Reminder: Don't mock panhandlers on the subway

[MADem]

7. We have two people behaving badly, but the one with the knife was by far the biggest asshole.

I don't like people who get in my face on public conveyances demanding money, myself. I wouldn't spit on them or mock them, but I really think the transit police should do a better job stopping that kind of stuff. You don't pay your money for a ride from point A to point B to get threatened by people who are demanding money from the fare paying public.

I would probably be more inclined to give someone money who was sitting/standing in a well-travelled area, not that I have much opportunity to interact in that fashion these days--I am not presently city dwelling so I'm not using tube/subway/MTA, what have you, routinely. Buskers, though, if they are even halfway good, will get something from me if I am using public trans in a city.

I really don't like the concept of "Give 'em a buck or they just might stab you" to be honest. I'd like to see better social service programs to mitigate that sort of bully-begging in the first place.