At the pumps... How do you all handle people asking you for gas money/gas up their car?

[IPOGT]

Unfortunately in todays world kindness can and in many cases be a health hazard. If my boys or wife are with me there‘s a very definite boundary there. By myself, not quite as extreme but still present. Like many on here I’m sure, cc is like putting pants on. I’ve never been approached in one of my Shelbys, but occassionally do in my work truck. I do most of the time keep my wife’s Bronco filled so she’s not dealing with this at the gas station and especially with my boys in the car. I’m always respectful, regardless of someones situation, but I know I don’t give off the warm fuzzy vibe in certain situations.

Exactly.

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[Five_OhGT]

I'll always remember when I was in college driving my 1996 Mustang GT with flaking clear coat and faded red paint, a guy in a brand new Charger (This would have been around 2010-2014) pulls up next to me at the pump and started asking me for money. I just couldn't believe someone in a brand new car asking a college aged kid in a 15 year old beat up Mustang to help put gas in your tank. I simply replied no and went about my day.

 

[Redcruzer]

I had a friend who was a lawyer and handled mostly third strike cases. Tough job. He had heard it all of course. We would often go on road trips with a few other guys and when we stopped for fuel he would disappear for fifteen minutes or twenty minutes. We would often find him in conversation with someone hard on their luck, scammer or hooker or whatever. He would usually send them off with a twenty. I asked him what he was doing and he said he loved getting their stories and some of them worked really hard on them and it was great entertainment.

I recently had a guy at Home Depot give me a great story and performance. I thought of Jeff and sent him off with a twenty.

 

[Keeffa]

The sad thing is that people who genuinely need help, don't ask.

 

[BlkMach10510]

I'm broke, I have to pay for my addiction.

 

[fiveoboy01]

I just say no.

Or I say “I’ll give you a job” and of course that gets a deer in the headlights look.

 

[Snakebyte]

This is a tough question, and it is tough discerning what is a person's circumstances are or motive is.
I recall about 22 years ago when riding my motorcycle from TN to WI to see my dad, when my wallet fell out, who knows where along I-39, 480 miles from home. I was at a gas station when I learned of my loss. No one would lend an ear. No money, no credit cards, a motorcycle with about enough fuel to go 15 miles, and a cell phone about to run out of battery, I was in need for sure.

Thankfully my wife who was in the middle of getting her dad out of the hospital, was able to go to obtain case to give a Western Union place and wire me money to a K-Mart Western Union which was about 10 miles away. Thankfully with cash in hand I made it to a gas station nearly on fumes, and had enough cash to make it back home, trip to my dad aborted.

So what did I learn from this? Take time to discern as possible who is really in need. There are a lot of professional beggars, but then God knows who's in need and who's not. So I have to be careful to not lean on my own understanding. The person I encounter may, just may, be in a legitimately dire situation like I was.

BTW...Never found the wallet and valuables inside, and thankfully, no one ever used the credit cards. Maybe the fact that I write on the back of all my credit cards to "See Photo I.D. no one attempted to use the them.)

 

[TonyNJ]

This is a tough question, and it is tough discerning what is a person's circumstances are or motive is.
I recall about 22 years ago when riding my motorcycle from TN to WI to see my dad, when my wallet fell out, who knows where along I-39, 480 miles from home. I was at a gas station when I learned of my loss. No one would lend an ear. No money, no credit cards, a motorcycle with about enough fuel to go 15 miles, and a cell phone about to run out of battery, I was in need for sure.

Unfortunately, you're situation was the exception, not the rule.

Calling the cops for you would've been the way to go for you. "Officer, I lost my wallet and desperately...."

 

[Golgo69]

Some pretty good points here.

If I can help someone who is less fortunate than me, I will.

I do not put myself in "carjacking" situations, because I am always aware of my surrounding, and lets just say it would be a very bad day for a carjacker coming at me.

 

[Balr14]

I can recall only two experiences like those mentioned. One appeared to be someone who genuinely needed help, so I bought him some gas. The other appeared to be legit (poorly dressed male driving a really ratty car). Then I noticed two kids in the car playing with their smart phones. A big no!

Nothing like this has happened in recent years, since I now look like the person who needs help.

 

[robvas]

You can make more money begging than you can at a lot of jobs.

Get one or two suckers an hour to give you $10 and you've made more than you would have busting your ass at McDonald's or Walmart. And you don't get taxed on it.

 

[Hack]

I gave a bum money once when I was in college, and I still feel like it was the wrong move. I will offer to help people, but not with cash.

I can recall only two experiences like those mentioned. One appeared to be someone who genuinely needed help, so I bought him some gas. The other appeared to be legit (poorly dressed male driving a really ratty car). Then I noticed two kids in the car playing with their smart phones. A big no!

Nothing like this has happened in recent years, since I now look like the person who needs help.

Nothing says, "I need help!" like driving a beautiful BMW convertible.

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