but going by Danny Bluestone as of 1/10/2008. "Melting pot", "played bass for Tina Turner". Watch out for the light blue eyes. The guy is like Hypnotoad. Don't give him any money.
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So, as I was leaving my car today in Nob Hill, a man missing his teef approached me and simply asked for the time. Next thing I know, we're engrossed in conversation, and he happens to mention that he's going to see some good bands at a small venue in concert tonight. Who wouldn't get excited about that?! So I asked if it were possible to purchase tickets for this event, and he offers to get me in on the guestlist because his band "Heaven's Gate" had backstage passes. At this point, he hadn't even asked for any money. So, besides the missing teef and slightly shabby attire, his conversation and sparkling white shoes ... you know, kind of sent some relatively positive, yet mixed signals. After about 30 minutes of talking, which I must say was good conversation, we agreed to meet at a neutral location later on that evening. Feeling slightly suspicious about this whole situation, I came home to google the band name and latest album name, and I came up with nothing. Next, I googled his band name with his name which is what led me to this wonderful site. So yes, although there was a serious shortage of windowless vans driving around my neighborhood with men offering little children candy, I'm still lucky enough to have websites like this! THANK YOU Tenshi angel for the post about the tricky Danny Greene!
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There are TONS of bums asking for money everywhere. There's some craaaaaaaaaaaazy drunks/drug addicts just drinkin n smokin weed on the streets. My friends and I had quite an experience with a drunk bum, his 40, radio and the trolley tracks. They're pretty interesting! Leave a Comment
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There are a group of bums that drive to Clement Street in a white van, beg all day, then get back into their van and leave for the night. One bum was seen dressing back "up" in the van after a day of faking being homeless. We've seen them with different vehicles and they all communicate through cell phones--MUST BE A HARD LIFE!
Most of the bums on Clement St. are scam artists and all they do is bring down the neighborhood. And the ones that aren't scam artists are reaking with urine and feces. It sucks to have to plug your nose while walking down this street that used to be so clean. Now it smells like urine almost on every block. If you try and ignore the bums they just yell louder as if you're deaf, or they'll come right up to you agressively. Once I called the cops on an agressive bum who was harrassing customers coming out of a local market and all the cop did was buy him something to eat. I was furious! It didn't solve any problems. In fact, now they are coming in vans to see what hand-outs are coming their way! This "van group of scammers" just so happened to show up on our street pretty soon after this cop bought that bum something to eat.
I think when they did the homeless count, they forgot to come out to the Richmond District Clement Street area. It's getting worse and worse monthly in this once so nice and quiet neighborhood.
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There's tons going on in the city, not just the place but with the people. Expect to see strange clothes, behavior and vehicles. Expect people to yell for no reason (man at the market/spear cable car stop), to see panhandlers (every subway entrance) and get honked at by cars (and busses especially). Muni is especially fun (sf bussess). They don't give a rats ass about you, so watch crossing the street in front of them. Leave a Comment
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