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I don't agree with the asking for change bit. I've found that they will use any way possible to start a conversation and once they do get something they will work off that. Plus don't expect them to understand your logic.

I saw some more on Westhiemer and the Beltway just yesterday afternoon when I got off work. They seem to like that spot. These guys were organized and had some big fat guy watching the kids ask cars for money. They were all wearing elf hats. How festive.

I just can't comprehend why people fork over money to these folks.

I guess I'm not the only one who has started to notice the organized pan handling that is going on in Houston. I live around Westhiemer and the Beltway in the Westchase district and I'm pretty sick of it. I can tell someone who is actually homeless and those that are faking it. How in the heck does someone who is homeless wear nice clean white socks and clothes? There is one certain guy that I always see in such a condition on the East side of Westhiemer and the Beltway (black male, mid to late 40s, has this little hitch in his step that he fakes and just waves vigorously at all the cars).

Also now I'm seeing hordes of them out in orange traffic vests saying they are collecting for this cause or that. I notice the cause never has a website and they probably can't tell you anything about it. There is one group that wears all white suits with stripes on the cuff and a shoulder patch. I have no idea who they are or how legit they are but I see them often looking for the all important hand out. Finally there is one type that I think is some kind of new super panhandling evolution. Over by my office we had this one black male I was sure of being homeless. I mean crazy hair, rags for clothes, and just generally pathetic looking. The one thing I didn't understand was that he didn't seem to stay in the area which is somewhat normal for the ones that are truly homeless. They operate in the area that they sleep in. Anyway one day I'm driving through a shopping center up near I-10 and Wilcrest and I see the same guy getting out of a car! Not some junker either. If memory serves me correctly it was some kind of late model Hyundai. He wasn't wearing his rags either but instead had on a pear of running shorts and a t-shirt. I'm 100% sure it was him because of the crazy hair and I guess he just puts his rags on when he arrives at "work".

I doubt it. The cops don't even carry firearms there.

I just got back from Beijing and found out that begging is starting to grow there mostly because of western influence. It was explained to me that it had something to do with tipping. Apparently the Chinese consider their pay what they make and when we westerners tip they feel like we are just giving them money. Having said that it's still illegal to do so. We were over on Bar St and some guy tried to beg money from us. He did it to a few more couples and then a cop van pulled up and arrested him. The beggars and street peddlers there are much more aggressive than what I am used to here and they don't understand polite no thank yous or at least pretend not to. Man carry babies and try to stick them in your face while you are walking. Also the bar workers are EXTREMELY aggressive. They get in your way as you walk down the sidewalk and put their hands on you trying to push you into their bar. All the time saying "Hello friend come in this beer bar. Lots of drink special." etc etc. I started just getting flat out rude with them and the street merchants, and the beggars. When they would even start to approach I would just say "NO!". If they kept on I would over exaggerate and get louder with a "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!". That seemed to do the trick. Some of them I actually had to forcibly remove their hands from me and push them away. It made me appreciate the ones here that try to sway with a sob story. I think I'm just going to start saying "no" when I get approached here though. I don't think there is anymore universal way to say "I don't want to hear what you have to say."