A guy I went to high school with and graduated with is now siting in front of popular stores, begging people for money, like a common bum:( He begged me for money twice. The first time, I gave him a dollar. The second time, I told him I only had a debit card on me. It's sad that we are the same age, and I have a job, and he doesn't, apparently. If I were him, I'd be ashamed to be asking my former classmate for money. That makes him look really bad. But, he looks normal though. He looks clean and wears clean clothes, so why is he begging people for money, looking clean? :confused:

Who says he's not ashamed? Maybe he's hit hard times and there are places that give away clothes, that could be why his clothes look clean and they could look clean, doesn't mean they are

Poverty and love are difficult to hide.

Janice, this is very sad. I hope and pray, that your former classmate, finds work, and happiness soon. No one, especially in America, should resort to "begging" for money. My hear goes out for him, and others, similar in his situation.

Seems things are cloudy in the sun belt.

I wish things get better for him and me....

Yeah, I was shocked when he asked me for money...:(

That's so sad. Times are hard. Things are crazy these days.

It's sad. the economy is in terrible shape.

I wouldn't ask a former high school classmate for money if I were begging on the street. I'd ask other people, but not the former classmate.

I wouldn't ask a former high school classmate for money if I were begging on the street. I'd ask other people, but not the former classmate.
I'm sure it was hard for him to swallow his pride to ask you. Now is not the time to be judgmental. If you can, give with an open hand and an open heart. We never know if we're going to be in a person's shoes.

I wouldn't ask a former high school classmate for money if I were begging on the street. I'd ask other people, but not the former classmate.
When you're desparate, you'll do anything. I hope everything turns out okay for him. It's sad when things like this happen. :(

I wouldn't ask a former high school classmate for money if I were begging on the street. I'd ask other people, but not the former classmate.

Yeah it's easy to say this now, but you don't know what you'd do if you were in that kind of a situation.

Let's not be judgmental. The poor guy is most likely very desperate.

I found out recently I have a cousin that's homeless, and we've done what we can, but he won't come home. So this is a very sensitive subject for me

I've been going through hard times myself since 2004.

A guy I went to high school with and graduated with is now siting in front of popular stores, begging people for money, like a common bum:( He begged me for money twice. The first time, I gave him a dollar. The second time, I told him I only had a debit card on me. It's sad that we are the same age, and I have a job, and he doesn't, apparently. If I were him, I'd be ashamed to be asking my former classmate for money. That makes him look really bad. But, he looks normal though. He looks clean and wears clean clothes, so why is he begging people for money, looking clean? :confused:


Did you ask or talk to him about his circumstances? And does he have a family? Did he say anything about where he's living?

Sounds like you're still in the same area where you and he went to high school... does he have family in town there (as in parents or siblings)?

You know, along with the dollar I gave him, I should have told him www.walgreens.com,and apply online to work for Walgreens. :)

I'm also kind of surprised that the stores allowed him to hang out in front of them to do that. Most stores frown on that kind of thing within a certain distance of their doors. They might not confront an individual directly, but a lot of places would ask a cop to tell the person to move on.