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RandySF

(58,728 posts) Tue Dec 31, 2013, 07:40 PM Dec 2013

SF: Panhandlers are getting aggressive out there.

I've noticed over the past few months that the panhandlers (I won't call them homeless unless I know they are actually homeless) around Union Square are more have become a lot more aggressive and belligerent than ever. They've started fallowing more, asking more lousy, even demanding that you give something. I was even grabbed just the other night. I wonder what's going on out there.

6 replies

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SF: Panhandlers are getting aggressive out there. (Original Post) RandySF Dec 2013 OP

Being graqbbed is assautl. dixiegrrrrl Dec 2013 #1

Sounds like a job for the SFPD. Brigid Jan 2014 #2

Only time I ever encountered that it was in St. Louis. redqueen Jan 2014 #3

Vancouver has long had a very large panhandler population.... Locut0s Jan 2014 #4

It's been getting that way steadily RandySF Jan 2014 #5

Yeah that would creep me out... Locut0s Jan 2014 #6

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

1. Being graqbbed is assautl.

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Tue Dec 31, 2013, 08:17 PM

Dec 2013

I would have stopped a distance away and phone in a report.

When I was working in SF a few years ago, I often "donated" to a few folks who hung around my building in the area of 16th and Mission. Never had concerns about the great number of panhandlers/homeless there, they were pretty passive about panhandling.
However, I would have been very concerned at being grabbed.

Brigid

(17,621 posts)

2. Sounds like a job for the SFPD.

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Wed Jan 1, 2014, 02:10 AM

Jan 2014

I don't know of any locality where they would be allowed to grab at people.

redqueen

(115,103 posts)

3. Only time I ever encountered that it was in St. Louis.

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Wed Jan 1, 2014, 02:26 AM

Jan 2014

And that was back in the early 90's.

Locut0s

(6,154 posts)

4. Vancouver has long had a very large panhandler population....

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Wed Jan 1, 2014, 02:36 AM

Jan 2014

Every 711 downtown has it's resident door guy asking for change, many many street corners do too. Some of them can be pretty aggressive. But grabbing you is where I'd draw the line! That's a dangerous line to cross.

RandySF

(58,728 posts)

5. It's been getting that way steadily

Reply to Locut0s (Reply #4)

Wed Jan 1, 2014, 02:39 AM

Jan 2014

It's only happened once, but the following is happening a lot and that's actually more unnerving as you don't know what's about to happen.

Locut0s

(6,154 posts)

6. Yeah that would creep me out...

Reply to RandySF (Reply #5)

Wed Jan 1, 2014, 02:48 AM

Jan 2014

I don't think I've ever been followed by a panhandler here. Most just meekly ask for change. The more aggressive ones try to make you feel bad if you don't by saying something passive aggressive. Other than that I haven't encountered much worse. Believe me we have a lot of panhandlers and homeless here.

Being the US it would worry me even more due to fear of violence. But maybe that's my Canadian bias, US stereotyping, showing through.

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