Hey Ruby - did you report these instances of panhandling to the police?
Was it the same man both times?
Was it the same parking lot both times?
Who else has been accosted?

For all understanding of people who have fallen on hard times, panhandling is:
- not the right way to solve a bad personal situation
- offensive
- often results in huge sums of money for the panhandler
- is often used to pay for drugs or alcohol for short term withdrawl symptom reduction
- is certainly not something we want in our community.

If people need help, it's available. There is no need to beg for money from passers by.

I did not report these incidents to the police because by the time I could get to my car, where I keep my cell phone under my seat, they were gone. After being approached twice, I realized I need to carry my cell phone on me or in my handbag. The first man approached me in the Publix parking lot (Hwy 54) a week ago this Friday around 2:00 in the afternoon. The other incident took place near Tuesday Morning on Hwy 54/74 intersection a week before the second incident, in the morning hours. I was beginnning to think I was on Candid camera!

It was not the same man, although both men were black, one of the men was driving a small pick up with a white man in the truck, sitting on the passenger side with Heard county license plate. The other man who approached me at Tuesday Morning walked away so fast that I could not keep up with him, almost as if he vanished into thin air! Both times I told each man they came to the wrong person....I did not have any money to lend. I know I sounded ticked off when I responded to their requests because they both looked at me as if they were surprised by what I said. One of them thanked me for my time as he was backing up to leave.

oh yeah, forgot one

- it's also often an prelude to a crime. Wallet comes out and they know where your cash is. You refuse, they may get violent and force the issue.

I just had the feeling if I took out my wallet, I might get hurt.I was thinking too hard on how to get out of the situation calmly. If it got to the point where he wanted my wallet, I would have thrown it at him.

The other man at Tuesday Morning did not say much....almost like he rehearsed what he was going to say, got an answer, then left as quickly as he came up.

Good advice X. Ruby be careful. That's where my wife shops all the time. I just gave her a heads up on what you've experienced. Hey Publix folk....watch the parking lot please. Hey men... watch out for our lady folk neighbors also.

Guess bad and I are going to have to get our fire extinguishers and cover the Publix parking lot next. We seemed to have made a difference at that one spot on the cart path.

Yep...me, too.

Lawdawga

Lawdawaga, you've been accosted for money too?

No one would do that he toooo ugly

Wow! You are smart! What do you accomplish with all this-that is useful, that is? Who in the world would pay someone to do what you do?

We collect information, lots of it, then turn around and either use or sell it.

Ain't consulting wonderful?

Harvesters are not involved.

-----------------------------
Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

Well, I don't think that you should feel the need to slander people. You feel like the most important thing about the citizen is how long you have been a member. COOL! Let me tell yah! Anyways- If you have such a high paying job- Why don't you please please please learn how to spell VERY. It is not VARY. And that is about the 10th time you have spelled it like that. From now on, just write your opinion about something- No need to slander others...Unless you just really have low self esteem and it makes you feel good about yourself.

It’s like I told my accounting professors in collage; If I need this done, I’ll hire someone to do it.

Kind of mispelled then in your attack on me didn't you?

"something else better to do the ridicule everybody."

Let he or she that is without typos cast the first stone. Turn the other cheek MOMMY, lighten up and do something about those anger issues of yours.

Sorry if you have interpreted my comments as attacks. From now on I will address your opinions.

Well MR. Army, I never have bragged about going to college and so forth. Bad_PTC does. And she mispells easy words. Like college, and very- I did learn how to spell those words in elementry. Anyways- I will not talk down on anyone because I do not have an anger problem. It makes we think of how lucky I am to actually have a life rather then sit on the computer like some- At least you have an excuse- you're retired!

Since you're picking can you pick your own screw ups out?

Well MR. Army, I....

And she mispells easy....

I will not talk down on anyone.... ????

It makes we think of how lucky I am....

actually have a life rather then sit on the .... ????

Now Mommy Dearest. I ain't the brightest tack in the box but even this ole hillbilly can write and spell better that you. How about you lighten up on the spelling and grammar comments. Especially when you can't lead by example.

I left one out. Can you find it. It's quite elementary my dear.

How do you spell relief git real? I know get rid onf Mr Army and put him in the first grade for spelling...

How do you spell relief git real? I know get rid onf Mr Army and put him in the first grade for spelling...

At least the robber did not hurt anyone.

If this guy is pulling off robberies in broad daylight - he might not be the sharpest tool in the shed.

This guy needs to be caught quickly before someone gets hurt, he is either high on drugs or has a death wish, which is not a good thing for anyone he confronts especially the police. Be careful

I'm a gun-owning liberal.

If you're so tough, Republican-guy, join the military----if you dare.

