Through out the city I've encountered number of bums. Some or nice, some scary, and some crazy.
The local bum, which is scary since he stalks the bank. Asking for money when people enter/exit the bank. He's also the asshole type which specifies the amount he should be given, last time I remember he was asking for only toonies. Since he's the local type, I've heard/talked to him enough to know somethings about him. He's on welfare due to some non-sense disability. He's fit enough to do manual labour if he wanted to. But instead prefers the monthly pay check from the government. I haven't seen him around lately so I assume the bank took action to get rid of him.
The nice bums. Usually found around early afternoon downtown. One being the St. Patrick bum as I call him. He's at least creative with his begging, and sometimes spells out Happy St. Patrick day out of pennies or whatever holiday it is. Another being the Native American one/s by Bloor and Spadina. Usually ask politely for change and move own. Some of them even saying thanks anyway, NP so on.
Crazy/aggressive/lying Ones mostly found around tourist locations. One place often found is by the bus station/terminal (Dundas and Bay). They tend to stand by you asking for change/money until you give them something otherwise they won't leave you alone if you just say no. The more aggressive ones know better than to do it inside the station. The ones inside usually lie instead of using the stalking/scare tactics. They use sympathy instead, claiming that they have to go home and don't have money for it usually pointing out random locations like London Ontario. I know its a lie since I was using the station too much last summer and noticed the same guy over and over with same routine. Was going to buy him a ticket to prove it to myself, until I realised they are refundable less a restocking fee or such and would have walked away with my money anyway.
I do miss the squeegee kids. I guess the by-law making it illegal worked to some degree. They didn't bother me but could be because I didn't/don't drive. They were often in their leather jackets waiting for stop signs to turn red. Some were decent guys only going to people willing to pay, others more aggressive washing even when not wanted. But at least they attempted to earn their money, unlike alot of others. I assume they got other jobs or something since I don't seem them around that much. At least during the day time.
It's kind of funny how the time of day brings out the different types of people. Remember getting home early one time using the grey hound, around 5am. This brought out the zombie type bums, not wake enough to ask for money but on their feet trying to get somewhere and in the process scaring the sit out of the early business people. Remember one woman zig-zagging across dundas by young to avoid every single one in her business suit.
Feel free to comment on the subject or my biased observations of the matter.
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