This bloke came up to us in the city centre today, told us he was the friendliest tramp in Sheffield, doesn't blame anyone or anything for the state he is in. Asked us for money, then when we honestly told him all we had was my tram fare, he got really arsey cos he thought we were lying, and told us to F*** off.

Not very friendly is it?

You mean John, he's been around ages, there was thread about him not so long ago... He's a moron, like most of the tramps in sheffield

Joel

Errrr.... no that's not very friendly is it matey? Did you point out his contradiction?

They are about! i had one once whose face was slightly disfiguired. He walked up and even before looking at him his opening line was 'sorry about all this sh*t on my face, but do you happen to have any spare change young sir'. Although i replied no his answer was 'no problem, sorry to trouble sir!)

Never saw the chap again, but must be one of the rarities! :D

When I am walking back home after a night out on the town, I see the same ones all the time, and I don`t forget a face, so before they get within 10 feet of me I always say "I dont have any money".

I wouldnt mind but the ones I see are not even homeless, I have seen them come out of Argos with bags of stuff, saw 3 of them enter the flats where I live with a brand new stereo.

So think again when you give them money --> its going towards their shopping budget and nothing to do with being homeless. Maybe they shoud try and get a job for a change.

I know people out there are homeless but not this lot.

Hope I am not being too controversial.

I know who you mean, he has approached about five times and has always been really really nice but he seems rather desparate. There was one time when me and a friend were waiting for the tram around midnight and a homeless person began conversing with us and then started saying how most homeless end up mixing with dealers and no matter how much i want to say no go away to homeless people I can't help giving them some little small change that I have. Especially as some people are genuinally on the streets and really struggling. I knew of someone that was a homeless person and they could not get a job as they did not have residence.

Originally posted by peter41
When I am walking back home after a night out on the town, I see the same ones all the time, and I don`t forget a face, so before they get within 10 feet of me I always say "I dont have any money".

I wouldnt mind but the ones I see are not even homeless, I have seen them come out of Argos with bags of stuff, saw 3 of them enter the flats where I live with a brand new stereo.

So think again when you give them money --> its going towards their shopping budget and nothing to do with being homeless. Maybe they shoud try and get a job for a change.

I know people out there are homeless but not this lot.

Hope I am not being too controversial.

Nope you're right I've posted on this subject several times before. The same familiar faces are around West/Division street all the time. They are not homeless. Some fraudulently pose as Big Issue sellers and have even acquired the orange tabards.

I have nothing against homeless people harmlessly begging or genuine Big Issue sellers (although one swore at me the the other week when I ignored her, but I'm fed up of saying no, sorry a million times as I walk up division street), but these people are something else. I don't like being approached, especially when alone, when its dark and when I'm at a cash machine.

Both me and Geoff have had similar encounters with "the friendly tramp"... My first experience with him was in early 2003, when bf and I were searching for a restaurant for our first Valentines day.

I see him a lot more now, living at West One... The best encounter with him had to be the time when Chris and I popped to Budgens together... He approached us, smoking, and said that we must have a lot of money to spare if we can afford to go out in this end of town! :o I like the irony of him smoking... We couldn't afford to smoke even if we wanted to! :rolleyes:

He still uses his "I'm the friendliest tramp..." line, which is wearing a bit thin if you ask me. :suspect:

Originally posted by Twiglet
I don't like being approached, especially when alone, when its dark and when I'm at a cash machine.

So its not just me then! I had a very nasty run in with a tramp just a few weeks ago. BF and I had a stroll into town to use the Halifax cash machine next to Mc D's... On our way down Fargate, we were approached by a tramp who walked off when I told him I don't have any cash, then a tramp sat on the floor a little further down shouted to us, asking for some money for a hot meal... Once again, I told him I don't carry cash and he said okay... Then as we approached Boots, a tramp that had been weaving in and out of the crowds started following us closely. I put my handbag in my left hand, (Chris was holding my left hand) just incase he tried anything... He waited until we got to the cash machine and then came up really close behind me (so close I could feel his breath on my shoulders :gag: ) and asked for some money. I told him to leave me alone whilst I was at the cash machine but he didnt listen and persisted, so I repeated myself (still being polite, not shouting) then all of a sudden he started shouting at me for speaking to him like he was ****! I just turned round and ignored him and he went down towards Natwest still shouting abuse at me, his parting line being "I should have just nicked your handbag anyway" :o :o