But, hey, keep attacking your fellow Americans and continue dividing the nation. That's what UNAmerican people do.

I couldn't agree more!!

I didn't mean to come off as being insensitive about herb shop owners. I apologize. I'm certain that a non-gun toting herb shop owner could, perhaps, throw a large bottle of 500mg fish oil capsules at the thug.

I imagine 400 soft gel capsules to the temple could do some damage. If nothing else, the thug could die from an overdose of omega-3 should the soft gels pop themselves open.

Vote Republican

You know the thug has got to be a Cynthia McKinney fan. Anyone that would swat at a Capitol police officer knows something about thugs.

If you could forceably move all of the Democrats and Democratic Sympathizers away from south of I-20, our crime rate, particularly violent crime, would drop dramatically. The Democrats are now calling Pres. Clinton a dog for moving ahead with the "three strikes and your out law". They want the thugs on the streets; it's a good platform for their social reforms.

Vote Republican

Hey Spear Road Guy, I like your humor. You remind me of one of my old Army buddies. Like you I enjoy MOST of the blogs. There some that have gone over the top such the venom tongued Git Real ch. I just don't waste my time reading his or PTC Guy or snark and others that have many screen names. The discourse on these blogs can be fun and informative, but don't let those members of the bullies of blogs spoil it.

Glad you enjoy the site but Git real and PTC guy are not bullies they are just on here a lot....I do not have the time but GOd bless them they do.

ill be on the look out for him. Ill prob beat him within a inch of his life.

...what politcal persuasion the robbery victims were or were not? Nobody.

I do hope they catch this guy very soon.

Using her logic from yesterday, the victim had to have done something to justify the robbery. After all people don't just go around robbing other people now fo they?

Maybe the victim owed the alleged perpetrator some money!!!!!

I am pretty sure that the 14 year old did not get robbed for anything! This is something completly different. Why don't you get a job and find something else better to do the ridicule everybody. EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO THEIR OWN OPINION! Apparently you have nothing more to do then to sit online all day and talk about people. What a life!

Why do you refuse to admit that your earlier post that stated, “the boy did something to deserve it”, was total WRONG!

Bad_PTC- I will admit that I am wrong. The boy was not doing anything to deserve that. However, the reason I was pissed was because of the negative talk about Harmony Village- If you read my first remarks about the article- it was in dispute with the negativity toward Harmony village. YOU have simply pissed me off because you are attacking me and not the opinions I have. I really think that you have nothing better to do then sit online. WHY CANT YOU ADMIT THAT YOUR ARE NOTHING BUT A LAZY BUM WHO SITS ON THEIR ASS ALL DAY- ONLINE! I admitted I was wrong- your turn to admit your lazines! And how all you do is attack people instead of their opinions!

Mommy, first let me say that I'm sure that there are good people at Harmony Village. And to just kick them out wouldn't be nice. But the problem is that the criminals also live at Harmony. And these people usually don't have reliable transportation. So they commit their crimes close to home. Remove Harmony and a lot, not all, but a lot of criminals will commit these crimes somewhere else. The alternative is to place at a greater risk, our families. Which I for one am not willing to do.

The point that I was trying to get across is that there are good people that live in Harmony Village. I am glad that you realized what I was trying to say. But let me say one thing- criminals live everywhere.

YOU have simply pissed me off because you are attacking me and not the opinions I have.

This is attacking someone's opinions:

Using her logic from yesterday, the victim had to have done something to justify the robbery. After all people don't just go around robbing other people now fo they?

your earlier post that stated, “the boy did something to deserve it”, was total WRONG!

This is attacking someone personally:

I really think that you have nothing better to do then sit online. WHY CANT YOU ADMIT THAT YOUR ARE NOTHING BUT A LAZY BUM WHO SITS ON THEIR ASS ALL DAY- ONLINE! I admitted I was wrong- your turn to admit your lazines! And how all you do is attack people instead of their opinions!

Do you really not see the difference?

And I really just wanted to let this go, but bad_ptc graciously let you off easy and you came back with more venom.

If you have such a high paying job- Why don't you please please please learn how to spell VERY. It is not VARY. And that is about the 10th time you have spelled it like that. From now on, just write your opinion about something- No need to slander others...Unless you just really have low self esteem and it makes you feel good about yourself.

That is called bullying behavior where I come from.

I do have a permit to carry but usually don't in Fayette County. Just didn't seem necessary. But maybe now it's time to change my mind ?

G35....and if you pop the guy and our DA decides he's going to make and example out you since he won't make one out of the child molesters, please be assured. If any of us can get on the jury or know someone that is we will get you off via jury nullification.

Nice to have a Lion on my side ! *LOL*