CTA Tattler

Witnessed a couple years ago--same guy. Some kids in the train were listening to his spiel, and one of them said "Here, I've seen this guy a million times--watch this" and proceeded to offer him a sandwich.

He turned THAT down too.

I guess beggars CAN be choosers!

I saw the same thing on the Green line. Clean cut white kid with a northface jacket on begging for money claiming he's hungry. A black woman offered him half of her tasty looking big sandwich, he declined causing much laughter among non-begging riders and people saying they'd love to eat it. The same kid called me a "White Bitch" 2 days before when I wouldn't give him any change.

OH THAT guy. He get's really mad if he makes a special effort to get in YOUR face and you ignore him. You can almost expect him to call you a name if you dont offer him $$$.

My friends and I have seen him many times over the last 4 years. He has been dubbed the "red line bandit". I didn't see him for a span of about 6 months and got really worried about him. Then one day he popped back up again, much to my relief. Can you imagine how confused my boyfriend was when I was excited to see a beggar?

Yeah, I know that guy. Talks in a weird high voice. "Idon'tmeanyouknowhard,Ijust needmoney,Iain'tateindays" The funny thing is, he breaks characters to talk to the cute girls. "Hey, baby, how's it going? helpmeI'mhomeless.Idon'tmean..."

He's one of the red line regulars. Seen him for years on the same red line routes.

Some of the individuals who are making these propositions are only in it for the tourists and the money, as they can expect to come across a new face or group who haven't yet become familiar with these people who repeat the same plea year after year, rather than asking and also simulaneously trying to get on one's own feet. Those people who are genuinely in need get drowned out by the opportunists and poseurs who see one guy getting loose change and then also claim to be "homeless", almost on a whim. There are I think people who do have a need and should ask but don't as they don't want the stigma or loss of pride or rejection, there's mental illness going on in our rich, upstanding city and despite the fakes trying to get my money I still give to those who seem truly desperate because they are still someone's child, brother, father, daughter and why should they be forgotten just because the new or long-standing thing to do is to just ignore them when sometimes the littlest effort can ease their suffering. Those people are there because someone somewhere in their life fould it easier to let them be a discard rather than keep them close. I see older homeless women who look so prideful and stately one moment reach into a cta trash receptacle in search of food or aluminum beer cans the next like it's nothing, an everyday habit. Some are really wretched and have smelly feet, true, but i think someone cared about us all somewhere in our lives in order for us to get to the place that we are today, be it job, college, husband and children, but these people i don't see anyone giving a helping hand to. I made it to college because of someone elses effort for me and someone elses money (parents). Maybe next time you sit in a rail car that is inked with homeless traits you might think that we all could have done more to help prevent that silent tragedy from occuring.