I don't know why the hell I didn't call the police. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Twiglet
Nope you're right I've posted on this subject several times before. The same familiar faces are around West/Division street all the time. They are not homeless. Some fraudulently pose as Big Issue sellers and have even acquired the orange tabards.

I have nothing against homeless people harmlessly begging or genuine Big Issue sellers (although one swore at me the the other week when I ignored her, but I'm fed up of saying no, sorry a million times as I walk up division street), but these people are something else. I don't like being approached, especially when alone, when its dark and when I'm at a cash machine.

Well said Twiglet especially the last line

One of the things what gripes me is when they are boozing and smoking and begging for money (some are bladdered!).

All parrafin lamps are the same, basically alchos who cant hold a job , house or normal life down, sad but true

Originally posted by Joelc
You mean John, he's been around ages, there was thread about him not so long ago... He's a moron, like most of the tramps in sheffield

Joel

What are you on??? like most of the tramps in Sheffield? What do you know them all??? I doubt it. Don't be so harsh.

The 'tramps' I've bumped into have been alright. Ask about things they've seen in newspapers updates etc... They're just like everyone else no better or no worse.

The Council reckon there's about ten people sleeping rough in Sheffield.

Quite a few of the people asking for money on the street aren't sleeping rough, but most will be without a place of their own and staying at hostels, sofa surfing etc.

If you're not happy giving out money on the street but arent entirely unsympathetic (anyone asking for money on the street, in my experience, has been through plenty of sh*t), projects like The Archer Project and Ben's Place offer food, showers, advice/support etc to people sleeping rough or homeless and are well worth some support.

I once gave a tramp short shrift down near Commercial Street. That was 25 years ago and his sorrowful reaction has made me regret my borishness ever since. I always give them something, regardless of what I might imagine their genuine circumstances are. Kevin.

Was in Mcd's on the bottom of Fargate once when a tramp came in and ordered some food. He then went outside while waiting for it. Coppers turned up and moved him on before he got his food.

Just thought I'd share that!!

The STAR once uncovered this guy once who was posing as a tramp and found out he was making loads and living quite well.

is it me, or have all tramps started 'wishing me a nice day' when i refuse to give them money. is this a new american type tramp??

Its hard to know what to think really as I have indeed had the 'friendliest tramp in Sheffield' routine and I did give him some loose change after being on the spot and having my young daughter along side me. It was the daytime and in a reasonably busy area (near Cole Bros/John Lewis) however I do always feel intimidated by beggars as I have rarely come by polite ones sadly.

I've found I prefer the ones who obviously don't abuse (I've bought the big issue on few occasion willingly only to have abuse or sarcastic comments thrown by others or even the same person on other occaisons)

Its sad that its not easy to walk freely in the city centre anymore. What with the clipboarders, charities, and beggars jumping on you from every angle.

No I'm not wholley against any of these people but they should respect that a polite no means NO!

Originally posted by kblade

Its sad that its not easy to walk freely in the city centre anymore. What with the clipboarders, charities, and beggars jumping on you from every angle.


Exactly, no wonder everyone goes to Meadowhall! :rolleyes: Living at West One, it makes sense to use the amenities on my doorstep, such as town for general shopping, but when one cannot browse at leisure, without constantly shouting "No!" and "I don't have time" - is it a wonder that I get my car out and just nip to Meadowhall for my things? I want to shop and I wont be disturbed, or harrassed!

me and the missis were once walking through town and came across this tramp sat outside Lloyds bar,he started talking to me,he was telling me how he had,had loads of bad luck in his life losing his wife, home and job,but he said once he got a break he'd get back on his feet again,i can't remember why but i at the time i was a bit short staffed (could have been holiday time) i gave him my card and told him to ring me sunday night and i'd arrange for him to start monday morning........did he ring? did he ****:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Similar thing happened to a mate of mine Kirky,

Car was a bit flithy so when this tramp started hassling him for money he offered him a fiver to clean his car.

Did he? Did he balls. Just gave my mate a mouthful instead :(

In the space of thirty minutes spent outside the Town Hall yesterday evening (7.15 onwards), me and two friends encountered three men asking for money, all with the same patter (including 'the friendliest tramp' :rolleyes: )

The best one was by far the last, who, after we'd refused to give him money, asked us, as er....potential targets, lol, how we thought he was doing with his routine :shocked:

He was a personable chap, so we informed him that they were all using much the same lines, and that maybe the city centre was getting a little too crowded with them all. He agreed!

The sheer number of them is getting ridiculous now. :(

(if you saw three people wandering around looking up at buildings yesterday evening, that was us! :hihi: )

Good point, there are increasing, there should be an anti begging group lol

Originally posted by Saifa

Car was a bit flithy so when this tramp started hassling him for money he offered him a fiver to clean his car.

Did he? Did he balls. Just gave my mate a mouthful instead

no suprise there, some people just don't want to work

My new favourite is tramps/beggars on ecclesall road with MP3 players, I can't even afford one of them.

The trick is to ask them for spare change before they ask you.

Originally posted by Kaylsx
What are you on??? like most of the tramps in Sheffield? What do you know them all??? I doubt it. Don't be so harsh.

The 'tramps' I've bumped into have been alright. Ask about things they've seen in newspapers updates etc... They're just like everyone else no better or no worse.

...and the only reason you get into conversations with them is through nervous guilt.

Seriously. How many other people do you randomly start up a conversation with on the street? For that reason, how are they 'just like everyone else'.

Originally posted by kev21662
I once gave a tramp short shrift down near Commercial Street. That was 25 years ago and his sorrowful reaction has made me regret my borishness ever since. I always give them something, regardless of what I might imagine their genuine circumstances are. Kevin.

the problem is, kev, that you can't tell the small minority of genuine beggars/ homeless/ rough sleepers from the "blaggers".

On the whole the folk who approach you are just blaggers. The times i have been approached in the city centre by the same bloke, who has always "lost his train fare, and can't get back top wakefield (Or wherever)., and could i give him sme thing topward it" (*rolls eyes*) i just say No!

I was approached on my way back from the newsagents, on london road this evening, by a bloke who was obviously P***ed, begging for 45p for his fare home.

I gave my usual response, "Sorry, just given my last monies to the paper shop bloke."

The recieved wisdom is that this money simply goes on drugs/ alcohol. And that it's best not to be conned into parting with your money.

the better thing to do, if you are so determined to give money to this sort of cause, then please donate the money itself (Or the goods if you are giving in kind) to the places that deal with the street drinkers? homeless / drug addicts etc such as The cathedral breakfast, or archer project, or saint vincents day centre on queens road, or ben's place, somewhere like that
they know who the needy are, they know how best to direct such resources, to the folk who need them most.

It's not doing any of these addicts any good, is it, to simply shove money at them that they can feed thier habits?

all you are doing in giving to these people, is giving them the means to continue taking drugs/ drinking, and be absolved of any responsibility for themselves. they have no incentive to sort themselves out and be responsible for themselves and their actions. it's playing into thier hands.

I realise that my comments sound harsh, but, come on, folks would you really be happy handing your money straight into the hands of a heroin/ coke/ whizz-dealer, and wave it goodbye? cos in effect that's really what you are doing, except that you are passing it to the blagger first, who *then* hands it to the dealer.

Can you see the nonsense revealed in my metaphor? that giving money directly to the beggars is an exercise in futility?

certainly i am not saying do not take pity on the beggars, but what i am saying is, do it in a concrete and positive manner. support the projects like st vincents, or the archer project, which give practical help and support to the beggars.

PT